I failed the pool test!

[CamG]

Sounds like it was very unpleasent and I applaud your determination to continue. My first confined water dive I made fun of my instructor and his divemaster for wearing a wet suit in a heated pool. Man was I sorry, in about 3 hours I was shivering and very uncomfortable. Now as a divemaster canidate I try to encourage students to rent or buy a wet suit. As you already learned cold water , skills, and being new to scuba gear can be overwhelming. But dont loose heart! I failed the mask skills part of OW training the first time. Not the end of the world but did require anouther pool session a borrowed wet suit and bought lunch for my instrutor and his divemaster! Through the entire OW training I had to work twice as hard as my wife and 4 times as hard as the 20 year old fellow. But as I look back if it were not for the fact it was difficult, diving would not mean what it does to me today! Weakness can become our strength if we commit and determine to conquer. Mountains become mole hills! Hang in there and keep us posted on your progress. Good luck. CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[Flightlead]

53 deg with no exposure protection is, frankly, courting hypothermia for all but very short duration swims. I would do 53 deg at the surface in my 7mm jumpsuit and that temp at depth with an additional 7mm vest. I dove that temp a few weeks ago in a drysuit w/o a hood and was quite uncomfortable. I would not do it with no thermal protection.

 

[bluebyu]

Dont give up! What did not kill you will only me you stronger.Once you get going you will have a blast and look back at your pool time and just smile

 

[fisherdvm]

Are you sure you did not signed up for Navy Seals school?

 

[scubaskipper]

Find another instructor, someone that knows more about hypothermia. It's not suppose to be SEAL training.

 

[cruisegirl]

My OW cert dives were done after a 2 hour boat trip across the open ocean in thailand in 4m swell.

53F is pretty cold but I would argue that you should be able to handle that water temp and be able to perform skills in that sort of temp. Sounds like 53F may be more or less normal for your part of the world. So if I am the instructor and I see you struggling in that kind of water, I would also fail you because I will not have complete confidence that if I cert you and you are out there diving in 53F water by yourself you will be able to perform adequately.

I'm sorry but that's a stinky attitude. That temp of 53 degrees is too cold to be swimming in without exposure protection. Let alone someone new who's never done it. I also agree that your instructor wasn't good. I would either ask for a refund or ask for a different instructor when it warms up or they decide to heat the pool. Don't give up. It's wonderful down there and you'll love it.

 

[scubamama]

OMG, no instructor in his/her right mind could possibly expect a student to perform in 53 degree water. I agree with some of the other, get your money back and ditch that bozo of an instructor. Sounds like he/she may be on some sort of an ego trip. Can't imagine what else they're gonna teach you.....maybe how to kill yourself? Run like the wind my scuba friend!

 

[DivegalOz]

My OW cert dives were done after a 2 hour boat trip across the open ocean in thailand in 4m swell.

53F is pretty cold but I would argue that you should be able to handle that water temp and be able to perform skills in that sort of temp. Sounds like 53F may be more or less normal for your part of the world. So if I am the instructor and I see you struggling in that kind of water, I would also fail you because I will not have complete confidence that if I cert you and you are out there diving in 53F water by yourself you will be able to perform adequately.

Shame on you. :no That's a really dismissive attitude towards a new diver. How many dives have you done or would you do in Port Philip Bay in your bathers in 11-ish degree celcius weather?


To TwistedGray: I'm so glad that this chilly experience didn't put you off diving. The 20-odd skills you need to demonstrate in your OW course can be daunting enough without the added stress of freezing water temps. I know alot of instructors, none of which would subject students to these conditions. Good luck with the rest of your course :thumbs_up:

I have done alot of diving in Melbourne waters, conditions that seem similar to those of the OP and I would not dive, or swim for that matter, in 11-ish degree waters without appropriate exposure protection.Those temps welcome a drysuit and even with our peak temps of 23-ish celcius, I'll still wear a 7/5m.

 

[dkatchalov]

Having not visited this thread since my original postings, I've come back and saw a lot of posts commenting on my attitude towards the OP.

My original posts were not really thought through (was at work) and I have not really considered all the circumstances. Having re-read the OP and the rest of the thread and reflected on the way I would have reacted/felt I admit that I was wrong & stand corrected. No one should be expected to perform under the conditions that the OP described.

53F water is torturous in a full 7+5mm wetsuit configuration let alone swimming trunks, let alone trying to learn a completely new, complicated activity.

 

[agwatts]

I don't know where in Central Calif. you are...I might suggest, if possible, the Sport Chalet in Pleasanton has a indoor, heated (82 degrees) pool. No need to be miserable to get your pool work done. Monterey is cold enough, you should not need to endure cold water without a wet suit just to pass the endurance phase...in a pool.

Greg