Is Your Intructor the Best Diver Alive?

[ScubaSteve]

Originally Posted by Defman

Yeah, never miss a chance to poke the bear do ya???! Woody was the instructor on my OW card since he did OW dives 3 & 4, Tony M did most of the "work", after that it was the "Steve & Woody Show"

Hate to tell ya this, but I wasn't really an instructor... but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express the nite before.

Seriously though, I'd have to agree that thinkin' you're the best diver on the planet is dangerous and considering the folks that are out there, you'd be wrong. Thanks for the kind words, tho!

[thesmoothdome]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

When I'm teaching instructor classes, I point out that we are just teaching basic open water students most the time. I don't care if they are the "best diver" I care that they strive to be the "best instructor". Big difference!

As an old time instructor and an experienced teacher, I completely agree with Larry. Being the best diver in the world isn't important. Being able to teach students to dive is. I've seen lots of very competent divers I would let train my dog. Off the top of my head, I can also think of about 30 teachers I would trust with my kids lives, regardless of if it was teaching them to ride bulls, scuba dive or learn Shakespeare.

I always believed that I was a very good instructor. Because of that, my students, regardless of it was diving or English, believed they were getting the best instruction possible. I didn't, nor do, profess to be the greatest at anything I do. I did and do try to maintain a confidence that I believe you need in order for people to feel confident in your abilities.

[thesmoothdome]

Originally Posted by Athena2c

Then came our first open water ocean dive-a disaster and too long a story to tell. But he made a call to go out that day that I think was completely wrong and lost him half the class (they couldn't get out in the conditions). Those of us who made it out could not get anything accomplished and eventually he finally made the call to abort the dive. Everyone I've talked to about it since, including instructors and the owner of the dive shop, can't figure out why he took us out at all.
The next day, when we were to go out again, I approached him and tried to explain that I was scared because of what happened the day before and I was concerned about his decision to take us out. He got very defensive and upset with me and basically blamed the class-saying we didn't want to come back and do dives another day, so he couldn't call the dive. Those of us who did finish the cert dives had to come back a 3rd day anyway, but that's not the point...WE don't make the decisions, we were not-yet-certified divers on our first ocean dive! HE needed to make the call that was safe not the call that was popular. I was not impressed and am very happy he has moved and does not work for my LDS anymore.

That sucks, but unfortunately it's not uncommon. I used to get blasted by the owners of the two shops I worked for when I scrubbed dives because of conditions. Neither owner wanted to deal with throwing off the shop schedule or having to reschedule people. Both suggested, in private, that the students just wanted to get the dives done. My philosophy was always that if I didn't want to go out there, I wasn't taking students who didn't have the experience I had out there. Like you said, it was the instructor's call to make, not students or the shop owners.

[DivingsInMyBlood]

i personally would like an instructor to have confidence like that (not thinking their the best in the world) but belive in their skills so the students feel safe with them, the instructor who started mine and my friends course had a hard time using his compass (he also got fired half way through the course), but the owner who finished our course was extremly skilled in diving and i felt alot safer having him around.

[Foo2]

My instructor was Nick (from ST) & my DM was Sean. Nick was an amazing teacher. He was able to show us that he was experienced yet, didn't act like a know-it-all big shot. He didn't act like he was "above" us or the best diver in the world. That seems very arrogant to me. Sean was also a wonderful DM with great tips for us. Anytime we were having issues, he made sure to come over and help us out. They were a great team!

[dmdoss]

Up until I was certified my instructor was the best diver.

[pnevai]

Hmm. Back when I was doing my NAUI ITC, no matter how well you performed your skills, The ulimate test you had to pass was a question that the Instructor trainer had to answer about you. The question was, Would I trust the lives of my family and loved ones to this person? If you did not pass that evaluation you did not become a NAUI Instrictor. I don't know if that criteria is still followed, been out of it a long time.

Mollusk In Training

[PlatypusMan]

Originally Posted by pnevai

Hmm. Back when I was doing my NAUI ITC, no matter how well you performed your skills, The ulimate test you had to pass was a question that the Instructor trainer had to answer about you. The question was, Would I trust the lives of my family and loved ones to this person? If you did not pass that evaluation you did not become a NAUI Instrictor. I don't know if that criteria is still followed, been out of it a long time.

It's still in the Leadership book. IMO, the BEST criteria that you could have.

[jwdizney]

Originally Posted by Disneymom

wow, interesting question, Rick.

If my instructor had that attitude, I think I'd have to find another instructor. Mine have the philosophy that as a diver you're always learning. They are very confident, but at the same time very thorough, patient, kind, competent and knowledgeable. There's not a single instructor in the local organization that I used who has a "better than thou" ego. I think that's when maybe it gets dangerous.

DITTO DISNEYMOM'S reply... of course, we had the same instructors... I felt that they had mountains of skills and experience, but were passionate about the sport, and sharing that with even the slowest, most challenged learners. they were patient, personable and reassuring..... I found confidence in myself through their confidence in me!

[Charlotte Smith]

My instructor was over the top on everything and I loved classes because of it but my divemaster was the coolest guy I know and both made me push to be my best...IMO they were the best.....but they are the only instructors, divemasters I knew at the time and I trusted them with my life.....no problem....would trust them with my child as well....