‘The giant stride entry is pure excitement! For entry level students it’s like stepping into the underwater world. As a diving instructor, teaching the giant stride is a great joy. For some, it’s a bit nerve-wracking at first, but with your guidance, it quickly becomes fun.
Teaching this skill
During the IDC you will learn how to teach students to perform a giant stride entry. Officially PADI requires divers to learn ‘an appropriate deep water entry’ so if you are diving from a small boat, you will teach a backroll. Even wading through the surf from the beach can be an appropriate deep water entry.
To teach the giant stride, start by helping students get comfortable with the idea of jumping into the water from a boat or dock. Some will feel a bit nervous, especially if there is some height difference, so break down the steps to make it easy and reassuring.
Begin by showing them how to shuffle their fins. Being close to the edge, stumbling could mean an unexpected early start of the dive.
Inflate the BCD and have mask and regulator in place. One hand on the mask and regulator and one hand on the weightbelt. Some instructors prefer teaching to hold the alternate airsource so it doesn’t free-flow. Both methods make sense.
Don’t forget to check the water for divers on, or just below the surface. Look straight ahead and step off the edge with confidence. It’s not called a giant stride for nothing. A small step could cause the tank to clip the deck making the entry ‘a lot less elegant’ and causing damage to equipment.
The reward
The giant stride is one of those skills that is not difficult but takes a bit of confidence. When nervous students nail the giant stride, you can see the instant boost in their confidence.
Stepping out of their comfort zone and making a ‘giant step’ will make your students more confident – as a diver and as a person. As their diving instructor, sharing in that small moment of accomplishment is priceless.
Become a PADI diving instructor
Being a PADI diving instructor is truly the best job out there! You get to live and work in stunning tropical destinations, stay active every day, and experience the incredible reward of helping students learn new skills and boost their confidence.
Imagine spending your days teaching others to dive, sharing your love for the underwater world, and seeing their excitement as they master each skill.
Dreaming of becoming a PADI diving instructor? Get in touch, and we’ll show you how!
