Help ??? Mad Instructor

[Scuba_Vince]

Today I had my first pool training I really enjoyed it, but the only bad thing happend afterwards. I got out of the water perfectly and headed for the shower and my instructor said im not sure about you but you dont seem to swim right with fins (I never done that before) so i did had some problems with it. Also he said that i used alot of air and that i looked cold when i got up wich whas the case i only had a t shirt on and shorts underwater i whas fine. Conclusion is that my instructor said that i really have to think about getting on with the course. What do you guys thinks should i just go to another diving school and contuine there because i do really enjoy it but after this im in doubt about what to do.

Vince

 

[NavyDoll]

I'm sure others here will disagree with me... but personally, I think your instructor sounds pretty unprofessional. Providing feedback is an important part of instructing... but I think it is important to provide both good and bad feedback. Did your instructor have anything positive to say or was all his feedback in the form of criticism?

I know alot of instructors and some just aren't cut out to teach Open Water scuba courses... perhaps that's the problem in your case.

My advice... if you really feel negative after the first dives with this instructor then maybe you should get a referral and find an instructor that's more your style. There's no point in continuing with this person.. if he's going to make your experience a bad one. Don 't let one bad person ruin diving for you...

good luck..

 

[Quarrior]

Vince,

Persoanlly, I'd go back to the instructor and compliment him/her on their observations of you current skills. Then, I'd ask them when they would be able to help you overcome the defficiencies they noticed.

Basically, turn it not only into a positive thing, but, turn it around on them. They are the "instructor", make them instruct.

Brian

 

[Keysdrifter454]

Today I had my first pool training I really enjoyed it, but the only bad thing happend afterwards. I got out of the water perfectly and headed for the shower and my instructor said im not sure about you but you dont seem to swim right with fins (I never done that before) so i did had some problems with it. Also he said that i used alot of air and that i looked cold when i got up wich whas the case i only had a t shirt on and shorts underwater i whas fine. Conclusion is that my instructor said that i really have to think about getting on with the course. What do you guys thinks should i just go to another diving school and contuine there because i do really enjoy it but after this im in doubt about what to do.

Vince

Tell the bonehead that if you'd already known how to scuba dive, you wouldn't be paying him for lessons.

 

[ranger]

I agree that the instructor is unprofessional and I also think you should go back to him and ask what you need to do to correct your negatives, or as Quarrier put it "make him teach". If this doesn't work, request another class with another instructor. This is alot of work, but it is also supposed to be fun and a positive learning experience.

 

[opiniongirl]

I wouldn't waste one more moment with that instructor. One night in the pool, and he dosen't feel you've got the skills to progress? Extrapolate his professionalism to at least 3 more evenings, and throw in a couple of ocean dives...

I applaud keysdrifter - you're learning to dive, and that sounds exactly like a crappy instructor. Don't waste anymore time on him, I doubt anything you say will create an epiphany of any significant magnitude....

Go elsewhere, and have fun!!

 

[eastcoastdiver]

Today I had my first pool training I really enjoyed it, but the only bad thing happend afterwards. I got out of the water perfectly and headed for the shower and my instructor said im not sure about you but you dont seem to swim right with fins (I never done that before) so i did had some problems with it. Also he said that i used alot of air and that i looked cold when i got up wich whas the case i only had a t shirt on and shorts underwater i whas fine. Conclusion is that my instructor said that i really have to think about getting on with the course. What do you guys thinks should i just go to another diving school and contuine there because i do really enjoy it but after this im in doubt about what to do.

Vince

Why dont you stick with it and prove to the instructor that you can do it.

 

[ChrisA]

Others have already said that you need to talk with the instructor and possably switch instructors if you can't get him to help you.

But there may be some truth in what he said too. Both getting cold and not knowing how to swim with fins can be fixed. About getting cold all you need is a wetsuit. Buy one that is suitable for warm water diving and use it in the pool. You will need more weight too. Nothing wrong with getting cold. It means you are either a tall, thin guy or a small size women. Us fat old guys don't get cold so easy.

As for swimming with fins. Put the fins on and do some laps. Put your arms at your sides, don't use them and kick slowly. No dive gear. Maybe a mask and snorkle. Just spend a few one hour sessions and go slow. Swimming with fins as much easier than swimming without them.

I think it should be a hard requirement that scuba students be 100% comfortable with skin diving equipment (mask, snorkle fins) and be able to swimm with them and do some free diving in open water and be comfortable before they ever are shown scuba equipment.

The instructor may or may not be doing his job well, I don't know, but his comments are easy to address. He should have suggested the above to you There may be a reason why he did not. Perhaps it could be that you really were very bad, thrashed around and did not look comfortable in the water at all and he doesn't think you would be safe in open water. None of us saw you.

 

[shadydiver]

Vince,

Get a 2 mil shorty, cheap and keep you toasty in the indoor pool. Good luck man, and only you can make your decisions on which way to go.

 

[Bretagne]

-It is normal not to swim very well with fins the first time. It improves with training.
-If you are cold, it is normal to use a lot of air. The solution should be to get proper termal protection. In 28 C water I use a lycra T-shirt, the needed protection depends on water temperature.

This instructor is able to detect problem, but unable to propose the obvious solutions. It seems that he still has a lot to learn when teaching!