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I am interested to know what people think about introducing horizontal buoyancy control and frog kicking techniques to new trainees; not I hasten to add, insisting but introducing.
As instructors we are supposed to teach 'skills appropriate to the environment' to our new students and as we most frequently dive in high silt/sediment conditions, would it not be appropriate to let new students try such things as frog-kicking and horizontal boyancy control from the outset? Learning these things enable the diver to preserve visibility and thus increase both enjoyment and safety. (It also allows you to go back the way you came and be able to SEE!)
I am not advocating such skills are forced upon them however I taught my son to dive using this (and other methods) from the start and as he had no prior experience, he mastered these simple techniques as quickly as he mastered the other new things he was being taught.
In contrast, some friends of mine who are currently trying to master these simple fining techniques AFTER having used a strait leg and battering the silt for the last 20yrs are really struggling.
Just interested to hear the opinion of others.
Thanks
Brian
David Walker
26-11-2004, 19:26
I am interested to know what people think about introducing horizontal buoyancy control and frog kicking techniques to new trainees; not I hasten to add, insisting but introducing.
I'd leave it til after they'd done the basics, but yeah. Especially with a new trainee Ocean Diver, they might take a while to get used to bouyancy anyway, and trying to get them to do it horizontally initially would be difficult. Generally the parrten I see is that they start pretty much vertical in the water all the time, and it'll be a few dives before they even fin horizontally.
But yeah, I always encourage things like that. Particularly vertical ascents, that kind of goes with the simulated deco dive for Sports Diver at the latest, might as well encourage it early. Whether or not you do it as a lesson as such doens't matter, probably not really that kind of thing, just mention it before dives and try to get them to do it. Depends where you are, what you're doing at the time, etc...
As far as rules go, you can teach someone pretty much anything, as long as you cover everything in the syllabus and don't fail them for not being able to do things that aren't, then there's no problem. For clarity's sake you'd probably do it separate to the teaching dives, but otherwise should be fine.
David
This is natural progression of the inwater lesson plan.
When we teach - remember most new divers copy what they see any way - they often pick up more from observation & imitation than from specific lessons (normally its the 'bad technique' they pick up - which takes hours to unteach).
As a matter of coarse most of our instructors try to do a stop at 3m or 6m - even with very new trainess.
What we have noticed is that by the time the trainess complete their Ocean diver, their bouyancy control is very good & they habitually do a 3minute 6meter safety stop as part of their dive. Their posture is also very good - they try to do their safety stops horizontal in the water- again this is all down to imitating the instructors rather than specifically being taught.
The end effect is that when we introduce the decompression dive in Sports Diver they have no problems at all. In fact they start to 'add' challenges themselves. Starting the stop at 6m for 3minutes - then go up in 1 meter increments holding the new depth for a minute - attempting to hold a controlled horizontal stop at 1m. This turns it into an end of dive game. This has the effect that the ability to hold a position in mid-water is seen by most as a standard technique they should be able to do - like mask clearing. It is not a 'special skill' just a diving skill!
I think we need to remember, if the students are gaining confidence in the skills they will 'observe' techniques that the instructors are using - & will start to copy them. If you as the instructor do something 'wrong' you can almost guarentee that you will see the student doing it later on (I wish they picked up the 'good' points as quickly).
I do believe that as long as you are not missing sections of the coarse, or holding people back to do 'extras'. Then as a branch it is permissable to teach techniques that suit you enviroment & branch diving - in fact it is expected - if you use small boats a lot then it would be normal for you to teach diving techniques that suit diving from small boats, similarly if you were diving in low vis' regularly, then you would teach techniques that suit that enviroment.
Safe diving (& watch your own technique!)
Gareth
Couldn't agree with you more Gareth, on all counts.
What you are alluding too, is quality control of instructors something that post instructor qualification is done in-branch..... So if the wrong person (or one who simply does not have the skills themselves) is overseeing what is taught, it can be a difficult and vicious circle to break out of.
In a volentary organisation, I can't see an obvious solution to ensuring quality control....or in the proffessional sector for that matter!
I am interested to know what people think about introducing horizontal buoyancy control and frog kicking techniques to new trainees; not I hasten to add, insisting but introducing.
...
I am not advocating such skills are forced upon them however I taught my son to dive using this (and other methods) from the start and as he had no prior experience, he mastered these simple techniques as quickly as he mastered the other new things he was being taught.
...
Just interested to hear the opinion of others.
I guess it depends on what you regard as new.
During pool training I focus on building confidence in the mechanical skills; DV and mask clearing, AAS drills etc. Few pools have the length or depth to learn a great deal about buoyancy control and finning. Obviously I do the fin pivots, forward rolls and hovers, but however good my teaching the trainee does not have the space to effectively learn.
The initial open water dives come as a bit of a shock for most trainees. Just when they thought they were getting good, they are loaded up with a lot more equipment and feeling like they are back at square one. The initial OW dives focus on repetition of the basic skills in full kit and cold water. I think at this stage it is important to emphasise what the trainee is capable of doing well.
About the time people finish Ocean Diver is about the time they notice that their breathing rate is a little excessive. I think this is the ideal time to get them working on buoyancy and finning. Slowing down the pace of a dive will help the trainee focus on buoyancy control and they have a chance of learning how little finning effort is really needed. During Sport Diver training I will look for an excuse to task load the trainee by asking them to perform a basic mechanical skill stationary in midwater.
So I guess, no I would not make a point of teaching horizontal buoyancy control and frog kicking. I do however teach both during the process of continual refinement.
I certainly would not base adoption of a teaching technique on the outcome of what one student managed.
What you are alluding too, is quality control of instructors something that post instructor qualification is done in-branch..... So if the wrong person (or one who simply does not have the skills themselves) is overseeing what is taught, it can be a difficult and vicious circle to break out of.
First point. Different instructional styles will suit different trainees needs at different times in a divers progression.
I have a reputation as a demanding instructor apparently. I don't have a problem with that and their is definately a place for it. I suspect it is a product of the diving I personally enjoy. What I struggle with most are the very first open water lessons when trainees can stretch my patience in oh so many ways. We have an instructor in our club who personally makes me cringe. However I have no doubt that he is just as useful, particularly when it comes to destressing trainees for their first OW dives.
In a volentary organisation, I can't see an obvious solution to ensuring quality control....or in the proffessional sector for that matter!
Second point. In a voluntary organisation it is up to all of us to ensure QA. By all accounts safety is more a culture than a process. It is up to you and every other person in your branch to decide on and encourage what is safe. The only restriction is that you teach within the BSAC framework.
IMVHO BSAC remains the best and possibly safest club in the World because the decisions are made by divers. Council have once or twice forgotten this and have been smacked down by the rest of us mortals for doing so. BTW the current council are one of the most receptive I have encountred.
Regards
MattS
I have noticed, Divers go through a few stages when learning bouyancy control/finning technique:
1. Walking - most of the finning action is directed to the sea bed, resulting in little progress, but a beautiful kaleidoscope of crap kicked into the water. The hands will be flailing maddly also.
2. Crawling - the diver lowers their head, to get closer to the point of interest, but doesn't lift their legs. as a result, they not only kick up the silt with their feet, but also fling it up with their hands, which still flail maddly.
3. Flying - Eventually, they get sick of not being able to see anything, they seek advice. Some kind instructor will remove half the lead from their belt, and give a few other tips. They will make a major effort with it, and it all comes right.
I kind of goes the other way to when you learn't to walk!! :-)
Some people progress through the scheme faster than others. It does, unfortunately, take them deciding that their bouyancy/finning is crap. They will do nothing about it, no matter how much they are told, until they decide they need to improve. A bit like quiting smoking, I suppose.
Take them on some swim throughs, obviously keeping a close eye on them, then take them back the other way a few times, so they can see the damage they are causing, is the best way of bringing th emessage home I have found so far.
--
M
:=I am interested to know what people think about introducing horizontal buoyancy control and frog kicking techniques to new trainees; not I hasten to add, insisting but introducing.
I'd leave it til after they'd done the basics, but yeah. Especially with a new trainee Ocean Diver, they might take a while to get used to bouyancy anyway, and trying to get them to do it horizontally initially would be difficult. Generally the parrten I see is that they start pretty much vertical in the water all the time, and it'll be a few dives before they even fin horizontally.
But yeah, I always encourage things like that. Particularly vertical ascents, that kind of goes with the simulated deco dive for Sports Diver at the latest, might as well encourage it early. Whether or not you do it as a lesson as such doens't matter, probably not really that kind of thing, just mention it before dives and try to get them to do it. Depends where you are, what you're doing at the time, etc...
As far as rules go, you can teach someone pretty much anything, as long as you cover everything in the syllabus and don't fail them for not being able to do things that aren't, then there's no problem. For clarity's sake you'd probably do it separate to the teaching dives, but otherwise should be fine.
David
So I guess, no I would not make a point of teaching horizontal buoyancy control and frog kicking. I do however teach both during the process of continual refinement.
I certainly would not base adoption of a teaching technique on the outcome of what one student managed.
Hi Matt,
I think I would tend to agree with you in full; one student does not make a case study and I have had exactly the same experience with training divers; they only really 'get it' when taken somewhere these skills make a difference (10m, silty wreck and need to go back the way they came) then they are receptive and this is the time to really teach...but perhaps not to introduce for the first time......
I certainly would not force alternative fining methods upon anyone, it is not in the curriculum, however acting as a roll model and introducing these skills earlier makes them much easier to learn by an order of magnitude. I see no down side to 'playing around in the pool with different techniques' as a post-lesson addition. As you say for the other skills, you are building a mechanical response/muscle memory. In this case I see it more as seeding an idea.
I can see no harm in 'showing' how all manoeuvres (even reversing) can be made without using the hands at all and that even when 10cm from a silty bottom it is not necessary to disturb any of it. (Thus significantly increasing both enjoyment and safety)
When I originally used my youngster as an example, it was simply to demonstrate how much easier it is for someone who has not already established a 'muscle memory' of fining straight legged to learn other ways, hence possible inclusion (as an optional supplement, not part of the lesson) to OD training.
I have found some are curious but no light bulbs for the reasons you state. (Which is fine) then after that first UK dive experience, they tend to surface with an "ohhh I see...." expression and never look back.
If you have the facility to actually film their initial foray from the rear, this really makes them value flat trim and fining techniques more highly.
Best
I see no down side to 'playing around in the pool with different techniques' as a post-lesson addition. As you say for the other skills, you are building a mechanical response/muscle memory. In this case I see it more as seeding an idea.
One thing I have noticed is that some trainees can spend too long in the pool, becoming a little over confident. I am all for confidence but too much of it seems to lead to a backward step when the stress of full kit and cold water is introduced. I personally like to get divers that are ready, into open water as soon as possible, before they start fooling themselves that they know what they are doing. We are blessed with a 6m training lake down the road wich helps. I am not claiming to be right on this, it is really just something to consider.
I can see no harm in 'showing' how all manoeuvres (even reversing) can be made without using the hands at all and that even when 10cm from a silty bottom it is not necessary to disturb any of it. (Thus significantly increasing both enjoyment and safety)
When I originally used my youngster as an example, it was simply to demonstrate how much easier it is for someone who has not already established a 'muscle memory' of fining straight legged to learn other ways, hence possible inclusion (as an optional supplement, not part of the lesson) to OD training.
Again a point to consider. During the initial stages many divers are so concerned with doing a drill perfectly that they fail to complete it adequately. There is a danger that an instructors perfect performance alienates the student. Whilst I do not deliberately cock things up, I agree that a good roll model is essential, I both ask the student to critique my performance and do so myself during the debrief.
If you have the facility to actually film their initial foray from the rear, this really makes them value flat trim and fining techniques more highly.
As I said earlier, at this stage I think it is VERY important to concentrate on what the trainee can actually do. I would avoid criticising buoyancy or finning technique too heavily. What I might do is comment on the silt trails being left by other divers and criticise my own buoyancy.
Once a diver is qualified and we are diving as buddies I have no problem gently pointing out when they destroy the viz. Of course this brings with it any failing on my part being broadcast loudly around the club ;-)
To summarise; I want my trainees to remember what they do right and forget what they do wrong. I attempt to stimulate the trainee to think about what they are doing and to realise that we all have to work on these skills constantly.
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