More Efficient Instruction/Same Time Frame

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gcbryan

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This subject has probably been beaten to death lately but here's a more positive slant to the OW education issue...how can it be improved within the existing time constraints?

I think part of the problem is just that the scuba industry is so much larger than in the past. Change comes slowly in a bigger industry/organization.

I'm sure better students could come out of the educational process even given the shortened time frames of today if there was more flexibility in the standards (perhaps there is flexibility there). Maybe we need more efficient or creative instructors in some cases? I'm not sure what the actual impediment is but here are some changes that can be done easily enough...

I'm also pretty sure that many/most of these things are being done by many of the instructors here on this board but certainly not by most "out there".

Teach neutral buoyancy from the start mid-water rather than by laying on the bottom.

Teach side-by-side buddy positioning from the start while swimming around in the pool.

Teach a non-silting kick from the start. One kick's as easy as another if taught from the start.

Show students how to use a compass (relative heading) from the start. Use it to swim from one end of the pool to the other.

Show a student that it is possible to ascend just by inhaling in a horizontal position.

Too many things that could be taught correctly from the beginning are shelved as being too much for a new student to learn.

Get rid of fin pivots and Buddha neutral buoyancy tests and just simply introduce what you really want the student to be able to do and don't have students sitting on the bottom while waiting for their turn.

Why wait until OW to get a student to realize that single file buddy pairing is difficult for the diver in front...do it in the pool when currently everyone is just milling around getting used to scuba.

If OW students come out of the certification process buddy diving side by side with a better appreciation of buoyancy control, with some exposure to the compass and never having been on the bottom of the pool or in OW they would be much better novice divers. Non silting kicking isn't hard if you've actually been exposed to it. It takes no more time to teach these things correctly from the beginning.

Are there any other more efficient ways of doing things within the modern time constraints?
 
Personally, I kinda believe that the time frame in which theses basics are being taught is too short. Yes, basic skills are basic skills, but these skills are THE foundation of a diver. Though reading stories here, there seems to be too much panic with divers when something the slightest bit wrong happens, when the skills taught from OW showed them how to calmly deal and act upon the situation.
Another issue I have is i think they dont spend enough time on compass navigation.

I under stand this is all time restricted. But perhaps one of the dives for open water, the diver(s) should lead the dive, and the Instructor(s) keep a close eye, making sure everyone is ok. Maybe this isn't possible? I dont know, Im not an instructor....yet.
For compass nav, I saw this one instructor cover a womans head with a towel(on land). And using her compass, she had to nav herself from one side of the parking lot to the other.And this was going around cars. I was slightly impressed.

My last thought was on the pool dive. I remember when I did my OW class. The first dive was in a pool(of course). But it was a 6 foot deep pool. Then we were brought into the ocean...which (i wont be ashamed to say) scared the crap out of me. I definitely believe that the pool dive should be in like a 16 foot pool. So the divers could get used to trusting the regulator underwater. Leaving one less thing to worry about in the ocean.
 
Protist, yeah that was a pretty shallow pool. I agree scuba classes should be in a deeper pool.
 
And as a final note...OW DOES NOT PREPARE ANYONE for real world diving. Its more a resort scuba class. The reason why I took AOW was because my dive buddy and I did not feel comfortable enough after the OW class to dive on our own without an instructor. After the AOW, we both felt completely confidant in our skills to start diving without a DM or instructor watching over us.
 
You took the wrong OW course. If you took one from me or an instructor I recommended, you would not have gotten a cert card if you could not plan, execute, and return safely from a dive in conditions similar to or better than that in which you did your checkouts. Without an escort of any kind.
 
Ok, i apologize JimLap. I'll correct my statement. The OW class that I took does not prepare. I wish my instructors had the same standards.
My class was pretty much just basic skills and follow the leader.
 
You took the wrong OW course. If you took one from me or an instructor I recommended, you would not have gotten a cert card if you could not plan, execute, and return safely from a dive in conditions similar to or better than that in which you did your checkouts. Without an escort of any kind.

Jim, you're one of the more thoughtful instructors on here. I'd be interested in your opinion. Given the current realities (knowing that they could change for the better but dealing with the now) if you and other instructors can turn out competent OW students why, in your opinion, can't/don't all instructors do the same?
 
Luckily I have never had the instructor jobs friends have had. My shops have always been cool with the time I spend on the students. Others though have been pushed for a quick turn around on the students due to competition on the beach, or even allowed themselves to be pushed by the students who have not allowed themselves enough time in there holiday.
Either way its the instructors signature and its for them to take responsibility for it and realise that they are in a privileged position by being part of the system that shares the under water world with others and not forget they are also responsible for there safety.
 
While I agree we could potentially improve the training process, particularly if we improved some of the instructors, I still believe the primary issue is the quality of the students.

The core decision is: do we make the course challenging enough to weed out the 'less committed' students? The industry, empowered by technology, has reduced the physical and mental demands of the course to increase the market. Now we're discussing whether the pendulum has swung too far. Do we voluntarily reduce the market (number of customers) for the sake of improved quality of divers? Will the entire industry agree? If not, you're p!ssing in the wind.
 
i agree with jim.

some shops and instructors are so big on having large classes that there is just no time to help students nail the skills they will need. smaller classes allow more time with the students and the repition that they will need to learn, understand, and do the skills with out having to think about whay or how they will need to do them.

on another note dive professionals and students alike should remember this. the old saying practice makes perfect should not be used. it should be changed to perfect practice makes perfect. learnig to do skills wrong will make it harder for them to relearn how to do them right. while this is eaiser said then done, seeing all instructors do not teach the same way, it is a good thing to remember as not all students are going to do the same type of diving after they are done with the class. they might turn out to be warm water vactioners, the next kholer or chatterton, cave diver, or even commerical or military diver. you never know where their travels will take them. but teaching them in a maner that will help them along the way from the begining can only help the future instructor in the long run.
 

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