You have the wrong gear for this class!

[knowone]

You sure you don't want to start a thread in the asking
questions and participating in my kids OW class forum

 

[divermike1011]

The horse is dead. Rigor has come and gone and we're now well into putrefaction.

Michael

 

[randytay]

Thank you guys for all your input. I appreciate all your inputs, some of you actually read about my situation and gave me your valuable opinions and some just chose to read what they want to read even though it wasn't there and gave an opinion anyway.

From my experience working with the various instructors I have here where I live and communicating with scubaboard members, it is obvious to me that just because we are participating in the coolest sport in the world does not makes us the coolest people. Everyone is ready to offer an opinion whether they are needed or whether it applies to the situation is totally irrelevant. But thank you nevertheless.

What am I going to do about it? For the benefits of those who has chose to either consistently ignored my remarks or conveniently skip through it, I have already said and still do that I will suck it up and do what the instructors says just for the benefit of gaining experience and doing it for the sake of my personal goals. (I'm pretty sure someone is going to say that I am not or do not like to take the advice given by people after this post anyway).


In any case, I think the discussions should stop here, and once again thank you to everyone.

Safe diving.

 

[LakeCountyDiver]

. I would have less problem if he has brief me on the dress code BEFORE. But during the party he told me its the wrong color and that it was too formal based on... colors? Thats where I have the problem.

The example is complete. It is as it is, dont over interpret it.

My frustration is not about the shirt which most people think it is. My frustration is the way and timing he tells me about the shirt. It would be more of a non issue if he tells me about it BEFORE the party.

So you are whining over the timing the instructor had in telling you about your gear choice.... That is one of the most childish things to hold on to. Put your big boy pants on and get over it.

If it helps you stop whining look at it as maybe he didn't know he had a problem with it till half way through the class. It might not have doned till half way through the class they you would look better in the gear he wears as opposed to yours. Look at it as he was telling you "BEFORE" the next dive.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

it is obvious to me that just because we are participating in the coolest sport in the world does not makes us the coolest people. Everyone is ready to offer an opinion whether they are needed or whether it applies to the situation is totally irrelevant. But thank you nevertheless.

OK, in my opinion, tangential to the situation, if one sees it "obvious" that scuba is more than just a sport, the situation is just oblivious, and totally irrelevant.

IMHO, the scuba "industry" has a hole in it's foot, from marketing this activity as a sport.

IMHO, both the scuba training agencies and the scuba instruction "reformers" have holes in their foot, from using the term "sport" in their publications.

IMHO, posting on ScubaBoard is the closest thing to "sport" in recreational scuba.

 

[fjpatrum]

There are several issues here I'll address. I ran into a similar situation teaching my last UW Nav class. I was in BPW, long hose and my students were in their Zeagle Express techs. One diving long hose and the other a conventional set up. There was another OW class being taught at the quarry. They do all their confined ans open water work in it as they have no pool. The instructor works for the owner of the quarry. I was politely pulled aside and told that I could not teach classes there while the other instructor was teaching as it confuses his students.

I think my response would be to ask if other divers not teaching classes were expected not to dive while he's teaching his class. It seems to me that would confuse his students as well. Then again, I don't teach and don't rely on a specific location for its convenience or availability to earn my living (even as a side gig) so maybe that's not an option.

To the OP, I'd say if the instructor/shop offered you gear to use while assisting classes, then use it. If questions come up in class offer to take anyone interested on a side bar discussion about alternate gear. In the meantime, talk to the shop, talk to the individual instructors and see if you can work something out when it's not the middle of a class. Some people will be persuaded to open their minds, others will not.

 

[Rhone Man]

At the risk of shooting off at a tangent, I always rather value the experience of occasionally using crappy or unfamiliar gear. Particularly in a safe training environment. Makes me a better diver. And it makes me appreciate my own gear choices more.

 

[DaleC]

...I always rather value the experience of occasionally using crappy or unfamiliar gear...

I think that covers most of my diving

... and I agree with the rest of it too.

 

[mike_s]

why would you want to put your BP/W and reg in the chlorine of a pool for the OW pool portion of the class anyway? just use his "rental gear rig".

save your gear from the chlorine.


Then for the real openwater portions of the dives, use your own stuff.

 

[charlesml3]

Wow, some amazingly selfish responses here. Randy this isn't about YOU. You're all bent out of shape because the instructor balked at your rig but this isn't about YOUR dive.

You're there to assist the instructor who's teaching two new students. The entire purpose of this event is the students. It's about them. Nothing else matters here.

The instructor is correctly doing everything he can to keep the students calm, relaxed and confident. Having someone show up in a radically different rig raises questions that just don't need to be there during an OW checkout dive. This isn't about whether your rig is "tech" or otherwise. It's about the students and their comfort level. They're already nervous enough and eliminating a needless variable is a good thing here.

Sure, he should have explained that to you up front. This is just lack of communication between the instructor and yourself. Next time you'll know and be able to make an informed decision. I suppose you could take a "high-horse" approach and refuse to help if you can't use your rig, or you could put yourself in the position of the student and do everything you can to make their experience enjoyable. If you really are a solid diver, you should be able to change to a more "traditional" rig and dive it without issue.

It's entirely possible that given a good OW checkout experience these two divers will grow and learn and possibly want to go with a more "tech" rig at some point. That's months if not years away. Baby steps, man.

-Charles