Which is a better class option....

[drew52]

All things considered more is always better but for the the divers that adapt easily it's enough to give you your "learners permit" so to speak. For the diver that needs a little more time and practice to get comfortable the all important question is ,"what is the option if I don't get it down in the alloted time?"

Pete

That is probably a great question to ask which ever dive center you choose. Go for the 2 weekends and ask what happens if you need more time.

 

[TSandM]

You may not be able to "practice scuba" between sessions, but if you have an issue like mask clearing, there are a lot of things you can do at home to play with that . . . Or you can go to a local pool and have a self-training session with a mask.

I'm a great believer that learning takes place between training sessions, just from thinking, and subconscious work. When I took riding lessons once a week, I was often surprised at the progress that seemed to occur between lessons, despite the fact that I wasn't able to ride any other time.

I'd definitely go for a structure that spaced things out as much as possible.

 

[RedWingDiver]

I'm in agreement with spacing things out as much. I've never been a big fan of cram sessions for any sort of learning experience. You need the time to process the info and learn a bit on your own.

My original class was four weeks of 3-4 hour sessions two times a week. If we ever needed time, we could stop in on any other pool session to catch up or practice. I actually found myself going to extra pool sessions just to hang out since I was having so much fun with it! I would definitely inquire about "make up sessions" like that with whatever place you end up going with.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I'm a great believer that learning takes place between training sessions, just from thinking, and subconscious work. When I took riding lessons once a week, I was often surprised at the progress that seemed to occur between lessons, despite the fact that I wasn't able to ride any other time.

I'd definitely go for a structure that spaced things out as much as possible.

I'm in agreement with spacing things out as much. I've never been a big fan of cram sessions for any sort of learning experience. You need the time to process the info and learn a bit on your own.

I'm going to agree with this approach. Personally I would take the class that meets two evenings a week if that meant I could get in the water 4 different times. I would make sure I got plenty of rest the night before so I could be as fresh as possible by the end of the day when the scuba class started. The more times you assemble/disassemble gear and review your basic skills the more comfortable you are going to be when you get to open water.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[jd950]

Thanks for all the responses. These do not include the OW dives just class and pool then I will do referral dives elsewhere. I think I have the time calculation right. I don't know how they do lunches and such.

The local YMCAs don't offer scuba classes and the local community colleges don't either. I'm not sure I would want to sign up for a community college program anyway as I assume there would be some serious scheduling difficulties for someone who is not a student. EVERY dive shop in the area offers basically the same program.

If any of you are PADI certified instructors in the Denver area and want to offer more extensive training for an affordable price, PM me. I'll gladly do more training if you can find a pool for us to use.

Otherwise, from your comments, I'm thinking the Friday evening followed by two Saturdays might be the best choice rather than doing class after work in the evening.

 

[liuk3]

Please...I read the threads about how I will probably die due to inadequate training, but this is what's available to me. Once I get certified either I'll have to learn more later or die, but this is where I need to start.

LOL. I'm in the same boat looking to get certified. I've been trying to find a local OW scuba class in Los Angeles, but it seems like from reading this bulletin board, it seems that I'm destined to die due to inadequate training since all I can seem to find are the short classes being offered in L.A.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I had to take classes when I was in town (I travel for work and it is usually not planned) So My wife, Son and I where the only students in the Class. The Class room and Pool sessions we did on 2 weekends (We had done discover scuba which in the case of our instructor was pool session #1 two weeks before). We had 2 weeks inbetween class weekends then went to OW the following Sunday and I took monday off and it worked out great.

I would opt for the weekend classes on Saturdays to space them out.

 

[pir8]

Taking the quickie type class does not mean you are going to die. what it does mean is that you have to be more respopnsible for your education and put that much more of yourself into it. You must also be very aware off your limitations and follow them. There are no Scuba Police out there so you will have to do that yourself. I have taught the weekend class before but the students must be self motivated. My version was Pool Fri night, Sat& Sun morn was academics with more pool in the afternoons. Works out to about the same amount of time just crammed together. I really don't encourage this way. I prefer to do to 2 evenings a week for 3 weeks, more if needed.