Unhappy with my training

[Bhtmec2]

Here is the SSI standards:

SSI SPECIALTY COURSE DRY SUIT DIVING

"When the shows become longer, the days shorter and the water gets colder – then the time for Dry Suit Diving has come.”

If you want to dive during the fall and winter in the colder climates, DRY SUIT DIVING is the course you should take. Visibility at these times of the year is usually excellent so it's a great time to get out there.

In your DRY SUIT DIVING program you will learn about the advantages of dry suit diving, different suits, valves, underwear and dry suit accessories. During the 2 mandatory dives you will apply correct dry diving techniques and demonstrate the correct care and maintenance of a dry suit.

If you want to learn more about DRY SUIT DIVING, you can buy the manual or the DVD even if you don't want to sign up for the course.

DRY SUIT DIVING SPECIALTY COURSE Content:

•Why Dry Suits?
•Types of Dry Suits
•Dry Suit Valves
•Underwear Selection
•Dry Suit Accessories
•Dry Suit Techniques
•Maintenance of Dry Suits
•Dry Suit Repairs
The primary goal of any SSI Specialty course is to teach you important skills in a fun environment. All courses are taught using home study, short academic sessions, and in-water training.

 

[BoltSnap]

iguana751,

You may still want to go back to your original store and let them know how you feel. You might be surprised that they would do an even better job than their competitor if they hear your feedback.

 

[hypertech]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice. In my original post I missed stating that my dry suit course (speciality card issued) required two dives. The dives were not with an instructor, just with a buddy.

I checked out SSI’s website and the refresher I received was much less than what is listed on the site. I expect that a shop will provide at least what is listed on the organization’s website. I know that I should have inquired beforehand what my refresher course would consist of. However, the instructors always talk about how through their (ssi) courses are compared to other diving associations and I believed them.

I was visiting a buddy about two months ago and went to his dive shop (padi) because he wanted a refresher course. The refresher course at his shop was; classroom, pool and two open water dives with an instructor. I expected something similar from my shop but it is my fault for not finding out what I was getting for my money. If I had found out the kind of refresher I was getting I would have gone to my buddy’s shop instead.

If you paid for the specialty and it requires two dives - those must be done with an instructor. Although I don't know all the SSI rules, 2 dives with a buddy just are not training dives that should have occurred with an instructor.

I think you have a legitimate complaint and should talk to the shop about having an instructor go do some dives with you and complete the training you paid for.

About the refresher, well, those seem to be much more relaxed. Its more of a - what would you like to go over to be more comfortable for your trip, etc than a rigid course, at least in my experience. Right after I certified and before our first trip, we wanted more practice, so my wife and I signed up for a "refresher" to get some more practice on bouyancy control. The instructor's perspective (and mine too) was that we paid for her time and the pool time and could do whatever we wanted. We just spent an hour in the pool practicing bouyancy and playing with the torpedo toy and called it a refresher. It was exactly what we were looking for. I'm explaining this because in the context of a refresher, I think you need to be very clear with the instructor on what you are trying to achieve with the refresher. People have so many different backgrounds and reasons for taking a refresher, that they are almost inherently variable. They should have made this inquiry with you, but communication is key to make sure you get what you are looking for in any scuba activity and particularly in refreshers.

 

[dpaustex]

Iguana, I am an SSI Instructor. I don't know about the LDS where you did your update course, but the objective of the scuba skills update is to refresh and practice the skills you learned in your OWD class. It is not meant to teach you anything you aren't already supposed to know. Per SSI standards, these classes can be taught by a Dive Control Specialist/Asst. Instructor (and often are).

For people that haven't been diving in several years, and don't have many total dives, some opt to retake the OWD course. We also suggest they go on some weekend shop-sponsored local dives, just to get the "feel" back. Like many skills, if you don't use them frequently, you get very rusty very quickly, and forget many of the things you were taught in you OWD class.

I would also suggest talking to the shop where you took the classes. Not being a Dry Suit instructor, I can't comment on class expectations or requirements. As an SSI Instructor, I am very happy with their training materials in all of the other classes for which I am certified. SSI also keeps pretty close tabs on folks (no independent instructors, for one).

Again, talk to the LDS.

 

[Max Speed]

You got screwed. I practiced dry suit flooding with 40F water during my dry suit class. Oh, wait, it wasn't the instructor's idea......