Ok here is a good example of why it is not always good to try and rush a scuba class.
In Florida the temperatures have been dropping to the low F side (like less than 30F at night) Many of the pools in the state are not indoors and most do not have sufficient heaters to keep them up to the nice temp range say, 80 F. I have a student that was hoping to get through his OW class asap. I explained to him that the pool temps are way down and did everything I could to find a close enough pool with a heater that we could access and use for scuba lessons. No luck there. Finally we got a break in the weather and the temps came up (yeh! like that matters much to the pools) Anyway the pool temp did come up a wee bit over the last couple of days. From 56 F to 58F.
I said "I will put you in a thick wetsuit and see what we could get done. We had completed all the academic stuff so only had the pool skills to do". I even suggested that we go to the springs which are at a nice balmy 72F and do our skills (pool like conditions you know) The student didn't have that kind of time frame for the travel and the springs costs etc etc but wanted to just go with the pool and stated that he could handle the colder temps AND was willing to do the swim test first without the wetsuit (oooooKKK! :ice: ). I continually suggested to just wait it out for warmer weather and we would get the pool skills done then. Nope No go, he is in a hurry to get it done (of course those who know me as an instructor know hurry and training don't mix with me). So today we go to the pool. I give him a 5mm thick wetsuit and I fiqure what the heck I would use my old two piece 6mm instead of one of my drysuits or 3mm (3mm 60F duh!
ity_part )
I give him credit he attempted to swim with no wetsuit in the pool for ther swim test. yup 1 lap with only 9 to go, he got out didn't want to attemp 10 min of treading water or the rest of my swim test. He asked if we could come back later and do the swim test. Sure Why not I said :thinkingo . Well I let him put on the wetsuit and back in we went. We used weightbelts to get some snorkeling skills done. All is ok now as the suit kept him warm or was he. About 1 hour in the water and a chattering of teeth he decidesd that it is better to call the day and come back when it is warmer. His last words were "You did warn me, I will listen next time" As for me in my suit I was comfortable as all can be. With My Canadian blood and a thick wetsuit, I was willing to keeping going. In fact I had steam coming off me when I got out of the suit. The only thing I noticed was that for the first time in years I actually had to put weight back on, but I guess 12 mm total thickness will cause that. By the way he did fine on what skills we did cover. And we will be doing the full class again when all is warmer including the (my version) swim test.
Now I don't believe to belittle anyone but as a point it is sometimes better to listen to those who know If for know other reason than to make things go easier, don't you think?
In Florida the temperatures have been dropping to the low F side (like less than 30F at night) Many of the pools in the state are not indoors and most do not have sufficient heaters to keep them up to the nice temp range say, 80 F. I have a student that was hoping to get through his OW class asap. I explained to him that the pool temps are way down and did everything I could to find a close enough pool with a heater that we could access and use for scuba lessons. No luck there. Finally we got a break in the weather and the temps came up (yeh! like that matters much to the pools) Anyway the pool temp did come up a wee bit over the last couple of days. From 56 F to 58F.
I said "I will put you in a thick wetsuit and see what we could get done. We had completed all the academic stuff so only had the pool skills to do". I even suggested that we go to the springs which are at a nice balmy 72F and do our skills (pool like conditions you know) The student didn't have that kind of time frame for the travel and the springs costs etc etc but wanted to just go with the pool and stated that he could handle the colder temps AND was willing to do the swim test first without the wetsuit (oooooKKK! :ice: ). I continually suggested to just wait it out for warmer weather and we would get the pool skills done then. Nope No go, he is in a hurry to get it done (of course those who know me as an instructor know hurry and training don't mix with me). So today we go to the pool. I give him a 5mm thick wetsuit and I fiqure what the heck I would use my old two piece 6mm instead of one of my drysuits or 3mm (3mm 60F duh!
ity_part )I give him credit he attempted to swim with no wetsuit in the pool for ther swim test. yup 1 lap with only 9 to go, he got out didn't want to attemp 10 min of treading water or the rest of my swim test. He asked if we could come back later and do the swim test. Sure Why not I said :thinkingo . Well I let him put on the wetsuit and back in we went. We used weightbelts to get some snorkeling skills done. All is ok now as the suit kept him warm or was he. About 1 hour in the water and a chattering of teeth he decidesd that it is better to call the day and come back when it is warmer. His last words were "You did warn me, I will listen next time" As for me in my suit I was comfortable as all can be. With My Canadian blood and a thick wetsuit, I was willing to keeping going. In fact I had steam coming off me when I got out of the suit. The only thing I noticed was that for the first time in years I actually had to put weight back on, but I guess 12 mm total thickness will cause that. By the way he did fine on what skills we did cover. And we will be doing the full class again when all is warmer including the (my version) swim test.
Now I don't believe to belittle anyone but as a point it is sometimes better to listen to those who know If for know other reason than to make things go easier, don't you think?
