Was I under educated for the situation?

[knotical]

Are you otherwise generally comfortable in the water? If so, you are probably a good candidate to become a diver. Many of the best divers I know (such as my wife) had some uncomfortable experiences early in their training. In fact, I’m kinda partial to students who are not “naturals” because when they succeed, I know they can handle a degree of adversity. And they are usually so (rightfully) proud.

The comments from the other respondents are valid, but I’ll try to add a bit:

Most of the shops that I am familiar with in Colorado (including the one with which I am associated) offer free Discover Scuba (pool only) sessions. This is similar to the first part of your adventure in Cozumel. This session gives you a chance try scuba (again) and to see how the shop operates. With your experience, you’d probably be the star of the group.

Of course, this session also gives the shop a chance to sell their course. Most shops offer several schedules and options for taking the course, including (for an extra fee) private or small group lessons to accommodate your schedule.

Typically you would do your paperwork/academics and pool sessions locally and then have several options for open water dives, including:
- local lakes or reservoirs in the summer,
- Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, NM with approximately 62 degree water year-round,
- Homestead Crater in Heber City, UT with 93 degree water year-round,
- a store-scheduled group dive trip to some tropical destination,
- or a referral letter to an instructor of your choice anywhere in the world.
Personally, I would not suggest using the same operator with whom you had your experience in Cozumel. It sounds to me that they were not conscientious in supervising you, and should not have taken your brother (or anyone) so deep on an introductory dive. Normally the first two dives are shallow (shallower than 40 feet at sea level or something less at elevation), and the next two can go to moderate depth (max 60 feet at sea level).

If you aren’t sure yet, consider buying the certification book or CD. Going through it should give you a more complete idea of what to expect.

And you are right about how fun it can be to dive as family. I’ve even seen teens start a course clearly wishing they didn’t have to be in the same room as their parent, but end their training clearly bonded. On the other hand, the course is not without some stress, and it can backfire, but usually only if one of the students really doesn’t want to do it in the first place.

If I didn’t live in the wrong Springs (Colorado Springs instead of Glenwood Springs), I’d try to schedule us a pool session at the earliest opportunity. Failing that, feel free to PM me with any questions, or simply to seek encouragement.

 

[rollinssm]

If you're ambivalent about it then perhaps a good approach would be to try to line up an Open Water course at your local YMCA, rather than taking the class at a dive shop. The structure of the YScuba class will allow you to try something like a "Discover Scuba" dive before committing to the full-blown course ... ... Bob (Grateful Diver)

I had to pipe in on this one. As a Dive Shop owner, I must clarify something. I personally teach IANTD courses. I have two Instructors who teach PADI and I have one Instructor who teaches the local YMCA course. The YMCA contracts with my Dive Shop to teach the YMCA course. I don’t know how it is in other locations but when you go to the YMCA to get your SCUBA course – you may in fact be going to your locally owned Dive Shop. The YScuba class is a great course, as are PADI and IANTD. The only reason that I do not have other agencies taught out of my shop is because I don’t have Instructors from those other agencies.

Discover SCUBA is taught by all (at least all that I am aware of) Dive Shops. It is a great thing. I have taught two Open Water Classes so far this year and I have taught two Discover SCUBA classes this year so far.

For most this may be a minor point. But, for me it is important for people to understand.

 

[Tazmom]

I to am a claustrophobic diver. Somehow my love for the underworld helps me push my fear aside for what lies below. Sometimes it is difficult to do but as my dive experience goes up it does get easier. My hubby and I are OW certified and are now getting ready to do our AOW certs. We are also training our 4 children to dive and will be doing it as family vacations. We are a pretty large family so I guess expense wise, time with kids and teaching them stuff alot of their friends will never experience is priceless.

 

[Parrothead_Diver]

We're at a resort in Cancun, they are doing the demonstrations at pool side. Looks fun so we jump in and do the hand signals, swinging the arm to get the resporator, clearing the mask etc.

We're told that it is a 25' dive, My brother did read his meter when we were in our circle and it did read 50'.

Pam

Pam,

I, like you, started with a Resort or Discover type of Scuba course while on vacation, and I instantly got hooked and have been diving regularly since then.

I agree with the comments and suggestions that everybody has made so far and encourage you to "go forth and conquer".

As for the depth of 50' on your dive, It is very possible that the depth gauge on the equipment you were using was either faulty and/or in need of calibration.

When I did my first Resort course in Grand Cayman, my depth guage was reading well over 80'. After the dive I asked the DM about this and he said that most of their depth guages didn't work properly, but that his was in perfect working order and that we had never exceeded 35'.

Another thing that leads me to believe that your depth guage was faulty is that as far as I know PADI restricts Resort/Discover Scuba Divers to 40'. So if you were at 50' then you would have been in violation of PADI guidelines.