Question for newer divers...

[DeepSeaDan]

Modern conventional scuba training can allow a new diver to progress quite rapidly through upgrading courses with relatively little in the way of actual dive-time experience. The net result is often a diver with a wallet with some nice plastic cards, but still lacking in what the seasoned dive community might consider "acceptable diving performance skills."

So, for you newer divers out there: if you could have the services of an Instructor to work with you, one on one, for an entire weekend, in any kind of conditions, what skills / experiences would you like them to assist you with? I'd especially like to hear from divers who've progressed through a conventional training system ( P.A.D.I., N.A.U.I., S.S.I. etc. ) relatively quickly, with little in the way of dive experience prior to or between courses.

Regards,
DSD

 

[scubadiver888]

DeepSeaDan,

I am just starting to realize how much more there is to know. I was originally trained by an instructor who believed more is better. He was always teaching me (a) more than PADI required and (b) why things are they way they are. Still, there is a lot more theory and research that I am just finding out about.

In terms of basic skills, I would have liked more practice with panic situations. My instructor for OW put me in situations were I felt a little panicky. Once I could overcome the urge to bolt for the surface he'd stress me just a little more. He never pushed things too far; at the end of each lesson I felt a real sense of accomplishment.

Subsequent instructors have been teaching me what is required and I really started to notice how little practice you get. Now that I'm comfortable with the basics I think it is REALLY important to get better buoyancy control. PADI has a course for this but it is not really emphasized. It is only because my original instructor encouraged me to ask 'why' that I've been figuring out why I run out of air quicker than others.

Another thing I'm starting to realize is that you can waste a lot of money on equipment. Right now just about any basic package will work for me. Most this equipment will last for years. A few years from now I can see I'll understand why certain equipment works better than other equipment for specific needs. I guess would I'm just realizing I'm missing is enough knowledge to know what questions I need to ask.

I hear people talking about different kicks. I've read up on different dive tables and algorithms. Basically, by reading messages in this site it is helping me to ask the right questions. Is there some way training could give me a head start on that?

Additionally, AOW training almost seems necessary. I have been on drift dives, boat dives, shore dives, I'm working on fish identification, computer diving, peak performance buoyancy, wreck diving and I see a lot of new divers doing photography. These are all listed as skills to pick from (you need 5) for PADI AOW. I'm not AOW yet but I've been learning them the hard way.

Finally, it would be nice to know what skills are important for different regions. Diving in the Caribbean is quite different from diving in Lake Ontario. What training is necessary for Lake Ontario? What is necessary for diving kelp beds in Monterey, CA?

Darrell

P.S. I learned a lot from reading accident reports. I see what other people do wrong and make sure that does not become me.

 

[Grish]

Modern conventional scuba training can allow a new diver to progress quite rapidly through upgrading courses with relatively little in the way of actual dive-time experience. The net result is often a diver with a wallet with some nice plastic cards, but still lacking in what the seasoned dive community might consider "acceptable diving performance skills."

So, for you newer divers out there: if you could have the services of an Instructor to work with you, one on one, for an entire weekend, in any kind of conditions, what skills / experiences would you like them to assist you with? I'd especially like to hear from divers who've progressed through a conventional training system ( P.A.D.I., N.A.U.I., S.S.I. etc. ) relatively quickly, with little in the way of dive experience prior to or between courses.

Regards,
DSD

I became very good friends with both of my instructors (OW and AOW) and I've had an opportunity to do just the kind of thing you are talking about. My first concern was my discomfort with the compass and my navigation skills. When one of them offered some one on one help, I pounced, and I've since become better with a compass than a couple of their DITs. Next I want to fine tune my buoyancy skills and I asked one to work on some different kicks with me. Those were the two biggest areas where I felt like I could stand to get some extra student/teacher time. Eventually, it would be nice to have some instruction on dealing with strong currents, but I'm in no hurry to dive in difficult/advanced conditions.

 

[Sinbad the Diver]

I'm in the middle of what you describe. I've been diving for about 6 months and the majority of my dives have been with instructors (8 out of 10). The other 2 were with a very experienced diver who for all intents was an instuctor in that I had the comfort level of knowing that he was there to keep me from doing anything stupid. I also have another weekend of training dives this weekend so I'll be up to 12 of 14. The best dive I had in my class last weekend was the one where I had the instuctor buddied with me on a nav exercise. He hung back and let me lead then when we finished gave me a critique of basic skills, things to work on, etc. Gave me a much better picture of where I am in my progression that I would have if I was just doing follow the leader diving.

The thing I have benefitted most from using this approach has been having someone there who I am confident will be able to assist if I goof (mostly in the planning and setup before a dive where it seems to me most issues originate from). Then having someone to do a post dive review with and get critique, recomendations, validations, etc. After this weekend my goal is to have at least another 4 to 8 dives with the experienced diver buddy with the idea that I will lead the planning and the dives so that there is someone there to make sure I don't miss something but still allow me to have the confidence that I know what I'm doing when I get buddied up with someone who is around my level or of an unknown level.

 

[DeepSeaDan]

I am just starting to realize how much more there is to know. I was originally trained by an instructor who believed more is better. He was always teaching me (a) more than PADI required and (b) why things are they way they are. Still, there is a lot more theory and research that I am just finding out about.

An Instructor who goes beyond the minimim required is a good Instructor indeed.

In terms of basic skills, I would have liked more practice with panic situations. My instructor for OW put me in situations were I felt a little panicky. Once I could overcome the urge to bolt for the surface he'd stress me just a little more. He never pushed things too far; at the end of each lesson I felt a real sense of accomplishment.

Try to practice skills on every dive, just stay within your zone of comfort. Hooking up with a more experienced diver who is willing to mentor you would be a huge asset

Subsequent instructors have been teaching me what is required and I really started to notice how little practice you get. Now that I'm comfortable with the basics I think it is REALLY important to get better buoyancy control. PADI has a course for this but it is not really emphasized. It is only because my original instructor encouraged me to ask 'why' that I've been figuring out why I run out of air quicker than others.

Bouyancy remains one of the chief complaints of newer divers. Many entry level courses 9 and beyond! ) do not even mention "trim". Try a PPB course & / or mentoring from an experienced, skilled buddy. You can't truly enjoy this sport until this skill is mastered.

Another thing I'm starting to realize is that you can waste a lot of money on equipment. Right now just about any basic package will work for me. Most this equipment will last for years. A few years from now I can see I'll understand why certain equipment works better than other equipment for specific needs. I guess would I'm just realizing I'm missing is enough knowledge to know what questions I need to ask.

Keep an eye on how more experienced divers "kit up." Talk to them as to why they do things the way they do.

I hear people talking about different kicks. I've read up on different dive tables and algorithms. Basically, by reading messages in this site it is helping me to ask the right questions. Is there some way training could give me a head start on that?

Definitely!

Additionally, AOW training almost seems necessary. I have been on drift dives, boat dives, shore dives, I'm working on fish identification, computer diving, peak performance buoyancy, wreck diving and I see a lot of new divers doing photography. These are all listed as skills to pick from (you need 5) for PADI AOW. I'm not AOW yet but I've been learning them the hard way.

Finally, it would be nice to know what skills are important for different regions. Diving in the Caribbean is quite different from diving in Lake Ontario. What training is necessary for Lake Ontario? What is necessary for diving kelp beds in Monterey, CA?

As a newer diver, it would be wise to hook up with a good Inst. to guide you in the local environment. As you gain experience, a call to the local shop should be enough to guide you as you will then know what questions to ask.

Darrell

P.S. I learned a lot from reading accident reports. I see what other people do wrong and make sure that does not become me.

Agreed.

Best,
DSD

 

[emttim]

Modern conventional scuba training can allow a new diver to progress quite rapidly through upgrading courses with relatively little in the way of actual dive-time experience. The net result is often a diver with a wallet with some nice plastic cards, but still lacking in what the seasoned dive community might consider "acceptable diving performance skills."

So, for you newer divers out there: if you could have the services of an Instructor to work with you, one on one, for an entire weekend, in any kind of conditions, what skills / experiences would you like them to assist you with? I'd especially like to hear from divers who've progressed through a conventional training system ( P.A.D.I., N.A.U.I., S.S.I. etc. ) relatively quickly, with little in the way of dive experience prior to or between courses.

Regards,
DSD

Well, as far as basic dive skills go, I wouldn't feel the need to spend time with an instructor on any of them. I have solid buoyancy control, good air consumption, and good navigation skills.

That being said, I'd want to do more night dives & deep dives with an instructor if I could which is why I plan to take the PADI Night Diver and PADI Deep Diver specialty courses. One dive isn't enough to get you familiar with that type of dive unless that one dive was a really good one. In my case, the night dive was called after only 15 min underwater due to massive amounts of jellies in the water (instructor was worried about an anaphylactic reaction to a minor sting on someone's exposed face) and the deep dive was only to 61 feet so it was only a deep dive as far as technicalities go.

I'd also like some one-on-one time with trying out a dry suit. I know that's not a basic skill or anything but the catchphrase "try it before you buy it" comes to mind.

 

[DeepSeaDan]

. Eventually, it would be nice to have some instruction on dealing with strong currents, but I'm in no hurry to dive in difficult/advanced conditions.

SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT!! Learn to crawl, learn to walk, learn to run... - there just isn't any need to rush the process. DSD

 

[DeepSeaDan]

I'm in the middle of what you describe. I've been diving for about 6 months and the majority of my dives have been with instructors (8 out of 10). The other 2 were with a very experienced diver who for all intents was an instuctor in that I had the comfort level of knowing that he was there to keep me from doing anything stupid. I also have another weekend of training dives this weekend so I'll be up to 12 of 14. The best dive I had in my class last weekend was the one where I had the instuctor buddied with me on a nav exercise. He hung back and let me lead then when we finished gave me a critique of basic skills, things to work on, etc. Gave me a much better picture of where I am in my progression that I would have if I was just doing follow the leader diving.

The thing I have benefitted most from using this approach has been having someone there who I am confident will be able to assist if I goof (mostly in the planning and setup before a dive where it seems to me most issues originate from). Then having someone to do a post dive review with and get critique, recomendations, validations, etc. After this weekend my goal is to have at least another 4 to 8 dives with the experienced diver buddy with the idea that I will lead the planning and the dives so that there is someone there to make sure I don't miss something but still allow me to have the confidence that I know what I'm doing when I get buddied up with someone who is around my level or of an unknown level.

...to have had the benefit of so much professional attention.

I find that I'm always teaching diving, if people are willing to listen. Where ever I go, if I see something that warrants a tactful word or two, then I'll offer. Most folks are quite grateful, a few are insulted & ignore the advice.

Advice is great stuff, provided it comes from a knowing source. Sometimes well-intentioned individuals give advice that is wanting - beware of your sources, whether on the beach, on the boat or on the board...

DSD

 

[DeepSeaDan]

Well, as far as basic dive skills go, I wouldn't feel the need to spend time with an instructor on any of them. I have solid buoyancy control, good air consumption, and good navigation skills.

That being said, I'd want to do more night dives & deep dives with an instructor if I could which is why I plan to take the PADI Night Diver and PADI Deep Diver specialty courses. One dive isn't enough to get you familiar with that type of dive unless that one dive was a really good one. In my case, the night dive was called after only 15 min underwater due to massive amounts of jellies in the water (instructor was worried about an anaphylactic reaction to a minor sting on someone's exposed face) and the deep dive was only to 61 feet so it was only a deep dive as far as technicalities go.

I'd also like some one-on-one time with trying out a dry suit. I know that's not a basic skill or anything but the catchphrase "try it before you buy it" comes to mind.

More supervised diving is a very good thing - good on you! As I've mentioned before, try to hook up with Instructors who go logically & reasonably beyond the minimum requirements of their agency. It is a sad fact that some agency courses are lacking in what many experienced divers consider fundamental knowledge, like, perhaps, GAS MANAGEMENT!!

Regards,
DSD

 

[iridiumjd]

DSD,

I am probably exactly in that category you described. I have about 45 dives under my belt and have just finished rescue diver course. BTW, I think that is an amazing course and everyone should take it. It really makes me feel more comfortable in the water.

That being said, the skills I want to know are the basic skills. I dive about once a year for a weekend or week or whatever. I have dived all over, including the cold Puget Sound. I really want to work on buoyancy. I know that every dive is a buoyancy dive, but how much weight do I use? Do I look at my log book and go with last time. Do i just go with a rule of thumb? Everyone says the conditions are different each time. how am I supposed to know what weight to use when? My last dive in the Sound I was severely under weighted, but I talked with people and they said it might be enough. It seems weird to me to finish rescue diver and still be dealing with buoyancy. Of course I saw an octopus out in the open so I can't complain about the dive

So in answer to your original post. I would love just one-on-one time, pleasure diving and reviewing the dive afterwards. What did they see that I was doing well, what did they see that I wasn't doing well. At this point I have a goal of master scuba diver and getting various certs, but I just want to be a better diver shallower so I don't overload when I start doing some of the difficult stuff.

Thanks for the post.