Rude instructor in OK

[OKscubamom]

My kids(5 of them) are taking their scuba lessons this week. At the 1st open water dive, my 10 year old son couldn't get his fins on...so for 30 minutes the instructor made by son keep trying and would not let anyone offer help in anyway. My question, is putting on fins part of the requirements? What about his buddy helping him? My son was in tears and he is not a baby at all. This man is rude to me and most of my kids during this course. He is not rude to my 19 year old daughter--no good either! She doesnt want to go back either because the way he treats her.What should I do? They have their 2nd open water dive Saturday, should I go with them (I am newly cert. myself)? This man goes way beyond what PADI requires in this course. We have so much money in this or I would quit now and go somewhere else...where the instructor likes to instruct. I personally don't think this person should be an instructor at all! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[nrembis]

You need to not bite your tongue....speak your peace and let it be known you are not all happy with his actions....if it takes being rude back, so be it......some people just cannot comprehend things until its dished out to them like they do to others.

[navyhmc]

I'd call him on the carpet too. There is making a diver independant, and then there's being a bit over board. If my buddy needed help putting on fins, I am there to help. Be it giving them a hand to stablize, holding the other fin, even helping them put it on. Since your son is 10 and will be a junior diver, I do believe that a little slack should be given his way.

I recall one dive where a diver new to doubles slipped getting into the water and ended up in a seated position right in front of me in about 3' water. I just took his fins and put them on his feet which were right in front of me so he could do his dive. He wasn't my buddy, in my group and I didn't even know him. That's part of diving-helping each other out.

What is the reason that your 19yo daughter doesn't want to go back? Just curious.

I never advocate being rude back-seems they will then beat you with experience. I would however confront him politely and ask the what's and why's and give him you opinion. Yes, I would recommend going with them on their next dive. If not to dive, to observe. At the very least, once they have their c-cards, I would definitely give PADI a call and complain. Keep it as factual as a mom can get when it comes to her kids. Also, I would go to the shop the instructor teaches from and let them know your concerns. They will usually listen, especially when it will hit them in their pocketbook. Personally, I would not use a shop that I had problems with an instructor and the problem was not handled to my satisfaction or at least an amicable resolution.

5 kids all taking SCUBA? Ladies and Gentleman, I nominate OKscubamom as Scuba Toys Forum's "Mother Of The Year!!!!"

Oh, and Welcome to the forum!

ETA: What is "way beyond what PADI requires"?

[cruzan]

"Lean on your buddy while trying to do the figure 4 to put on fin." Last I checked your supposed to help your buddy with their equipment.
I'd try talking to him 1st, see if he can at least tell you why he acted that way. If you can get no satisfaction talk to the shop. THE whole purpose of most OW instruction today is to not only teach the proper way to dive but also to make it fun.

[JCAT]

At the 1st open water dive, my 10 year old son couldn't get his fins on...so for 30 minutes the instructor made by son keep trying and would not let anyone offer help in anyway.

What kind of issues was your 10 year old having? Are the fins the right size?
I don't understand, please clarify.

[navyhmc]

Also, to jump to conclusions, sounds like the instructor is a bit of a sexist macho type instructor.

I did start to take a class from an instructor that sounds similar. I quit the class with a full refund due to his teaching attitude not being conducive with my learning attitude. I am not in boot camp anymore nor did I pay to feed his ego. In this case, I was there to learn altitude diving, not see how great he was and how bad he could beat up the younger students or the women in the class-this was in the class portion, not the pool/lake. I will admit I never got back and took the Altitude class again-I fully understand all the nuances and science of high altitude dives and have done a good number, I just never went back and did the class. (I know call the dive cops! this was 25 years ago) I did use the refund to take a night dive from a great instructor that showed all of us respect-I learned quite a bit from that class.

I do hope that OKscubamom's kids get to have some fun dives and can quickly see that not all of us are like this guy. If need be, I would be more than happy to buddy with any of them-I'm only up the road in Kansas.

[mitsuguy]

Some people can definitely have problems with even the littlest of things...

As an instructor, our job is to help until the proper techniques are learned...

Chances are he was not in a good position to put the fins on - standing up with no support or whatever... Being only 10, chances are even a small tank is huge on him and hard to maneuver out of the water... What I do with students that have problems with fins is to help them stabilize, or, have them sit somewhere and try...

As far as to why it took so long to actually do it, I would venture to say that the kid probably got frustrated and just started giving up and not focusing after the first few failed attempts.

Now, as far as what I would do... First off, I would say the 19 yo's reason for not wanting to go back probably has to do with the younger sibling being treated badly... As mentioned, it sounds like he is trying to go way beyond the scope of the course, which PADI frowns upon greatly. They make the course hard enough that you learn the critical attributes, but easy enough to encourage people to dive... Donning fins is part of the attributes, but it was his first OW dive - some help may be needed and it is perfectly acceptable to help completely...

[snagel]

It's important to master all the skills even the small ones like getting your fins on by yourself. However, this is a training course and this is where you are suppose to be shown how to do things and learn. It should be fun, not something you dread.

Snagel

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by snagel

It's important to master all the skills even the small ones like getting your fins on by yourself. However, this is a training course and this is where you are suppose to be shown how to do things and learn. It should be fun, not something you dread.

Snagel

Agree totally. Were I the lad's buddy, I would be hard pressed not to tell the instructor "Bite me!" and give him a hand. Nothing like turning a new diver off before they start.

[BubblesMcCoy]

Is the instructor also the owner of the shop? If you've got 5 kids in class, I'm guessing that you also bought a ton of gear. I know Oklahoma hasn't been hit as hard as some states in the recession, but I would suspect that if you brought your displeasure to the attention of the shop's owner, the issue would get resolved real darn quick.

I'm not a native Okie, but one thing I learned quickly here is that the state as a whole is the biggest small town on the planet. Everyone knows everyone else and no one wants to get a bad reputation around town for stuff like this. Say what you will about the red dirt and noodling, but Oklahoma is one of the friendliest places I've ever lived. The lcoal dive shop shouldn't be an exception.

Without naming any names, what part of the state are you in? If you can't get the matter resolved, you may want to ask around on the forum for suggestions on a new shop. OKC Metro has a number options as does Tulsa and there is no shortage of red dirt divers in the forum.