rstofer
Contributor
Im not understanding your post. If you're saying drop out rate in general is high because people do the online w/out the classroom or referencing my situation for epic failure is to reinforce why online isn't a good choice.
Not speaking for the poster but the dropout rate for new divers is staggering. In a lot of ways, it is because of situations like yours. Whether you get your butt kicked during a class or after, the result is the same: "Hey, this isn't fun!". And if it isn't fun, why do it?
I learned to dive in warm water. I can tell you for a fact, if I had done my certification at Breakwater, I would have finished the course but I doubt that I would have gone back. Breakwater can be inhospitable. It's cold, dark, silted up, has crappy viz, surge and beach entries/exits. What's fun about that? Heavy gear, constricting wetsuit, burning up before entry, freezing after, a long kick-out. Not my idea of a good time.
But the other 3 family members want to dive and I just go with the flow. They have never been in warm water so they don't know any better.
You have to want to do it because I could come up with a long list of things that are more fun and a lot less expensive. But some folks find it fun! There are dozens of long-time divers there every weekend. That parking lot is usually jammed with inflatables and Boston Whalers. But they're not diving at Breakwater!
Richard