Reasonable amount of time between Rescue classroom and OW scenarios

[USFpsychDiver]

I'm in the midst of PADI rescue. Did the classroom and pool sessions 8 weeks ago. The shop has yet to schedule the OW scenarios and the instructor says he can't schedule, that the shop has to do it (pretty clearly so they can get another 'cut' since it appears they want to schedule as part of a 'trip' to a nearby freshwater lake, for which the want to charge another $200 and the have the instructor teaching OW students during these trips rather than us two rescue students). Seems to me two months is excessive. Admittedly the other student and I have restrictive schedules, but there has been NO contact initiated by either the shop or the instructor; the instructor has only responded to queries from me about 'when are we going to do this'. Suggestions?

 

[TMHeimer]

I think you're just stuck. Obviously you don't want to ask for your $ back and begin all over elsewhere (if that is an option). I think all you can do is keep reviewing and visualizing the stuff and keep after the shop/instructor in hopes that it will ONLY be 2 months. My situation was the reverse. The instructor had to unexpectedly ship out to Afghanistan so we did the whole course in 5 straight days. Could've used a day or 2 off to digest some of the info.

 

[OldNSalty]

8 weeks sounds too long to me. I would go down there and tell them i want my course money back or my dives within the next couple of days.

 

[pongobaz]

Too long. 2 weeks for me start to finish.

 

[Whitewatermike]

I agree 8 weeks is too long. The scenarios are intended to reinforce the skill training. Contact the shop owner directly and let him/her/them know that you are very dissatisfied either want a definite date that is acceptable to you or you want a refund. No small business owner ever wants to refund money so maybe this will get them to make it right.

I had the same experience with the shop where I took my SSI Stress & Rescue course. I wasn't even getting call backs and it finally took an email to the owner with a hint that I would use social media to tell people about my experience with them. I got a call back almost immediately and was in the water the following Saturday. While I finished the class, I've forever gotten the cold shoulder from the instructor. When I moved on to DM, I went elsewhere where I also happened to spend about $2K in gear.

As I suspect they never mentioned paying an extra $200 for your OW dive(s) when you signed up for the course, you might include the terms, "misleading," or "bait-n-switch," in the email.

Starting over elsewhere is not necessarily a bad thing. You will get to refresh your skills and then put them together for the scenario practice. Tell the new shop about your experience with the other shop and you may find them even more accommodating.

Good luck.

 

[nimoh]

I agree 8 weeks is too long, but talk to the shop owner for an explanation of the details. Could be a simple misunderstanding.

 

[Kitty_Kat]

My rescue class took around a month and a half to complete but it was scheduled that way due to logistical constraints (personal schedules, pool schedules, getting to the ocean). We knew upfront that the OW portion was going to be done during a weekend trip at sites that were 5+ hours away so that would be an extra expense (provided I didn't want to sleep in my car...) BUT this was all laid out at the start!

It's never really a good situation when a shop hasn't even scheduled a portion of your class. Moving things that have already been scheduled is a different story. Since the instructor is answering your questions, it sounds like you might be right that he/she might be under pressure from the shop to get you guys to come along on this trip and fork over more $. But you would think they would want to get this arrangement set so that they could for sure get the money...

Is there a place nearby that's accessible for you guys to complete your OW scenarios? If there is, the shop/instructor shouldn't be pushing you back to a later date, but if there's not, it's slightly more understandable that it hasn't gotten done yet. I would definitely try to get into contact with the shop/owner and see if you can get more of a concrete answer from them! Small businesses really do like to keep their customers happy (or at least happy enough not to slander their name...)

 

[TMHeimer]

It's OK to ask for your $ back, threaten with social media, etc. and just start the course over elsewhere if need be and you want to. I doubt any other shop would give you credit for the class & pool time, but I suppose doing it all again can't hurt at all. On the other hand, if your present shop is the only one in the area, or the most convenient one, it is probably not a good idea to forever get the "cold shoulder" from them, particularly if you are interested in doing DM or more.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My current Rescue class has about a 7-week interval between classwork and in-water work. I wish it didn't, but it was partly due to student schedules and partly the availability of the pool.

No one's complaining, though ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[spectrum]

If they are truly manipulating things to make a big trip group that's a raw deal. Questioning the instructor availability is totally fair questioning.

What do you have for local water, is it as simple as going down the road to a suitable site tomorrow? Any diving is real diving but the right site can lead to drills that are a lo easier on everyone. They may have a good plan.

Meanwhile you can practice some skills and visualize as you do you regular diving.

Before committing to this trip I would make darned sure you know what to expect. My rescue diver open water work was painfully brief. If you're going to make this trip you want to do more than a few drills and get the secret handshake. In my experience the grand all day marathon recue diver scenario days you read of here are not the norm.

Pete