Open Water Training, A Poll For Non Dive Professionals.

[Azza]

This poll is for Non Dive Professionals. Dive professionals please have your vote in the Dive Professionals Poll here;
http://www.scubadive.net.nz/bb/viewtopic.php?t=125

So Non Dive professionals.

Do you feel that your Open water Course adequately prepared you to go out and dive, in conditions similar to where your training was conducted, with another recent graduate?

[JACK ON THE ROCKS]

I wanna say yes.... but....

Even with only four on the course, you feel like a sausage factory being churned through.

Its only after spending time in the water that I really felt comfortable, and only when I hit 20 odd dives that I really felt comfortable, especially with my breathing and air consumption.

A good tutor is everything, which is why I want to do my AOW for a little more tweaking and training!!!!

[DiveDiva]

JACK ON THE ROCKS, did you do your OW in NZ??

DD

[JACK ON THE ROCKS]

Yep sure did, did in in Auckland. I won't name the place....

It certainly wasn't a bad course and i learnt heaps, but to me, diving is about having a good time, and if your not enjoying it you won't stick at it.

I no of the four of us, most were unhappy with the training.

[JACK ON THE ROCKS]

While I expect to be taught heaps and training involves being talked at alot. At 24 yrs old you don't expect to be treated like a 5 yr old, and being told off!!!! Although was a great joke between the students....

[DiveDiva]

My open water course in England was rubbish! There were four of us and two dropped out, leaving me and my buddy-to-be.

We were rushed through the pool / classroom modules and then dumped in a lake at the start of winter in a two-piece 5mm wetsuit (just loved looking at my instructor strutting his stuff in his drysuit).

Also, they didn't have a BCD to fit me so I wore a 'BubbleMaker' ehich was too tight or a Medium, which they had to cross over the straps in order to keep it from floating over my head.

I could go on and on...but I won't

Thank goodness I got to do my Divemaster somewhere else - that course taught me heaps and the facility, Cornish Diving, was superb

DD

[JACK ON THE ROCKS]

Wow that sounds even worse, maybe we need a open water dive forum where people can vent and pass yarns on bad training experiences.

I imagine all you instructors out there would have great stories of useless people doing their open water as well!!!!

I think I might have to talk ot Azza about doing my advanced through him. Lots of free time on my hands!!!

[wibbleman]

I voted of course.

And I have dived since and am obviously not dead

But seriously, did the open water out at the poor knights, and i latched onto the DM and acted like a sponge for all his tips and hints etc. And since then dive frequently with the IDC from the shop.

But am I am of the type of personality that "geeks" out on things. So I might not be representational of the general diving public.

Laters,

Brodie

[Darren]

another 'yes .... but'

I feel safe and comfortable with my own ability to go out and dive since completing the course, but then at the same time i had done a little diving pre-open water course and my dive buddies include a commercial diver and a padi instructor.
Funny enough this same topic was bought up in conversation between me and my mates last weekend where i came up with the analogy that 'your only trained to the level as the biggest numpty to pass your course'
I thought it was pretty harsh at the time, but otherwise fair and my mates seemed to agree with it, if the pass mark is only 60% or so then you only have to be 60% safe.

[Andy]

I thought it was pretty harsh at the time, but otherwise fair and my mates seemed to agree with it, if the pass mark is only 60% or so then you only have to be 60% safe.

To be fair, the pass mark for a PADI course is 100% mastery. It's just that instructors interpret otehr standards as you only need to get 75% in the exam to pass.

[alijtaylor]

My PADI remninded me of 7th form physics and my introductory course to my very first job - I am a good swat and could breeze thru the theory and demonstrate skills on demand, but having all of it in my head for practical application was another matter. .

I was fortunate that the course I did included 6 'free hire' club dives with the club attached to the LDS who ran the OW course, and it was on those that a couple of key practical connections were made for me.

I wouldn't criticise the course content so much as suggest that subsequent dives under supervision of a more experienced mentor are key to having those things ingrained - and maybe ought to be part of the basic requirement. You don't need another course (e.g. AOW) you need a chance to dive with more experienced people who will point out what you are doing wrong, or what you need to do to improve and gain confidence.


Alison

[powley]

My PADI remninded me of 7th form physics and my introductory course to my very first job - I am a good swat and could breeze thru the theory and demonstrate skills on demand, but having all of it in my head for practical application was another matter. .

I was fortunate that the course I did included 6 'free hire' club dives with the club attached to the LDS who ran the OW course, and it was on those that a couple of key practical connections were made for me.

I wouldn't criticise the course content so much as suggest that subsequent dives under supervision of a more experienced mentor are key to having those things ingrained - and maybe ought to be part of the basic requirement. You don't need another course (e.g. AOW) you need a chance to dive with more experienced people who will point out what you are doing wrong, or what you need to do to improve and gain confidence. Alison

Im with you there Ali, hopefully sods will be able to help newbies with ingraining good habits and skills and keeping new divers diving

[Azza]

I was fortunate that the course I did included 6 'free hire' club dives with the club attached to the LDS who ran the OW course, and it was on those that a couple of key practical connections were made for me.

I have to say that Tim really impressed me with that...

[alijtaylor]

Im with you there Ali, hopefully sods will be able to help newbies with ingraining good habits and skills and keeping new divers diving

I agree the SoDs concept is the dive club ethos which is valuable. I am happy to dive with new divers because others did it with me - and it is great when they have a good time, and maybe learn or reinforce something.

Alison

[Martin-PK Divers]

There's nothing better than surfacing with a less experienced diver than you and having them rave about the dive. Or having perfected a skill with your mentor and being told that you've cracked it.