I'm being referred to a different SDI training facility.

[Mr. Ed]

Don't know if it is true with all DMT but from my experience neither PADI nor SDI trainers reveal to students what skills have accomplished and what skills need to be done before OWC.

I was surprised by how little amount of skills iI accomplished during the time I was with my former dive shop trainer. I replaced my BCD, mask, fins, found correct buoyancy weight, tried shop dry suit, bought my own dry suit, tried back-inflate BCD, decided it wasn't for me, bought a Hollis HD 200, difficult to make trim at surface due to over inflation just couldn't get it right.

Bought a Mares Prestige SLS BCD scheduled for delivery today. I hope the sides and back bladder feature will keep my upright rather than pushed forward as the Hollis HD 200 did.

 

[tursiops]

Don't know if it is true with all DMT but from my experience neither PADI nor SDI trainers reveal to students what skills have accomplished and what skills need to be done before OWC.

I was surprised by how little amount of skills iI accomplished during the time I was with my former dive shop trainer. I replaced my BCD, mask, fins, found correct buoyancy weight, tried shop dry suit, bought my own dry suit, tried back-inflate BCD, decided it wasn't for me, bought a Hollis HD 200, difficult to make trim at surface due to over inflation just couldn't get it right.

Bought a Mares Prestige SLS BCD scheduled for delivery today. I hope the sides and back bladder feature will keep my upright rather than pushed forward as the Hollis HD 200 did.

You really need to find a different set of instructors. Here is a PADI Skill Practice Slate that is often used in confined water by PADI instructors; you self-assess how you are doing. SDI has something similar.

 

[Rob9876]

^^^This. Plus it should be in your book/written materials also I would think. There are also helpful videos on YouTube -- here's one that goes over every skill for PADI:
I think the switch from back inflate to jacket BCD may make you more comfortable -- I prefer jacket BCDs myself. I will say that at this point you may want to stop buying any more gear until you finish your OW certification. After all of the time you've already put into it, you should find a shop that will either help you complete it in a matter of days, or level with you and tell you if they think that you are not able to perform the required skills.

 

[Aura]

More gear is not the solution to a fundamental lack of skills. I really think you should stop using the drysuit until you have the basic skills sorted out. And perhaps ask yourself honestly if this is actually something you can do, rather than only something you want to do.

 

[Mr. Ed]

More gear is not the solution to a fundamental lack of skills. I really think you should stop using the drysuit until you have the basic skills sorted out. And perhaps ask yourself honestly if this is actually something you can do, rather than only something you want to do.

I agree about not buying more gear and I accept the fact a large portent of my problems besides gear are created from lack of skills and experience. It is true, I have yet to dive in open water, but even in the confines of a swimming there is nothing more fulfilling than breathing underwater.

 

[kelemvor]

It sounds to me like maybe something untoward was going on with that original shop. As I understand it, you're in a regular Scuba Diver course and they sold you three different BCD's, and multiple of every other piece of gear. All this before you even completed the course? Many (most?) people don't buy gear until after completing training and getting certified.

Scuba training is all about the individual instructor and not so much about which agency (NAUI/PADI/SSI/RAID etc).

If you're heading to a different instructor/shop then you're doing the right thing. A good instructor should be able to teach you in just about any brand gear so long as it's not damaged or something oddball. Make sure you have a good feeling about your new instructor, and run like heck if he tries to pitch you a 4th set of gear.

It appears you're in New York, and I personally wouldn't dive in that area without a drysuit. Double that for this time of year. Diving dry does add complexity, but many of your fellow northerners have learned to dive in drysuyits.

If you haven't already paid the new instructor, maybe someone on ScubaBoard could recommend a competent instructor in your area. Unfortunately, I can't.

 

[rhwestfall]

I hope the sides and back bladder feature will keep my upright rather than pushed forward as the Hollis HD 200 did.

This is typically a weighting and weight distribution issue.... competent instruction should have sorted this out

you are throwing around way too much money...

 

[Aura]

It appears you're in New York, and I personally wouldn't dive in that area without a drysuit. Double that for this time of year. Diving dry does add complexity, but many of your fellow northerners have learned to dive in drysuyits.

I'd normally agree, but if someone has spent over a year and god knows how many pool sessions without getting the most basic skills down, then I think removing complexity is one of the most obvious ways to try moving forward.

 

[Gone for diving]

What is wrong with renting some gear until you find what works,,, instead of buying it,
Renting until your course is done, seems to me to be the normal way of doing things...
I know it's a pain,
but you don't know what you don't know,,,
I definitely would loose the drysuit, learn in a wetsuit, Get comfortable,
Yes it maybe a bit cold at times, but you can always upgrade to dry at a future point when you have grasped the basics,
Sounds like you are determined to dive,
Especially by the way money is getting spent, so I don't think a bit of cold is going to damper it,
and you haven't left the pool yet, so rent a nice semi-dry wet suit, with a hood built in, and go diving, leave extras in your dive bag,
As simple as possible, KISS concept will be your friend

 

[BlueTrin]

I would recommend you to use whatever rented equipment you can get with the shop at least until at least you have a good idea what will work for you. At the beginning, people don’t know what they will like later on once they have a few dives under their belt.

If money is really not an issue, forget what I said and enjoy the new BCD

I never had a back inflate but, if you feel like it’s pushing you forward, when at the surface, with a wing (where the pocket is in the back too) you just lean a bit backwards and don’t fully inflate it. (in case that helps)