"Worst Diver I have ever Seen!"

[Cacia]

Was the title of a PM I recieved recently from a friend about this nice lady we know and are trying to help.....

I would warn him as in "She is really fine once she is down there. Her diving is actually okay except for her bouyancy control and her finning and her decisions..."

This person is very bright, She just doesn't get it. Air...expands..exponentially...let it out....use your lungs to descend... She will ascend straight under the boat, until she bangs into a stationary object.

Each dive we start all over. We keep her under 40 feet, and right near the boat, because we can all see her killing herself. She is certified, and has about 60 dives, maybe more. Most people can dive better the very first time they splash. We make sure she has an Instructor or a DM each and every dive. I think she has heard four versions of every explanation in the last two months alone.

Where is this going? What should we do? I know I am not going to tell her she sucks, and might always suck... Oh...she is very relaxed and does not sense any danger what-so-ever. Anybody ever seen a diver like this?

 

[Diver Dennis]

Does she enjoy diving or is it more of a chore and just to be with friends? Someone has to tell her I think. Tough love.

 

[bolantej]

this reminds me much of myself. let her know, as gently as you can, that she needs more practice. it could be the difference between life and death/injury.

 

[TSandM]

If she thinks what she is doing is absolutely fine, you will not succeed in changing her.

I've seen this with riders again and again. If they think they are doing fine, then all the bad things that happen are accidental or the fault of the horse. They don't improve, because they don't hear criticism and they have no intrinsic motivation. Sometimes they end up getting hurt, too, although the potential to die riding is probably less than with diving.

If this diver is like that -- blithely happy with what she's doing -- then the only option you have is to sit her down and tell her flat out what she's doing wrong and that you are worried she'll get hurt as a result. She'll either be startled, hear you, and ask for help, or she'll get defensive or angry and deflect the criticism. In the first case, you can keep working with her. In the second, it's probably better to dissociate yourself from an accident looking for a place to happen.

 

[TheRedHead]

Someone should tell her she sucks. Someone should show her how to descend in a horizontal position and to stop before she gets to the bottom. Someone should explain to her that she can use one finger to touch the bottom in order to adjust her bouyancy and that she should remain an arms length away from the bottom while diving and to stop using her hands and keep her fins up off the bottom. It's got to start somewhere.

 

[BIGG_BUDD]

Tough one Catherine. Does anyone coach her when she makes these mistakes? She can't be this oblivious to the dangers of diving...does she need a reality check?

I'm a newbie with about 50 dives, and I love it when more experienced divers take the time and effort to coach me. Of course, it's all in the presentation. Serve it up like a friend helping a friend, and I bet she'll be very greatful for the feedback.

BTW...love your website. You are killer with a camera...

Peace, and good luck.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Actually Lynne is right and one coaching tool we use for hockey is video. Sometimes you can talk all you want but until they SEE themselves screwing up, they don't believe you or won't listen. You probably won't have to say a word during the video...

 

[Cacia]

If this diver is like that -- blithely happy with what she's doing

yup...very..very happy.

yes, the captain/instructor told her flat out she was "terrible". We all thought he was being mean, and we all have each taken a go at her, like it is a challenge to see who can finally crack this nut. I worry being on the boat when she is there, and I don't worry about much. I am starting to wonder about prescriptions or something because it just doesn't seem ...normal.
hey I am kinda like that, but this is something else. Extremely intelligent..very spacey.

thanks, Bud. Oh yea, friend to friend..she has had the paying version, the friend version...

 

[Divedoggie]

If she dives this way, she probably drives this way!
It sounds like a general "unawareness" of self and surroundings.

In the many many years that I coached ski racing, I on a couple of occasions, had to prevent an athlete from going through the starting gate and onto the course. They were upset at first, but thanked me later.
A person's life is much more important than a person's ego.

Don't sugar coat it, but be as tactful as possible while simply informing her of your, and other's, observations. Tell her that you truly feel that her life is in danger.
And..that your life is in danger if you attempt to save her.
She either needs to practice snorkelling technique and then diving skills in a pool or confined environment, until her skills and awareness improve, or she should hang the fins up.

 

[CBulla]

Don't get Chef Ramsey on her, and from the posts already here I wont be the first to say what she isn't told she wont know. If the person is close enough as a friend just tell them straight up 'hey, can we work on getting your buoyancy/finning/etc. honed in.. there are some things that can sting ya pretty bad here (or whatever may create some urgency in this person)..'

Umm if needs be, I'm available for travel and I'm NOT shy and fairly tactful at pointing out areas for improvement.