A student from hell

[peterbj7]

I thought I'd share something that happened a few days ago. I had a scuba student who'd started his course back home and just wanted to do his dives with me. A young guy, maybe mid-twenties, very pushy. But (and this should have been the first warning) he wanted to do them NOW, and when I pointed out some logistical issues that affected timing he said very bluntly "I've paid my money and I want the dives to MY convenience".

OK. That day I did 4 dives with students and one full confined water session with others. I was pretty tired at the end of that day.

The following morning it was time for this guy's last two dives (with other students). On the first dive (which was the third in his course) he didn't distinguish himself in several areas, and I held over to his final dive one key skill (CESA) that he had been unable to perform. On the boat I explained to him that I had abandoned the skill on that dive, but that it was no great issue and I would brief him thoroughly before the next dive. "OK, do it now". I explained that I'd rather leave it till we got to the dock in ten minutes, because the boat was moving and picking up other divers so any controlled briefing would have been difficult, and (I didn't tell him this) because there were other issues I wanted to discuss with him but hadn't worked out how best to do it. I was in fact uncertain whether I would be able to certify him after just one more dive.

He then erupted in a tremendous temper tantrum, saying he wanted the instruction he'd paid for, that he was a highly qualified aeronautical engineer and I was just a dive instructor, and he'd never been spoken to that way before. He then threatened to hit me and was moved away by another crew member.

Back at the dive center he started shouting at me that I was a ********g idiot and I had better watch out for myself. He wasn't going to be spoken to that way by a dive instructor in Belize. And again shouted that he was a highly qualified engineer. And demanded a real instructor.

I simply arranged for another instructor to take over (at my expense) and left the premises. I haven't even asked how the last dive went or whether he was certified - as San Pedro didn't move I imagine he was.

I have had the occasional problem in the past with people who thought very highly of themselves and regarded my staff as insects, but never before have I come across someone who regarded a professional teacher as menial and to be despised because there was a money relationship. But in this case I can think of no other explanation, nor can the other staff who witnessed this spectacle. For the record, I believe my academic scientific qualifications were higher than his, though of course he didn't know that.

As I suggested above, a dive instructor is a professional in every sense of that word. And even with PADI (whose standards I regard as pretty lax), you purchase the right to instruction provided as the instructor feels is most appropriate, and to timing that the instructor can physically manage. You do not purchase any right to certification, and the instructor determines the course structure and content, you don't.

I am going to have to amend my pre-course contract to that effect.

[Jim Ernst]

I am sorry... I did not even finish reading the last of your post as this **Student** in my eyes was NOT getting my signature on his Cert.

Tell him to go find a real instructor!!!

This is his problem and he sounds like an arrogant a$$ hole!!

I would not cert him, And I would tell him to his face, Sorry you do it my way by the standards or you don't get a cert.

Paying the Money does NOT guarantee him a cert and he proved he does not deserve a cert.

I would have told him to get down the road, Hit you/me... that would have been a great error on his part!

Your student is/was a complete total jerk, And I would have enjoyed telling him to get on down the road.

That said I am a very nice person.... But .. I can be an ass when I need to!

I am a PADI Instructor, I would never take that kind of BS from any student, They follow the standards .. or they don't get a cert through me!

[Jim Lapenta]

You live and work in Belize correct. As such you've been there awhile. Probably know lots of people. When the snot nosed brat came at you you should have busted his face for him. Overpriveleged yuppie puke. I bet if you'd let him just get close enough to swing you could have had him arrested for assault and he could have spent his vacation in jail. One of the problems with know it all students is they don't know just what they don't know. Your guy those is more than that. He is one of those people who will get a buddy hurt or worse with that kind of attitude. I'd a given him a check for half his fee and told him to go pound salt. And guarantee none of his dives would have been signed off on. He'd have been told that in this PROFESSIONAL's opinion he did not measure up. At no time will I take abuse from a student.
BTW Where was he from?

[Web Monkey]

You put too much thought into it.

Thank him for diving with you, tell him he did not meet the performance requirements and you can't sign off on his card.

As an engineer, he should understand that.

Terry

[peterbj7]

He was from San Diego and looked like a basketball player - about 6'8". A good foot taller than I am, so when he threatened me I FELT threatened.

But no, I haven't signed off the dives he did with me or completed any paperwork for him.

I wasn't teaching at my own dive center as we're pretty quiet right now, but was helping out another operator. They now regard me as a risky instructor to have around.

[freediver]

The following morning it was time for this guy's last two dives (with other students). On the first dive (which was the third in his course) he didn't distinguish himself in several areas, and I held over to his final dive one key skill (CESA) that he had been unable to perform. On the boat I explained to him that I had abandoned the skill on that dive, but that it was no great issue and I would brief him thoroughly before the next dive. "OK, do it now". I explained that I'd rather leave it till we got to the dock in ten minutes, because the boat was moving and picking up other divers so any controlled briefing would have been difficult, and (I didn't tell him this) because there were other issues I wanted to discuss with him but hadn't worked out how best to do it. I was in fact uncertain whether I would be able to certify him after just one more dive.

It sounds like the student rattled you a bit with his first reaction. Your subsequent response appears to be nothing short of professional.

He then erupted in a tremendous temper tantrum, saying he wanted the instruction he'd paid for, that he was a highly qualified aeronautical engineer and I was just a dive instructor, and he'd never been spoken to that way before. He then threatened to hit me and was moved away by another crew member.

This is where he certainly crossed the line. It was a tremendous decision on your behalf not to get drawn into a confrontation that would have put a question mark on your professionalism. Keep in mind that your fellow staff members may have witnessed your professional conduct through all of this and gained insight into your character and experience for themselves.

Back at the dive center he started shouting at me that I was a ********g idiot and I had better watch out for myself. He wasn't going to be spoken to that way by a dive instructor in Belize. And again shouted that he was a highly qualified engineer. And demanded a real instructor.

Verbal garbage that has little effect on a true dive professional.

I simply arranged for another instructor to take over (at my expense) and left the premises.

Sorry to see this done at your expense but leaving the premises was the best decision you could have made!

As I suggested above, a dive instructor is a professional in every sense of that word.

Well, from what you have posted, it looks like you put on a clinic in professionalism.

[cudachaser]

That really sounds like it was a hellasish event...I would have had fun with statement he made that "you are a lowly scuba instructor and I'm highly paid engineer" My come back would have been something like this..."I'm a retied NASA engineer with a lucrative retirement package...I'm also a lowly scuba instructor whose scuba career has out lasted his aerospace career and I wouldn't have any other way!"

[Standingbear56]

Peter,
You definitely have me beat with patience. I always do my best to treat all my students with respect and dignity, and I expect the same from them. As the instructor, I try to set the standard. Your student was out on line from day one, and by threatening you he definitely crossed the line. If it was me, I would have had the Police waiting for him on the dock for threatening me. I'm willing to bet that because of his size, intimidation is a favorite technique of his to get what he wants. As far as he is concerned, he would never be certified by either myself or any other instructor I could contact. Posting your story here is a great idea so that if any of us come across him, we can send him on his way.
Glad you survived your encounter with this Alien subspecies. You did a real good job in a rough situation.
Good Diving,
George
PADI MSDT
Prime Scuba

[Jim Lapenta]

6'8". That's one big dude. I may have had to rethink busting his face. Unless there was Jack Daniels involved. Stuff makes you 10' tall and bulletproof. Seriously though I don't understand why they look at you as a risk. He was the a$$hole. Any supposedly educated person who acts like that shows his ignorance and lack of class. 20 something as well blows up that easy over a dive? How easy is cocaine to get down there? Sounds to me like this guy has some real issues beyond being an idiot. And Joe(cudachaser) was right. It would have been a good time to tell him you're glad you forgot more about engineering than he'll ever know. Attitude like that is what gets people shot. Too bad you could not have had a 10lb weight in your hand that accidentally fell on his toe. Those things happen all too often. Look at the guy last week who was looking for dry boot cause he dropped one on his own foot.

[RoatanMan]

Hmmmm... Claims to be an "aeronautical engineer" and wants to SCUBA dive.

Sounds like alQueda. I woulda' reported him to IAH Passport Control.

You have infinite patience, Pete- In Honduras, 90 miles SE, I think you could legally kill someone like that.