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Runawaylobster (Visit this link)
Years ago when I was a kid, I was fortunate enough to have an uncle who thought it would be nice if I got the chance to try out SCUBA diving. He funded a class for me and my best friend Katherine while we were all on vacation together in the Algarve area of Portugal. Not quite back in the twin hose days, but still a while back. From that time on I have never been able to turn my back on this pastime, something about being underwater got into my soul. Little did my uncle know what he had started, I hope that one day when he gets computerized, he reads this web page and finds out just what a wonderful gift he gave to me, so much more than a few diving lessons.
These days I spend 90% of my non working/sleeping time engaged in some diving related activity. I plan to continue diving until I'm so old I will need a crane to put me in the water (or maybe just a tuna hatch). I Dive as many times as I can, I love to dive and I love every single kind of diving ranging from muddy bridges, to caves to diving on a spectacular shipwreck.
My thoughts on teaching SCUBA Diving.
One of the questions that is asked of every NAUI instructor trainer prior to graduating their students is "Would you allow this person to teach your loved ones to dive?".
When shopping for a SCUBA class the following are important things to consider.
Take into consideration the amount of in-water training and coaching that is included, safe divers are comfortable in the water and competent SCUBA skills are built on supervised practice time. Also take into consideration what is included in the class fee. Ask the instructor what the additional fees will be if you do not master the skills to complete the class within the prescribed time frame. Lastly, ask about the level of post class personal involvement you can expect from your instructor in assisting you with meeting compatible fellow divers, finding suitable and safe starting dives and helping you to begin your future diving career. Lastly, whatever type of class you are taking, and particularly with technical training, look for an instructor that actually does the real dives for fun as well as teaching, this means that they are in practice and using the techniques they are passing on to you.
The mark of a competent diver and skilled diver is their level of buoyancy control. This means that you can achieve a state of "neutral" buoyancy while diving. Neutral buoyancy means that you can hover successfully and comfortably at any depth you choose, neither sinking out of control or rising to the surface out of control, both of which are dangerous. Very few people have good control over their buoyancy when they first start to dive but it is a skill that is easily mastered with practice and coaching. My style of teaching is somewhat different than the usual classes in that I place heavy emphasis on buoyancy control skills, and most of the skills that are required for the class will be learned while maintaining neutral buoyancy rather than just kneeling down on the bottom of the swimming pool. You will then find that when you graduate and begin diving you will immediately have the skills to deal with the different types of ascents and descents and environments that changing ocean conditions may dictate. In other words, you will NOT be one of the divers seen bouncing off the coral reef, or stirring up all the mud on the bottom.
My students must complete the class requirements at a level of competency that I consider to be safe, in order to graduate. Having said this, I am more than willing to give my time to people who need some extra coaching in order to finish the class. SCUBA diving skills are not difficult to learn, all it requires is desire and determination on your part, I can teach you how to dive well, and the rest comes from your desire to be a safe and competent diver. Remember, you want to feel confident when you go out there by yourself, otherwise it wouldn't be fun would it?
http://www.runawaylobster.com