Rhea's Diving?

[glbtrekker]

I am preparing to take an Open Water course and have narrowed my options to Choo Choo Dive Center in Chattanooga, TN or Rhea's Diving in Maryville, TN. Right now I am leaning toward Choo Choo only because of it's location (a friend who will be taking classes with me works in the area). However, Rhea's is considerably cheaper and I think that I would enjoy the structure of the program better.

My only concern right now is with the swim test. Can anybody tell me what the requirements are like at Rhea's? I've asked at the shop but I've only been told, "it's not bad" or "a couple of laps in the pool." However, I know that it must be more than just a "couple of laps."

I may have to ask one of their instructors directly, but was hoping that someone here might have some experience. What I want to know is,

How far is the test 200yds, 300 yds, etc.
Can you "push off" on the walls?
Is it timed?
How long do you have to tread water?
Can you float?

I'm not a strong swimmer, and I do intend to improve my swimming skills. I'm just wondering if I need to work really hard on them before class or as I progress. (I'm trying to become certified before going to Fl. this summer which limits my opportunity).

Also, does anyone have any opinions on either shop or their instructors?

Thanks!

[oreocookie]

I'm answering assuming this is a PADI class (if not, the requirements are probably similar). It should be 200 yards/200m (300 with mask/snorkel/fins). you're not supposed to push off anything, and it's not timed. The tread/float is (i think) 10 minutes and you can float, tred, swim in circles, whatever as long as you don't touch anything (eg bottom of the pool, walls). good luck and enjoy the class.

[glbtrekker]

I'm answering assuming this is a PADI class (if not, the requirements are probably similar). It should be 200 yards/200m (300 with mask/snorkel/fins). you're not supposed to push off anything, and it's not timed. The tread/float is (i think) 10 minutes and you can float, tred, swim in circles, whatever as long as you don't touch anything (eg bottom of the pool, walls). good luck and enjoy the class.

Thanks for the reply, the SSI class that I've been considering is similar to what you described. However the class at Rhea's, it's actually a NAUI class and from what I understand (that's why I'm trying to clarify), you can't do the swim with mask, fins, snorkel and you have to tread (I've heard 15 minutes?) and cannot float/swim/etc.

Hoping to find out for certain so that I know what I'm up against.

[TraceMalin]

Thanks for the reply, the SSI class that I've been considering is similar to what you described. However the class at Rhea's, it's actually a NAUI class and from what I understand (that's why I'm trying to clarify), you can't do the swim with mask, fins, snorkel and you have to tread (I've heard 15 minutes?) and cannot float/swim/etc.

Hoping to find out for certain so that I know what I'm up against.

Looking at the two dive centers, I'm very familiar with the philosophy at Rhea's Diving Services and I know the founder personally. I can tell you that the quality of the education might be far greater at Rhea's, but the standards for you as the student will also probably be high. I would consider that to be a good thing. The capabilities of the staff at Rhea's to hone you into a top-notch diver from the start of open water is almost a can't miss opportunity.

Choo-Choo Diving & Aquatic Center seems like they are typical of most dive centers with the exception of having women in the top management roles; one of whom is a professional swimming instructor. She would certainly be able to help you should you have any need for stroke improvement. You'll probably learn safe and easy recreational diving and the training would be adequate.

Which dive center is right for you, is a call only you can make. Choo-choo might be more gentle in their approach since their clients are most likely typical sport divers. Rhea's might be more demanding, but you have access to information and skills many divers would love to have had access to when they first started out saving lots of time and frustration with gear and training. Such training is definitely worth working hard to earn, achieve and master.

My advice would be to ask if you could watch a couple of classes to see which training would be best for you. Be up front about your reasons for taking scuba lessons, your abilities, comfort in the water and concerns and let the staff of each dive center help you make the right decision.

[waterpirate]

Choosing a program here really takes a back seat to your admission of being a weak swimmer. You do not have to be Rowdy Gaines to scuba dive, but you do have to be comfortable in the water. When was the last time you were in the pool?
My advice
get in the pool and swim
get comfortable
Then no matter what the requirements for the program you choose, you will be prepared.
Eric

[glbtrekker]

Looking at the two dive centers, I'm very familiar with the philosophy at Rhea's Diving Services and I know the founder personally. I can tell you that the quality of the education might be far greater at Rhea's, but the standards for you as the student will also probably be high. I would consider that to be a good thing. The capabilities of the staff at Rhea's to hone you into a top-notch diver from the start of open water is almost a can't miss opportunity.

Choo-Choo Diving & Aquatic Center seems like they are typical of most dive centers with the exception of having women in the top management roles; one of whom is a professional swimming instructor. She would certainly be able to help you should you have any need for stroke improvement. You'll probably learn safe and easy recreational diving and the training would be adequate.

Which dive center is right for you, is a call only you can make. Choo-choo might be more gentle in their approach since their clients are most likely typical sport divers. Rhea's might be more demanding, but you have access to information and skills many divers would love to have had access to when they first started out saving lots of time and frustration with gear and training. Such training is definitely worth working hard to earn, achieve and master.

My advice would be to ask if you could watch a couple of classes to see which training would be best for you. Be up front about your reasons for taking scuba lessons, your abilities, comfort in the water and concerns and let the staff of each dive center help you make the right decision.

Thanks for a great post with lots of good information. I've been considering both shops for a little over a year now and your statements have confirmed what I suspected all along. With Rhea's focus on tech and cave diving, I've imagined that their course might be more "intense" and valuable. Just how intense is the question that I am trying to determine.

Here's my challenge, I know that I need to become a better swimmer and part of taking scuba is to force me into the water to improve my skills. Nevertheless, I am going to the FL keys this summer and am hoping to be certified before I go. Between now and May is my only opportunity to complete my training. Which means if I'm going to do this, I need to start now and work on swimming skills concurrently with scuba skills. That's why I was asking about the swim test.

Thanks again for the great post and advice. Rhea's sounds like a great shop to become acquainted with.

[glbtrekker]

Choosing a program here really takes a back seat to your admission of being a weak swimmer. You do not have to be Rowdy Gaines to scuba dive, but you do have to be comfortable in the water. When was the last time you were in the pool?
My advice
get in the pool and swim
get comfortable
Then no matter what the requirements for the program you choose, you will be prepared.
Eric

Yea, I know . I can swim, a couple of lengths of the pool is no problem. I do need to improve my stroke and stamina to swim 300 yards nonstop though. I can also float (as long as I keep moving my legs...they do tend to sink), but I'm not good at treading water.

[TMHeimer]

I'm answering assuming this is a PADI class (if not, the requirements are probably similar). It should be 200 yards/200m (300 with mask/snorkel/fins). you're not supposed to push off anything, and it's not timed. The tread/float is (i think) 10 minutes and you can float, tred, swim in circles, whatever as long as you don't touch anything (eg bottom of the pool, walls). good luck and enjoy the class.

For the float, I believe "drown proofing" is also allowed--that is letting your head go under for a bit, which requires no kicking at all, so you can rest. I'm particularly negatively buoyant in fresh water, so this has helped me. Also, I'm not sure about not being allowed to push off the wall at the end of each swimming lap. This is done in all speed swim competitions to my knowledge (they have their fancy underwater flip, etc. where they seem to surface like 10 feet from the wall they pushed off). Maybe we could hear from a Instructor who knows exactly what the Instructors Manual says about this?

[Kingpatzer]

For the float, I believe "drown proofing" is also allowed--that is letting your head go under for a bit, which requires no kicking at all, so you can rest. I'm particularly negatively buoyant in fresh water, so this has helped me. Also, I'm not sure about not being allowed to push off the wall at the end of each swimming lap. This is done in all speed swim competitions to my knowledge (they have their fancy underwater flip, etc. where they seem to surface like 10 feet from the wall they pushed off). Maybe we could hear from a Instructor who knows exactly what the Instructors Manual says about this?

The PADI Instructor manual states:

At some point before certification, have students complete a 200 metre/yard continuous surface swim or a 300 metre/yard swim with mask, fi ns and snorkel.

Flip turns are allowed. Though to be honest, it is rare to see someone use them. The bigger problem is judging what is continuous when students grab the wall and pause for a second or two as they turn around to resume swimming.

[glbtrekker]

Thought I might give everyone an update. Found the information I was looking for, swim test 6 round trips in the pool (works out to about 275 yards) and a tread/float of around 10 minutes.