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The 5 Things To Consider In a Private Scuba Instructor

April 6, 2011 by ·

How do You find a competent Scuba Instructor? There are five things listed below that you should consider about them and probably ask to be sure, because “your life depends on it.”

In today’s market place you have many options when it comes to Scuba Training. There are independent trainers who work from their homes or come to you for Scuba Certification Classes.

But with all of these options how do you choose the Scuba Instructor, the Scuba Agency (brand) that is right for you?

Consideration #1. A Scuba Instructor that: “sells” you a session or scuba equipment before putting you though a rigorous scuba assessment. Or if they keep coming back to the same gear in conversation which is usually the top of the line. Life support equipment has lots of variations in price and features. However, low end or high end nobody makes cheap life support equipment. What they should be spending the most time on is the perfect fit for your mask.

Consideration #2. A Scuba Instructor: Should promote the health and fitness of the sea. Don’t scuba train with someone who litters the ocean, or spear fish and lobster hunting is their only past time while they dive. You should ask that question. Just because they sound good or look the part. All that glitters is not gold. Investigate a Scuba Instructors background and personal training history before your hire them.

Consideration #3. Keep in Mind: Having a private Scuba Diving Instructor is an intuitive process that is unique to each individual. Continue to interview people until you feel confident you’ve found a Scuba instructor who will be able to help meet your scuba diving goals. The training relationship is a unique partnership – and for maximal success you need to find the best person possible.

Consideration #4. Ask for References: Check with the trainers current clients to determine whether they enjoy working with that person. Ask the Scuba instructor as many questions as it takes to help you gain your warm fuzzy level with them or not.

Consideration #5. Glitz and Glamour: Don’t hire someone just because they razzle dazzle you with their quick talk and an overbearing answer to your every question. Usually people are that way when they are hiding a weakness or insecurity. That usually means lack of scuba experience.

Generally, I don’t try to repair my own car or give myself professional dental care or handle my own legal affairs. Unless I am uniquely qualified, (only in scuba) I hire a professional to do those things for me. Hiring a Scuba Instructor is no different. Your life depends on it.

written by Laura Parke, RN, Master Scuba Instructor, author, speaker and entrepreneur.

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The Top 3 Myths About Scuba Diving

March 1, 2011 by · 3 Comments

 Myth #1

You Do NOT Have To Be Certified To Go Scuba Diving. You must train in the pool first, then listen to a short lecture and take a 9 question true/false test. This is done in an effort to make you comfortable before going in the ocean but we train you in the pool first, not just kick you off the boat without proper training.

You become familiar with all the equipment, your breathing, (first and foremost), how your body feels with all the equipment on underwater and getting used to the feeling of weightlessness, just like the astronauts in space.

After the pool training, approximately 90 minutes you are ready to dive in ocean with me, your instructor. I go with you. I never leave your side and stay within 8 feet of you at all times. You get to experience all that scuba diving has to offer. Then you can make a decision if you want to continue on with the certification course or not.

Myth # 2

You Will NOT Get Eaten By A Shark. I am living proof of diving over 30 years and have NEVER, I repeat
N-E-V-E-R been attacked or threatened by a shark of any kind. I have been spearfishing as well and never been provoked by a shark. I promise you.Statistically, it has always been surfers that are bitten by sharks because they resemble turtles. Their surfboards appears as the belly of the turtle with arms and legs hanging over the board. To a shark it appears like the turtles flippers and food. That is why they are bitten the most.

 

I will personally guarantee you will NOT be bitten and I will protect you by throwing myself in front of the shark for you IF that would ever happen.

Myth # 3

You Will Not Drown. Many people are afraid to try scuba because they had a bad snorkeling experience. Scuba and Snorkeling are two different activities entirely. My youtube video discusses this at length.

So watch this informative video for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv2D07lO5oE

Thinking you have to be a great swimmer is not accurate because I have taught below average swimmers how to be better swimmers with fins and personal coaching. I have many testimonials from people who feel that they could never scuba yet working with me, they have done so triumphant and gratefully.

Why should you listen to me? Because I have successfully coached and certified over 700 people how to scuba dive concurrently with a perfect safety record. This means without ANY incidents or accidents.

In my youth, I learned to scuba dive and was a lifeguard. I am a world class All American Water polo player and swimmer in high school and college. In addition, I am a Registered Nurse, so if anything does happen (and it won’t) I am poised to handle the situation with ease.

I have a personal, no risk guarantee. If I can’t get you underwater with happiness and joy I will refund your  money without question. You have nothing to loose and a lifetime of happy memories with your family and friends to gain.

I welcome you comments and questions.

Laura Parke, RN
America’s Best Scuba Instructor
Author, Speaker and Entrepreneur
PrivateScubaLessons.com
954-547-4818

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Scuba Diving The Most Important Thing To Remember

October 17, 2010 by ·

What do you do every single day without thinking or effort?

Believe it or not the most important thing to remember about Scuba Diving is something that you do every single day. You do it usually without thinking about it much. You do it unconsciously and without effort. You do it to sustain your life on a daily basis and never even give thought to it. Can you guess what it is?

The most important thing in Scuba Diving is breathing normally. Breathing normally is so paramount in Scuba Diving. Most of the scuba diving books you may read say breath deeply and slowly. I am here to tell you that is wrong.

Why is it wrong? Because breathing slowly and deeply is not a normal breath. A normal breath is something that you do when you are sitting and watching television or playing a game of cards. To feel normal under the water you need to breath normal.

When you breath on the surface you breath without hearing yourself per se. However, breathing under the surface of any body of water you will hear yourself inhale and exhale. Why is that? Because water is denser than air and you are breathing air under a pressurized system.
For some people this is kind of freaky at first but it is something that you get accustomed to.

Something so simple and effortless on the surface is a little different under the water and that is why we train in a swimming pool under controlled conditions so you get accustomed to it. If you ever take scuba lessons and the instructors try to take you right to the ocean without training in a swimming pool first, run away fast, don’t walk away. 

Having a bad experience is like the number two reason why people don’t continue scuba diving and this is not your fault. You had a bad instructor! There are those. In last months issue of my scuba diving magazine for us professionals over 150 instructors had repremands listed against them. Seriously, I am telling you this not to tout myself but to call it to your attention that not all scuba instructors are alike.

We practice breathing under the water in the pool first. As your instructor, I do not move on to any of the other skills about scuba diving until you master this first. For some people one pool training session is enough, for others it may take two or three pool sessions. No two people are alike and I never take you to the ocean unless your breathing is under control and you have mastered all the other skills as well.

You will tell me and show me that you are feeling good and confident under the water in the pool first. Then we will go out the ocean in the Fort Lauderdale area to become one with the fish and the ocean and your being.

There is not another sport in all the world like scuba diving. Nothing can compare to it and nothing can take the place of the feeling and the exhilaration of swimming in an aquarium untethered to gravity as well as seeing marine life up close and personal.

Guess what? Anybody can do scuba diving as long as they breath normal and relax. The most important part is once again a normal breath. If you have had a bad experience Scuba Diving I want to hear about it. So please write me or text me with your thoughts.

written by Laura Parke, Registered Nurse and Master Scuba Diver Trainer
at Private Scuba Lessons.com

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Sharks, Scuba Diving and Safety Secrets

May 25, 2010 by ·

When it comes to Sharks, yes those animals that live in the sea. The ones that everybody talks about, them. Are you fascinated by them or terrified as well? Or maybe, middle of the road? Allbeit a healthy respect would be the wise choice.

In the vast ocean, of all the animals that dwell there. None have been so fascinating, so mystifying, so talked about, so feared, so hunted and so studied and researched as the sharks.

Sharks have been in existence since dinasaurs. Turtles as well, but that is another species for another days posting. Sharks are the most streamlined of all the sea creatures. Pointed noses that come to an edge to slice through the water. Some other bullet points about Sharks:

* There are over 360 different species of Sharks
* A Sharks skeleton is all cartilage
* The Sharks liver is 30% of their body weight
* They have no rib cage, fish do
* Sharks have replaceable teeth with serated edges
* They need to move to breath (some exceptions, like Nurse shark)
* Average lifespan of 20-30 years- shorter now due to over fishing
* Sharks swim at 5-12 mph. The Mako can hit top speed of 31 mph

In my experience as a scuba instructor I have seen people with both sides of the coin in perception of sharks. Some clients request to specifically go see a shark in the wild. Some clients repell from that idea and ask me to make sure that we don’t see them.

Inquiries about Sharks of positive or negative content are definately my Frequently Asked Questions. The next question, after I do want to see one or I don’t want to see one is: Will we see a Shark? and What do we do if we see a shark? Those are two questions I will answer in another post about Sharks.

Most of the world watches too much television. The movie “Jaws” in the 70’s did not portray sharks as the are naturally in the wild. Jaws was a fictional spin off of Moby Dick only with a more highly perceived predator, all being the Shark.

Being that there are over 360 species of Sharks, most of them get a bad rap by the Great White overshadowing the classes. It is true the Great White Shark is the one that most surfers get attacked by. This is the same species you pay the big bucks to see in South Africa.

As many times as I have been in the sea and near a shark. You would not, I repeat, not get me in that steel cage in the cold water. I’ll observe them from the boat. It’s more the cold water (52 degrees) and the cage that discourages me. If the water were warmer I’d go swimming with them.

So I said of all this to say. There is such a thing as a healthy respect and healthy fear of Sharks. Fear is not a bad word, it means worthy of respect and awe. This healthy respect and healthy fear applies to all areas and aspects of scuba diving and life in general.

writen by Laura Parke, Private Scuba Lessons.com

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What Is The Hardest Thing About Being A Scuba Instructor?

March 1, 2010 by ·

So You Might Be Surprized To Know What
The Hardest Thing About Being An
SDI Scuba Instructor.

By most peoples standards you probably think I have a great job and for the most part I do.

There are many things that go on behind the scenes in getting ready to conduct and deliver a scuba diving experience in a positive, fun and safe way. But, I am here to talk about the not so fun parts.

Many people have stated to me that teaching a moron to scuba dive would be my most challenging incident. Another guess would be not passing someone in the Scuba course. Well, it is neither one of those things you might think.

By far the hardest the thing about my job is to say good bye to my clients when you leave me. Seriously. Many of you, if not most of you, we had several great dives together as well as memorable pre and post diving events.

There is something about being a divebuddy and Scuba Diving with someone that makes an automatic positive connection. Maybe it’s the common bond of the love of the ocean.

Maybe it was the great conversations on board the boat where it is said, “Everything that happens or said at sea, stays at sea.” A well known quote. Scuba diving has bonded us together whether you know it or not.

One couple I went to dinner with after diving, she actually sang a song with the band that was playing there, impromptu. She rocked the house. And she, like many others I have never seen again.Seriously. I want you to come back to Florida and visit me. There are so many more dive locations we have to explore, indulge and savor the seas together.

For those of you that I have yet to meet, I look forward to diving with you and enjoying the adventure and indulging in scuba diving under the ocean as many times as you want.

Scuba Diving is easier than you think.  I am always happy to answer any questions about any aspect of diving that you might have that you have always wanted to ask.  Email me or phone me.

 

 

 

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PADI Open Water Certification Discover Scuba Diving

January 12, 2010 by ·

Would You Be Willing To Try Scuba Diving And Discover For Yourself Why 99% Of People Who Scuba Dive Rant And Rave About It Quickley Becoming Fanatics Even If You Are Not A Good Swimmer.

Do I have to be a good swimmer to Scuba Dive? 
The answer is no because “good” swimmer is a subjective term. In addition, we put fins on your feet which will make any weak swimmer stronger.

Think about it… even if your face goes under the water you are fine. In Scuba Diving we carry our air with us and it’s delivered straight into our mouth whether we are on the surface or far below it with the regulator hose.

Not only that, but your Scuba Instructor, Laura Parke, is one of only a few instructors in the world that is a Swimming Instructor. This means that she can correct your technique and help you make the most of your efforts so that you can glide through the water without becoming exhausted.  She can correct your swimming or polish your technique, what ever the case might be. You are guaranteed to have a good experience under the water or you will get your money back.

Illustrated below is a Real Time Client Profile:

Fritz Rocourt, Electrician New York.
Fritz came to Ft.Lauderdale in 2008, with a little trepidation about scuba because he did not feel his swimming was up to par. After a long conversation on the phone about his swimming style he agree to go for it. After all, offer a money back guarantee, what did he have to lose? Fritz came down from New York and we trained together for a few days in the pool and ocean. The he completed his Open Water Certification with flying colors.
This year, in November, Fritz returned to continue his dive training. We did six dives together around the Palm Beach area including the Blue Heron Bridge. At the end of his six dives he was able to steady a camera and take pictures without silting out the bottom. His buoyancy improved dramatically with real time Scuba Diving in the water. That is the key- you have to get in the water to practice being in the water! Fritz’s new skill mastery is a really big deal. Remember, he had started out with a sense of unease. Now, one year later, he has returned to South Florida and continued his training and he has the pictures to prove it. Way to go, Fritz!


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Scuba Lessons Fort Lauderdale Florida

December 10, 2009 by ·

Thousands Have The Opportunity Of This Priceless Gift – But Never Took The Time To Scuba Dive In Fort Lauderdale.

If you have not gone scuba diving in Ft. Lauderdale or Pompano Beach, you could be missing out on buried treasure. That is the sole reason we are nick named and known as “the Gold Coast”.

Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach have three distinct reef lines. The 1st reef line is in 12-25 feet of sea water, 2nd reef line is in 35-55 feet of sea water and the 3rd reef line is in 60-120 feet of sea water. Florida is the 3rd largest Barrier Reef in the World.

In addition, Florida has over 150 ship wrecks located from Jacksonville to Key West, with most of them located within the PADI, NAUI, SSI, SDI, Recreational Sport Diving limit. This fact makes our local scuba diving some of the most diversified and accessible that you will find anywhere in the world.

The Fort Laudedale and Pompano Beach 2nd and 3rd reef lines are the most dramatic in terms of the size of the coral and fish life. Enormous barrel sponges and massive sea whips inhabit the top of this reef and always lots of fish. As you can see from the pictures, fish abound individually and in vast schools. To swim among them is an experience you will long remember.

Typically, the water clarity is excellent because the Gulf Stream runs closest to shore beginning in north Broward. There are days that it is every bit as clear as the Bahamas. Reports of 80-120 of visibility are not uncommon. You can see the shipwreck from the top of the surface before you jump in.

As in the Miami area, there are many ship wrecks to visit in the beginner, intermediate and advanced level divers. This uniqueness welcomes divers of all skill levels and allows those normally limited to shallow reef diving to have a brand new and thrilling experience in Ship Wreck diving. The Captain Dan, The Rebel, The Edmunster, The Jim Atria and The Tennaco Oil Rigs are all worthy of visiting over several dives.

Diverse conditions are what make diving exciting and offer new challenges. With the reefs and wrecks in such close proximity to the Gulf Stream, no two days or scuba dives in Ft. Lauderdale ever the same. This guarantees you will have lots of fun and adventure with no chance of being bored on any scuba dive.

You many want to get your Advanced Open Water Certification, Drift Diver, Deep Diver or Wreck Diver Specialty Certification to dive the 3rd Reef line. The deep water and strong current should only be explored by a skilled scuba divers. Register now for a private lesson so that you can stretch your limits and receive your free photo of you and your under the water adventure.

As of this week the conditions have been great visability and calm flat water. We guarantee a great dive every dive, so hurry up and get here or you’ll miss out on great Florida Diving.

Sea You Underwater,

Laura Parke, Master Scuba Diver Trainer at Private Scuba Lessons.com

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PADI Underwater Navigation Course Florida

October 29, 2009 by ·
How To Navigate Underwater To A Never Before Published Scuba Diving Site Which Happens To Be The Oldest And Most Proliferate Scuba Diving Venue On Hollywood Beach Florida.

Imagine, you are sitting on Hollywood Beach, sunbathing in the warm Florida rays on a calm and clear day. From time, to time you will see a set of scuba divers heading across the sand into the surf. They are making their way out to a very well kept secret dive site.

Looking from the beach, towards the sea, you would never know that there was another underwater world just waiting to be discovered. This secret dive site makes every dive a new ride because of the abundance of marine life and new coral growth.

Green Rope Sponges

Green Rope Sponges

Fifteen years ago the Army Core of Engineers built an outflow pipe to sea ending in 90′ft of water. To make sure the cement culverts stayed buried under the sea floor itself, in the event of hurricane, they laid large solid bricks, followed by big boulders and then another set of blocks with holes in them.

The pictures you are seeing are from the actual dive site, the actual blocks, bricks and boulders that local divers affectionately refer to as the Michigan Sidewalk. The dive site gets its name due to the latitudinal landmark from shore which is Michigan Street in Hollywood, Florida. “Sidewalk” because it resembles a cement walk way.

Big Boulders of Michigan Sidewalk Dive Site

Big Boulders of Michigan Sidewalk Dive Site

You need to reference Michigan Street when swimming from shore to line you up properly to find this needle in the haystack. Many people try finding this scuba site every year and miss it due to poor navigational skills.

Finding This Site Is Very Tricky. Attempting to head out on your own, without a knowledgeable guide, can lead to a variety of unpleasant and possible dangerous scenarios including: exhaustion, running out of air and plain old frustration as you never find that which you were seeking.

If you want to be guaranteed off seeing thousands of fish and wildlife, the whole point of going scuba diving then you need to be well trained. Navigational training is especially important if you want to find the Michigan Sidewalk. As you can see from the pictures, marine life is everywhere.

Michigan Street Sidewalk

Michigan Street Sidewalk

Some highlights of these pictures are blue tangs, yellow grunts, pink and green sponges, sea whips, gregonias, stoplight parrot fish and a healthy cluster of Staghorn Coral. This species of Coral only grows in Florida and is on the endangered species list. This piece, shows signs of health and vitality.

If you are interested in seeing more marine life in 50 minutes than you will in most of your diving career put together, guaranteed, than make sure you contact me. I will get you to this needle in the haystack, secret dive site quickly and easily. Once there you will have a great time as we explore this amazing underwater world and I will ensure you arrive home again safely with fantastic stories to tell and lifetime memories. (priceless)

Guaranteed to make your underwater wishes and dreams come true.

Contact me now,

Laura Parke, Master Scuba Trainer, Private Scuba Lessons . com and you official Search and Recovery Trainer at large

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