Are you Teaching a course or Teaching people to dive...?

Teaching a diving course is not merely about imparting knowledge; it's about guiding individuals through an intricate journey of discovery and understanding. Many may wonder if teaching a course is the same as teaching people to dive. The answer is a resounding no. A successful instructor must delve deeper into the concepts and principles behind each skill, creating a learning environment that fosters genuine comprehension, rather than just following a list of skills with criteria to assess if they can move onto the next one.

The Nature of a Diving Course

A diving course has specific competencies that students are expected to demonstrate. For instance, during a basic course, they need to exhibit skills like recovering their regulator, clearing their mask, and achieving neutral buoyancy. However, the critical question arises: are instructors truly teaching the reasoning behind these skills? Therefore… are they truly teaching people to dive?

When students perform these skills, it’s essential to ask if they understand what they are looking for, why it’s important, and when they might need to utilise these skills. If instructors do not provide this context, they are not genuinely teaching people to dive. The underlying reasons for this lack of depth often stem from either the instructor’s own knowledge gaps or a tendency to take shortcuts in their teaching methods.

The Importance of Understanding the "Why"

Instructors should place significant emphasis on understanding the "why" behind each skill taught during the course. This goes beyond mere rote memorisation; it helps students connect the dots between theory and practice. For instance, instead of simply instructing a student on how to descend underwater, an instructor should explain the nuances involved in performing this skill in a controlled manner.

Consider this: while many instructors can guide a student from the surface to the bottom, do the students understand how to do this safely? Have they been informed that descending can feel challenging until they break the surface? Once they reach that point, the pressure of the water—approximately 1 kg for every litre—begins to push down on them. This is where buoyancy control becomes crucial.

Instructors should explain that they need to add air into their buoyancy control device (BCD) to manage their descent effectively. By taking the time to explain these concepts, instructors can prevent common issues, such as students struggling to descend or relying on excessive weight. This deeper understanding not only enhances the students’ safety but also enriches their overall diving experience, making each dive more enjoyable and less stressful.

Incorporating Practical Applications

To effectively incorporate practical applications into lessons, instructors can utilise real-world scenarios and examples. For instance, when discussing buddy checks, instructors can demonstrate how these checks impact safety and performance during actual dives. This practical approach makes the learning experience more relatable and meaningful.

Consider teaching students to "smell the air" before a dive. Discussing why they should do this and what it indicates about air quality adds a layer of understanding that goes beyond mechanical tasks. Similarly, monitoring gauges should not simply be a procedural task but a critical skill tied to understanding the dive's dynamics. By framing these actions within real-world contexts, instructors can help students appreciate the importance of each skill, making the learning process not just relevant but engaging.

Emphasising Safety Practices

Explaining safety practices in detail is crucial for fostering a safety-first mindset among students. Instructors must not only outline the necessary safety protocols but also discuss the consequences of ignoring them. This approach helps students appreciate the importance of safety in diving.

For example, while it’s commendable that a diver can perform a buoyant ascent skill, have they fully understood where this skill fits within their emergency protocol hierarchy? It is vital to communicate that buoyant ascent should be a last resort and that the “ahhhh” sound they make is a technique to keep their airway open. Emphasising these aspects with thorough explanations ensures that students grasp the significance of each skill and know when and why to use them.

One important concept in learning is the theory proposed by Ebbinghaus, called the “Forgetting Curve.” This theory suggests that when you first learn something, your recall is highest. However, without reinforcement, memory decays rapidly at first and then levels off. If students learn something poorly, research indicates that retention can drop to as low as 10-20% after just a few days, with further decay over time. After a year, they might remember only a small fraction of what they initially learned.

In contrast, if students learn something thoroughly with full explanations and context, retention can be significantly higher. Studies suggest that effective learning strategies—like spaced repetition and active engagement—can help retain 50-80% of the information even after a year.

Assessing Understanding

To effectively assess whether students truly understand the concepts taught in the course, instructors can employ practical assessments and encourage students to teach back what they’ve learned. This method reinforces their understanding and boosts confidence in their skills.

For example, after teaching a specific skill, instructors might ask students to demonstrate what they've learned or explain the process to their peers. This not only solidifies their knowledge but also fosters a collaborative learning environment where students feel empowered to share and support one another. By allowing students to take ownership of their learning, instructors cultivate a sense of responsibility and deeper engagement.

Let’s recap: teaching diving is far more than delivering course content; it is about nurturing an understanding of the underlying principles that govern safe and effective diving. By focusing on the "why," incorporating practical applications, emphasising safety, and assessing comprehension, instructors can create a rich learning experience.

Through this holistic approach, students will not only learn how to dive but also understand the significance of each skill, fostering a lifelong passion for the underwater world. Most importantly, this method cultivates safe divers who will confidently and responsibly explore the ocean's depths, contributing to the preservation of our aquatic environments.