OW Course

[QLittlestar]

I am curious, it is normal for the dive shop to give you tanks to lug back and forth to your pool sessions for open water cert.? I thought that tanks were rented or given to certified divers only. What is to stop a student from strapping on the tank to practice their skills?

 

[Thalassamania]

Not every shop and every course, but it is not unheard of.

 

[almitywife]

thats what happened for my OW. i picked up tank & gear on thru/friday for weekend training and return equip on the monday (washed and cleaned)

hubbys dive shop has a onsite pool but for ocean dives, the students pick up tanks friday night for saturday morning ocean dives, they return to the dive shop saturday arvo for fills/class and then back to the ocean on sunday

i can tell you now a dive instructor does not want to be hauling a dozen tanks around for their students

cheers

 

[QLittlestar]

Thanks, I had not heard of it especially because everyone wants to make sure they cover their butts and keep liability down. My friends as DMTs used to carry tanks. What's the weather like in Sydney?

 

[Sas]

I was given my tanks + gear for my OW course a few days before each day we went out to dive. My instructor spent a little while telling us about all the horrible things that could happen to us if we went out on our own with it before the class And spun some story about fiddling with the tanks or not setting up your gear properly can make the tanks explode. Anyway, a few minutes after I pulled out of the dive shop a taxi ran a stop sign straight into the side of the car and one of the tanks (which were secured btw, we were just hit pretty hard) made a sizable dint in the side of the boot with the valve, I rang the store immediately saying 'is my tank going to explode???' He said that story might have been a bit exaggerated...

 

[QLittlestar]

LOL!!!! That is really good. I LOVE Melbourne!!!!

 

[NudeDiver]

I am curious, it is normal for the dive shop to give you tanks to lug back and forth to your pool sessions for open water cert.?

Yes.

I thought that tanks were rented or given to certified divers only. What is to stop a student from strapping on the tank to practice their skills?

Nothing. Have fun!

 

[String]

I am curious, it is normal for the dive shop to give you tanks to lug back and forth to your pool sessions for open water cert.? I thought that tanks were rented or given to certified divers only.

Happens in some places. Depends on logistics. Don't see a problem provided students have paid a deposit.
I for example cant cram 12 scuba tanks and the rest of my gear into my car and expect it to go above 20mph or up hills.

What is to stop a student from strapping on the tank to practice their skills?

The students common sense? There is no law against it. Personal responsibility for once.

 

[robint]

yep, that's how we do it here. We don't have a pool onsite - pool sessions are taught at local HS pool and students are responsible for picking up their gear at dive shop and lugging it to the pool, returning it on Monday. Same thing the following weekend for the OW dives, students pick up gear on Friday and return it on Monday. Its a good way to get the students used to being responsible for all aspects of diving, not just the "fun" part!

Most students are terrified of diving without an instructor and it probably never occurs to them to take the tanks out and try them out. :shocked2: I have never heard of that ever happening but then..... we did have a guy show up one day wanting to rent gear to clean his pool, he wasn't certified and said it didn't matter as he was only going to be in his pool. We told him NO WAY and tried to explain it but he got mad, screamed and yelled (I really thought we were going to have to call the cops) and finally left.

robin

 

[ligersandtions]

My LDS gave us tanks a day or two in advance to take to the pool (open water was on a boat that provided tanks). He never said anything about trying them out or using them beforehand, but at that point, none of us had ever set up the equipment or anything, so I assume he just figured we wouldn't do that. But I would imagine some common sense would tell students not to "practice" with them without knowing how to use them properly....that and blowing through your air with no way to refill them should be another deterrent.