Buddy up OW course couples?

[Mako Mark]

I usually have no problem with a couple buddying up until they start showing some weird dynamic, such as over dependance, ego, arrogance or arguments.

Then I split them up, usually subtly, rotate buddys is a great option.

Letting a certified spouse, SO, or parent "audit" a course is an absolute no no. No way, no how, not worth the hassle. Let the instructor do their job, come back in a couple of hours and you can dive together for evermore..

Ultimately, it is the instructors job to provide a comfortable environment for learning that is free from distractions.

 

[NauticalbutNice]

Ok so I'm not a couple...or even part of a couple, or an instructor, but when I did my OW I was buddied with a really close friend of mine. Result?

NIGHTMARE!

We became really competitive with each other, and there was also a kind of lack of seriousness because we were both so nervous about doing everything right, and we knew each other so well.

Now I'm doing my Rescue class and I find myself in a class with two very good friends of mine. Result? Great class. Because we're all divers, and we all want to learn. And a lot of the stuff is kinda familiar.

I guess it depends on the people, and on the type of class. In your OW class its all new and exciting and I guess people are already on edge.

I think what you're doing is the right thing.

Nauticalbutnice :fruit:

 

[friscuba]

Just to clarify, I'm not talking about advanced stuff. I'm talking about the basic skills. You just might be amazed at how much you really don't know as you continue your scuba education and gain experience. When I said I'm in my 7th year of actively teaching and I'm still learning, I'm not talking about advanced stuff, I'm talking about how to handle situational events involving even the most basic of Open Water skills. I still run into new situation, and new ways to do things, from time to time.

The more I learn, the more I realize how little I actually knew as a new diver, then as an "experienced diver", then as a new instructor, then as an "experieced" instructor... In a few years I'll probably look back and realize how little I know now.

I'd really recommend you let the guys who've been taught how to teach scuba do any pool training. You'd never see me working in the pool with anyone, even family and friends, who hadn't done the prerequisite academics.

take care,

Steve

QUOTE=fast97rs]O i agree..... i don't know anything yet..... Not even thinking about tri-mix or deco diving....... but i taught them right out of the book.... and just gave a quick overview on injuries and what not... and told them to be very open minded.... what i really concentrated on was the physical skillls, because that is the area that they will probably try to help each other in, and thus not learn completely..... I also come from a family that has spent life times in the water, fishing, and on boats... at 4 months old i have pictures of myself on a boat..... so the skills was just to make sure that they can do it and to clear up techniques......

Just my $.02

Jorgy[/QUOTE]

 

[Saipanman]

I try and rotate couples as best I can. I RARELY, if EVER pair adults with their kids unless its a private class, and even then I'll try and bring along a DM to be the kid's buddy, in addition to a DM to help with the other aspects of the class. I've found, as a general rule (yes, there are exceptions, I'm sure) that personal relationships bring baggage that doesn't belong in the ocean.

My thought is that you had better pray your buddy is exactly as good as you are at every skill. What if the dominant person has a catastrophic event underwater? The more submissive diver then has to save the day, without getting himself/herself killed in the process.

In my Kayak Diver course, I am always certain to include: "You know, they call tandem kayaks 'Divorce Boats' for a reason..."

As for a well-intentioned, but "just certified" beginner trying to teach family how to dive (even just the "beginning stuff") I respectfully assert that that is a VERY bad idea.

During our first year of law school, our deans/profs stressed that, at that stage, we didn't even know what we didn't know, so attempting to dispense our newly learned knowledge was certainly a very very bad idea.

The same applies here. No disrespect intended, but it is my honest opinion.

Now, I question how you're getting access to the gear you use to teach your family the basics. What shop would rent you gear and tanks for students when you're not an instructor? My answer: A shop that doesn't want to say in business very long, should a tragedy occur (and I pray it doesn't).

If you're just letting them use your gear, how are you in a position to slow a too-fast ascent, since you're not wearing gear? Where is your reg to give the student if he can't find his on the reg recovery drill?

Assuming you're just letting the student use your gear, you will be modelling bad behavior in a few ways. First, you're basically teaching the student how to solo dive, and that's bad for beginners. Second, you're teaching the student to shoot to the surface when bad things happen, rather than look to a buddy who has gear to share.

Just my two cents.

 

[caseybird]

I was in a OW class and pool dives with 2 couples. Occasionally the instructor would split up a couple and have me buddy with one or the other. It was fine until my buddy's spouse has the slightest problem, then I was usually abandoned for the rest of the class. Not helpful. They might as well have trained together, they wouldn't be any use to anyone else in a buddy team. On the other hand, I did get a little experience solo diving...

Caseybird