Instructor Horror Stories

[triciask]

To all the Instructors and Members out there:

As someone who is in the process of looking to become certified in the near future, i'm a little concerned as to what it is I'm supposed to be looking for in an instructor.

Apparently based on what I've read around the boards and internet, finding the right instructor is imperitive and could make all the difference in the world as to how pleasant or unpleasant your course and new dive experiences will be.

In some instances I have read that people have given up on the idea of becoming certified altogether because of the instructor. The claim is that they are very difficult to communicate with and a bit of hard noses.

What advise can you give this wannabe newbie; what type of instructor should I be looking for?

What are some of the characteristics I should be looking for when inquiring about my course and meeting with the instructor?

If you're unsatified with your instructor, can you switch instructors given there are others available?

What if you've paid for your course, and there are no other instructors, are you out the money that you've paid? Or is there a way you can get your money back and try another course somewhere else?

Any information you are willing to share will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Confused,
Tyme

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Just go to your local dive shop and talk to instructors. You'll know in a few minutes if you want to go with that guy or not. Ask the shop what their policies are in regards to switching classes.

You can even ask to observe a pool session if you like. I know our shop allows that.

 

[triciask]

Thanks Al, I will definitely ask to observe. That will be a great first hand look at interaction with the students. Great Idea.

I'm counting on my good judge of character to pinpoint just the right instructor.

Thanks for the info.
Tyme

Just go to your local dive shop and talk to instructors. You'll know in a few minutes if you want to go with that guy or not. Ask the shop what their policies are in regards to switching classes.

You can even ask to observe a pool session if you like. I know our shop allows that.

 

[Scubagolf]

You might take at look at postings in the Conch Divers (Fla) forum. For example,
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=104464.

 

[Bill51]

Remember that a good instructor student relationship means completely different things to different people and you are looking for an instructor that can communicate with YOU. The instructor that you might find understanding, I might find boring, and the instructor I like might come across as too hard nosed to you.

 

[wedivebc]

Just go to your local dive shop and talk to instructors. You'll know in a few minutes if you want to go with that guy or not. Ask the shop what their policies are in regards to switching classes.

You can even ask to observe a pool session if you like. I know our shop allows that.

I think an untrained student checking out a dive instructor has less value than a trained diver looking for further training.
The untrained diver doesn't know what he doesn't know. Therefore if the instructor say "by the end of my course you'll be diving to 180ft on a single tank of air" the potenetial student may think this the best instructor ever.
I think talking to other students whether in person or online is the best course of action.

 

[Wayward Son]

Mostly, I think you will not be able to get a refund if you drop the class. At best, you may get a partial refund, possibly only in the form of store credit.

This is not entirely unreasonable. There are costs. You get your book, log, dive tables. They have to pay the instructor on a per student basis.

If the shop has more than one instructor, they should be willing to put you in a different class if it seems neccessary. The shop my wife took her class with did just that, when things didn't work so well with her 1st one. The one she ended up finishing the class with turned out to be someone she just liked a lot better. Different guy, different style. No big deal & it worked out for everyone in the end.

But the shops and/or agencies have their own policies, so be sure to ask before you plunk down cash.

 

[DennisW]

There is no place out there that completely provides everything a prospective diver may need, but education about the industry and the sport in general is very good.

One place to look is here: http://www.diverlink.com/wrap.php?file=newdiver/newdiver.htm

There are also forums on Scubaboard that will help as well. Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of SCUBA.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

To all the Instructors and Members out there:

As someone who is in the process of looking to become certified in the near future, i'm a little concerned as to what it is I'm supposed to be looking for in an instructor.

Apparently based on what I've read around the boards and internet, finding the right instructor is imperitive and could make all the difference in the world as to how pleasant or unpleasant your course and new dive experiences will be.

In some instances I have read that people have given up on the idea of becoming certified altogether because of the instructor. The claim is that they are very difficult to communicate with and a bit of hard noses.

What advise can you give this wannabe newbie; what type of instructor should I be looking for?

What are some of the characteristics I should be looking for when inquiring about my course and meeting with the instructor?

If you're unsatified with your instructor, can you switch instructors given there are others available?

What if you've paid for your course, and there are no other instructors, are you out the money that you've paid? Or is there a way you can get your money back and try another course somewhere else?

Any information you are willing to share will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Confused,
Tyme

Your profile indicates that you are located in Florida. If you are in the Tampa area or even just west of Orlando, I would encourage to contact GDI. I have taken some advanced classes from him and wish I had taken my entry level classes from him as well. Rick is patient, but he will make sure that you have all of the skills necessary to dive safely mastered before he passes you, or any student. I have never compared his prices for basic scuba instruction, but even if they are higher than you might find in your local dive shop I would say Rick is worth whatever he charges.

I asked him about his basic classes and felt that his instruction on the basic skills was superior to my basic instruction, and from what I have read here on this board my basic instruction was superior to some of the instruction recieved by others.

Probably the best questions you can ask are about the failure rate the instructor has with their students. This can be a difficult area, but I would be happy to find an instructor with a low failure rate, but only because the instructor will take extra time to work with students who have specific problems. If you find an instructor that never fails a student but also never takes extra time with any students, I would be leery. If you find an instructor that fails lots of students but has never taken some extra time to help students along through the difficulties, again I would be leery. If you find that instructor who upon encountering a student who is having difficulties is willing to spend some extra time to help the student along, that is the instructor I want. If the student is unable to master the skills even with extra time, then that student should not pass, as they will be a danger to themselves and others in the water with them.

Mark Vlahos

 

[triciask]

Thanks I did just that! Very helpful!
Tyme

You might take at look at postings in the Conch Divers (Fla) forum. For example,
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=104464.