In addition to my other post lurking around....
I had to book my open water recently and searched several websites/leads to determine who would have my money and attention. Let me present some instances that i have recently experienced..
1. A school who tried to warn me about the dangers of diving and not much else about the positive side of diving.
Personally, i am a newbie and although i want the disadvantages to keep in mind, i do want to know about the obvious advantages of exploring the deep without being disillusioned about the fact that this is a relatively dangerous sport.
2. One shop owner/instructor actually gave me a lecture over the phone which felt like a "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH" kinda thing. Let's face it, if someone is training me, although i'm a fast learner personally, i would expect a teacher to be more patient in trying to sell his ware.
3. Based on the above, i would expect my teacher to be patient yet firm with my actions. If i do wrong i expect a ticking off, firm but supportive. I can't believe that i called 4 training centres before i found someone who would treat me like a human and not an imbicile.
4. I expected a trainer to be firm yet supportive. I called a centre that made me think that although i was a newbie, it wasn't the kind of voice that i would like to hear over the phone yet alone hear in the water after trying my best to learn!
5. An instructor who was trying to sell his diving 'governing body' to me by slagging other Diving organisations off. I'm sorry but i'm not into such antics and i will dive with who i feel comfortable with. The organisation is a secondary format. I will enroll and dive with the organisation i feel most comfortable with.
6. I personally judge an organisation by it's members. If they are the "dont go with them, go with us because..." kind of people then i will gladly ingnore them. If they are the "Do your research and go to who your feel more comfortable with", then i would likely go with them (which i have done). Sale on - another member and buddy captured!
There is no meaning to this post, only the fact that if your an instructor, there may be a few points here that will help you sell your trade to the newbie. I'm not against the many organisations that there are out there, but please be aware that your representation to your governing organisation may be the decision that 1 student may need to go somewhere else!:14:
Regards
Scotty
I had to book my open water recently and searched several websites/leads to determine who would have my money and attention. Let me present some instances that i have recently experienced..
1. A school who tried to warn me about the dangers of diving and not much else about the positive side of diving.
Personally, i am a newbie and although i want the disadvantages to keep in mind, i do want to know about the obvious advantages of exploring the deep without being disillusioned about the fact that this is a relatively dangerous sport.
2. One shop owner/instructor actually gave me a lecture over the phone which felt like a "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH" kinda thing. Let's face it, if someone is training me, although i'm a fast learner personally, i would expect a teacher to be more patient in trying to sell his ware.
3. Based on the above, i would expect my teacher to be patient yet firm with my actions. If i do wrong i expect a ticking off, firm but supportive. I can't believe that i called 4 training centres before i found someone who would treat me like a human and not an imbicile.
4. I expected a trainer to be firm yet supportive. I called a centre that made me think that although i was a newbie, it wasn't the kind of voice that i would like to hear over the phone yet alone hear in the water after trying my best to learn!
5. An instructor who was trying to sell his diving 'governing body' to me by slagging other Diving organisations off. I'm sorry but i'm not into such antics and i will dive with who i feel comfortable with. The organisation is a secondary format. I will enroll and dive with the organisation i feel most comfortable with.
6. I personally judge an organisation by it's members. If they are the "dont go with them, go with us because..." kind of people then i will gladly ingnore them. If they are the "Do your research and go to who your feel more comfortable with", then i would likely go with them (which i have done). Sale on - another member and buddy captured!
There is no meaning to this post, only the fact that if your an instructor, there may be a few points here that will help you sell your trade to the newbie. I'm not against the many organisations that there are out there, but please be aware that your representation to your governing organisation may be the decision that 1 student may need to go somewhere else!:14:
Regards
Scotty