New Divers, Comment on Padi OW Course

[waltkimber]

My wife and I are in the midst of our open water course through PADI. Alot of what I have read on here is sinking in as I go through the various skills. One thing is for sure, at least in my opinion, there is no way in the world that someone is competent to be diving without an instructor or someone to monitor them after completing the open water course. I think the course should be much longer with alot more pool work before moving on to open water environments. You just can't master the skills in such a short period of time and the consequences of not being competent are too dire. I'm not bashing PADI, actually I think the instructor is good. I just don't think I will be remotely close to being a competent diver after the OW course. Hello to everyone on the board.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

My wife and I are in the midst of our open water course through PADI. Alot of what I have read on here is sinking in as I go through the various skills. One thing is for sure, at least in my opinion, there is no way in the world that someone is competent to be diving without an instructor or someone to monitor them after completing the open water course. I think the course should be much longer with alot more pool work before moving on to open water environments. You just can't master the skills in such a short period of time and the consequences of not being competent are too dire. I'm not bashing PADI, actually I think the instructor is good. I just don't think I will be remotely close to being a competent diver after the OW course. Hello to everyone on the board.

You're a wise man and you'll do fine. Recognize your limitations and dive as often as you can so your skill level and comfort will increase.

 

[scubajoe]

Welcome to the board!
I agree with Al.

Joe

 

[MechDiver]

I just don't think I will be remotely close to being a competent diver after the OW course. Hello to everyone on the board.

No, you won't. But you should be able to safetly conduct an OW dive in the conditions you were trained in. The OW card is a permit to learn, you cannot expect to master diving in 4 OW dives and some pool time.

Yea, OW classes should be much longer. Would you pay $1500 for one? Expectations and reality don't always come together.

Welcome to SB and diving.

MD

 

[MikeFerrara]

Longer isn't always the answer. Sometimes something has to be done different.

 

[MechDiver]

Longer isn't always the answer. Sometimes something has to be done different.

Yes, we know Mike.

 

[DiverDuane]

I was certified in Monterey, CA last July. Since then I've completed 19 dives (including the 4 cert dives). I have always gone diving with divers that have a lot of experience as I get more comfortable. I've had a few minor problems, but these other divers have had the knowledge to help me get things together. I feel very comfortable in the water and am now spending a lot of time working on Buoyancy at 15'. Of all the skills I've learned (ow, aow, nitrox certs) staying at 15' for 3 minutes is the hardest. I'd hate to have to pay an instructor to watch me practice byouancy. I have been happy with all my classes. AS MechDiver said "The OW card is a permit to learn, you cannot expect to master diving in 4 OW dives and some pool time" or 19 dives or 50 dives. It seems that there is always something new to learn or experience. Now that I have the 3 certs I do all I want to do is dive and become proficient in the skills I've learned.

Duane

 

[MikeFerrara]

Yes, we know Mike.

Whatever

 

[MikeFerrara]

I was certified in Monterey, CA last July. Since then I've completed 19 dives (including the 4 cert dives). I have always gone diving with divers that have a lot of experience as I get more comfortable. I've had a few minor problems, but these other divers have had the knowledge to help me get things together. I feel very comfortable in the water and am now spending a lot of time working on Buoyancy at 15'. Of all the skills I've learned (ow, aow, nitrox certs) staying at 15' for 3 minutes is the hardest. I'd hate to have to pay an instructor to watch me practice byouancy. I have been happy with all my classes. AS MechDiver said "The OW card is a permit to learn, you cannot expect to master diving in 4 OW dives and some pool time" or 19 dives or 50 dives. It seems that there is always something new to learn or experience. Now that I have the 3 certs I do all I want to do is dive and become proficient in the skills I've learned.

Duane

Did you do safety stops during training?

It's not about "mastering" diving in 4 OW dives or in a lifetime for that matter.

 

[Sideband]

I have gotten in good with my LDS owner and he has let me sit in on quite a few pool sessions. So far I have over 28 hours of pool time and will be in there for 8 more this weekend. I gofer during the session for the instructor so I don't have to pay for pool time or air. I just got my OW cert but enjoy the pool time if I can't get out to real water. I know when I did the OW checkouts that I had better buoyancy control (I still sucked) and was much more comfortable than the others. This weekend they are going to give me some time to just hover after the class to help with that buoyancy control issue. One really nice thing is I have basically been through the entire course 3 times with 3 different instructors and got a little something different from each one so I have had both a longer course AND different teaching methods. A little of each would help new divers a lot.

Joe