I might not like this after all

[RV6Pilot]

Prior to yesterday, I was very enthused about beginning my open water scuba training. I selected the SDI course from a LDS because of its flexibility and the recommendation of the LDS. I completed my on-line course and was ready for my training in the pool.

The instructors were good and we got started right away. We spent a total of almost 6 hours in the pool and completed 30 different tasks within that time. At the end of this time I was totally exhausted, every muscle ached and was in bed by 7pm. In talking with fellow students, almost all felt the same.

I came away from this class with a few thoughts:

1) Is one day enough time to learn 30 different skills? I do not think so. My life depends on knowing these skills and I am not sure I could remember half.

2) Can one person put out the same effort at the end of 6 hours as they did at the beginning of the day? Again, my body and mind screamed NO!

Conclusion: This class, while good in intent, has done more to discourage my desire to scuba dive than to encourage it.

I wonder if anyone else has felt the same???

 

[Cave Diver]

1) Is one day enough time to learn 30 different skills? I do not think so. My life depends on knowing these skills and I am not sure I could remember half.

2) Can one person put out the same effort at the end of 6 hours as they did at the beginning of the day? Again, my body and mind screamed NO!

Conclusion: This class, while good in intent, has done more to discourage my desire to scuba dive than to encourage it.

I wonder if anyone else has felt the same???

I'm not familiar with the structure of that agency and it's teaching methods, but I applaud your questioning of it. It is a very mature viewpoint to recognize that your life depends on these skills and want more time to perfect them. Seems most new divers are in such a rush, they want the absolute minimum time they can get.

My advice would be to address your concerns with the LDS, see if they can break the class into shorter sessions, or perhaps provide you with some additional time in the pool to work and practice on those skills.

Diving is a fantastic sport, but it can require a lot of work sometimes. I think you'll be glad if you stick it out.

 

[Walter]

Sounds like your problem is not SCUBA, but rather the method in which it was presented.

Two hour pool sessions are long enough. After two hours, you get cold, your attention span drops and you get tired. Also with two hour sessions, you get more practice putting your equipment together and taking it apart. An added advantage of stretching your course out over 3 to 4 weeks is you move what you've learned from short term memory to long term.

I'm under the impression that you've completed all your pool work. I sincerely hope that's not true. Six hours is not enough time to adequately learn to dive. If you learned 30 skills, that means you had an average of 12 minutes for each. That includes your instructor explaining the skill, then demonstrating the skill, then you learning it and practicing. While some skills can be taught quite easily in 12 minutes, most require more practice time than this.

Conclusion: Don't give up on SCUBA, instead fire your instructor.

 

[TwoBitTxn]

This is not standard to SDI. I agree with you. How much do you retain after a long hard day.

I would hope there are other opportunities to review the skills before going to open water.

This could also be an instance showing how a good instuctor can improve a students excitement for the sport where a bad one can accomplish just the opposite.

TwoBit

 

[fins wake]

I came away from this class with a few thoughts: [snipped]

My subjective opinions:

(1) No. But hopefully you will redo all these 30 tasks over the next couple of days. Hopefully you will feel less stressed-out on the final day.

(2) No. Although there are dive courses which will run way over 6 hours a day for many, many days in a row (e.g. some technical courses, instructor courses), none of these are the initial beginner's course.

The 30-task-a-day comment may perhaps be a wee tiny exaggeration? If not, why so heavy a first day? What is the total duration of the course? It shouldn't be less than four days IMHO, so I hope this isn't a question of a two-or-three-day OW course ...

I agree with Cave Diver that you should state your opinion to the LDS and instructor. They might not be aware that there's a problem, and if people suddenly feel like dropping out, they should know why. It's in their own interest.

Of course, there's always the possibility that you personally would be happier with a less intensive course in any case. There are plenty around.

Please let us know your feelings at the end of the course, as you may feel differently then. If I were you, I wouldn't let your first day discourage me provided the instructors are good (as you say), but that's just me.

 

[RV6Pilot]

Thanks to all for your comments. The pool time was indeed about 6 hours in total. The instructor repeatedly said we need to cover 30 tasks and although I did not count each, I am sure we did 30 tasks. Each task was explained, demoed and then each of demonstrated it back. Most were easy but some I struggled with and wanted more time with. I didn't push it as I did not want to hold anyone else back.

The point made about being cold, tired and losing focus was very true. After a few hours, we just wanted to get done. Sorry to sound so negative but I was so excited to get into this sport and now I can only think "Why would anyone go through this"

Thanks

 

[ckharlan66]

That is not the norm. Most of the classes I am aware of are several shorter sessions. That allows you to digest each skill and to have time to set up and break down the equipment several times during your instruction.

Is this to be your only pool time during the class?

Chad

 

[RV6Pilot]

That is not the norm. Most of the classes I am aware of are several shorter sessions. That allows you to digest each skill and to have time to set up and break down the equipment several times during your instruction.

Is this to be your only pool time during the class?

Chad

To Ckharlan66: Yes, that was the entire pool time.

 

[ckharlan66]

If you aren't comfortable go to the instructor and tell them. Ask if you can go back through a different class that is set up over several weeks. If not ask for your money back and find someone else. You should be enjoying this experience it shouldn't be stressful it should be fun. Some parts of it are harder for some people but if you feel that you were rushed through the whole thing, which if you only got one pool session I agree you were, then you didn't get the experience you bargained for and as such you are a dissatisfied customer.

Good luck

Chad

 

[cdiver2]

It seems that this is the direction scuba diving is going.
Walked into my LDS Friday afternoon and there was a young guy in from Germany going through his books. The owner told me he had walked in thursday afternoon and said he wanted to get certified by Sunday as he was returning to Germany Monday.
I saw him again Sat evening after he had just completed his first two dives.
What next certify online in a day!!!!.