Pool time, another of a thousand newbie questions.

[harold3]

I'm re-reading the literature for classes and it says "Free pool time is included", Does anyone guess or know if this means I could practice outside of normal class hours or something?

I might stick my head in the shop friday at lunch to enquire more, but wouldn't pool time require a staff member to be present while a student was in the pool. How can they make money if they offer this free?

 

[Diver0001]

As long as you're not yet certified you'll need to be supervised. Either they're big enough that you can be accomodated in the pool while other classes are in progress or they mean after you're certified you will have free access to the pool.

The first is uncommon. At the shop where I work there are often 1 or 2 staff in the pool who aren't working on a particular class who can keep an eye on you. Usually, they mean the 2nd.

R..

 

[Gary D.]

You may have already paid for it. What did your class cost, total cost?

Gary D.

 

[harold3]

$250.00 w/ 75.00 off promotion, (so 175.00)
Plus cost of basic gear (Mask, fins, snorkel, suit, mouthpeice)

The class itself 175.00
Altogether about ~700-~1000 dollars

 

[spectrum]

How did you get to 700~1000 by adding Mask, fins, snorkel, suit, mouthpeice?

The free time may mean that in the course of the sessions you will have some time to simply be left alone to explore the pool as opposed to try this, drill that.

Being uncertified and unsupervised should not happen and ceertainly should never be advertised!

Pete

 

[Ed Marshall]

Free pool time may also mean that you'll have access to the pool after your certification to assess new equipment or test your buoyancy.

Ed

 

[harold3]

700~1000 is what the equipment seems to add up to, depending on brand and style I buy. Also I need corrective lenses, so the mask will cost a bit.

 

[Damselfish]

So for <Mask, fins, snorkel, suit, mouthpiece> you're saying $525-825. The question was asked because that seems high - I don't think that pool time is exactly "free." I would have to try fairly hard to spend that much on that set of stuff. Even with some kind of corrective lenses for a mask (and there are many options for that.) And you're talking a suit for FL. What brands/models exactly are you looking at and how much are they charging for them?

 

[harold3]

So for <Mask, fins, snorkel, suit, mouthpiece> you're saying $525-825. The question was asked because that seems high - I don't think that pool time is exactly "free." I would have to try fairly hard to spend that much on that set of stuff. Even with some kind of corrective lenses for a mask (and there are many options for that.) And you're talking a suit for FL. What brands/models exactly are you looking at and how much are they charging for them?

The Gear I'll be buying is
Henderson 3mm 125.00
Sherwood Magnum Ex Mask 80.00 plus whatever it takes to get corrective lenses installed or ground in (however they do it) which I don't know how much it will cost. This is also the only one that was a comforatable fit in the shop. Everything else was either way to small for my face or the skirt/seal didn't fit right leaving huge gaps at my temples. There's a mask I like the look of better for about 39.00 but the bloody thing doesn't even come close to fiting correctly... figures.
Sherwood Fins 120.00, again the only thing in the shop that was in my size (14) everything else maxed out at 12 and none of those fit.
FogCutter Knife 110.00 Really nice knife/shear combo
Sherwood Dry Snorkel 60.00

So that's 495 in base price gear + 175 for the class is ~670 Plus the unknown cost range for getting corrective lenses (i just estimated up to 300 to round it out.)


I have the same problems with cars, I always end up spending more for a car (or buying something odd) because I can't sit in those little rice burners designed for 5' tall 90lb people w/ short legs. Although I drive a honda element now which is nice and roomy, my size makes everything a pain in the but because it's just barely outside the normal sizes for anything. Which means it's too big for standard fit and too small for any of the "big and tall" type stores to stock anything off or manufacturers to make anything for. It seems that stores only make things for the very average or the "I need a hydrolic jack to get off my couch and the jaws of life to get out of my house" crowds.


Also I stuck my head in and he said it's free after certification and comes with the membership to the dive club.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Don't blow $60 on a snorkel. You won't use it enough to need a dry one unless you are snorkeling a lot. Find the least expensive snorkel you can that has a 3/4" diameter bore and is 12-15 inches long. I'll be at Alexander Springs on Wed March 22, I have a brand new snorkel that will work just fine I can sell you for $10 (my cost).
Ber :lilbunny: