Should I be in the water?

>From: "Clint" pepmax@videotron.ca
>Date: 10/10/2004 10:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <j3mad.54084$BH4.405963@weber.videotron.net>
>
>Thanks for all your input so far guys. From the replies I got so far even
>from other scuba forums, the majority feel that it should be up to the
>instructor and more than likely, I should not be there. And it shouldn't be
>my girlfriend's decision since she's not the instructor.
>
>We are planning to do the open water dives in Key Largo. So if I'm asked to
>keep a distance from the class, then I'll go dive the Spiegal Grove while
>she's doing her session. I heard the Spiegal is an awesome dive ;)
>
>And yeah, my girlfriend's hot looking - hahaha


You must be on fuckin crack if you'd pass up the Grove for a OW checkout
dive.

Have you had a cat scan lately?


Popeye
Man is certainly stark mad. He cannot even make a worm,
and yet he will be making gods by the dozens.

"Clint" <pepmax@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:SoBad.53875$DH5.817830@wagner.videotron.net.. .
>
> >
> > Shouldn't you be asking your girlfriend these questions?
> >
> > Capt. Bill
>
> I'm not sure if my girlfriend would be the best person to ask since she'
new
> to diving. I like Alan's answer.

IIRC, Alan's answer was stay out of the water (or, at least, away from the
entire situation). Is that what you were talking about?

> How many of you have tried to teach your
> significant other something whether it's scuba, skiing, whatever?

I've taught my wife many things. It takes a bit more patience from both of
us, but I've never had any major issues with it.

> Sometimes
> maybe it's best to let somebody else with a purely professional
relationship
> do the teaching.

I tried that in Jamaica when she was going on her first dive (resort
course). The instructor couldn't convey the information in a way she could
understand. When we had a little individual time, I taught her the
important parts. She did fine. Now, we're both OW certified and happy as
clams... however happy that might be. Of course, I've got a teaching
personality so it pretty much comes natural to me. I'd be a teacher except
for two things. First, it doesn't pay well enough. Second, it's way to
much work. I'll keep maintaining computer networks instead.

>
> Clint
>
> Free Spirit Gallery
> http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca
>
>

"Clint" wrote

>> Shouldn't you be asking your girlfriend these questions?

> I'm not sure if my girlfriend would be the best person to ask since she'
> new to diving. I like Alan's answer. How many of you have tried to teach
> your significant other something whether it's scuba, skiing, whatever?
> Sometimes maybe it's best to let somebody else with a purely professional
> relationship do the teaching.

Clint, the generic answer to this is no, you should not be in the water
during your girlfriend's training. One of you paid a professional to teach
her the basics of diving. Assuming you chose your instructor wisely (did
the best you could), the best thing you can do is let that instructor do the
job he/she was paid to do. Your presence can only be a distraction, perhaps
because you bring performance pressure with your presence (you do whether
it's intentional or not) or perhaps because your relationship gives you a
degree of input in decisions that detracts from the instructor's input.

If you're a good enough diver to assist in your girlfriend's future
development, do it after she's got the basics and, even then, be careful
what you say and how you say it. New divers, including girlfriends, tend to
be a bit cocky and, usually, pretty certain that their instructor knows and
taught everything perfectly. It takes time for some divers to learn that
there really is a bit more to this diving thing than they got in their
introductory level course.

Lee

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> writes:

*snip*

I concur with Lee's comments.

I chose to stay out of my girlfriend's Open Water class
and her certification trip. It is my opinion that people
should at the intro level pay attention to one person
and that is the instructor. If you are a certified diver
and someone she already obviously trusts some attention
will be divided towards you, and often leaning on you
to help her out. Intro is for learning basic skills and
getting it right all on your own in my book.

I went on the first trip with her after her certification
and everything went smoothly. She was able to handle her
own self quite well, and any preferences I have like DIR
she can decide if my arguments make sense and take them
up on her own without me being a boyfriend-instructor.

Now she has taken CPR/first-aid and Nitrox on her own
and is asking me to organize a trip to Belize.

Footnote:

As a background item that weighed in my decision, I have been
a teaching assistant in open water classes and sometimes
the couple dynamic creates a lot of additional complications.
Couples where the one party is pressuring the other to
do it when they have problems with it. Often one party
suppresses the fact they have issues or reservations
when the other is there to reinforce it every second.
Then the one night partner is not there is when they panic
and bolt to the surface of the pool and show the terror
about being underwater that they have had all along.


--
Vincent Fox
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
Internet: vf5@mail.gatech.edu

"Vincent Fox" <vf5@prism.gatech.edu> wrote in message
news:ckhrcc$sq0$1@news-int.gatech.edu...

> own self quite well, and any preferences I have like DIR

I'm surprised that you can acknowledge the true tenets of DIR and allow her
to dive using stroke gear. You should be ashamed of yourself as she will
certainly die.

I hope you don't further pollute yourself by ever diving with her until
she's fully committed to DIR principles, gear, and technique. The penalty
for breaking rule number one is also certain death.

BTW, what's up with Jim? He hasn't been around since the Dive with Greg and
I sincerely hope it's nothing I said or did that's keeping him away.

"Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> writes:

*snip*

>I'm surprised that you can acknowledge the true tenets of DIR and allow her
>to dive using stroke gear. You should be ashamed of yourself as she will
>certainly die.

>I hope you don't further pollute yourself by ever diving with her until
>she's fully committed to DIR principles, gear, and technique. The penalty
>for breaking rule number one is also certain death.

I must admit I am a sinner. My open-water rig is a Halcyon bladder
and webbing but on a PLASTIC backplate. Forgive me. It is easier to
travel with but it does permanently stain my soul.

>BTW, what's up with Jim? He hasn't been around since the Dive with Greg and
>I sincerely hope it's nothing I said or did that's keeping him away.

I am not sure. I will have to make an effort to stop by Jim Greenlee's
SCUBA class and see. Thanks for reminding me.


--
Vincent Fox
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
Internet: vf5@mail.gatech.edu

"Greg Mossman" wrote

> I hope you don't further pollute yourself by ever diving with her until
> she's fully committed to DIR principles, gear, and technique. The penalty
> for breaking rule number one is also certain death.

A clear case of do as I say and not as I do. I've seen pictures of Pina's
(sp?) gear and her bolt clips were not stainless.

Lee

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:L91bd.2804$SZ5.1876@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> "Greg Mossman" wrote
>
>> I hope you don't further pollute yourself by ever diving with her until
>> she's fully committed to DIR principles, gear, and technique. The
>> penalty for breaking rule number one is also certain death.
>
> A clear case of do as I say and not as I do. I've seen pictures of Pina's
> (sp?) gear and her bolt clips were not stainless.

As I fondly recall diving with Sandra and her Scubapro Ladyhawk BC. I got
one for Janna and she loves it.

Lee Bell wrote:
>
> "Greg Mossman" wrote
>
> > I hope you don't further pollute yourself by ever diving with her until
> > she's fully committed to DIR principles, gear, and technique. The penalty
> > for breaking rule number one is also certain death.
>
> A clear case of do as I say and not as I do. I've seen pictures of Pina's
> (sp?) gear and her bolt clips were not stainless.

So? Nobody ever said that brass was not DIR, just that brass clips suck.

There is a difference.

Brian
Edmonton, Alberta
www.mossmanscuba.com

"Lee Bell" wrote ...
> A clear case of do as I say and not as I do. I've seen pictures of Pina's
> (sp?) gear and her bolt clips were not stainless.

I prefer brass myself... Probably because I was in the Navy... Old habits
die hard, I guess...