Shore Dive with Waves

ScubaTrish · 05-13-2011, 02:55 PM

I recently completed my open water cert and was going for my 8th dive. This dive we were entering in a place where a previous instructor did not want to take us because there were waves on the day. On a good day it has ripples only and many divers go there.

This next dive instructor took us in, on a day with big waves and no other divers ventured in. I was a little worried as he said he was 'told' it was safe. Once in the water, he told us not to put our fins on until we got past the waves?? This was a 200m swim with tank and weights and took a lot of energy and I was worried I may not be able to do it as waves kept washing us back.

Is this normal? Why couldn't we have put our fins on which in my mind would have made the swim out past the waves easier?

Or was this instructor a wally, we all got caught in a rip on the way back and I became exhausted and had to swim cross current to the rock pool where I had to grab on to pool chain polls as waved crashed on my back to exit. The lack of assistance or care really ticked me off, I lost total confidence in this instructor and did not do the 2nd dive with him (particularly when I had done the next dive they were doing with a good instructor who told me never to dive it except at high tide and it is only safe for one hour. This wally diver was taking us 2 hours past high tide)

Sorry I digress, my main question is why did he tell us to not wear our fins until past the waves?

Are there bad instructors, should I trust my gut feeling, or should beginners blindly obey their instructor? Am I a difficult student?

rick00001967 · 11-05-2011, 10:07 PM

i think you certainly did the right thing by choosing not to dive with that instructor again. when you are new, and paying for training, it is very important that you have confidence in the person training you. if you can't trust the instructor and don't feel safe with him or her, walk away. feeling unsafe and insecure while learning to dive might ruin the whole experience for you.
as far as wearing the fins in rough water.......everyone is different. i suppose if you could walk thru the initial waves in shallow water rather than struggling with fins, that might be best. but usually once you are deep enough to lie down and swim safely, you are better off with the fins on.
personally, one of the worst situations i can be in as a diver is where i am frustrated and tired. it takes all the fun away and increases the chance of trouble. when you are just starting out, these situations should be avoided at all times. once you are more experienced and are more comfortable in the water, then you can slowly put yourself in more stressful situations to learn how to handle different conditions. i think some instructors forget what it is like for rookies and they push too hard too fast.

rubyluise · 05-10-2012, 09:07 AM

I can say that in this situation if you feel hesitate from your instructor then you share your situation with him. I can say for scuba diving you put on your guts to do it and just take the proper training with your instructor. Certain safety steps you should know because there are many reasons to keep in this kind of situation.