A bit discouraged

[JD'sMom]

HI all

Well, today was my first diving lesson and I have to say I was disappointed and discouraged. I've never swam with fins and snorkel before, and part of the class was the instructor evaluating how well you swim with fins and snorkel on. Having never done that, being used to swimming the traditional way and taking martial arts were you do use your knees, I failed, terribly and was sent home and told to call the shop on Monday to arrange for private lessons. That means my boat dive ticket, gone and non-refundable. I'm determined to become a diver, but I feel as if I'm being rushed to learn something that is not natural. I"ve already invested a lot of money in this shop and these lesson's, so I don't want to change, but I want to learn correctly. I had felt 4 days might be rushing things, and doing the book work at home, but again, I felt it was a good shop with good instructors. Any advice for a discouraged but eager and determined newbie?

D

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

WOW!!!! I cant believe that! He failed you and you cant get a refund? That seems pretty shady.....I cant speak for how they do it, but with us we understand you havent dove with that stuff before and would give you the extra time and attention right then in the pool....Private lessons are going to cost you more money. I understand that if there is a class he might not have all the time to teach you, but for the first lesson, you would have been fine to finish and practice after class!!!!

Dont get discouraged as then you will miss all of the underwater beauty. There hopefully was a mixup and you will get your money back and all will work out in the end.

The program is not supposed to be a time based program that you should feel rushed doing. We preach for our instructors to teach at a performance based level. Meaning if your not comfortable we take more time until you are.......Otherwise you wont keep diving and coming back.....

Stay strong, get thru it, and you will be alot happier......I would definetely talk to them about a refund for being sent home......

 

[PhilEllis]

HI all

Well, today was my first diving lesson and I have to say I was disappointed and discouraged. I've never swam with fins and snorkel before, and part of the class was the instructor evaluating how well you swim with fins and snorkel on. Having never done that, being used to swimming the traditional way and taking martial arts were you do use your knees, I failed, terribly and was sent home and told to call the shop on Monday to arrange for private lessons. That means my boat dive ticket, gone and non-refundable. I'm determined to become a diver, but I feel as if I'm being rushed to learn something that is not natural. I"ve already invested a lot of money in this shop and these lesson's, so I don't want to change, but I want to learn correctly. I had felt 4 days might be rushing things, and doing the book work at home, but again, I felt it was a good shop with good instructors. Any advice for a discouraged but eager and determined newbie?

D

I have never heard of such a thing! Did the instructor give you any instruction? Any practice time? Wow!

Phil Ellis

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

Trust me. If I can learn to dive, anyone can. Don't give up!

 

[JD'sMom]

No, she didn't fail me, I just completely failed at the task. We were supposed to swim six laps in the pool with fins and snorkel to show that we are proficent at it. I had never swam with the equipment before, so I was having a hard time mastering it. I was told that I had to show proficency with the equipment before moving on because it would just be harder with the BCD and tank and everything else. I completely understand the reasoning, I'm just disappointed in myself for not getting it. There was another instructor trying to help me but in the end, I was asked to leave and call Monday to set up private lessons. I was supposed to have three open water dives tomorrow and from what I understand, since I didn't cancel in 7 days, I've lost my money on the ticket. It was pur first confined water lesson, and I tanked!

D

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Did they tell you before class that you needed to be proficient in swimming with the equipment? I would think they should if thats going to be a requirement that could cost you your boat time....that way you could practice first....

Just keep in good spirits and you will be an excellent diver in no time

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

Were you allowed to wear a wetsuit? Snorkeling in a 3mm shorty or full suit gives you buoyancy and better horizontal trim. You may find it easier to do the laps that way, since you can concentrate on kicking. The suit acts like a kick board so you don't have to struggle to stay afloat.

 

[D1v1n]

HI all

Well, today was my first diving lesson and I have to say I was disappointed and discouraged. I've never swam with fins and snorkel before, and part of the class was the instructor evaluating how well you swim with fins and snorkel on. Having never done that, being used to swimming the traditional way and taking martial arts were you do use your knees, I failed, terribly and was sent home and told to call the shop on Monday to arrange for private lessons. That means my boat dive ticket, gone and non-refundable. I'm determined to become a diver, but I feel as if I'm being rushed to learn something that is not natural. I"ve already invested a lot of money in this shop and these lesson's, so I don't want to change, but I want to learn correctly. I had felt 4 days might be rushing things, and doing the book work at home, but again, I felt it was a good shop with good instructors. Any advice for a discouraged but eager and determined newbie?

D

Hello and welcome to the scubaboard, I have found this one of the best places to get information on diving. In my opinion, everyone learns differently, and you should proceed in manor that is comfortable to you. Also adaptations should be made to compliment learning styles. If you feel that it is rushed, I would take my time, and maybe the private lessons are the way to go. The main thing is that you like the shop and your instructors, and you feel comfortable with them. There are many times, if I had listened more to what my instinct had said, I would have been much better off. There is nothing wrong with cutting your loses now and finding another shop, especially if you do not feel comfortable after your initial experience. From what it sounds like, I think that you should get a credit for the boat dive. I would also find a local pool that you could take your new gear to and have some time to get use to swimming with your fins. Practice finning and let it become your own. Also if you do switch shops, it is not always a bad thing, opinions can change. Sometimes it is easy to get in a mode of taking multiple classes successively with the same shop. Be cautious if you are being prompted to buy a ton of stuff at once. Normally it would your initial purchases should be a mask, fins, snorkel, boots and your coursework. I try to do different certifications with different shops, and then you can see how the teaching/shop styles vary. Also see what independent local dive clubs are available in your area, that are not affiliated with shops. Clubs are a good way to find out what other people have experienced at the local shops, and find out who other people would recommend from their past experiences. Don't be discouraged, you will do fine, just stay in your comfort zone.

 

[Flea Dog]

How many students in the class? Didn’t they have a dive master to help out? See if you can get your money back and go to a shop that is not as interested in telling you how wonderful they are and find one that really cares about divers.

There is no excuse for what they did. You should have been given time to practice and learn. Many students I have worked with have had the “bent leg” problem. In the pool they usually get it after a while. It is interesting to see students revert to bent legs on the first and second open water dives.

Everything comes with time and a good instructor knows that. The instructor is a mentor, interested in a student becoming a more proficient diver no matter what the level of instruction.

I wish I could recommend a shop out that way. I know of some great places to learn on the East coast. Come on over!!

Regards,
Flea

 

[Damselfish]

I was supposed to have three open water dives tomorrow and from what I understand, since I didn't cancel in 7 days, I've lost my money on the ticket. It was pur first confined water lesson, and I tanked!
D

this doesn't quite make sense - today was your first time in the pool, and you were supposed to have 3 OW dives tomorrow? And you said it was a 4 day class? None of that seems to add up.