First of all, "Hello!" to the SB Community. New poster as well but extremely addicted to the SB Forums (just don't tell my boss
).
I'm really sorry to hear about your experience, Bella. To some, Ron might come across as inconsiderate and obnoxious. However, I felt that instruction wise, he really is out for the student's best interrest. Unfortunately, there might be times where his "delivery" is lacking some tact, but there is a lot of good intent nonetheless.
From my experience, he really grilled me as well. I would ask simple questions that would probably require simple one-sentence answers but he would spin it around to make me think really hard about my question to the point that it almost feel that he was insulting my curiousity - as though I didn't read the material. However, the more I thought about it, I do appreciate that he really made me think of my own question that I ended up coming up with the answer to my own question. As far as the "getting narc'd" story, during my class - he addressed it more as something not to do since he started of his statement as "I was really stupid one time and ..." But we all know in the class that students get "narc'd" at certain depths and this is shown from his stories when he asked his students to do a puzzle at great depths and some could not pull it off
After our first dive on the way back, he also informed me of his concerns. He even went as far as I need more pool dives and he doesn't feel that I am ready for my second open water dive. I really felt that I knew the skills that was required of us at that time, but maybe, I wasn't able to exemplify this as well as I should. So during the week between our first weekend dive and the following weekend, I swam at the Culver City pool for four days after work (with and without mask/fins) and re-read my book. I made myself more aware of the things I need to always do in the water - controlled deep breaths, equalization, know when to inflate (a little when descending), and deflate (empty out and just fin when surfacing after the safety stop), and that my lungs were my best BCD. I really felt challenged and I think it's good to rise to the challenge - for me anyway. This is regarding our safety after all...
Some students may be repulsed with his approach and it's unfortunate. Furthermore, I'm not going to say that EDC do not have certain areas they can improve on (unfortunately, I had to purchase my gear elsewhere - I don't make 6 figures yet to not care how much I pay for my dive gear - although I wish I can support them, but at the moment, I have to be practical with $$ :shakehead ). But I really feel that he brought the best out of me and honed in on my skills that I needed to improve on. Coupled with Beth, Brian and the rest of the DM crew - I believe that EDC is one of the best schools in LA as long as you don't let your emotions get the best of you. Some schools would only have 1 instructor per 4-5 students. EDC will have 1 instructor plus 2-3 dive masters supervising every 3-5 students. I think that's amazing.
I love diving even more than I initially started. I'm always open to other forms of teaching and am currenlty signed up for my AOW at Malibu Divers. I just really want to have a broad experience in terms of instructions across the community. Maybe I'll try Sports Chalet for my Rescue Diver. I also heard a lot of good things about Hollywood Divers and it's even closer to my house. But who knows, maybe I'll cross paths with EDC again
Bottomline, I'm glad you continued to dive. It truly is an amazing sport/activity. More kudos for you being able to find a suitable instructor you can enjoy your classes with. I'm doing quite a few beach dives lately as trips to Catalina can be a bit too pricey when done every weekend
. Unfortunately, last weekend's beach dive at Veteran's park was like brail diving as I visibility was very poor - boy am I spoiled by the clear waters of Catalina :lol: . Someday, I'd like to attain a Dive Master level so I can be a better buddy as well as help some of the LDS fascilitate their classes.
Cheers,
Chris
PS
Hello again to SB