Roatan Trip Report - Open Water Certification January 2008

[Jetgirly]

So, I finally took the plunge and obtained my Open Water certification.

First, let me say that I am one of those uptight, obsessive-compulsive, always-worrying, phobias-of-everything people. I've been putting off doing this for years, and I've snorkelled in places where I really should have been diving (Hawaii, the Red Sea, etc.) because I was too scared to do the certification. However, I found myself with a spare month in January and was already "somewhat" close to Roatan (Guadalajara, Mexico), so I figured I'd never have another chance to do it as cheaply as I would at that time.

I read online message boards compulsively, and wavered between Ocean Connections, Reef Gliders and Coconut Tree divers before finally settling on Coconut Tree. I emailed and told them my date of arrival, and they said they had a class starting that day. They asked me to put down a deposit, but in the hectic days leading up to my moving to Mexico I totally forgot. I emailed them a few days before my course started to let them know I was still committed to the course but was fearful (surprise!) of using my credit card from the computer at the hostel I was staying at while house-hunting. They said no problem- I should just show up.

So, on January 10th I showed up at their dive shop at 8:30 in the morning and learned that my class would start right away. There were four other students in the class: a group of guys from England who had been traveling around Central America together. I was definitely the odd girl out. On our first morning we watched some videos and did the knowledge reviews in the book (I had brought my own that I swapped from a book exchange in a hostel in La Ceiba). Nobody checked our knowledge reviews that day, we were sent off for lunch, then we came back at 1:00 or so for our first confined water dive.

I was ready to drop out after our first confined water dive. Seriously, I was almost in tears. I was really, really, really bad at diving, I didn't understand anything that was going on, and our instructor, Marc, didn't seem to care at all. In fact, he seemed to find my difficulties rather amusing. I distinctly recall him laughing and saying, "You sure don't like taking your mask off underwater, huh?" The issue wasn't whether or not I liked it- the issue was whether or not I could do it. I needed HELP learning how to do it, and he didn't offer a single word of advice or support. He just laughed. I also panicked when we did the exercise where you breath from your buddy's regulator because I couldn't figure out which way was up and which was down. The weird thing was, I panicked, breathed in a ton of water, then took the regulator from his hand and finally got it right... then we moved on. I wasn't given an opportunity to do it again or get it right.

That night I was probably sick to my stomach with worry, but I showed up again the next morning because I didn't want to look like a quitter. I found we had a new instructor, Marco Alvarado, and he was literally a lifesaver. The difference between him and Marc was like night and day. After our second confined water dive, he took time out of his own lunch hour to help me with taking off my mask underwater and breathing just through my mouth (not my nose). Over the next three days he didn't once get sick (or, I guess I should say ACT sick) of my endless, repetitive questions and constant need for reassural that my equipment was put together and taken apart correctly. There is no way I would have stayed in the course if Marc had been our instructor for the entire four days, so I have only Marco to thank for my certification. By the second day the admin side seemed to be more organized, and our knowledge reviews were actually reviewed, and we began taking the mandatory quizzes leading up to the final exam.

After the first day our class was joined by two people, bringing the total up to seven. It seemed like the class was a bit large, but everything worked out. One girl had done her classwork and confined water dives back in Canada so she just came along on the open water dives, while her friend spent an entire day in the classroom to catch up with our group for days two, three and four.

Once we had our new instructor things went much more smoothly. I was given more than one chance to get things right, and while I always struggled with the skills exercises I found that I was able to do the actual dives hassle-free. Our four open water dives took place at Lighthouse (twice), The Bight and Grape Escape. Coconut Tree's boat is great because it is relatively large and has a covered area (perfect for keeping my super-burned skin out of even more sun). The other employees at the dive shop were really nice, especially the woman working behind the desk (I totally forget her name) and the youngish American instructor with curly hair.

In the end I passed (I couldn't believe it!) and signed up for some fun dives, which I then cancelled because I was literally awake all night worrying about the possibility of ruining other people's fun dives with my idiocy. Fun dives are supposed to be fun, and they were literally causing me to have sleepness nights and panic attacks. I definitely plan to continue diving in the future, but I think that I need a bit more time in small groups under an instructor's close eye. At least now I won't be resigned to snorkelling for the rest of my life!

As a postscript, I have to mention that as a teacher, this course was an eye-opening experience for me. To be learning in a situation where you can't speak or hear was extremely challenging for me, as I'm someone who learns best by hearing instructions and then saying them back in my own words. I finally know what it's like to be "the dumb kid" in the class and to be forced to learn in a way that doesn't gel with my own intelligences, and it's definitely going to shape my practice in my own classroom.

For information on the hotels, restaurants and sightseeing from my trip, go to Jetgirly Isla de Roatán Travel Page - VirtualTourist.com. It's about 60% complete at the moment.

 

[Hawk]

Congrats! For some it is an easy transition into the environment below, for some it is not. Nothing to worry about. Good to hear you ended up with an instructor who cared and could see what was needed. Some just don't understand that people learn at different speeds and comfort levels.

What you need now is to find a buddy or group that you are comfortable with and just dive, dive, dive. Most people will understand that you won't be perfect, in fact far from it. Everyone started out not knowing everything they now know. Most will be patient and try to help. If you run across one of the sour grapes out there that has no patience, ignore it. Learn from the ones that care. Most will want to help, even if it is just a word of advise from when they started. The best way to learn is to observe what others do.

You now have the equal to a driving permit. Learn enough and before long you will be doing it like it has been a part of you all of your life. The fun starts now, you have taken the first and most important step, enjoy!

Later, Hawk.

 

[scorpenesub]

Congratulations on your OW certification and welcome to the board, Jetgirly

 

[hopefulist]

You should let Coconut Tree know about your experience with Marc - not what they expect from their instructors, I'm sure. I, too, had some challenges with skills, especially removing and replacing my mask underwater, complicated by contacts and a big intake of water on my first clumsy attempt. My instructor (Becky at Glover's Atoll Resort) was absolutely wonderful and I will be forever grateful to her. When I dove the next time, 2 years later on Utila, I did a refresher dive with an instructor and a DM (how about THAT student/teacher ratio?) which turned out to be more than an hour of review and practice in shallow water. My skills came back to me, even the mask part, but if I'd struggled they would have helped me through it; you might want to do a refresher every time as you build confidence. Now that you know what a difference an instructor can make, I hope you'll feel empowered to give them a heads up about your concerns first and ask for a change if you get a "Marc".

Thanks for taking the time to share!

 

[halocline]

I was in Roatan diving with Coconut tree when you were there, although I don't remember seeing your class. Your characterization of those two instructors is right on the money. It's funny; the thing about Coconut tree that I've always appreciated, and I'll be spending 6 weeks there next summer, is the quality of people. I think you might send Will (BayIslandsDiver) a PM alerting him to this thread. He, Loren, or Gaye will see it and, hopefully, let Marc know his, ummm, communication style could use a little tweaking.

If you are hoping to continue diving, and it sounds like you are, I would suggest possibly going back to Roatan and doing some dives with Marco as a private DM; it'll cost a little more than fun dives, but Roatan diving is still the cheapest in the caribbean. The reason I would recommend that is because you already have a sense of trust with him. Then you might transition into diving with one of the DM candidates; there are always a few around CT. eventually you'll get the confidence to dive on the boat without supervision, but as you know from being a teacher, confidence in any skill activity requires experience.

In the meantime, a few pool sessions can really help you with some skills. There was a guy who posted a great method for getting comfortable with mask removal on SB a year or so back. The gist of it was, you go into the shallow end of a pool with just a snorkle and practice putting your face in the water and breathing with your nose and eyes under the surface. The nice thing about this is that you're always standing on the bottom and can simply lift your head out at any time. Sometimes pinching your nose helps get over the initial shock of breathing through your mouth while your nose is exposed to water. Once you can do this EASILY, you take a regulator into the shallow end, try the same thing, then when it's easy to breathe through a reg without a mask, always in the shallow end where you can simply stand up, you can try taking a mask under with you, but not on, then while breathing on the reg, put the mask on, try to clear, stand up, repeat, etc. It really works.

Sorry you had a tough time on OW, although you're hardly alone. Lots and lots of people are intimidated by the experience, but eventually become very comfortable diving.

 

[undefined]

It's amazing how different people can perceive things so differently. My wife and I got back from Roatan two weeks ago and in preparing to post our trip report I stumbled upon this thread. While I haven't been as active on ScubaBoard over the past few months, this one caught my attention and I simply can't let it go unanswered.

My wife and I have been to Roatan four times in the past two years and happen to hold the distinct honor of having taken more courses through Marc at Coconut Tree than any other divers to date. We have a combined total of sixteen certifications through Marc, ranging from Deep and Wreck through Master Scuba Diver. I'd venture to guess that this qualifies us as having a well informed opinion of him as both an instructor and individual, especially considering that we chose to take the last set of courses specifically because Marc would be our instructor.

First off, Marc is not your average PADI resort bloke. He's not going to blow smoke up your 'you know what' when you screw up, nor is he one to coddle you and pander to your delicate sensibilities. It is for that very reason we enjoy diving with him, although it seems that it is also for that reason that you did not enjoy it. Marc has always come off as a straight shooter, at least to us - he'll tell you what you've done right as quickly as what you've done wrong, and I've never felt that he was one to judge or belittle us as students. When we took the rescue course under Marc (a truly unique experience that I will always cherish!) we commented several times after sessions that he had a knack for encouraging us beyond what we thought we could do by commenting on what we did right. It's important to understand that given the nature of a rescue course you are constantly thinking about each little thing you screwed up without the need for a lot of reminder from others. His encouragement got both of us through personal fears and challenges and shaped one of the most pivotal experiences either of us have ever had in diving, and a significant experience for us as a couple beyond the scope of diving.

I wasn't there when you took your class, nor do I presume to know or judge how you felt or what experience you had. All I can say is that this posting came as a pretty big surprise to me, as I not only trust Marc with my life, but I also trust him with my wife's life and safety. There are few people anywhere that I can say that about, but I wholeheartedly enjoy diving with Marc, spending time with him and his girlfriend, and studying under him. We do not see Marc as a random Caribbean dive instructor that can be replaced at the drop of a hat - he has become a friend and teacher. Should Marc decide at some point to leave Roatan I can say with great confidence that we would be planning a future trip to visit and dive with him wherever he ended up. Maybe some folks would prefer a different style of instruction or personality, but when we go diving with Marc I feel that we get more out of the experience, learn more, and are better for the experience.

I'll be taking Cavern under Marc the next time we're down there, and when he gets things squared away to start teaching tech I will no doubt be signing up for the first round of courses. Marco is a great guy and an excellent diver, but Marc is our instructor and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[SMPS]

sounds like you had an experience when you got your Open Water Cert. My I suggest that if you do come back to Roatan and I hope you will. Try Tyll's Dive Shop or Reef Gliders. These two shops are smaller and cater to the smaller groups. When you dive with Tyll's you are not a customer you are part of the family. Uwe and Dorte make you feel right at nome and the Instructors are very personable and you will get one on one more so than you would at a numbers factory like some of the larger shops.

When you get there tell Uwe or Dorte (Tylls') or Berry and Garry (Reef Gliders) that Big Purdy sent you.

 

[Papa_Bear]

My wife and I have been to Roatan four times in the past two years and happen to hold the distinct honor of having taken more courses through Marc at Coconut Tree than any other divers to date. We have a combined total of sixteen certifications through Marc, ranging from Deep and Wreck through Master Scuba Diver. I'd venture to guess that this qualifies us as having a well informed opinion of him as both an instructor and individual, especially considering that we chose to take the last set of courses specifically because Marc would be our instructor.

Please don't take offense, but you did Master SCUBA Diver, I thought that was NAUI, and you have less than a hundred dives? Isn't PADI Senior Advanced? Also Cavern? I would do that in Florida not Roatan and PADI doesn't do Cavern that I know about? There are Cavern drills that I don't know how you would do then in Roatan? Just an interested diver, thanks!

 

[Doc]

Please don't take offense, but you did Master SCUBA Diver, I thought that was NAUI, and you have less than a hundred dives?

PADI offers Master Scuba Diver with a pre-requisite of 50 logged dives including AOW and RESCUE. "Cavern" is defined as "within the light zone of a cave, the area near the cave entrance where natural light is always visible". The non-PADI courses are indeed called "cave"... where it gets really dark really quick. Please don't argue the linguistics or correct english definitions, this is just how they were differentiated and labeled.

Maybe more importantly:

Basing one's perception of how good an apple might taste does not come from eating 16 apples from only the one same apple tree.

You are in a better position to evaluate apples if you have tried only but from two trees- no matter if they were your first apple or the fiftieth.

Breadth of experience.

 

[Papa_Bear]

Cavern is a 130 ft from the opening or the loss of natural light whatever comes first! I would rather do it with NACD or NSS-CDD! PADI doesn't offer either as far as I know? I just don't see it in Roatan?

NAUI was the first to come up with the MSD and in the 70's I know it took more than just 100 logged dives! You haven't mastered anything by 100 dives let along 50! I agree, I like getting different instructors for different points of view! The more varied the instruction the more you will learn!

If you don't have enough Master Divers in your program get more divers don't lower the standards! MSD should be the pinnacle of a divers achievement not something you knock out in one location on a dive vacation! ????

You become an expert on the tree not the apple! If you eat one apple from all the apple trees around the world you have mastered the apple!