A bit discouraged

[sEANx32]

OK, after about page 3 I had given up on this thread. But then I saw someone take a look at the other side. cinder4320 was the first to question if ANY of the responsibility might fall on JD'sMom. I'm not saying that she shouldn't be diving or is incompetent, or anything negative about JD'sMom. HOWEVER, her posts do sound a little fishy to me....

I looked at her profile, I found the LDS, I looked at their website; yea, their training program looks odd, but what do we know? Without talking to them I don't know if maybe it works. They got to be training SOMEBODY this way.

They even have a Guerentee: Our Promise & Guarantee: We're proud to offer the most flexible schedule available, with classes EVERY WEEKEND. We also guarantee to give you the most adventurous and educational Scuba experience. When you complete your training with us, you will be a confident and well-trained diver ready to explore the underwater world. We're dedicated to educating divers in protecting the aquatic environment, so in addition to the basics, you will also be taught additional buoyancy skills and fish identification to aid you in becoming a more eco-friendly diver.

I wish we had someone from this shop, or maybe the instructor to get her POV. I'm not trying to make a dig at this, but we are only hearing one side of the story, and everyone is following it like sheep! I guess I am a little bitter about some posts after reading this: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=169222

When you only hear one side, it's hard to make an unbiased judegemnt and any logical recomendations. I'm not sticking up for the LDS, I'm just saying the story sounds funny, and we don't have all the facts. I think that untill we hear some more relevant facts, this thread is starting to go in a predictable direction.


I know I pissed someone off with this one, but I was just being honnest...
-Sean

 

[dry heat diver]

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

Sounds to me like you've been had by a lazy instructor. Hopefully, you had the foresight to pay with a credit card. If so, and if they won't refund your money, you can always contest the charges through your credit card provider. At the minimum, they should be willing to postpone your OW training until you are ready and you should receive credit for the money you have already paid. If not, I suggest you either take them to small claims court or cut your losses and go find an instructor who has the patience to work with a student until they get it right. My wife and I completed our OW certification earlier this year and found our instructors willing to go out of their way to help us work through whatever issues or problems we experienced no matter how much extra time and effort it required. You should accept nothing less. Diving is a wonderful experience so don't get discouraged and give up. But also, don't ever let anyone push or bully you to go beyond the level where you feel comfortable and safe and don't be afraid to shop for instructors and dive shops who care enough to train you properly. There are very good people out there. You just need to find them.

 

[JD'sMom]

Seanx32

If you read my thread, in no way did I completely blame the shop. I even said that I was discouraged and disappointed in myself because I didn't get it. I understand that this is only my point of view, but ripping into me because I've had a bad exeprience (which if you read the tread like you said, I said I understood why I was taken out of the water and that I didn't know what I looked like in the water, maybe I did look panicky) is not helping me any. I even conceded that I was assuming I wouldn't get a credit for the boat trip today because of what I was told when I signed up. My only complaint with the shop was expecting me to know how to us fins, when I hadn't ever done that before. My bad, again another assumption on my part that I would be taught that as part of learning how to dive. I said that I felt like a doof. Because I didn't get it. And yes, they are flexible, they can start you any weekend you can make it but the curriculum is the same - 2 weekends, 4 days to learn how to dive. Look I'm not blaming the shop, I made mistakes, obviously a fast track school isn't for me, but saying my post are "fishy" is an insult that I wasn't expecting here. I was disappointed in myself and licking my wounds, did you need to make them all the more bigger?

 

[Missdirected]

OK, after about page 3 I had given up on this thread. But then I saw someone take a look at the other side. cinder4320 was the first to question if ANY of the responsibility might fall on JD'sMom. I'm not saying that she shouldn't be diving or is incompetent, or anything negative about JD'sMom. HOWEVER, her posts do sound a little fishy to me....

I looked at her profile, I found the LDS, I looked at their website; yea, their training program looks odd, but what do we know? Without talking to them I don't know if maybe it works. They got to be training SOMEBODY this way.

They even have a Guerentee: Our Promise & Guarantee: We're proud to offer the most flexible schedule available, with classes EVERY WEEKEND. We also guarantee to give you the most adventurous and educational Scuba experience. When you complete your training with us, you will be a confident and well-trained diver ready to explore the underwater world. We're dedicated to educating divers in protecting the aquatic environment, so in addition to the basics, you will also be taught additional buoyancy skills and fish identification to aid you in becoming a more eco-friendly diver.

I wish we had someone from this shop, or maybe the instructor to get her POV. I'm not trying to make a dig at this, but we are only hearing one side of the story, and everyone is following it like sheep! I guess I am a little bitter about some posts after reading this: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=169222

When you only hear one side, it's hard to make an unbiased judegemnt and any logical recomendations. I'm not sticking up for the LDS, I'm just saying the story sounds funny, and we don't have all the facts. I think that untill we hear some more relevant facts, this thread is starting to go in a predictable direction.


I know I pissed someone off with this one, but I was just being honnest...
-Sean

If you had read the first three pages, as you stated you did, you would have noted she takes responsibility. Now be honest, you didn't read it did you? Actually perhaps maybe your reading comprehension is a bit off, so I have quoted JD's mom and highlighted some points to assist you.

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

Now after reading you feel full responsibility falls on her wholly, well hey that's fine. "tis your opinion. How about trying to be constructive with it? I'd bet it would work a whole lot better than an attack on the OP and the others here on the board.

When you only hear one side, it's hard to make an unbiased judegemnt and any logical recomendations. I'm not sticking up for the LDS, I'm just saying the story sounds funny, and we don't have all the facts. I think that untill we hear some more relevant facts, this thread is starting to go in a predictable direction.

Who would have ever thought of that concept! :ne_nau:

My apologies if I sound a bit stern; however, I am slightly insulted by your calling me a sheep (basically incompetent) and the disregard you have displayed to your fellow divers who are trying to be helpful to the OP.

 

[knotical]

Some folks have questioned the Eco Dive schedule of doing three open water dives after only one pool session, but:
- It is not uncommon to complete Confined Water Modules 1 through 3 in a single 4-hour pool session.
- PADI permits Open Water Dive 1 and Excursion Dives to be conducted after Confined Water Module 1.
- Open Water Dive 2 can be conducted after Confined Water Module 3 and one of the watermanship tests (float, swim or snorkel).
Eco Dive appears to be within standards.

JD’s Mom, it’s a little surprising that you apparently didn’t stay, or weren’t permitted to stay for the academic portion of the day’s training. Or did you make your first post during the lunch break?

Whatever transpired, or whatever we (strangers) on ScubaBoard say, I join with others who are encouraging you to persist. Now that we’re empathizing with you, we hope to hear of a successful outcome.

 

[sEANx32]

I understand that this is only my point of view, but ripping into me because I've had a bad exeprience (which if you read the tread like you said, I said I understood why I was taken out of the water and that I didn't know what I looked like in the water, maybe I did look panicky) is not helping me any.

I think my post is a FAR cry from ripping into you. Matter of fact, the only thing ever directed at you was that the posts seem fishy. If this is what you view as "ripping into" you, then maybe a public forum is not the best place to seek advise.

Look I'm not blaming the shop, I made mistakes, obviously a fast track school isn't for me, but saying my post are "fishy" is an insult that I wasn't expecting here. I was disappointed in myself and licking my wounds, did you need to make them all the more bigger?

Did you even read the other thread I quoted? If so, it would be easy to see how your post could be suspect. Truly, RE-READ my posting slowly. You will see that you are not even much of the subject of it. If anything, it amazes me how almost everyone in this thread is so quick to blame an LDS or instructor without all the facts.

I think that the few bad apples are really hurting our sport. It seems that a lot of us have come across at least one instructor that has somehow rubbed us the wrong way, and therefore we are all quick to light the torches and get the pitchforks.

As far as helping you in any way, how about this: Go back to the dive shop and seek advise from them. Don't post here about your problem that no-one can help you with unless you have as much information as possible. Talk to the LDS owner or manager, talk to another instructor there. Let them explain themselves and the situation with your refund or further training. THEN, if what they are saying to you still sounds odd, come back here and you will recieve a TON of great helpful advise. And, you might recieve some ideas that don't flow exactly as you want them too. Again, public forum.

Don't get you knickers in a bunch:11doh: , no one is launching a personal attack at you.:no

-Sean

 

[Missdirected]

I do believe she also stated she didn't see it as the shop's fault. Furthermore, she stated she liked them and wanted to stick with them.

Lastly, I believe she was looking for some encouragement. Which is what we do on this very public forum.

One more thing, she wasn't 100% sure about the boat thing. I suggested if they didn't fall in line with the norm of offering credit she should leave. I stand by that. I have been to many shops all over, I believe my recommendation is solid.

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

 

[Missdirected]

That lil bag isn't enough to share.:winky: Here you go

 

[Missdirected]

JD's mom, hey when you find out about the boat I am curious to know. Were your tickets on the big boats that go over to Catalina? I used that one on my SoCal trip in September. Just thinking out loud here, but if the shop doesn't have a deal with the boat you may just lose out. Anyway, I'm just being curious. Let us know.


BTW, once you get to the water park you will love it. Careful getting down the steps though. I am confident they will tell you all about that though. You may have difficulty staying focused it is a really pretty spot. There is a clearing just out from the steps that is where they will likely have you practice your skills. Think I have an awesome octo shot from the park. I will go look and post it here if I do.