New Divers, Comment on Padi OW Course

[wedivebc]

My wife and I trained together and did our first dives exclusively with each other. As a result, we became reasonably self-sufficient. However, because we never dove with other, more experienced divers, we allowed ourselves to be talked into taking a dive just after our AOW course (lifetime dive 17) to a deep wreck in heavy seas. We were lucky to return to the boat safely, but she has stopped diving as a result of the incident.

A few dives with some seasoned buddies might have helped us understand our limitations better and helped us make the more intelligent decision of calling the dive.

Now, I dive with buddies who have a wide range of experience, from novices to many hundreds of dive experts. I don't know which I learn more from...

Glad you made it back OK, but sorry to hear your wife stopped diving.
My point is that every diver with a cert card should be able to conduct an open water dive, within the limits of their training and experience without the NEED for a more experienced buddy. You are talking about diving beyond your level of experience and you had a close call.
You may have a buddy that you feel comfortable extending your range with a little bit but beware of "trust me" dives. Just because your buddy has a "U-Boat penetration" cert card doesn't mean he is trained to haul your butt out if you get in trouble.
I am just sorry to see so many certified divers who look for more experienced buddies because they wish to get in over their head (pun intended).

cheers,

 

[RonDawg]

If you are not comfortable in the water without someone holding your hand then are you really a trained diver? Many c-card carrying divers feel like they were rushed through their training and are not comfortable unless they are with a more experienced diver. This concerns me.

I don't think I was rushed through my training. My instructor made sure that the required skills were indeed mastered before she would sign any of us off. She spent extra time with a few in the class who had trouble with certain skills. A couple did not get their c-cards at the end and are having to repeat the class.

The reason I feel newbies shouldn't be diving together except under certain circumstances is because of what someone else posted here: that a new c-card is just a learner's permit. When you first got your driver's license, were you truly prepared to handle the most demanding driving situations? No. Did it mean that you had the skills required to drive at 100 MPH? Hardly. Only experience, and possibly additional training (in the case of high speed driving) will allow you to do these things well. That's why many countries (and even some US states) have restrictions on what newly-licensed drivers can do.

Now...can I conduct an open water dive within the limits of my training and experience, without the so-called "hand holding" of a more experienced diver? Yes, and I have. But I see nothing wrong with wanting to pair up with more experienced divers over newbies. Yes I do it for safety reasons, but also for the learning experience. I do NOT do it because "I'm scared and I need someone to hold my hand." If that were the case I would have abandoned diving altogether.

Once my measly 12 dives reaches 3 and especially 4 digit levels I would hope some other newbie would want to pair up with me for the same reasons noted above.

 

[Rikkie]

We will teach you the basics to enable you to get out there and enjoy the wonders of diving.When I went through my divemaster course my Instructor told me that you are responsible for your own safty,PADI can't watch you all the time.We teach common sense diving and always advise the newly qualified divers to join a club and choose you buddy correctly to your experience,in other words dive wise.PADI makes it easy assescible to every one that wants to dive,It not a snob culture.Enjoy yourself and start logging dives and you will gain experience and further your skills on the way.
kind regards

 

[domino22]

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

Well said! I have been diving for almost 30 yrs two years commercial and I am always learning. Know your limits,keep learning and go forward, diving is great. And try some other courses you have several to chose from.

 

[nauidiver2004]

Just finished my open water cert. Signed up for the advanced class and will take the summer to complete that. Yes, I would dive today in conditions similar to those I was trained in with a competent buddy. Yes, I would prefer to be more proficient with my skills. Yes, I did sign up for more training. No this is not a race for me, I want to dive, it may take the rest of my life to get good at it but I'm along for the ride.

 

[Rikkie]

Very typical from a Divemaster,you passed everything and now we become an elitist.Diving is not rocket science.safty is the issue in this.Why make things difficult for newcomers.

 

[DORSETBOY]

Very typical from a Divemaster,you passed everything and now we become an elitist.Diving is not rocket science.safty is the issue in this.Why make things difficult for newcomers.

Im desperately searching for the offending post! lol.

Dont think it would do any harm though to beef up the open water to include rescue skills and experience of planning and operating your own dive plans. I know it wont catch on as it's prob not what everyone wants and I realise a lot of people are happy diving under supervision.

 

[Mako Mark]

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. ............................... Hello to everyone on the board.

Hi Walt, welcome to the board and thanks for your comments. You take your time to learn,and make your instructor understand if you have reservations, but dont underestimate your ability either.

has to be done RIGHT

(edited by mark...hehe)

 

[ScubaSista]

DITTO Cancun Mark!!!!

Remember, you get out of life what you put in. Communicate with your instructor; YOU are responsible for getting what you need out of your scuba class. Your instructor wants to see you feel comfortable, and have a good confidence level with what you're learning. If you need extra time and practice, be prepared to pay for it. Everyone learns at different paces.