Question for instructors!

[rjack321]

I am only a week away from my open water course in Mexico. If you think back over the students that you've taught, is there a type of student the got more out of the class than others? I don't mean motivated or fully engaged- those things are a given for me. I'm very outgoing and don't mind asking for clarification if I don't understand something. My instructor has taught scuba for over four decades so he has a ton of knowledge. Any tips for getting the most out of this experience?

Of course if you are not an instructor but have some thoughts on this please do share!!!

My top 5 for OW and AOW - these were one course in the past and both are more or less required to get the depth and breath of skill proficiency to be well rounded:

1. Clearing your mask easily
2. Face submerged & not breathing through your nose
3. Neutral buoyancy off the bottom
4. Horizontal trim
5. Being more or less still without feet and arms failing

Really only #1 and #2 are things you can do before class standing in the shallow end of a pool.

 

[bradlw]

I think you are over thinking this.
Just go do the class. The instructor will teach it the way he teaches it. IMO asking or mentioning about neutral buoyancy off the bottom etc. will either go well and he teaches that way or he doesn't. You should have investigated that before. An instructor teaching for 40 years on the knees to all of a sudden change to neutral because a student read it on scubaboard isn't going to come off well, all that's going to do is muck it up.
Just do the class, do what you're told, get your cert, and figure it out later with mentors, buddies, fundies, whatever.
Have fun.

this.

@HamTrainChickenLaser
Just by your being here doing research...asking this question, I'd say you'll do just fine. I have found over the years that most often these types of classes generally seem to be self-taught. I mean, a person will get out of it as much as they put into it.... don't prepare and don't try, and you won't get much out of it.

Your primary goal is to get the cert. To practice the fundamental skills with someone that can show things to you, help you, and keep you out of trouble. Along the way of course ask every question you can think of but you've got to "read the room" if that makes sense. Don't push an issue or criticize, etc... If the instructor starts spouting off a bunch of nonsense, just say ok and move on with life. Mostly it'll be just parroting what you've no doubt already read.

Your instructor might or might not give you some great explanations or insights about things you've never thought of. Might or might not be full of great tips and tricks that only years of experience would otherwise teach you....
But even if they don't offer any of those things, it's a pretty safe bet that they will at least be good in the water and will be there to keep you out of serious trouble like a good lifeguard while you experiment with the skills you read about in the book (yeah yeah, I know there's no book now)

 

[The Chairman]

You're really overthinking this. Go and have fun. Have a boatload of fun. Blow bubbles, do flips, and be a kid again.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

this.

@HamTrainChickenLaser
Just by your being here doing research...asking this question, I'd say you'll do just fine. I have found over the years that most often these types of classes generally seem to be self-taught. I mean, a person will get out of it as much as they put into it.... don't prepare and don't try, and you won't get much out of it.

Your primary goal is to get the cert. To practice the fundamental skills with someone that can show things to you, help you, and keep you out of trouble. Along the way of course ask every question you can think of but you've got to "read the room" if that makes sense. Don't push an issue or criticize, etc... If the instructor starts spouting off a bunch of nonsense, just say ok and move on with life. Mostly it'll be just parroting what you've no doubt already read.

Your instructor might or might not give you some great explanations or insights about things you've never thought of. Might or might not be full of great tips and tricks that only years of experience would otherwise teach you....
But even if they don't offer any of those things, it's a pretty safe bet that they will at least be good in the water and will be there to keep you out of serious trouble like a good lifeguard while you experiment with the skills you read about in the book (yeah yeah, I know there's no book now)

You're really overthinking this. Go and have fun. Have a boatload of fun. Blow bubbles, do flips, and be a kid again.

OK let me lay all the cards out on the table. Our "Try Scuba" class went great for me, and was a total disaster for my wife. She is done with scuba. Like DONE.

Yes, I am overthinking things but this started with a dream for a fabulous tropical vacation and both of us getting certified and it's not that anymore. I'm hoping to make the most of what I have at this point in spite of the disappointment. And no, she was not the typical "reluctant spouse" going along for the ride to placate me. She was fully engaged and asking questions and very, very eager. We were on our knees on the platform of the pool (of course, right?) and doing mask skills and I cleared a partial flood, and she did as well. Then I cleared the full flood, and she did as well. It was all cake. Then I took my mask off and put it back on and cleared it. She took her mask off, put it back on, and then- I don't know- breathed in through her nose? And bolted to the surface. Three times in a row. And looking back- and talking to other people about the incident- makes me wonder why our instructor just did the exact same thing over and over.

I don't know how all of this ends but maybe it's me diving wrecks in a dry suit in Lake Huron, or maybe it's (eventually??) both of us diving in tropical locations or doing liveaboards. I'm not giving up hope for her but at the same time I am not pushing at all.

I've planned on doing an extreme scuba makeover (UTD) when I return to tighten things up. My instructor in Mexico insists that I will have good trim and buoyancy when we are finished, so we will see. At any rate, I don't think the extreme scuba makeover could be a bad idea. But I'm not expert on scuba education as has been clearly established.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

I believe Eric was responding to the knees/trim issue of instruction... Nothing to do with you personally, other than that you can report back how your instructor teaches.

Sorry Eric!!

 

[grantmac]

Getting a nasal cavity full of pool water absolutely sucks.
DSD is the fast food of diving and not a good intro at all.

I'd steer wide of UTD but that's just me.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Getting a nasal cavity full of pool water absolutely sucks.
DSD is the fast food of diving and not a good intro at all.

I'd steer wide of UTD but that's just me.

Yeah it does suck.

It's more about the instructor than UTD itself- but I do know there is quite a bit of controversy with UTD. Can I ask what in particular is most problematic with them?

 

[The Chairman]

Yes, I am overthinking things

Scuba is not for everyone.

She took her mask off, put it back on, and then- I don't know- breathed in through her nose? And bolted to the surface.

My trick for teaching mask clearing. Stand waist deep in a pool, then put your face in the water and put on your mask. Stand up, and talk. Yep, talk with a mask full of water. A third of the people will gag because they can't keep the water out of their nose. Try it again. And again. When they can finally have a conversation, they've learned how to control those nasal flaps in the back of your throat or how to keep pressure to do the same thing. Make sure they have it down and tell them the Mermaid joke. They will snort through their nose and clear their mask.

Don't push it too much the first day. 4 attempts max. Most can do it by then, but not all. Let it rest until the next day. Sleeping on it does wonders.

Mermaid joke: Why do mermaids wear seashells? B-shells are too small!

 

[rjack321]

I've planned on doing an extreme scuba makeover (UTD) when I return to tighten things up. My instructor in Mexico insists that I will have good trim and buoyancy when we are finished, so we will see. At any rate, I don't think the extreme scuba makeover could be a bad idea. But I'm not expert on scuba education as has been clearly established.

If you're planning on doing addition training with James Mott he's great, can recommend

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Scuba is not for everyone.

My trick for teaching mask clearing. Stand waist deep in a pool, then put your face in the water and put on your mask. Stand up, and talk. Yep, talk with a mask full of water. A third of the people will gag because they can't keep the water out of their nose. Try it again. And again. When they can finally have a conversation, they've learned how to control those nasal flaps in the back of your throat or how to keep pressure to do the same thing. Make sure they have it down and tell them the Mermaid joke. They will snort through their nose and clear their mask.

Don't push it too much the first day. 4 attempts max. Most can do it by then, but not all. Let it rest until the next day. Sleeping on it does wonders.

Mermaid joke: Why do mermaids wear seashells? B-shells are too small!

Very interesting.

LOL- and probably some mermaids wear d-shells then I guess.