Wijbrandus
Contributor
Sorry, this got a bit longer than I thought it would.
Completed my PADI AOW class this weekend. Here's my trip report broken into three sections. I'm really not too sure what to make of it all now that it's said and done...
THE GOOD:
Classroom sessions were conducted by an instructor I know, as well as two DM candidates, one of whom I know from the outside. Four students, we were all focused and serious on the materials we had to learn. Did our work, did our pool, and went about our business.
Open water was conducted at Homestead Crater, UT. It's a hot spring inside a small volcano-style dome. Entry is through a tunnel and off a dock. Simple cylinder shape, 65' deep, no cavern exits to get lost in. 96F water, poor vis. Nice environment to dive in. Oh, and 6000 ft alt for the tables. Woo hoo.
We were able to do an "Adventure Dive" on nitrox, since I haven't certified in it yet. Was interesting. I like it, much more energy when all is said and done. Looking forward to the cert now.
THE BAD:
First sign things weren't going to go well was when I found out that my instructor and the DM I knew didn't come to the OW part. The other DM from the class was assigned to the Rescue group. I was diving with an unknown instructor. Also, only my dive buddy was there from class. The two students I went through class with were replaced by two people I'd never met. Joy. The instructor turned out to be ok. The other students I'll get to.
Our first dive was to 60' down. At the bottom, my inflator starts a slow leak. I disconnect the inflator hose and continue the dive. On the surface, I can't find anything wrong with it, but it does it again on the next dive, so I continue the weekend on manual. Consider it a learning experience, and by the end of the weekend I've got the best bouyancy of my group. Go me. All on manual. Using a Halcyon Eclipse, first dives in open water. Will go back to LDS this weekend to get repaired. Was offered the use of a rental jacket, but there's no way they are getting me into one of those again after I've tasted the dark side. Was able to don the bpw through the overhead method solo, and I'm very glad I can. Heavy load, but so easy to don that way. Recieved no flak about using bpw, just a lot of strange looks.
THE UGLY:
The other students were Guy and Gal. Guy was great. Studying to be a reef conservation biologist or something. Very decent diving, good buddy skills. He was partnered with Gal. This lady had major issues. First, she was diving with a brand new computer. Gal didn't even RTFM. She expected the DM to teach her her own computer. First sign of problem. She is certifying on nitrox as well. She has had shoulder surgery and couldn't move any of her equipment, so she designated the DM her slave to move gear all over (I can deal with this part. Annoying, but understandable). No bouyancy control: every action she did resulted in a steady plummet to the depths below with the DM trying to catch up to her. Seems she can't keep a steady depth without something to hang onto. Roto-tiller kicks, I've never really understood the term until now. However, she was quick to tell us how many places she had been diving, and had an opinion on everything the DM had to say, and how she'd be glad to help us out with anything we need. Nice enough lady, but just off her rocker I think.
Finally, after we were done diving, doing our logs together, and she STILL doesn't know how to use her computer or her tables (this is the end of day 2), let alone the freaking wheel, so I ask her if she did any class work. Her reply was that she did her AOW and Nitrox coursework over a six hour span in ONE DAY, and so she just glossed over tables. After all, she uses a computer, what does she need tables for? I am floored. I just walk away, packed up, and my buddy and I went home.
My feelings on the trip:
I am surprised that the instructor and the LDS did not tell this lady she was not ready for these dives. Her skills are simply not up to par. She is a danger to herself, and is completely blind to the problem, believing that the DM will take care of her. I will be talking to the LDS about this today when I return the gear, but I don't expect any reasonable response. I am beginning to see why people call it Put Another Dollar In since it seems any idiot with cash can get a cert now. I'm very disappointed in this, as I spent a lot of time with my dive buddy making sure our skills were up to what I thought we needed to have. Guess I should have spent all that time and money on more dangling equipment from the LDS.
I am actually happy I had a lp inflator issue. Not only do I now feel much more comfortable with manual inflation, my bouyancy skills improved dramatically without the "crutch" of a power inflator. I'm a little bummed that my bpw isn't perfect, but that's going to be fixed I'm sure.
That's it. Thanks for reading this far if you made it.
Completed my PADI AOW class this weekend. Here's my trip report broken into three sections. I'm really not too sure what to make of it all now that it's said and done...
THE GOOD:
Classroom sessions were conducted by an instructor I know, as well as two DM candidates, one of whom I know from the outside. Four students, we were all focused and serious on the materials we had to learn. Did our work, did our pool, and went about our business.
Open water was conducted at Homestead Crater, UT. It's a hot spring inside a small volcano-style dome. Entry is through a tunnel and off a dock. Simple cylinder shape, 65' deep, no cavern exits to get lost in. 96F water, poor vis. Nice environment to dive in. Oh, and 6000 ft alt for the tables. Woo hoo.
We were able to do an "Adventure Dive" on nitrox, since I haven't certified in it yet. Was interesting. I like it, much more energy when all is said and done. Looking forward to the cert now.
THE BAD:
First sign things weren't going to go well was when I found out that my instructor and the DM I knew didn't come to the OW part. The other DM from the class was assigned to the Rescue group. I was diving with an unknown instructor. Also, only my dive buddy was there from class. The two students I went through class with were replaced by two people I'd never met. Joy. The instructor turned out to be ok. The other students I'll get to.
Our first dive was to 60' down. At the bottom, my inflator starts a slow leak. I disconnect the inflator hose and continue the dive. On the surface, I can't find anything wrong with it, but it does it again on the next dive, so I continue the weekend on manual. Consider it a learning experience, and by the end of the weekend I've got the best bouyancy of my group. Go me. All on manual. Using a Halcyon Eclipse, first dives in open water. Will go back to LDS this weekend to get repaired. Was offered the use of a rental jacket, but there's no way they are getting me into one of those again after I've tasted the dark side. Was able to don the bpw through the overhead method solo, and I'm very glad I can. Heavy load, but so easy to don that way. Recieved no flak about using bpw, just a lot of strange looks.
THE UGLY:
The other students were Guy and Gal. Guy was great. Studying to be a reef conservation biologist or something. Very decent diving, good buddy skills. He was partnered with Gal. This lady had major issues. First, she was diving with a brand new computer. Gal didn't even RTFM. She expected the DM to teach her her own computer. First sign of problem. She is certifying on nitrox as well. She has had shoulder surgery and couldn't move any of her equipment, so she designated the DM her slave to move gear all over (I can deal with this part. Annoying, but understandable). No bouyancy control: every action she did resulted in a steady plummet to the depths below with the DM trying to catch up to her. Seems she can't keep a steady depth without something to hang onto. Roto-tiller kicks, I've never really understood the term until now. However, she was quick to tell us how many places she had been diving, and had an opinion on everything the DM had to say, and how she'd be glad to help us out with anything we need. Nice enough lady, but just off her rocker I think.
Finally, after we were done diving, doing our logs together, and she STILL doesn't know how to use her computer or her tables (this is the end of day 2), let alone the freaking wheel, so I ask her if she did any class work. Her reply was that she did her AOW and Nitrox coursework over a six hour span in ONE DAY, and so she just glossed over tables. After all, she uses a computer, what does she need tables for? I am floored. I just walk away, packed up, and my buddy and I went home.
My feelings on the trip:
I am surprised that the instructor and the LDS did not tell this lady she was not ready for these dives. Her skills are simply not up to par. She is a danger to herself, and is completely blind to the problem, believing that the DM will take care of her. I will be talking to the LDS about this today when I return the gear, but I don't expect any reasonable response. I am beginning to see why people call it Put Another Dollar In since it seems any idiot with cash can get a cert now. I'm very disappointed in this, as I spent a lot of time with my dive buddy making sure our skills were up to what I thought we needed to have. Guess I should have spent all that time and money on more dangling equipment from the LDS.
I am actually happy I had a lp inflator issue. Not only do I now feel much more comfortable with manual inflation, my bouyancy skills improved dramatically without the "crutch" of a power inflator. I'm a little bummed that my bpw isn't perfect, but that's going to be fixed I'm sure.
That's it. Thanks for reading this far if you made it.
