Relaxation Techniques

[scubagirl15]

RDP is so right: there are other places to get training.

I had a similar experience. Bad instructor. Complained to store owner. Store owner's response: "That's a great instructor you got there."

Since the store owner was so dismissive, I returned the favour in kind and promptly quit training with that store. I never did finish the course I paid for: it was a small enough sum that I chalked it down to a bad investment. It wasn't worth it for the non-instruction and abuse I had to take as a PAYING customer.

So glad you're doing your check out dives with a different instructor, hopefully someone you feel comfy with. IMHO, since you're the one paying the instructor for his/her services, it's up to the instructor to put you at ease.

After all the abuse you've endured with Rambo, I'm sure you'll be just fine in Florida!

 

[northcoast_diver]

... IMHO, since you're the one paying the instructor for his/her services, it's up to the instructor to put you at ease....

I do not agree with that part of the statement. You are not buying a certification, like when you are shopping at the mall.

Sometimes personalities just do not mesh, and its time to look for a different instructor. This is a no-fault issue. It is not the instructors fault, and it is not the student's fault.

A really good instructor would notice the body language of the troubled student, and assign her/him specifically to an A/I or D/M for special attention. That is another way around it.

An inexperienced instructor might not know how to handle a student with difficult problems, expecially if the problems are not evident.

 

[TheRedHead]

After all the abuse you've endured with Rambo, I'm sure you'll be just fine in Florida!

Thanks scubagirl15. I have one more pool session tonight and the final exam to go. Tuesday night we practiced shared air ascents and I did mine with 2 different students (still no real buddy in the class). I also had to do it with Rambo with him as the recipient and me controlling the ascent. Fortunately, I nailed it. The only criticism he gave me was I gave my bc a little shot of air before beginning the ascent. He is pretty heavy and I had no air at all in my bc.

We were also required to don all our scuba gear while standing (with a different buddy) and that was scary -- putting on your fins with a full AL80 and 16 pounds of weight. There are 10 people in our class and we're standing side by side at the edge of the pool. I had visions of us all toppling like dominoes. I held my (male) buddy's bc and tank while he got it strapped in. That wasn't so bad. Then he did the same for me and I get strapped in and my bc shoulder straps go up and the thing sags in the back. I got my bc shoulder straps readjusted after a little tussle. We then got both fins in our right hands, the backs of the fins together. While holding onto the buddy, you cross your leg and get your right fin on with your left hand (if I remember correctly), then you turn and face the other way and reverse the process. That last fin was a real b****. I was so relieved when we did the giant stride into the pool. Do people actually do that in real diving? Wouldn't be easier -- and safer -- to enter the water and then put your fins on?

I can't wait to get to Florida and do my OW dives. I know the folks at that dive shop as I have been a snorkeler on the boat on several occasions. My husband did his OW dives there and gave the instructor the highest praise. I feel very confident about it.

Thank you, everyone, for the encouraging and helpful posts.

 

[starfish365]

We were also required to don all our scuba gear while standing (with a different buddy) and that was scary -- putting on your fins with a full AL80 and 16 pounds of weight. There are 10 people in our class and we're standing side by side at the edge of the pool. I had visions of us all toppling like dominoes. I held my (male) buddy's bc and tank while he got it strapped in. That wasn't so bad. Then he did the same for me and I get strapped in and my bc shoulder straps go up and the thing sags in the back. I got my bc shoulder straps readjusted after a little tussle. We then got both fins in our right hands, the backs of the fins together. While holding onto the buddy, you cross your leg and get your right fin on with your left hand (if I remember correctly), then you turn and face the other way and reverse the process. That last fin was a real b****. I was so relieved when we did the giant stride into the pool. Do people actually do that in real diving? Wouldn't be easier -- and safer -- to enter the water and then put your fins on?
.

ok...question....just how do you expect to put your equip on...sitting down? How else do you get in the water? I'm just curious as to what you expect?

As to the fins...yes you have to put them on before you get in. It takes practice and a good hold on your buddy sometimes - having everyone standing side by each may not have been a good idea LOL.....Picture this....jump into a fast current where you have to ascend quickly - just how do you put you fins on? On any dive you cannot swim easily with full scuba gear and no fins...try it. The idea is to be in the water FULLY geared up and ready to go. Once you're in the water you're off>

 

[Far_X]

I was so relieved when we did the giant stride into the pool. Do people actually do that in real diving? Wouldn't be easier -- and safer -- to enter the water and then put your fins on?

Hi RedHatMama, good luck with your exam and seeing the end of Rambo. One place where you can put your fins on in the water is when you go beach diving. However, you still need someone or something to hold on to whilst you stand as you then have a current or waves trying to send you back to the beach, maybe. Sometimes I find a nice big rock to hold on to but be careful about using it to hold your equipment in case a rogue wave should dare to wash it off!! We have a place where we dive regularly and we call it a beach dive though it is really an old wooden bridge in a bay. In the last couple of weeks, a dive platform has been installed which makes entering the water a lot easier as we don't have to walk for 200 yards in the water to get somewhere deep enough to dive and put on the remainder of our equipment (like fins and gloves). It was the first time I had used the giant stride method of entry and I thought it was pretty neat how I got it right. I had last done that in the pool session when doing my OW training last November. Though I understand your thoughts on gearing up on land, it is so much better to be fully equipped when you step into the water because you don't have to worry about waves and currents whilst trying to finish donning your equipment. Take your time - there is plenty of it and you have an unlimited amount of air before you get in the water. Have fun!!

 

[TheRedHead]

ok...question....just how do you expect to put your equip on...sitting down? How else do you get in the water? I'm just curious as to what you expect?

Most of my snorkeling experience with divers has been on boats. The divers all put their equipment on sitting down on a long bench. They put the fins on last and one of the dive masters usually held on to the top of their tanks in order for them to safely get to the platform whereby they giant strided into the water.

I've snorkled from shore, but I've always waded out into waist deep water in order to put my fins on. I think that is easier than walking backwards with fins on.

As to the fins...yes you have to put them on before you get in. It takes practice and a good hold on your buddy sometimes - having everyone standing side by each may not have been a good idea LOL.....Picture this....jump into a fast current where you have to ascend quickly - just how do you put you fins on? On any dive you cannot swim easily with full scuba gear and no fins...try it. The idea is to be in the water FULLY geared up and ready to go. Once you're in the water you're off>

If you were jumping into a fast current (presumably from a boat), I think it would be better to put your fins on while sitting down.

If I were entering from shore, I would prefer to wade out a bit before donning my fins as the equipment is so much easier to handle in water.

Most of my snorkeling experience has been in the Florida keys (from boats) and on St. John, USVI (from anywhere). I've never seen anyone do what we did before: put everything on standing on dry land. If it were a real scenario, the only thing you could do would be to enter the water from the shore walking backwards with your fins on.

 

[Damselfish]

There is no one right way, it all depends. But sooner or later you will find yourself standing someplace with a need to put your fins on. For example different boats have different procedures. On some boats you put your fins on at your seat and shuffle to the back of the boat. On others (quite common) you walk to the back of the boat and put your fins on there while standing there and holding a railing or something, as shuffling around most boats in fins doesn't work well. That's about the same as doing it standing on land, except for good measure it's moving.

 

[TheRedHead]

There is no one right way, it all depends. But sooner or later you will find yourself standing someplace with a need to put your fins on.

It was a lot worse for my buddy: He had those plastic thingies in his fins and tried to put them on while holding on to me. :11: We all looked pretty ridiculous teetering around trying to do the fins without falling over or making oneself look like an idiot.

Boats do lurch, but a rail to lean on sounds pretty good right now.

 

[wacdiver]

Glad to see some of the techniques worked for you and GOOD LUCK today on your last class. and GOOD riddance to bad instructors. As a teacher myself(GED not SCUBA) I understand the need to be patient with a student if this guy has nothing but a screaming fit every time a student has a problem then maybe he shouldn't be teaching! Cuz if you could do it right without help then what the F do you need him for in the first place! After the class I would send a report to PADI (or whatever agencey he is in) and I would for sure voice my displeasure with the Instructor to the LDS
As far as the donning equipment standing up I have seen some people do it that way but as others have said, each Boat/diver has their own style and preference. AND to clarify to starfish365 YOU CAN PUT ON ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT ON WHILE SITTING DOWN! I do it every dive!! (I have MD and can not stand up with the belt and tank on) I sit at the edge of the boat by the ladder (or on the back depending on how/where the DM wants you to enter) don my tank (adjust as needed) my belt is already on before I get to the edge, and I have already checked all my gear before I move to the entry point(reg, octo, inflator hose ect ect...) slip on my fins, get a helping hand from one of the crew or my buddy (some assistance standing or a good ol push) and then splash I'm in. I also remove all my gear while still n the water (and pass it up to the crew or my Bud) as so I can climb the ladder back up.
But whatever your preference you always want your fins on as soon as you hit the water unless it is a shore dive.
GOOD LUCK on your OW dives in Fla at least you won't have to deal with redneck Rambo screaming at ya.
Let us know how it goes
WAC

 

[RonDawg]

We all looked pretty ridiculous teetering around trying to do the fins without falling over or making oneself look like an idiot.

It's a new skill so expect to be clumsy at first. Trust me, you get better at it the more you do it.