Trust is one of the most difficult things to first develop and then maintain in any relationship-siblings, parent-child, student-teacher, or couples. Ask anybody who’s ever been cheated on by a partner, emotionally or physically. As Shakespeare said, “Love all. Trust a few”.
Given the lack of knowledge people have for a developing sport like scuba diving, it is only natural that the most common fear that people diving for the first time have is “How will I breathe underwater” or “I’m gonna definitely get attacked by sharks” (No thanks to Steven Speilberg)
Thus, Scuba diving instructors, have NO problem gaining the trust of their diving group or students.
So, anyone adventurous enough to give scuba diving a shot expects that he is with someone who knows more than him! Trust is never an issue for instructors. Students join a dive course assuming that their instructor knows more than them and can guide them safely through an underwater expedition. This phenomena puts a great deal of pressure on instructors as expectations are already high and its up to the instructor to make diving either an individual’s passion or his worst experience ever!
As GianRico Murredu, Course Director at the ADA(Andaman Diving Academy) puts it “ Being an instructor is not about being an underwater tour guide. Instructors already have their students’ trust. Dive instructors should be empathetic enough to understand each student’s needs and find a way to impart the same information to a heterogeneous group making sure that each student can clearly understand each concept.”