Private vs regular group lessons

[parzdiver]

One thing you can discuss with the instructor is additional pool sessions. My wife did a regular group class, but did a couple one-on-one pool sessions with one of the instructors. She paid for the pool time with that instructor, but it gave her the ability to get the personal feedback without doing a completely private lesson. Worked out great.

One of the things I will reiterate is to speak with the shop and the instructors before signing up for the class. If they don't seem to understand and empathize with what you are saying, find somewhere else.

 

[kaylee_ann]

I was a career educator. I firmly believe that the biggest difference between the higher achieving students and the lower achieving students is confidence. Some students begin new learning with the confidence that if they simply put in the normal time and effort, they will succeed. Other students totally defeat themselves from the start with "I can't do this!" messages playing so loudly in their minds that they cannot even begin to think.

I have never met you, but a lifetime in the classroom and in scuba instruction tells me you can do it--you just have to believe it yourself first.

what about me would make you think I can LOL
I saw a thread on SB from a while ago asking if there are people who just cannot dive, detailing how they've been through like 5 classes/OW sessions and haven't passed any. now its in my head I'll be that way

 

[James79]

I’m concerned about not being able to learn period, like I’m just incapabl

That is a vanishingly rare scenario.... Can you walk and chew gum? If so then you have more natural capability than some divers I've seen out there!

How would I find a DM to dive with?

Any shop will have contact info for DMs in the area, and will probably be able to put you in touch with other local divers.

 

[kaylee_ann]

One thing you can discuss with the instructor is additional pool sessions. My wife did a regular group class, but did a couple one-on-one pool sessions with one of the instructors. She paid for the pool time with that instructor, but it gave her the ability to get the personal feedback without doing a completely private lesson. Worked out great.

One of the things I will reiterate is to speak with the shop and the instructors before signing up for the class. If they don't seem to understand and empathize with what you are saying, find somewhere else.

he did say further pool classes are available, which is awesome. I definitely will explain it

 

[kaylee_ann]

That is a vanishingly rare scenario.... Can you walk and chew gum? If so then you have more natural capability than some divers I've seen out there!

Any shop will have contact info for DMs in the area, and will probably be able to put you in touch with other local divers.

lmao yes I can actually. and ok thanks!

 

[wnissen]

I totally get that! And agree with it. Overall though I feel like I’d learn better by myself. How would I find a DM to dive with?

Oh, that's usually the easy part. Any dive destination is going to have a bunch of shops offering "dive tours". You can book a group tour or private. In more developed countries the latter tends to be expensive, pretty reasonable in a lot of vacation dive locales, though.

 

[Wibble]

I have my "captain" that sits on my shoulder and tells me bad things. It's him that tells me to do stupid things... Fortunately he takes time off sometimes but sends his assistant in his place. What a pain that one is: "you're going to mess up", "if you do that you'll die"... all of those kinds of things. Yeah, it's a noisy place in my head.

Sometimes it's nice to show them that they're wrong. I can do those things and sometimes can do them well.

Diving's full of those little skills where the captains have a field day. However, I've found they get bored and do something else once I've succeeded in my task.

I love diving because it's such a different environment from the normal world. So much to see and do and it's something that doesn't need out-and-out expertise; if you just want to do some easy holiday diving that's fine; even diving in a local lake. What's great is that feeling of being in an alien world with such strange flora and fauna -- even in a lake.

Once you've sorted your basics there's so much more to discover. Shipwrecks, pretty fish, even caves await.

 

[kaylee_ann]

I have my "captain" that sits on my shoulder and tells me bad things. It's him that tells me to do stupid things... Fortunately he takes time off sometimes but sends his assistant in his place. What a pain that one is: "you're going to mess up", "if you do that you'll die"... all of those kinds of things. Yeah, it's a noisy place in my head.

Sometimes it's nice to show them that they're wrong. I can do those things and sometimes can do them well.

Diving's full of those little skills where the captains have a field day. However, I've found they get bored and do something else once I've succeeded in my task.

I love diving because it's such a different environment from the normal world. So much to see and do and it's something that doesn't need out-and-out expertise; if you just want to do some easy holiday diving that's fine; even diving in a local lake. What's great is that feeling of being in an alien world with such strange flora and fauna -- even in a lake.

Once you've sorted your basics there's so much more to discover. Shipwrecks, pretty fish, even caves await.

yeah...pretty much how it is in my head too. miserable place sometimes. but yeah, when I accomplish what I thought I couldn't, the voices leave and i'm just really happy/proud. hopefully I'll get that when diving. I think it'll be pretty worry-free when I actually start.
my dream is wreck diving. I'd love to see some dope caves too.

 

[TMHeimer]

That is a vanishingly rare scenario.... Can you walk and chew gum? If so then you have more natural capability than some divers I've seen out there!

Any shop will have contact info for DMs in the area, and will probably be able to put you in touch with other local divers.

I always advise new divers to try to hook up with someone who is at least Rescue certified. Of course that doesn't mean they are up to date with polished skills, and it's not always possible to find one or a DM. Next best thing is someone who is at least experienced. I buddied with another newbie back then, which may not have been the best idea. But location kinda forced that. We did very simple dives, mostly very shallow.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

@kay_ann

Oh here's a little story for you. One of my most nervous students for diving in the open water. He was a 6'5" 280 lb firefighter, the kind who busts through walls in burning buildings like the Kool Aid Man. I mean, if i hit him with my car, I wouldn't bother calling 911 as he'd be fine, but rather a tow truck as my car would be totaled.

So your nervousness is certainly not unheard of. It doesn't surprise me whenever anyone is nervous going in.

And if a 6'5" 280 lb firefighter can do it, so can you!

OMG. That reminds me when we did the surface swim navigation. That guy took off like a motorboat. No one could catch him when he went too far. I was worried he'd go into the shipping lane, get hit by a freighter, and sink it!