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Choosing Your Instructor Among the Sharks
- By Ed Rettberg
- Published 07/6/2007
- Dive Basics
- Unrated
When you make the choice to become a diver you want to carefully consider the selection of your diving education, specifically, the instructor that will be teaching you and the shop they teach for. One of the best places to find a good instructor is at a local dive shop found through your local yellow pages or at Scubawizard. You may want to check out local dive clubs where you can meet divers and talk freely about training and diving.
As you talk to dive shops or divers you will no doubt be overwhelmed by names such as PADI, NAUI and SSI, which are national and international certification agencies that dive shops operate under. They are the ones that set the standards to which instructors must comply but what is more important is the quality of the instructor.
Dive shops and dive resorts are very competitive and they are continually seeking new students, since the students are the ones that buy gear and maintain it, fill their tanks and travel. A dive shop or resort has six profit centers: 1) diving education, 2) equipment sales, 3) equipment rental, 4) equipment repair and maintenance, 5) gas fills, and 6) dive travel. Therefore, many dive shops view diving education, especially their Open Water courses, as a "loss leader," under pricing their courses to get people through the door and to make money on the other more profitable aspects of their business including the gear that the diver well need to purchase for the class.
Essential Training
Your introductory course is essential since it will teach you all of the basics required to dive safely. Basic training allows you to dive to 60 feet in depth, and only in relatively safe area's. You should also consider diving first aid and advanced diver courses as essential, as they will allow you to deal with a broader range of diving.
Becoming a competent, confident, comfortable and safe diver will depend on the instructor that teaches you. Therefore, as a diver your first contact should be at your local dive shop. Prior to choosing your instructor, be sure to assess your needs and your resources. What do you want to accomplish as a diver? You man want to consider a private or semi-private class. They are more expensive but when you consider you can customize your schedule more easily it maybe a good choice. An additional benefit of a private course is you may be able to gain certification in just a few days of intense training. You may want to see what type of rates they would if your were to put together a group of friends or co-workers.
While you are at the dive shop, evaluate the area that they offer for their training classroom. I should be a dedicated room for instruction so that you will be ensured that your classes occur in a comfortable and quiet environment. Talk to some of the customers in the dive shop. Ask them if they would recommend the dive shop for training and what other shops they would recommend you check out. Ask if the shop has a one-night intro to scuba diving. If they do you may wish to check it out. Once you've chosen a shop you need to pick an instructor. This may not always be an option, as some shops may have only one instructor. If a dive shop has several instructors try talking to each of them. Pick one which makes you feel comfortable and who answers your questions to your satisfaction.
A few questions you should ask (maybe more than a few)
When looking for an instructor, communicate with them personally before signing up. If the answer is "no" to any of these questions you may want to look for another instructor.
Be sure to request evidence of their current instructor certification, liability insurance and their current CPR/First Air training.
Remember that you don't have to limit yourself to just instructors tied directly to dive stores. There are independent instructor's, which operate free from restrictions of professional dive centers, but are still connected to professional training agencies. They often work with one or more dive shops, providing services they cannot normally offer, such as private courses or specialized training.
Too often choices are made based on cost alone when taking a dive course. While most courses are good and safe, regardless of cost, sometimes corners are cut or courses are rushed on cheaper or larger classes. Classes of eight people or less is ideal and provides training that will give you the confidence you will need when diving. Larger classes can lead to a terrible experience in the water and sometimes dangerous situations.
Remember that it takes a minimum of three full weekends (48 hours) to achieve your training as an Open Water diver.
Conclusion
You are about to enter into the experience of your life, learning to scuba dive. Properly trained you will enter into an exciting and enjoyable adventure that takes you to some of the most beautiful and wonderful destinations in the world. You will see astounding sights and create memories that will last a lifetime. Be sure to choose your instructor carefully, since they are the ones training you to be a safe and conscientious diver. Remember that there are no dumb questions, just dumb mistakes.
Most of all trust your instincts and feelings as to how the instructor interfaces with you and how comfortable you feel about them.
As you talk to dive shops or divers you will no doubt be overwhelmed by names such as PADI, NAUI and SSI, which are national and international certification agencies that dive shops operate under. They are the ones that set the standards to which instructors must comply but what is more important is the quality of the instructor.
Dive shops and dive resorts are very competitive and they are continually seeking new students, since the students are the ones that buy gear and maintain it, fill their tanks and travel. A dive shop or resort has six profit centers: 1) diving education, 2) equipment sales, 3) equipment rental, 4) equipment repair and maintenance, 5) gas fills, and 6) dive travel. Therefore, many dive shops view diving education, especially their Open Water courses, as a "loss leader," under pricing their courses to get people through the door and to make money on the other more profitable aspects of their business including the gear that the diver well need to purchase for the class.
Essential Training
Your introductory course is essential since it will teach you all of the basics required to dive safely. Basic training allows you to dive to 60 feet in depth, and only in relatively safe area's. You should also consider diving first aid and advanced diver courses as essential, as they will allow you to deal with a broader range of diving.
Becoming a competent, confident, comfortable and safe diver will depend on the instructor that teaches you. Therefore, as a diver your first contact should be at your local dive shop. Prior to choosing your instructor, be sure to assess your needs and your resources. What do you want to accomplish as a diver? You man want to consider a private or semi-private class. They are more expensive but when you consider you can customize your schedule more easily it maybe a good choice. An additional benefit of a private course is you may be able to gain certification in just a few days of intense training. You may want to see what type of rates they would if your were to put together a group of friends or co-workers.
While you are at the dive shop, evaluate the area that they offer for their training classroom. I should be a dedicated room for instruction so that you will be ensured that your classes occur in a comfortable and quiet environment. Talk to some of the customers in the dive shop. Ask them if they would recommend the dive shop for training and what other shops they would recommend you check out. Ask if the shop has a one-night intro to scuba diving. If they do you may wish to check it out. Once you've chosen a shop you need to pick an instructor. This may not always be an option, as some shops may have only one instructor. If a dive shop has several instructors try talking to each of them. Pick one which makes you feel comfortable and who answers your questions to your satisfaction.
A few questions you should ask (maybe more than a few)
When looking for an instructor, communicate with them personally before signing up. If the answer is "no" to any of these questions you may want to look for another instructor.
- Does a major diving association, such as PADI, NAUI or SSI certify the instructor?
- How long does the certification course last?
- What does the certification course cost?
- How long has the instructor been teaching and how many certifications have they delivered during the last year?
- Does the instructor communicate well and explain concepts in a way that you can understand?
- Does the instructor's students confirm that they have patience and a willingness to spend extra time with those that need extra help?
- Do you fell comfortable with the instructor?
- What is the instructor's personal teaching history?
- How often does the instructor dive and where?
- What is the instructor's commitment to their own continuing education?
- Does the instructor have a large amount of practical diving experience and in what kind of conditions?
- What is included in the cost of the training and are there any additional costs, i.e. a boat trip, compass or other expenses?
- Are classes at night and/or do they have weekend courses?
- Can I make-up a class/dive if you miss it?
- How many classes and outdoor dives do you have to complete?
- Can you contact students from their most recent classes for referrals?
- Do I get a student discount after taking the course or during the time I'm taking the course?
Be sure to request evidence of their current instructor certification, liability insurance and their current CPR/First Air training.
Remember that you don't have to limit yourself to just instructors tied directly to dive stores. There are independent instructor's, which operate free from restrictions of professional dive centers, but are still connected to professional training agencies. They often work with one or more dive shops, providing services they cannot normally offer, such as private courses or specialized training.
Too often choices are made based on cost alone when taking a dive course. While most courses are good and safe, regardless of cost, sometimes corners are cut or courses are rushed on cheaper or larger classes. Classes of eight people or less is ideal and provides training that will give you the confidence you will need when diving. Larger classes can lead to a terrible experience in the water and sometimes dangerous situations.
Remember that it takes a minimum of three full weekends (48 hours) to achieve your training as an Open Water diver.
Conclusion
You are about to enter into the experience of your life, learning to scuba dive. Properly trained you will enter into an exciting and enjoyable adventure that takes you to some of the most beautiful and wonderful destinations in the world. You will see astounding sights and create memories that will last a lifetime. Be sure to choose your instructor carefully, since they are the ones training you to be a safe and conscientious diver. Remember that there are no dumb questions, just dumb mistakes.
Most of all trust your instincts and feelings as to how the instructor interfaces with you and how comfortable you feel about them.
