My Non-Certification Experience

[Wolfie]

Shore dives at Sunset house and conch fritters at my bar..... These are two of my favorite things

[TSandM]

Great news! It's wonderful that you found the right milieu for you to finish your class.

Just a word from those of us who do teach "at home" -- not all instructors or classes are like the one you took, and not all resort classes are as good as the one you report. Good classes and instructors are to be found in many places, as, sadly, are bad ones. (BTW, my husband's favorite way of taking students through skills is just the way you describe -- going on a tour and stopping from time to time to demonstrate things.)

[Tjack]

The scuba experience for me is more about being in the water than about looking at things. There's something totally meditative about it.

Well put

Congrats on your cert.

[Incognegro]

Congratulations

[LivBlue]

I didn't read all the comments but I wanted to tell you.... Your not a lone. I had a similar poor instructor/dive shop experience. If I wasn't so sure I was born to dive I would have quit. However I feel that you should look into private classes. Had I known then what I know now (still a newbie, but full of backwards looking knowledge) I'd just toss down the cash and pay to have just me and my partner go with an instructor to a pool and get comfortable. Just dive the pool, breathe awhile, do your mask skills, and dive skills. I also agree with you to hit some warm water. I found our lake class location to be a horrible, cold, dark place which didn't help my learning while nervous about something new. Good luck :-)