How many people were in your OW classes?

[scuba-sass]

... which was about 5 more than our instructor could handle.

I think this was the first class he ever taught, and he deffinately could use some education pointers. He usually had 3 assistants in the pool each night, and for OWC we were partnered 3 students to each instructor. Lyd and I ended up with Steve, the LDS senior instructor, and he was fabulous!

Scuba-sass

 

[KC_Scubabunny]

I guess I was very lucky because when my husband and I got certified it was just the two of us in the class. We had and Instructor and an AI for each class. We had some DMs in training who floated in and out picking up student time assistance time but none that were there for the whole thing.

Also I am curious about who long peoples classes lasted. Ours was 5 weeks on Sunday from 5pm - 10pm. I thought this was an awesome way to do it because it gave you 5 times to set up your gear and practices skills. Each week we coved one module in the PADI OW book and then the corresponding pool stuff.

I have heard a lot of people on this board talk about 2 day classes with many people. I for one probably would have never made it through that kind of class. I think the certifying agencies should do some research. I think smaller classes and longer training times result in people who are more comfortable and stay with the sport. Just a hypothesis!

KC_Scubabunny

 

[scubanole]

I did my OW with my nephew, and a father- daughter pair that we were friends with, so we all knew each other. We had 1 instructor the entire time.

As far as length of the course we went Mon.-Thur. for two weeks and then did the dives the Sat. and Sun. after the second week.

I did enjoy the small class and the fact that we all knew each other and I had no problem with the length of the class.

 

[MnLakeDiver]

2 in my "pool" sesion (the pool was broken so skills were done in a small bay in a local lake)

4 for the open water dives(we went down in pairs that we were matched with for pool)

we did our open water in the quaries and made a camping trip of it.

 

[padiver]

There where only 3 people in my class including me.

A small class is the way to go.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

My Policies and Standards Manual states:

The maximum number of students per single active-status NAUI instructor is ten (10). Additional students are permitted each active-status NAUI instructor at the following ratios when assistants (as defined above) are used. NO active assistants=10 students per group. 1 active status assistand=16 students per group. 2 active assistants=20 students per group. 3 active assistants=22 students per group. The maximum confined water training group size of 22 students per active-status NAUI instructor may not be exceeded, regardless of the number of assistants used. An active-status NAUI instructor is to be present and in control of each training group at all times.

While I believe 22 students is A LOT they are within the standards if there are only 22 students in a class that only has one instructor as long as there are 3 AI's, DM's, etc. in the water too. A second active-status instructor would put them into the standards if their group is bigger than that. However, it is my understanding that the instructor must be IN the water, that's how we have to do it at our university.

Rick, do you have revision 1-01 in your manual? I think they changed some of the ratios with that revision.

Ber

 

[Rick L]

There was 3 in the first classroom session.
The other two guys quit so I ended up with a private course!!!
It was great. since I had snorkled all my life he skipped the pool stuff and we went directly to the ocean! The instructor picked me up at my house we drove 15 miles to the ocean. We did my gear
and water stuff. He bought me a ice cream on the way home every time. And dropped me off at my front door!
how can you beet that hehe!!
Rick L

 

[Northeastwrecks]

nt

 

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by Ber Rabbit
My Policies and Standards Manual states:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The maximum number of students per single active-status NAUI instructor is ten (10). Additional students are permitted each active-status NAUI instructor at the following ratios when assistants (as defined above) are used. NO active assistants=10 students per group. 1 active status assistand=16 students per group. 2 active assistants=20 students per group. 3 active assistants=22 students per group. The maximum confined water training group size of 22 students per active-status NAUI instructor may not be exceeded, regardless of the number of assistants used. An active-status NAUI instructor is to be present and in control of each training group at all times.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While I believe 22 students is A LOT they are within the standards if there are only 22 students in a class that only has one instructor as long as there are 3 AI's, DM's, etc. in the water too. A second active-status instructor would put them into the standards if their group is bigger than that. However, it is my understanding that the instructor must be IN the water, that's how we have to do it at our university.

Rick, do you have revision 1-01 in your manual? I think they changed some of the ratios with that revision.

Ber

Something is badly amiss here. The 8/1-10/1 ratios are straight out of the RSTC standards. My NAUI manual is from '97, the last year we used NAUI at our shop, but the trend has been to get *more* and not less restrictive. Are you certain you're not quoting from the "skin diving" vice "scuba diving" section? NAUI uses the same insurers as everyone else, and *they* would go bonkers over a policy like 22/1.
Rick

 

[scuba-sass]

I certainly hope you reported your experiences with the first LDS to the certifying agency!

Scuba-sass