How far would you take a loved one who wants to become a diver?

[Gone for diving]

None, I even farmed out my own wife to another instructor. I don't need that kind of headache in my life.

If to get my wife to dive and that was the answer,
I would do it in a heartbeat,

I look forward to teaching my kids,

My daughter likes walking around the house in her mini doubles set,

 

[TMHeimer]

I don't think I would do it at all. There are two basic kinds of students that I've observed. One is someone who is very comfortable in water having spent a lot of time there. These people (I like to consider myself one of them) find a lot of the OW skills to be quite easy ---ie, are breathing from a reg the first time, no mask breathing or doing a reg-snorkel exchange really "skills"? Why show someone like this anything when they'll breeze through OW course and need the cert. anyway to get air & dive? The second type is someone who has little "water" experience" and will find the skills to be hurdles to climb over. They need an instructor from the get go. So in both cases that leaves me out of it. After I took Rescue I did show my OW buddy a couple of things should he have to rescue me. That's a different situation. Snorkeling is another story. I have often pontificated about 10-14 years of age being too young to do scuba. I think snorkeling is fine at any age and wouldn't hesitate teaching it to anyone. Does it really have to be taught?

 

[TMHeimer]

As a now retired instructor, I would be perfectly comfortable taking my own kids or my own spouse into my own pool with all of our own gear and teaching them all of the basics prior to them taking an "official" certification course.

Of course, but you're an instructor.

 

[gordonscuba]

I would not presume to teach a newbie basic scuba skills without myself having gone through instructor training. Instructor training implies having my skill demonstrations critiqued by an instructor trainer / course director, and practicing those skill demonstrations until they are perfectly clear to a prospective student who is new to diving. Yes, I may be able to do the skills myself effortlessly and quickly, but that actually is not good for teaching, which requires the skill demonstrations be done in a slow and exaggerated manner, broken down into steps, and where the student sees everything. Assuming I care about this person, I'd rather them learn the skills from someone who is good at teaching the skills.

Once a loved one had passed certification and had 15 dives or so, I'd be happy to give helpful advice on trim & buoyancy, optimize their air consumption, help them become optimally weighted, streamline their gear, teach them how to build up and tear down a backplate and wing system, on land, from its component parts. Those are the kinds of things that certified divers can, and should, help each other with when both are certified but one has more knowledge and experience.

 

[VikingDives]

I wonder if aviation forums have questions like this... They probably do.

 

[rmssetc]

I know this is going to be contentious, but I'm curious on people's thoughts...

If you had a spouse, child, etc who wanted to become a diver, how far down that learning path would you be comfortable taking them before handing them over to an instructor?

How far does my own sense of inflated ego imagine that I would be comfortable teaching a loved one, purely from a skills perspective? Probably through most of OW theory and skills with confined water dives.

That doesn't mean I'd do a good job, and certainly not as good as some (many?) OW instructors...but at least as good a some instructors I've seen.

How far would I actually go teaching my loved one who wants to become a diver? Not more than showing them what I do, for myself with my own gear and general casual chatting about concepts and theory. No actual "instruction", not skills drills, no student workbook reviews, nothing in the water.

From what I've seen, it is extremely rare that the close relationship between loved ones actually makes it easier/better/more effective when teaching something stressful. I'd much, much rather leave the initial instruction to a professional, at least to the point of minimally recognized competency, such as a driver's license, OW certification, etc.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

A wise friend once told me that a person is better off not trying to train/teach anyone they’ve seen naked, be it spouse, someone you’re involved with, children, etc. To much emotional baggage goes along with it. Not only good words to live by, I also LOVE seeing people’s faces when I tell them that quote .

 

[Boarderguy]

A wise friend once told me that a person is better off not trying to train/teach anyone they’ve seen naked, be it spouse, someone you’re involved with, children, etc. To much emotional baggage goes along with it. Not only good words to live by, I also LOVE seeing people’s faces when I tell them that quote .

That is a fact. Criticism is seen as personal attacks and directions are mere suggestions.

 

[Tracy]

I wonder if aviation forums have questions like this... They probably do.

Probably.
My father taught me to fly. Flying the plane is the easiest part of becoming a pilot.

 

[Tom_Ivan]

I'd be happy teaching and diving to nitrox AOW level. It'd take more than 5 dives for each "level"

I would teach the skills for cave and DP but wouldn't do the dives until qualified.