Cool stuff your instructor did in your Advanced course

[sandiegoaes]

I am conducting some research on Advanced courses (or the NAUI Master Diver course) and what activities an instructor can do to spice the class up a bit. Was there anything that your instructor did during the class that you thought was really cool?

A few examples:

During the Navigation exercises, we typically have envelopes sealed in plastic zip lock bags. A small fishing weight is put inside the bag. Inside the envelope is a playing card. The envelope prevents the person from knowing which card is inside.

A navigation course is layed out ahead of time on the bottom, usually a triangle and rectangle pattern for the Adv course. For each leg of the course that a student gets correct, they get to pick up an envelope. At the end of the dive, usually students would get 5-6 cards sealed in envelopes, again still not knowing what cards they picked up.

During the debrief, you play poker. Whoever gets the highest card wins. The instructor gives a prize (usually a Scuba tool or save a dive kit) to the winner.

I have used pirate treasure boxes in the past for search and recovery. Had the students rescue plastic skeletons in dive gear for Public Safety Diver / Rescue programs.

What things have your instructors done in the past to zazz up your courses????

 

[sandiegoaes]

I also do a big emphasis on sustainability and ecology. Almost every session is a "leave it better than you found it" exercise. I bring trash bags and we walk the area during or after debrief, picking up trash to keep the area cleaner than before.