ESM
– Students tend to have a lot of questions
concerning ESM before jumping in. Some are curious of what
they will learn, how will it benefit their diving, and others are
only interested in one or two things that are introduced while
taking the course, i.e. frog kick, proper weighting, or trim.
We start them off in the classroom with a couple of lectures
concerning proper weighting and rock bottom gas planning.
Both topics introduce new concepts for most divers, and open
up conversations concerning “what if” types of scenarios
which makes the class more interactive and fun. Dry runs are
also a new concept for most students, especially when they are
introduced to a skill they are unfamiliar with. They enjoy the
learning process of practicing a skill while interacting with the
instructor and other students.
UTD Instructor Chad Whitman.
In the pool, we begin the course with no equipment, at which
time the instructor can get a few strange looks. “Dude, I’m
here for scuba course not free-diving” is always a fun exchange. The instructor begins by introducing breathing and
buoyancy concepts that focus on using your lungs to control
your buoyancy. Through the duration of the course, the introduction of equipment takes place and allows the student to
manage each piece of gear individually. The students will now
begin to realize that they manage the equipment, not the other
way around.