Private Vs. Class Lessons

[salub2007]

HI,
I have tried class lessons in both NAUI and PADI, but did not like
either approach. I am a new diver who takes time to feel comfortable in the water
and the class approach just did not work for me. Needless to say, I failed both water exams. I am going to give Open Water a third try, but this time I will try private lessons
out of Gloucester MA. I am sure that the attrition rate with private lessons is much less than that of class lessons. Although this costs almost triple what group lessons cost, I would feel much more comfortable getting one on one instruction in and out of the water.
Has anyone ever had one on one instruction before? And is it a higher quality training experience than group classes? Any feedback at all would be welcomed. Thanks and
Dive Safe!

Mark B

 

[ScubaSteve]

Can I ask what it is that you had the biggest problem with? I have heard of a lot of Instructors allowing their students to take longer to go through things and longer to learn and work on skills before their OW certification dives. Was it a specific skill?

I am always looking forward to welcoming the newest SCUBA member, but sometimes, it also is just not meant to be. I hope the private lessons work much better for you as I am sure they will. Just make sure your private instructor knows exactly what your issues were before starting so they do not re-occur. I would hope you did that before booking it though.

 

[Daveo957]

One on one may be right for you, I dont think it means better instruction though. Sometimes when you with other people in a class they ask questions you might not think of or make mistakes that you can learn from. Usually when in a group people will do better, you can kind of see where your at in relation to others, not that it matters but it will usually make you work harder. If you buy yourself you dont get that. Since you tried the class setting before and it didnt work you should try private.. Does the dive shop you failed at not give you the option to come back and work on the problems you had, most that ive seen will give you that option.

 

[robint]

I too am confused as to why you feel you need private instructions. What was the problem in class before? Did you not understand the book lessons? Did you have problems in the pool? Do you have fear issues with the water? Or did you just not like the instructor?

My husband is an instructor (3 yrs teaching) and was a DM for 5 years before that so we have been around the teaching environment for 8+ years now. I have not seen very many adults who wanted or needed private instruction. The group situation is very beneficial as it is good to see other students doing the skills and learning from their successes and problems. It is a good support system also as the students cheer each other on. The same goes for the OW experience - the students actually learn from each other and working together they learn even more.

Just my 2 cents.
robin

 

[tkdgodess]

Right now I am conducting a one-on-one open water course. The shop has pool time rented regardless, and the other 3 students postponed... anyways the guy I'm teaching is having a blast because it's all one on on, and we have so much time to do skills, work on buoyancy, he's asking me a million question without fear of feeling dumb around other students, and we are both having a great time. And I have way more time to make him repeat skills and do skill circuits.

If one-on-one is what you need, why not ask for LDS if you could be in a class with just one other person if the opportunity comes up. You might have to wait, but I bet it could work out without having to pay 3x as much. Just my 2 cents.

 

[potato cod]

There's not enough background in your OP to say for sure, but it's possible that you may just need a little one-on-one time.

My experience with scuba lessons was that, I'll admit it, I WAS the slow-learning group. This had nothing to do with my comfort in the water (I was a lifeguard), but rather just a series of miss-cues. I first managed to somehow not fully put the regulator in my mouth and was struggling because I was getting water along with the air, next time I wasn't given enough weight and everyone else sank to the bottom of the pool and started working on skills while I was still flailing around on the surface underweighted and falling behind, I needed extra work to figure out how to get my ears to clear, etc. If there hadn't been an assistant instructor who was able to work with me and on a few days essentially serve as my private instructor (bless you, ex-navy seal John wherever you are), I imagine I would have have gotten flustered and discouraged and may not have passed the course.

Point is, sometimes nothing beats a little patience and one-on-one time with a great instructor. If you are committed to scuba and regular group lessons haven't gotten you where you want to be, I think trying something different makes sense. Every learns differently, so go for it and good luck! If it's really not to be, at least you gave it every shot.

 

[Down4Adive]

I did private classes for my cert. Due to my work schedule it was difficult for me to be able to make all the public classes. I set my own dates in the private class. I do think that the 1 on 1 was a good thing, but being that I have never taken a public class it would be difficult for me to say it was better training.

My girlfriend took private classes as well. she wasn't very comfortable durring her first couple dives. I think the private class was very benaficial for her. not that the training itself was better but the instructor was able to work with her to get through what she was having trouble with and even took her on a couple extra training dives (another benefit of the private class). I don't think she would have stuck with it in a public class. In the end the extra time (and money) was well worth it because she is now comfortable, certified and enjoys diving.

I would talk to the lds owner/person you are considering doing your private class with. Tell them your situation and they may be able to tailor the class to your needs. maybe a few extra training dives or an instructor that would be better for you. Sure couldn't hurt to ask.

 

[Sas]

I have never done a private class on my own but I did do my Deep course as a private class with just me and my regular buddy. This I found to be much better than a group class. We got to ask a lot of questions outside the course scope and we had a lot more time with the instructor. Also, skills like launching an SMB, which me and my buddy were already comfortable with, we didn't have to sit watching others launch them a dozen times like my instructor usually does in a deep course. I do think private instruction means better instruction (well of course that only applies if you start with a decent instructor) if you are a slow learner with diving.

I struggled a heap during my OW class because I am a slow learner when it comes to diving (academics EASY but water skills hmmm...) It had 12 people, we did have two instructors and two DMs though but still more individual attention would have been nice but it would have been unfair on the other students for me to be hogging one of the instructors the whole time. I would have preferred a private class but didn't have the cash.

Anyway good luck and hope you get through your OW.

 

[Doc]

They are pricey, but can be very rewarding.

If you have your own pool, that's the biggest part of the cost. I'd go for it.

You just have to find an instructor that understands your learning style. That's the shorthand for all of the above good advice.

 

[fyrdyvr]

I was fortunate to have an instructor who was very patient with my anxiety issues , and would not let me quit when I really wanted to. I would also have to say that we were both fortunate to have a DiveCon who is working on becoming an instructor there to help also. There were only 7 in my class, and we all knew each other (work for the same fire department), so that eased the "dumb question" problem. If it were me and I really wanted to dive, I would do whatever it took to achieve that goal! Good luck!