Posted by msblucow on June 20, 2001 at 13:37:43:
In Reply to: Re: A sincere question posted by MHK on June 20, 2001 at 11:24:52:
I agree that more poolwork would solve a lot of issues before the open water check-outs. I actually don't have a problem with students doing their skill drills on their knees for the first couple of dives. Sometimes (especially here) this is a student's first experience being underwater in the open ocean. It can be incredibly awkward and stressful (Although I never panicked or bolted for the surface, I remember being particularly pathetic on my first dive at Casino Point). A couple of low-level skill dives just to get the student acclimated to being in cold water with thick neoprene and added weight- not to mention surf, surge and kelp - is a good idea. Then you progress to dives that focus only on bouyancy and trim and finish with dives that require skill work while maintaining bouyancy and trim. Of course this means more dives and more of a time commitment for everyone, but that's the price for better instruction.