Have you seen PADI’s new ‘How To’ series on YouTube? There are videos on mask clearing, giant stride and regulator recovery – with more on the way. Each video combines slow-motion demos with text overlays calling out key skill attributes.
PADI Instructors are already using the videos to help Open Water Diver students master their inwater skills. Because confined water time is a finite resource for many scuba instructors, these ‘How To’ videos can help students review and practice at home. The videos can also be used as supplementary material in the classroom.
3 Ways to Enhance Learning Using PADI’s Scuba ‘How To’ Videos
In class, show the video(s) twice
The first time, simply show the video(s). The second time, ask the students a question like, “when the diver makes his giant stride, notice how he looks forward, not down, why do you think that is?”
Or, direct students to pay attention to something in the video before they watch it again. For example, in the regulator recovery video you could say, “notice how the diver starts exhaling a very tiny amount of bubbles right away.”
Asking students to think about what they saw helps solidify learning. If you can’t think of something specific you want students to focus on, just ask each person what they learned. Students can learn a lot from each other.
Send students the links so they can do a “dry run” at home
You may already give students scuba skill “homework.” Here are a few we’ve heard of:
- A bicycle kicker can practice long, slow scuba kicks by dangling their legs off the bed (and get one heck of an ab workout).
- Students who are uncomfortable with water in their mask can take time to acclimate by sitting in their bathtub or shower and adding water to their mask a little at a time.
To help your divers-in-training master open water skills, embed the videos on your website, create a playlist on your YouTube channel, or simply send students a link to PADI’s how-to video playlist. Students can watch the videos over and over at home, pantomiming the movements to build muscle memory, or simply review until they’ve memorized the key steps.
Some dive shops and instructors are also using the videos on social media. These helpful videos are well “Liked” by student divers past and present.
Not just for Open Water Divers
Though these videos were made with Open Water Diver students in mind, your divemaster candidates may find them beneficial as they show the key attributes of each skill. You could even challenge them to go as slow (or slower) than the divers in the PADI videos.
How-To Videos for PADI Pros
Top PADI Pros share their tips for conducting the DPV, navigation, underwater photo and video, and wreck diver specialty. There’s also a video with suggestions for teaching children. Check out the teaching tips from the pros playlist.
These videos are available to download on the PADI Pros website here.
