Can it be done better??

[DeepSeaDan]

As an Instructor I believe it imperative to continually seek to improve upon the ways & means of diving instruction...

...perhaps you could help me along.

Up here in S. Ontario we are just heading into the O/W checkout season, & my thoughts this day are focused on how I & my teaching team might make this process better; to this end, what would you list as being the best of your open water checkout experience, & what would constitute the worst of the event?

Regards,
D.S.D.

 

[Zept]

Worst thing: struggling to communicate. There were lots of times when I wished there was a hand signal for, "I'm really stressed, give me a minute to calm down." Seems like there's nothing between, "I am OK," and, "I am drowning." "I have a problem," isn't that useful if you can't follow it up with an explanation. That's the way I felt, anyway... trapped in a silent world.

One helpful thing I learnt was the hand signal for, "Huh, I have no idea what you're on about." Ought to be in the book, IMO.

Best thing: well, I didn't actually drown. I found my certification dives very frustrating and I hated pretty much everything about them. Worked out okay in the end... I really like diving now.

Zept

 

[Scubarescuepd]

seems like anyone can break down what to add and what not to add... i personally think depending in the area you dive warm waters or cold waters you should adapt to the envirnment and try to add things you think can assist students... but i personally would consider communication options something to be discussed before you get into O/W, maybe a classroom or pool session..

not all students are of equal levels... give the student with difficulty some time on the side and discuss if things go wrong maybe a personal signal can assist....

like make a dumbo signal with your hands if you need time to work out your problem.. otherwise give the stressed signal.

just a thought is all

 

[Ontario Diver]

One of the biggest problems that I encountered er um observed was the shift from warm pool to diving with 7mm suit, hood and gloves.

Practising in the pool for mask skills with a hood/gloves first would help.

The other thing that I liked when I did my OW dives was that they switched the order from skills to fress swim to a swim and then the skills. It just me a chance to settle down and get comfortable.

Good question D.S.D.