Training Experience & Suggestions Requested

[bluefizzure]

I have been interested in learning to scuba dive my whole life. I love all sea creatures, and want to learn to dive so I can volunteer to help local (and while on vacation) various types of places in doing research, etc.

I chose a place (without doing research) I found out Friday evening that the class had 14 students. I was worried, but was told there would be two instructors.

Saturday (my first confined water dive) there was one main instructor, and another person who helped out (I thought they were going to break the 14 students into 7 each). There were many issues, including not being able to hear the instructor well, the pool being noisy (college pool with music blaring), everyone was stepping on each other's fins (we had just two lanes available to our group, plus other diving groups used it as well), and rushed through everything. I felt like I wasn't getting the help and assistance I needed. The training that day was 6 hours long with just a quick break between (no lunch).

Today (second day, confined water dive 3) I talked to the instructor right after we did the skin dive (which I did poorly at, have never done, and felt stressed, pressured, and embarrassed that I didn't get it). I was told to talk to a person at the store to see about getting 1:1 to complete my certification.

I talked to the shop, and was told they would give me a discount on 1:1 training.

I also talked to different and larger shop (that has been around for 30 years), and they rent out the entire pool for a class, class sizes no more than 6, and the open water dives are only about 15 minutes (the first place is over an hour away).

I need to day a couple of days to destress, and decide what to do. Either stick with the initial place for 1:1 or go to the other place for 1:1. After many bad experiences with the first, I am tempted to go with the other place. Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

 

[warmwaterturner]

The goal is to be properly trained. You are the one paying the bill. If you don't like the service then find someone you do. 14 is a bit of a cattle operation with only one instructor and an assistant. You don't sound comfortable with the situation. Diving is a wonderful experience. Dive training can also be a great experience. One of the greatest lessons of diving is that you have to be responsible for yourself as a diver. Might start considering that now......sounds like you already made up your mind - just do it!

 

[bluefizzure]

Warmwaterturner, thank you for your reply. I really wished (20 20 hindsight vision) checking into at least one other place. I guess what bothers me with the first place is that they said the class size was big due to a lot of people wanting to get certified. But that doesn't make sense, they should limit it, not just take whoever signs up and throw in an assistant.

The second place I talked to hit it on the head "if it's not fun and a good learning experience, it's a bad thing." I totally agree. I think everyone learning to scuba dive is at least a little nervous. I've been wanting to do this my whole life and feel I deserve to not feel like a number just getting through.

Thanks again.

 

[scallop]

My son (11 yrs old) and I took private lessons. IMO it was well worth the extra $$. If you can afford it I recommend going the private 1 on 1 route.

 

[fire_diver]

Go with the second shop, they sound much more professional and diver oriented. Any instructor who would put his students through what you described is more interested in the money than the training.

 

[TSandM]

Pool time is the most expensive part of dive training for the shop, and clearly the first shop is trying to keep the budget low. A shop that rents the entire pool (which is what ours does) not only de-stresses the experience, but also gives the students more opportunity to swim around and actually experience what it's like to DIVE.

As painful and expensive as it may be, I would rebook with the second shop, if I were you.

 

[fugly]

You should be comfortable with the shop / instructors. It's stressful enough learning to dive. having such a large class and uncomfortable learning environment isn't helping you. Go with your gut feeling and I think you already know what you need to do. I was in a similar situation where I wasn't comfortable with my LDS which was 10 minutes away from my house. I now found a very good Dive shop and travel 40 miles for training and service.

Best of luck.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

I think the maximum should be four students per instructor, maybe six if there's a DM to help. It's ridiculous that they had one instructor and a DM for 14 people. Imagine each person needed 30 minutes of individual help/training - that would take seven hours, with only half an hour being spent on one person (which is nowhere near enough).

As a beginner in scuba diving, you need to solidify the basics. You're probably not going to develop the best skills with 1/14 of the attention of an instructor. You're likely not going to develop the best comfort too. Either ask to be in a reasonably-sized class or go private.

 

[Agility]

Learning to dive requires confidence in the teacher.
I would go with shop #2 if you feel comfortable there.
1:1 training will probably not provide you with more space in the crowded pool of shop #1.

It took me nearly 2 years to find the instructor I want to do my (advanced) training with.

 

[bluefizzure]

Thank you everyone for your help. It was a learning experience. I will go with the other LDS. Wish me luck!