I know I said that I was going to start with the classroom but then you might not be able to follow the "why". Instead I'll start with the end so the goal is clear and I hope it'll make more sense when I back up and describe how we get there.
After the experiences I described in the other thread and many more I was starting to get an idea of what was required to have contol over a dive. I continued to experiment with the way I ran classes and each time it got a little better.
I hit a dead end though for a while and just couldn't see what else I could do and still follow the standards. I knew I wasn't done yet because my students still sucked in the water. Oh they did fine at all the skills that I was supposed to teach the way I was taught to teach them but they couldn't dive for crap. I begane to read the closely without making assumptions that the way I was taught and the way I had seen it done was the only way. So...Open water today.
On the last dive or maybe earlier depending on the class and the students, I pair students up. They get a map of the dive site and they formulate a dive plan. Then they conduct the dive. I watch the process but I don't step in unless I feel I need to for safety. If I do have to step in then this isn't the last dive of the class. The certification means that they are qualified to independantly plan and conduct open water dives in conditions similar to or better than those in which they were trained.
The requirements of this dive are simple. All they have to do is dive their plan. If the plan changes that's ok as long as it's done safely. Oh they have to exhibit reasonably good technique. Sometimes the vis requires that they dive close to the bottom to see it so we don't kill them if a stray fin movement stirs up a little puff but toal blowouts can't happen. They have to be aware of each other and stay in contact and that's about it. I don't care if their course isn't exactly as planned and given the environment it's even ok if they have to surface swim a little to get to the exit point. They are required to end the dive with adequate reserve gas as planned also.
We've had some interesting things happen on these dives but it's better for that learning to take place in the class.
Next post...dive 1, 2 and 3
After the experiences I described in the other thread and many more I was starting to get an idea of what was required to have contol over a dive. I continued to experiment with the way I ran classes and each time it got a little better.
I hit a dead end though for a while and just couldn't see what else I could do and still follow the standards. I knew I wasn't done yet because my students still sucked in the water. Oh they did fine at all the skills that I was supposed to teach the way I was taught to teach them but they couldn't dive for crap. I begane to read the closely without making assumptions that the way I was taught and the way I had seen it done was the only way. So...Open water today.
On the last dive or maybe earlier depending on the class and the students, I pair students up. They get a map of the dive site and they formulate a dive plan. Then they conduct the dive. I watch the process but I don't step in unless I feel I need to for safety. If I do have to step in then this isn't the last dive of the class. The certification means that they are qualified to independantly plan and conduct open water dives in conditions similar to or better than those in which they were trained.
The requirements of this dive are simple. All they have to do is dive their plan. If the plan changes that's ok as long as it's done safely. Oh they have to exhibit reasonably good technique. Sometimes the vis requires that they dive close to the bottom to see it so we don't kill them if a stray fin movement stirs up a little puff but toal blowouts can't happen. They have to be aware of each other and stay in contact and that's about it. I don't care if their course isn't exactly as planned and given the environment it's even ok if they have to surface swim a little to get to the exit point. They are required to end the dive with adequate reserve gas as planned also.
We've had some interesting things happen on these dives but it's better for that learning to take place in the class.
Next post...dive 1, 2 and 3
