I am frustrated

[Scuba-dooba-do]

Thank you all for chiming in. very helpful...keep them coming.!!

 

[lowwall]

Are you donning and doffing the BCD while on the bottom or while hovering? If the latter, that's a very difficult skill in 5 feet of water.

Anyway, my suggestion for that is to practice it with your eyes closed. I have a prescription mask that results in limited peripheral vision, so I've had to learn to get my gear on and off by feel. It becomes second nature eventually.

I'll echo the others in saying the instructor is being unprofessional. It's normal for students to work at different rates and he should be able to handle it. For example, he could talk to you privately and arrange additional time to get this squared away or have the rest of the students work on something else with an assistant when it's your turn to demonstrate skills.

Even if the shop has overloaded the class (which sounds likely given what you are saying about there not being enough room in the pool during class), it's still their responsibility to accommodate the students. If they won't, then they should give you your money back for that part of the course so you can go elsewhere.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I practice for 5 hours the day before class.

My husband and others say I am too hard on myself. I can see that from their perspective, but from mine, no. Determination and being hard on myself is what drives me to do better.

At least for me, sometimes when I get frustrated trying to learn something, I find that taking a step back and, following a bit of reverse-psychology, telling myself this activity is unimportant and I don't care if I learn it or not, whatever it was that I found so difficult somehow clicks into place.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I practice for 5 hours the day before class. Cannot do it more. I can achieve perfect buoyancy on Fridays. I can have room to stretch out and get it just right. Our pool is small. We literally can't do much without hitting each other with fins. I hold no feelings of ill will toward my instructor. I can only imagine how frustrating it is. We have a 2nd helper if I failed to mention that. We are doing instruction building on the weeks prior instruction. I am okay with being a slow learner. Let me rephrase, I am not a slow learner in the sense of understanding the skill. I can do the skill perfectly at some points but not others. I don't do them well every time. For example I had trouble removing my Bcg the other day and getting it back on. Could I have after taking some time to? Yes I could have but the class must move on for which I totally understand. I am a fighter and would have wrestled that s.o.b back on. BUT in a timely manner of a few minutes no. I am still getting used to feeling buckles and snaps without looking down too much. I practice this on my bcg at home as well. My husband and others say I am too hard on myself. I can see that from their perspective, but from mine, no. Determination and being hard on myself is what drives me to do better. Am I frustrated heck yeah. Will I quit, no.

Oh my! I can read your frustration. I give you lots of credit for trying so hard, and thanks for reaching out to other divers. There is a section in here for newer divers that may be helpful, along with others suggestions.
I agree, 5ft depth is very difficult to maintain buoyancy.
Is there an urgency to get certified? Such as, is there a trip planned or something?
Another thing you mentioned is your body fat. Some people are floaters, others sinkers, and it has no relevance on body fat. I have some weight on me, I weigh currently 30lbs more than when I got certified, and use 10lbs less ditchable weight now. That comes from lots of diving. You learn as you go. Give your self some love!
You mentioned losing weight. Lean, fit body types are usually more flexible. Maybe do some stretching exercises?
Your controlled ascent, would that be swimming from one end of the pool to the other in one breath? Is that what you practice? Maybe more breathing exercises at home?
I agree with others that a private instructor may be better as they will be able to give you the personalized attention you need, and the confidence to succeed.

 

[Scuba-dooba-do]

Where are they planning on doing open water checkouts in March? You say you are in the US. Unless your friend who is certified is an instructor, they are taking a huge risk and you are putting yourself at risk going into their pool.
If the instructors you have are getting irritated, they should not be teaching. We do get irritated at times, but showing that to the student is unprofessional and counterproductive.
One of them should be taking you aside and working with you individually at these sessions to get you through the classes.
How many in total are in these classes? Instructors, assistants, students.
There are so many solutions to this that just involve a little time and patience to overcome.

Yes he is certified

 

[Scuba-dooba-do]

Oh my! I can read your frustration. I give you lots of credit for trying so hard, and thanks for reaching out to other divers. There is a section in here for newer divers that may be helpful, along with others suggestions.
I agree, 5ft depth is very difficult to maintain buoyancy.
Is there an urgency to get certified? Such as, is there a trip planned or something?
Another thing you mentioned is your body fat. Some people are floaters, others sinkers, and it has no relevance on body fat. I have some weight on me, I weigh currently 30lbs more than when I got certified, and use 10lbs less ditchable weight now. That comes from lots of diving. You learn as you go. Give your self some love!
You mentioned losing weight. Lean, fit body types are usually more flexible. Maybe do some stretching exercises?
Your controlled ascent, would that be swimming from one end of the pool to the other in one breath? Is that what you practice? Maybe more breathing exercises at home?
I agree with others that a private instructor may be better as they will be able to give you the personalized attention you need, and the confidence to succeed.

LOL. I can put my legs behind my neck sitting down on my bottom on the floor. Yoga and natural abilities I am very flexible. I have long legs. Breathing is great. Coordination is not great. Will get there though.
No there is no urgency.

 

[L13]

My husband and others say I am too hard on myself. I can see that from their perspective, but from mine, no. Determination and being hard on myself is what drives me to do better. Am I frustrated heck yeah. Will I quit, no.

I think the problem is your expectations, not your performance.

Relax and enjoy it, instead of focusing on conquering it. Otherwise, you will eventually either conquer it and move on to something else, or quit in frustration. And in neither case will you actually have enjoyed it (other than maybe the joy of adding 1 more thing to your list of conquered goals).

I have never conquered scuba diving, and I'm sure I never will. Instead, I have loved it. The only people I know who have conquered scuba (in their own evaluation) don't dive anymore.

 

[VikingDives]

I go to the pool on Fridays at 10 a.m for 5 hours to practice. I am a slow learner. I have to do things multiple times to have it really click.

5 hour pool sessions are really long. If you can break them up into shorter chunks, you'll get more out of them.

These classes move quickly. The instructors show the training first e.g. Mask 1-4, Regulator 1-5 etc. I have chosen not to do the open water dive test because I know that I am not ready. It still takes me about 10 minutes to get my buoyancy just right. Which slows down the class. The instructors get irritated (which makes sense) I am slowing them down.

I'd suggest cutting your losses right now and getting a different/better instructor.

I am not prepared for doing all of the tasks. An example is taking off my gear in the water and getting back on. Buddy breathing, controlled ascent I have not mastered yet. I can clear my mask most of the time. I have had a few instances where I had to cough into reg. to get rid of water. With lack of buoyancy I am a mess on everything else. I am so frustrated and I feel like a complete loser.

All of this suggests to me that you should run to a new shop/instructor who can mesh better with you.

I feel bad for my husband who is hurt. He is in great shape btw. He just moved wrong.. As for me I am 5 feet 8, I have 29 percent body fat: which means I can float! I use about 12 pounds of weight to drop.
I guess I don't have any questions per say...just venting frustrations. I knew by class 4 I was not going to be ready. I kept going to class though. I probably will still take the written test, but not go to anymore official classes. Which is only 1 more. Which is a wet suit fitting etc. They also will be doing all of the skills with a wet-suit on. I will continue to go to the pool on Fridays when hubby is better and can be my buddy. I will continue to practice all of the steps. Going to the last Saturday class will only serve to frustrate me even more. I need to practice certain things that I struggle with...before I even think about putting on a wet-suit. Again I am so frustrated. I cried the whole way home from practice. Then and there I decided I will not put myself or others at risk by doing the open water dive without more confidence in my skills. As an aside : I am very comfortable in the water, no panic, no problem with the regulator. I am strong. I can carry the tanks and help my buddy put theirs on. I use less oxygen than most of my classmates. I breathe deeply and regularly . Guess I have good lungs. I have lost 10 pounds in the last 2 months..I am on a wellness journey. Thanks for letting me vent.
... Any comments, advice, opinions

People learn at different rates. You've been doing this for a couple of days, so you shouldn't expect to be good at anything yet. Give yourself time and permission to be really bad at everything. If you can do that (it's a mental game) it will help your performance in the water.

If you're anywhere near me, I have a lot of experience (and patience) with students like you. I just certified a lady who took several months and multiple pool sessions before she was ready to go to open water. As long as you don't quit, you're winning.

 

[Still Kicking]

I admire your determination and i hope you keep working at it and get through the class.

Reading between the lines of what you wrote, it seems a lot of the problems you are going through stem from the economic structure of the class. To keep their costs down, the instructor is using a private pool instead of renting a deeper public pool that would be easier for the students; they have a larger class than the pool can accommodate comfortably; they are trying to keep things moving along to keep their $/hour rate at a reasonable level (hence their frustration).

Going to a rented public pool with at least 10 feet depth, with a smaller group or one-on-one training at a slower pace will increase the cost of the class but will be a radically better experience for you. Since you say you are confident in the water, I bet you will sail through the class under those circumstances.

Best of luck and kudos for your determination!

 

[MidOH]

You don't need much of a pool to practice in water doffing and donning.

I think you're being too hard on yourself. Putting on your rig, in the water, should be easier than land, and I don't see how you can't get it down in 5 hours. Put reg in mouth, float rig, spin it on. It doesn't have to be a graceful synchronized swim or anything.

I'd go to the checkout dive class. Fail if need be. It's another day in the water. Try another instructor.