Any tips for Padi Open Water Diver course?

Question

While I'm in Egypt this year (Sharm el Sheikh) I'm going to be doing the Padi Open water Diver course. I've been sent the MASSIVE manual of things I've got to learn in 3 weeks. Trying to juggle that around everything else isn't easy. What are the most important parts I should learn?

Any other general tips about scuba diving (I've only done it once before) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks people.

Answer 1

First of all, I wouldn't call the manual "massive".  My students don't have issues completing the required work in less than 3 weeks.

Read each section and do the knowledge reviews at the end of each section.  Trust me, it isn't that difficult.  I would almost be willing to bet that you could probably complete all of the reading and knowledge reviews while waiting for your plane, flying, waiting for your luggage, and clearing customs.

Each section contains important information.  As a student diver, the material may not appear to make much sense right now, but as you gain experience, much of the material you read will have an application.

Here are some general tips for taking the class:

1.  Quizzes and exams:  don't read into the questions.  Take the question at face value and select the best answer.  Many adults will add "what if" situations to the questions and confuse themselve.  Read and answer.

2.  Skills in the water:  take your time.  I see too many student try to rush through the skills only to create more problems for themselves.  Take your time.

3.  Video/DVD:  watch it.  The video that comes with the material is a little corny, but it will show you all of the skills that you will be comepleting in the class.  Watch it, and you'll get some idea of what the skill should look like.

4.  Ask questions in class.  There are some of the reading material that won't make a ton of sense right now.  Ask questions to your instructor to help you understand.

5.  Ask questions in the pool.  I know there is one particular way that I explain a skill.  Sometimes, a student will have a confused look on his/her face, and I have to adjust my explanation to help them with the skill.

6.  Ask for help.  Some of the skills have a variety of ways to complete it.  Perhaps a different way will work for you.  A good instructor should help you figure out what works best for you.

Edit:  I wanted to add one more thing regarding what are the important things.

For the class, you are supposed to have all of the knowledge reviews completed before class.  If you don't have them completed, the instructor can kick you out of class, and make you reschedule (at an additional fee).  It depends if your instructor wants to follow the rules or be easy on you, but you don't know which one it will be.

To complete the knowledge reviews, you'll need to read all of the material.