What should I do? (Open Water Manual)

[mikejclark]

I know you can't learn everything in the basic open water manual for your class but the idea is just to read it get a feel for everything and learn as you go.

I'm in a bind though.

I just picked up my course studies and my classes start this week and the LDS didn't tell me anything about the manual until AFTER i payed for everything. I payed for my fins the course, my mask, bootys and snorkel all at once.

I saved up for it all and was really excited once I got everything. Then he told me I have 4 days to do a 350page manual and have the answers done. I work full time and im helping a friend move this week.

My problem is Im really short on money and I'd have to pay a fee to reschedule my classes for open water to another day. I can't afford that.

Do I just scan through the book and fill out the answers and hope for the best, I'm not sure what to really do because I dont have time to read through it all in 4 days but I dont have the money to push my dates back.

 

[fisherdvm]

You can do it in 4 days. Email scubatoys.com using private scubaboard email..... I think they are just called scubatoys, and they will give you a password for their table software. Play with the PADI table on the software until you can solve the multiple dive plans. As I recall, there is alot of fluff at the end of the book. Focus on the first 4 or so chapters. Focus on the pool skills. You should be fine in 4 days.

If you don't pass the test, no big deal. Most will give you a second chance, perhaps a week later. I think about 4 to 6 hours is all you really need. The stickler for some folks is the no decompression limits and the dive table. PADI tables are a pain in the butt compared to other's tables, but is doable.

 

[scubajcf]

You get as much out of a course as you put into it!

First thing I would do is talk to the dive shop and explain to them your situation and let them know that you don't think it is fair to be told last minute about 350 pages worth of work in four days. Let them know that you wish to reschedule a week or two down the road. Let them know this is a long term relationship and don't wish to start it out on a rocky road.

If that doesn't work. Get the OW Video by PADI. That has a lot of what is in the book. It may help you read through it faster. Remember, you only need to have the first few modules done before class 1. You can do the rest at night in between classes.

No matter what, don't rush through it. At the end of class/lecture/pool, if you don't understand the material, don't go into the Open Water until you do. Open Water is lots of life saving information. Understand it and you will be a safer diver.

And remember, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. If you feel overwhelmed by the homestudy, it won't get easier once you are in class.

Be safe; it is truly a lifetime of adventure you are expanding into.

JcF

 

[Buoyant1]

4 Days for the WHOLE manual? Is this a one shot weekend class or are you doing it a piece at a time? I had to have a knowledge review done each week before te pool session, then we took the quiz...we didn't do it all at once?!?!

Anyway....it's not that hard of a read, there are a lot of pictures and descriptions in it. Easy way to do the "KR'S" is to read the questions, then read the chapter, and answer as you come across the answer to the question. But I'd verify that you need to read the whole thing right away??

 

[pasley]

First question is, are you being certified by an HSA certified dive instructor? That would be the dive certification agency I would recommend to you. HSA is the Handicapped SCUBA Association which is 26 years old. It can be found at "www.hsascuba.com" I just completed their dive buddy course were I learned how to be a dive buddy for handicapped divers. The training included diving with the blind, paraplegics and quadriplegics among other handicaps. Learning the hand signals for blind divers came in handy for the open water portion of the course as we sighted divers were reduced to using the blind hand signals to communicate because the visibility was under one foot.

I would contact HSA and ask them where you can get either a Braille manual or a audio manual. If anyone would know it would be them.

Once you get certified, come on out to Southern California and lets go diving.

 

[scubatoys]

First question is, are you being certified by an HSA certified dive instructor? That would be the dive certification agency I would recommend to you.

I believe he said he's in a "bind"... not "blind".

 

[fisherdvm]

Yup, it would take more than 4 days to read an OW manual in braille. At least for me.

 

[pasley]

Oops, my mistake. Should have put on my glasses. I misread bind as blind.

In that case, get to reading. But since the training will take time, you should only need to have read what is required for the material you cover in class each day.

 

[24940]

Oops, my mistake. Should have put on my glasses. I misread bind as blind.

Better get those glasses on before you read something about the presidential erection.

 

[Doc]

"Never mind" - Emily Litella