First of blog series for teaching neutrally buoyant and trimmed

[chillyinCanada]

I once tried to write a manual in regards to Monoskiing.

View attachment 649769

I believe you can write of a process outlining the teaching of such a thing. I can’t figure out how to teach the act itself with written words.

As an instructor, should I paraphrase or parrot this to my students? Not sure they would follow or stay with it.

Are you addressing instructors or students with your writing?

I understood your message. I doubt any OW student would grasp this.

As with Monoskiing, perhaps this is an ethereal topic?

Should single people be teaching mono?

 

[Doc]

Should single people be teaching mono?

avoid kissing

 

[The Chairman]

I even read about @The Chairman 's outrageous claim

Yet, it's so easy that a new diver can do it.

I endured a lot of sarcasm during those days. People thought I was lying or delusional. You could see the eye rolls in the print. "Oh, you're such a GREAT instructor". But everyone who actually tried it was amazed at just how easy it is and how much easier it got as went along. There are even people to this day who insist I'm a liar.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Yet, it's so easy that a new diver can do it.

.

We need to make a diving version.

I endured a lot of sarcasm during those days. People thought I was lying or delusional. You could see the eye rolls in the print. "Oh, you're such a GREAT instructor". But everyone who actually tried it was amazed at just how easy it is and how much easier it got as went along. There are even people to this day who insist I'm a liar.

Of course. I have been accused of lying for claiming that I never allow my students to be on their knees. Even when former students of mine have stepped into these pointless arguments, some people still refuse to believe it.

I think that if they observed any of my open water courses, they'd accuse me of using already certified divers.

Those people are not my target audience. I only target instructors who want to do better. My hopes is to be part of the positive change that results in consumers slowly figuring it out where they recommend only instructors who don't teach on the knees that the on the knees instructors go out of business. But that's going to take decades.

 

[The Chairman]

I think that if they observed any of my open water courses, they'd accuse me of using already certified divers.

They haven't gone that far for me. In real life, they have done double-takes, some are amazed they are students, and I've been reported to an agency. Most are a bit upset that I think they are doing a bad job teaching. I don't go around trying to shame them publically as some do, but I do think there's a better way. A far better way.

 

[Akimbo]

Yet, it's so easy that a new diver can do it.

In my limited experience, people with really good watermanship skills have very little trouble mastering neutral buoyancy. Not because poor swimming ability matters very much. It is having enough in-water time for the concepts to be reflexive. The problem is compounded for newbies that have to learn in a thick wetsuit or, even worse, drysuits. There is a lot of advantages to becoming an accomplished freediver before developing bad habits that are all to easy to get away with on Scuba.

 

[The Chairman]

I my limited experience,

I've taught two people who were afraid of water... and they did just fine. I utilize simple physics and trim. Get the diver flat and you get their thrust angle flat. Once you remove the up vector from their swimming, they can suss it out pretty damn quickly. After that, it's a matter of setting an example for your students. Monkey see: monkey do. They will imitate whatever they see you doing, so do it right.

 

[Akimbo]

I've taught two people who were afraid of water... and they did just fine.

Understood, but was it as easy as a with a person with a lot of time in the water? Of course starting with people whose eyes don't glaze over hearing the word physics helps.

I taught my first wife to swim before teaching her to dive. She was naturally positively buoyant so half the job was done just by helping her to realize it.

 

[The Chairman]

Understood, but was it as easy as a with a person with a lot of time in the water?

No, but it was easier to teach them neutral than quite a number of non-phobic people before I went to no kneeling. Both could actually swim, but were clearly under stress. Neither told me of their phobia. He had a meltdown when we went to Open water. Her's was right after the swim test. They had their own reasons to continue and both mastered being neutral in two or three pool sessions.

It's not a full-blown physics class. Knowledge is power and my little napkin power point helps them to visualize what's happening.

 

[TMHeimer]

Understood, but was it as easy as a with a person with a lot of time in the water? Of course starting with people whose eyes don't glaze over hearing the word physics helps.

I taught my first wife to swim before teaching her to dive. She was naturally positively buoyant so half the job was done just by helping her to realize it.

I'm of course agreeing with your posts, as they support my point from before. I think there is a marked difference in how well students do in OW course between those with a lot of "water" experience and those without it. Regardless of whether you're talking neutral or on knees. I don't have anywhere near the experience as others here, but that is what I saw in my 4 years assisting. Of course, most of the time these were "knee" courses, but logic tells me the water experience factor should carry over to a NB taught course. Again, even with very limited experience, I can't believe that teaching the course NB is going to mean the water experienced person and one without (or is scared OF the water) are somehow going to do equally well-- just because it's being taught NB. I'm sure there are rare times that may happen?