SparticleBrane
Contributor
Not all women are like that. My cave instructor, who is maybe 5'4" tall (or less??), put her double 104s on and carried them down to the water with ease...
Overweight instructors
- Thread starter gotnogills
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Not all women are like that. My cave instructor, who is maybe 5'4" tall (or less??), put her double 104s on and carried them down to the water with ease...
Wouldn't be allowed here. Every instructor that earns £0.01 or more is classed as a commercial diver and therefore needs a HSE commercial medical annually.
BMI of >30 is immediate fail. Also has peak flow, lung function tests, ECG and exercise tests.
No medical == not allowed to instruct for any agency.
BMI of >30 is immediate fail. Also has peak flow, lung function tests, ECG and exercise tests.
No medical == not allowed to instruct for any agency.
First, congratulations on finishing the certification. Second, there is NO way the instructor you described should have been teaching. Period. Glad it all worked out for you.
You could certainly express your feelings to the shop, and the agency involved. The instructor and the shop are both being wildly irresponsible. No doubt the instructor can handle a class where nothing goes wrong. OTOH, my experience is that every 20th student or so will panic. Now you have a situation where someone could get really hurt. Please let the shop know before someone does.
You could certainly express your feelings to the shop, and the agency involved. The instructor and the shop are both being wildly irresponsible. No doubt the instructor can handle a class where nothing goes wrong. OTOH, my experience is that every 20th student or so will panic. Now you have a situation where someone could get really hurt. Please let the shop know before someone does.
JoyfulNoise
Contributor
It sounds like the overweight instructor is not in good health. Making no excuses for those of us overweight, but I've had "overweight" instructors who were in good shape (could lift, put on fins, not out of breath during swimming, etc).
If you don't feel comfortable, if you don't feel like you are learning, if you don't feel prepared to dive safely... I think the others are correct, find a new instructor.
I'm a little in awe that someone is teaching diving that can't put his or her own fins on, that seems so basic. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm!
If you don't feel comfortable, if you don't feel like you are learning, if you don't feel prepared to dive safely... I think the others are correct, find a new instructor.
I'm a little in awe that someone is teaching diving that can't put his or her own fins on, that seems so basic. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm!
siikik
Contributor
I think I would question the instructor's motivation. I teach (not SCUBA) because I love to teach... the paycheck is a nice side effect but is not the motivating factor. If she isn't willing to prepare herself for the course, whether that be mentally or physically, she shouldn't be teaching.
Sometimes you can get away without suitable preparation, but I do not believe this is one of those times. Not when lives are at stake.
Ken
Sometimes you can get away without suitable preparation, but I do not believe this is one of those times. Not when lives are at stake.
Ken
Probably shouldn't be diving!
halocline
Contributor
Look on the bright side; if there is an incident with the obese instructor, you may get a free "intro to rescue" class. 
I would seriously say that as long as you're learning what is typically taught in the OW class, get the c card and move on. Let the dive shop worry about their instructors, unless you feel that you're not getting the education that's appropriate for the class.
You'll likely encounter many more dive professionals who are not ideal role models, and you'll also very likely end up diving with really questionable divers. It's part of diving, sad but true. It could be worse....you could be one of them!
I would seriously say that as long as you're learning what is typically taught in the OW class, get the c card and move on. Let the dive shop worry about their instructors, unless you feel that you're not getting the education that's appropriate for the class.
You'll likely encounter many more dive professionals who are not ideal role models, and you'll also very likely end up diving with really questionable divers. It's part of diving, sad but true. It could be worse....you could be one of them!
ligersandtions
Contributor
Honestly, if you don't feel comfortable or safe with this instructor, you should really consider finding a new instructor. There are lots of good instructors up in the Seattle/Tacoma area....and lots of very good divers who can give you recommendations (check out the PNW Orca Bait subforum and do some research and ask some questions....I'm sure there will be many recommendations for a GREAT instructor).
As a new diver, you hope that there will be no incidents that would require an instructor to rescue you, but it is a possibility....and if you have an instructor who is not capable of doing it, then you're just putting yourself in danger. Also, you have to trust your instructor....it appears that you don't, and that's definitely a hard thing when you're learning something as foreign as scuba diving.
Good luck....don't give up! Check out some local resources, see if there are other instructors available at the same locations, or find someone new.
As a new diver, you hope that there will be no incidents that would require an instructor to rescue you, but it is a possibility....and if you have an instructor who is not capable of doing it, then you're just putting yourself in danger. Also, you have to trust your instructor....it appears that you don't, and that's definitely a hard thing when you're learning something as foreign as scuba diving.
Good luck....don't give up! Check out some local resources, see if there are other instructors available at the same locations, or find someone new.
Sas
Contributor
I am of the opinion that if you don't like your instructor, for whatever reason, you should get a new one. It's your cash, so spend it how you want.
Weight is not so much the issue I think - I've seen plenty of overweight and obese people who are great in the water. It is the lack of fitness and mobility that is more concerning. I guess it depends on how big the person is though, and I guess I have never seen a very obese person dive... My OW instructor was not the, hmm, skinniest of men, but he is a very skilled diver and I could not fault him on his instruction.
I certainly wouldn't condemn an instructor for making a simple error like putting her mask on her forehead and then losing it. What you learned there is that divers are human, and we all make mistakes -- and that putting your mask on your forehead is a good way to lose it!
I am one of those who believes that diving should entail a certain degree of fitness and strength, and I have worked (not as hard as I should, but I have done it) to improve those things in myself. I have known somewhat overweight people who had high exercise tolerances and were strong. I think these are characteristics that an OW instructor should have, because you never know when you will be in a rescue situation with a student.
Remember that doing a CESA, you are not lower your blood CO2 level, so you are likely to pant somewhat when you reach the surface, especially if you have controlled the ascent rate and the CESA was not done from very shallow water.
It doesn't sound as though you liked this instructor very much. Did you not meet her when you did your classroom sessions? That would have been the time to speak up, if you had concerns.
I am one of those who believes that diving should entail a certain degree of fitness and strength, and I have worked (not as hard as I should, but I have done it) to improve those things in myself. I have known somewhat overweight people who had high exercise tolerances and were strong. I think these are characteristics that an OW instructor should have, because you never know when you will be in a rescue situation with a student.
Remember that doing a CESA, you are not lower your blood CO2 level, so you are likely to pant somewhat when you reach the surface, especially if you have controlled the ascent rate and the CESA was not done from very shallow water.
It doesn't sound as though you liked this instructor very much. Did you not meet her when you did your classroom sessions? That would have been the time to speak up, if you had concerns.
