Markrobert
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On average about how much pool time is required to go through the skills?
pool time
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It depends on the size of the class and how smoothly things go. I have seen the first day go as quickly as about 3 to 4 hours and the second day as little as 2 to 3 hours. However these were small classes and students did remarkably well. If your wanting to know what to expect I would be prepared to last about 5 hours each day in the pool. Also be prepared as a lot of places do class work in the open water the same day as the pool so Id expect to make a day out of it both days.
It also depends on the agency and instructor. My class is a min of 14 hours in the pool but usually 16. That includes not only going thru the skills but getting you comfortable with them under various task loads. It also includes rescue skills other agencies do not include in the OW class. Going thru the skills can be done in a couple hours, but it does not mean that you'd be good at them in open water or comfortable combining several of them at the same time while maintaining buoyancy and trim. I also don't like to keep people in the water more than 2 hours at a time. People get cold, tired, etc and when this happens the learning stops.
I also feel the students need the time to absorb the knowledge they have just gained so that it sticks. Running thru skills in a one or two long sessions is ok for some but the majority of people I have trained appreciate the break between classes.
I also feel the students need the time to absorb the knowledge they have just gained so that it sticks. Running thru skills in a one or two long sessions is ok for some but the majority of people I have trained appreciate the break between classes.
For a small class with good to excellent swimmers and an organized instructor can get the 20 something skills in a standard ow course done in 4 hours..May not all be done in 1- 4 hr session though.Minimum 3 sessions is more comfortable.
Most group classes require more time due to 1 or 2 individuals not able to easily get the skills.
I usually run about 1hour to 90 minutes a session with 5 pool sessions with a class of 6-7 students.. In Manhattan NYC many LDS use the pool for perhaps 2 sessions and call in a success-their pool time is expensive and difficult to get. Do not mistake a course with excessive pool time as a good course.It could be that it is not organized to move well or has too many students in it.Same goes if it is only a short pool session and students cannot repeatedly do skills comfortably.
Most group classes require more time due to 1 or 2 individuals not able to easily get the skills.
I usually run about 1hour to 90 minutes a session with 5 pool sessions with a class of 6-7 students.. In Manhattan NYC many LDS use the pool for perhaps 2 sessions and call in a success-their pool time is expensive and difficult to get. Do not mistake a course with excessive pool time as a good course.It could be that it is not organized to move well or has too many students in it.Same goes if it is only a short pool session and students cannot repeatedly do skills comfortably.
OP
Markrobert
Registered
Thanks For the responses they were very informative! We have our first pool class tommorrow its just going to be two of us! we are excited!
Mark --actually IMO the correct answer is-- AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET IT RIGHT.
Every person is different in how they absorb information and also of course in their experiences leading to the course.
Every person is different in how they absorb information and also of course in their experiences leading to the course.
I just concluded a 3-day class with three ocean snorkel capable students, ages 12, 15 and 15, and there was no "pool" time. 
Maui has had significant South and South West swells lately, so Kapalua Bay has been pretty much the only choice for shore OW training on the entire leeward side. It's not often that the best summer shore dive vis around the Island is less than 40 feet, and there is still significant surge coming into WNW facing Kapalua Bay.
The game is monkey see monkey do, I'm the lead monkey, copy me. Often I find that if you show them the first time that mask R&R is no big deal surging more than 5 ft back and forth, all they know is that it's no big deal.
Maui has had significant South and South West swells lately, so Kapalua Bay has been pretty much the only choice for shore OW training on the entire leeward side. It's not often that the best summer shore dive vis around the Island is less than 40 feet, and there is still significant surge coming into WNW facing Kapalua Bay.
The game is monkey see monkey do, I'm the lead monkey, copy me. Often I find that if you show them the first time that mask R&R is no big deal surging more than 5 ft back and forth, all they know is that it's no big deal.
Takes as long as it takes.
I generally set aside 2 days for the confined water sessions. This is usually 1,2 & 3 on day one, 4 & 5 on day two.
They are given breaks inbetween the sessions and only if they want to carry on do we move onto the next session (are they tired, information overload etc).
Session 5 is usually a longer session, as I like to re-visit skills from the previous sessions and also give the students extra time for practice, particularily on buoyancy.
If they need longer, then we do more sessions, but I have had students that have done all 5 in one day, with the 2nd day used for practice/fine tuning.
I generally set aside 2 days for the confined water sessions. This is usually 1,2 & 3 on day one, 4 & 5 on day two.
They are given breaks inbetween the sessions and only if they want to carry on do we move onto the next session (are they tired, information overload etc).
Session 5 is usually a longer session, as I like to re-visit skills from the previous sessions and also give the students extra time for practice, particularily on buoyancy.
If they need longer, then we do more sessions, but I have had students that have done all 5 in one day, with the 2nd day used for practice/fine tuning.
scubajo007
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I did my pool training over 4 evenings approx. 1.5 hours in the water for each evening, we were only two students per instructor and had the same instructor through out the course.
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When I did OW it was a night course. 6 total classroom sessions followed by maybe 1 1/2- 2 hr. pool sessions. I always mention this as I felt it was the best way for me to absorb everything.
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