Question New to scuba diving, is it a bad instructor?

[Pearl0123]

This is not only inappropriate but probably also criminal. Yes, do report him to PADI as well as any other relevant authority. What country was this in? Depending on jurisdiction you could be able to file a complaint and get a refund/compensation as it doesn’t seem like you actually received the advertised education either.

I’m sorry this happened and hope it doesn’t put you off from further diving. I would redo the course elsewhere before continuing to dive - if you already have the certification you can just pay for the instruction and not any of PADI’s materials/certification costs. Also consider doing it with a female instructor or in a group setting if that will help make you feel more comfortable.

Thanks for the insight, yes I will go back to another instructor & redo the exercices. Honestly I am not so comfortable to state the country but it was on an island in the Caribbean. Will contact my bank to get a refund.

 

[Pearl0123]

Girl, you are NOT PADI certified.

You could not have done the necessary training with your instructor in this position behind you, as instructors always are in front of you facing you to watch you demonstrate skills.
But worse is your missing equipment because it sounds like you had no tank of your own and were sharing his dive tank and octopus, otherwise your own tank /BCD would have kept him back off you.
You don’t mention taking the class room portion of PADI certification, or the written test. You don’t mention going to a dive shop to try on, pick up and check out your own gear.
So I’m doubting if you have received a PADI certification at all. Have you a certification directly from PADI?
Even if this guy was a genuine instructor, not a total fraud, and sent in your paperwork, you have to start over with a legit PADI class (with a friend this time) to get correct training for scuba diving to be a safe diver.

This exercice was lasting 20 minutes top every day but all the other hours were used for proper PADI training. But I will definitely redo another training. It will helps me to remove this unfortunate event.

I did the gear assembly, the e-leaning, the trick underwater with the mask cleaning, removal, swimming, underwater hand sign, give air to my "buddy", etc.

I have received the certification from PADI and have my card with the number.

 

[Pearl0123]

Why not answer the question? Why not name the instructor and location? The whole story is unbelievable.

Not comfortable yet, he is know in the industry and his name appear in the forum here.

 

[Pearl0123]

Does the instructor own the dive shop or just work there?

He own 2 dive shops

 

[Pearl0123]

It always amazes me what people will allow themselves to be subject to by another person.

I mean, I get it. He was in a position of authority and you were trusting him with your life.. but to go back again... and again?

I'm a dude but I'm thinking if I was put in that position it would be one and done. And back on the surface I'd be like "WTF dude you'll be hearing from me about this and it's not going to be good".

As mentioned, it was only 20 minutes top everyday. When you are learning a new skill you don't know what is normal or not and when you are in it you don't see it clearly. It was not straightforward and obvious. He kept mentioning it was to control my buoyancy. And we didn't did only this exercice, we actually did all the other exercices. I knew nothing about diving apart from ready the only PADI material. He also stated that it was for me to get comfortable in the water to just breathe. And the feeling of him being hard was not obvious as well. He kept asking me the "okay sign" I was focusing on my breathing, he was controlling my air during this exercice. How are you supposed to know an exercice is not right if you never did this? You just don't. He was in the wrong & he was "teaching" me and "evaluating" me. Took me about 5 days to rewind everything in my head and write what has happened. I searched on every forum / google to know if it was usual practice, if people where experiencing the same thing.

 

[Pearl0123]

Is this person an actual instructor even? Do you have the member number?

Yes I searched him on PADI he is registred.

 

[Pearl0123]

Have you even verified that this creap is an actual dive instructor and that he has current active instructor status with PADI? The PADI website has a page where you can verify his instructor status and file a complaint.

Yes I did, And multiple people had done the OW certification with him. He has more than 200 5 star review and all his certifications are registred.

 

[Pearl0123]

You mean you didn't grab his slug and rip it towards his feet, really fast

Do a school of life course to recognise and deal with deviate behaviour

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Wow this is a bad comment. It was not obvious and EVEN if it was obvious it's sensitive talk.
It's his actions of him being in an autority position and me learning. I didn't even knew if it was legit. This exercice lasted 20 minutes top every day. Stop blaming "victim" and educate yourself.

 

[Edward3c]

Not comfortable yet, he is know in the industry and his name appear in the forum here.

Last year I had to remove the chair of a diving club for less than you've described. There should be no hiding places for this type of behaviour.

 

[Pearl0123]

I find the story very difficult to believe.

If you would identify the shop, and the instructor by name and PADI number it would help lend credence to the story. It would also help ensure no one else gets duped and subjected to the behavior you described, if in fact it happened.

I am not here to name drop, I wanted to share my experience to understand if it was usual practice. I will do the follow up with PADI.