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Do you remember your OW instructor?
- Thread starterRanMor
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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Absolutely... Hardcore ex-South African police task force diver. I did OW1 (NAUI) in 1990, along with a few buddies from university. 4 of us had recently completed 2 yrs military service as well. Chris assessed us as being competent, fit and healthy, (along with a medical examination by a dive doc before the course) and then let all sorts of hell loose on us in the pool - more so than what a typical NAUI course would allow today. However, he never once put any of us in real danger, and equipped all 8 of us for a lifetime of safe, enjoyable diving. I did a PADI stress and rescue course years later, which was a piece of cake in comparison!
So yes, 30 years on, and I still remember my instructor's name!
So yes, 30 years on, and I still remember my instructor's name!
I remember my OW Instructor (Confined Water) well. He also ended up being my AOW Instructor. I did not specifically select him, either time, rather I signed up for a course, and he 'happened' to be the assigned Instructor. I think his impact on me as a diver was primarily the result of his emphasis on skill and precision in the water. But, he was also a reminder of the dangers of diving - he had been a routine participant in a decompression illness study, and suffered a neurological event which left him with some lower extremity weakness. It was a continuing reminder of a) the fact that diving is not without risk, even under controlled conditions, and b) even with physical limitations a diver can adapt and dive, even instruct, competently.
Never forget mine, one of the pioneers in the US. I did NAUI Basic Diver with him and progressed to Master Scuba Diver and then went on to become an instructor myself, almost 40 years ago.
I remember mine from 2005.
I knew at the time that learning to dive was a serious matter. So I passed by a few diving centers. Chatted with various instructors and went on with mine.
He was just the right balance of serious, experienced, laidback, and funny.
He truly taught me well.
I knew at the time that learning to dive was a serious matter. So I passed by a few diving centers. Chatted with various instructors and went on with mine.
He was just the right balance of serious, experienced, laidback, and funny.
He truly taught me well.
I remember him well. He was me. When I bought my first scuba gear in 1954 at age 15 there were no courses and no instructors. I read the little instruction pamphlet that said not to hold my breath while ascending and jumped off my father's boat in 20 feet of water with my speargun. But unlike most students these days I had a couple of years of freedive spearfishing experience so I was acclimated to the ocean environment. I recall hitting bottom and thinking that it was really neat to be able to breath. Then I loaded my gun and went looking for a fish.