Which topic from your OW class...

[talonraid]

We covered gas management, but not to a great extent. I think it was more of a "make sure you're at the boat with 500 lbs". So, although we easily worked over a hundred different dive table problems with multiple dives, deep dives, even talked about deco, it was geared toward knowing your "class" for the next dive. We didn't spend a lot of time talking about pre-dive planning specifically dealing with when to turn around based on how much air was left in the tank and considering your depth. I now know that should have been covered more thoroughly.

I could have down without covering all the different advanced classes available through SSI after finishing OW. I'm certain it was mentioned in almost every single chapter of the text.

 

[talonraid]

Guba, you may be the only one to get this, but...

Ahhh, SAC, MAC and TAC...the good old days.

 

[ClayJar]

I was particularly disappointed later that I had not received any clue about how moving ballast or tank around might affect trim. Generally trim was but introduced and emphasis was on buoyancy control.

You know, now that you mention it, trim is another biggie, and if you're just doing extra-conservative follow-the-leader profiles, learning trim may have a much more significant impact on your everyday diving (for a vacation diver, let's say). I'll borrow TSandM's example and say that I didn't mention it before as it was simply not taught in the classes I was in. (Hehe, thanks, TSandM! )

Now that I think about it, none of the classes I've had have taught or practiced trim (a gross oversight, in my strong opinion) . It's not just that they didn't teach it in OW, but they didn't toss it in with AOW or even make up for it by covering it later than that. Apparently, it just didn't come up.

Obviously, I've taught myself proper trim (and I continue to learn with each new bit of gear -- the drysuit was quite a fun step). I've also helped buddies of mine get their buoyancy and trim dialed in. Still, if you'd ask a random sampling of students (OW all the way up), I wonder how very few you'd find who could tell you what proper trim is and give a reason for it.

 

[kidspot]

I guess I should have mentioned that topics NOT covered are allowed too

What about topics you felt were superfluous to the new OW diver?

 

[PriorSJ]

they say that a good intstructor learns from his students. This excellent thread has given me loads of ideas to pass onto others. thanks.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

We covered gas management, but not to a great extent. I think it was more of a "make sure you're at the boat with 500 lbs".

That is not gas management ... it's a goal.

Gas management entails thinking about your gas supply before the dive and during the dive ... not after the dive is over.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[60feet]

Topics I wish were covered better (or practiced more) in my OW class:

1) Bouyancy control
2) Slow, controlled ascent
3) Proper weighting methodology

We spent time in a pool for bouyancy control practice but hardly any during OW ocean dives - only kneeling on sandy bottom practicing clearing masks, air sharing, etc. I don't recall us being led to varying depths for us to practice adjusting air into/out of the BC for bouyancy control. Also, we had to perform controlled emergency ascent from around 20 fsw with reg out of mouth, finning upward while exhaling, which we all performed well. But we didn't really get to practice normal, end-of-dive, slow, controlled ascents while being watched by the instructor. Regarding proper weighting, I think about 2 minutes were spent in class on this topic, without any follow-up with actual in-water demonstration. The weights we each used were what the instructor gave each of us for the OW dives.

Bouyancy control, especially at the end of a dive, was something I struggled with the most in the first 15 dives or so. From what I've seen on this board, it seems to be a common challenge for new divers. Given that reality, I believe more practice in an OW class could prove incrementally useful, even as we all know it is something which improves over time and number of dives.

 

[mikerault]

I agree, gas management and buoyancy control. I was lucky in that my instructor insisted I do the Buoyancy specialty immediately after the class. I see many folks doing the "March through Georgia" as they are diving (bicycle kicks and arms pumping while nearly vertical in position) due to poor buoyancy, I imagine their SAC rates are huge in comparison to a well trimmed and controlled diver.

Mike

 

[ClayJar]

I see many folks doing the "March through Georgia" as they are diving (bicycle kicks and arms pumping while nearly vertical in position) due to poor buoyancy

That's a great visual. (Do you think we can call them "Shermans" from now on? After all, "Shermans march through the sea.")

The worst thing about the lack of training in buoyancy, trim, and gas planning is that unless they're taught enough in OW to know there's something out there they need to learn, there's no way the vast hordes of "OW and no more" divers will even know they're missing something.

 

[Peter Guy]

As a heretic here, I wish there had been a lot more discussion about dive computers -- what they can do for you, what you need to be aware of. This is part and parcel of the understanding of your equipment which, unfortunately, was glossed over.

Yes, I know every computer (just as every BC or Reg or ... ) is different, but there are some commonalities and the main points should be addressed. I think addressing diving computers is especially important because they are relied upon by the "average recreational diver" to great extent (and they ain't DIR!).