A special thanks to James Mott, UTD instructor.
Hello, I just got back from Key Largo where I took a Unified Team Diving Essentials class instructed by James Mott. I have been a certified diver for a year now and prior to taking the Essentials class I logged about 70 OW dives thinking I was at least an above average diver, so I thought.
I was introduced to James and DIR diving through Sea The World Scuba Center, located in the metro Detroit area, and I started diving with James and his dive buddy Chad. It was evident that they were diving on a professional level the first time I observed them underwater. I was oblivious to the fact that dive planning, gas management and underwater skills could be so involved and I knew at that moment I wanted to dive at that level. My dive buddy Wes also also on the same page with me.
Wes and I started talking with James and UTD's philosophy and approach to diving, to which we took an immediate interest. James set up an evaluation dive for us at Maceday lake and he recommended we take the Essentials class. The class was set in stone and planned for Key Largo the last weekend in Jan/2010. Prior to leaving, James recommended a list of DIR dive equipment needed for the class which we purchased and practiced with before the class. We also purchased the online Essentials classroom, watched the power point presentations and filled out the test. UTD's website is very easy to navigate and put together well.
Our first day of class took place at Conch Republic Divers in Key Largo. James reviewed the online power point presentations with Wes and I and a third student, Ryan. James was very thorough with explaining the rules of diving, dive planning, gas management and the in-water skills. After our classroom portion in the morning we checked our gear for proper fit and began to practice the skills on land before entering the water.
Once in the water we practiced propulsion techniques, bouyancy and multi-tasking while concentrating on bouyancy. Each of the three days of training were set up like this and we (The students) honed our skills and began to see results. The training was very involved, planned and instucted very well by James, leaving no room for confusion. After each day of training James reviewed with us a video debrief. This was an excellant tool for teaching. James would critique our day of training and we could see how we were applying the skills we were learning and where to improve on the mistakes we were making.
James and this class forces you to become a thinking diver and prepares you for future training, whether it is Rec or Tec. You become more aware of your team, your evironment and your equipment. James' years of training, experience, passion for diving and his level of instruction will give you that awareness to become the thinking diver we all should be. I am looking forward to future training with James and I highly recommend James Mott as an instuctor and as a friend regardless of what your level of training is.
Keith Colombo
Hello, I just got back from Key Largo where I took a Unified Team Diving Essentials class instructed by James Mott. I have been a certified diver for a year now and prior to taking the Essentials class I logged about 70 OW dives thinking I was at least an above average diver, so I thought.
I was introduced to James and DIR diving through Sea The World Scuba Center, located in the metro Detroit area, and I started diving with James and his dive buddy Chad. It was evident that they were diving on a professional level the first time I observed them underwater. I was oblivious to the fact that dive planning, gas management and underwater skills could be so involved and I knew at that moment I wanted to dive at that level. My dive buddy Wes also also on the same page with me.
Wes and I started talking with James and UTD's philosophy and approach to diving, to which we took an immediate interest. James set up an evaluation dive for us at Maceday lake and he recommended we take the Essentials class. The class was set in stone and planned for Key Largo the last weekend in Jan/2010. Prior to leaving, James recommended a list of DIR dive equipment needed for the class which we purchased and practiced with before the class. We also purchased the online Essentials classroom, watched the power point presentations and filled out the test. UTD's website is very easy to navigate and put together well.
Our first day of class took place at Conch Republic Divers in Key Largo. James reviewed the online power point presentations with Wes and I and a third student, Ryan. James was very thorough with explaining the rules of diving, dive planning, gas management and the in-water skills. After our classroom portion in the morning we checked our gear for proper fit and began to practice the skills on land before entering the water.
Once in the water we practiced propulsion techniques, bouyancy and multi-tasking while concentrating on bouyancy. Each of the three days of training were set up like this and we (The students) honed our skills and began to see results. The training was very involved, planned and instucted very well by James, leaving no room for confusion. After each day of training James reviewed with us a video debrief. This was an excellant tool for teaching. James would critique our day of training and we could see how we were applying the skills we were learning and where to improve on the mistakes we were making.
James and this class forces you to become a thinking diver and prepares you for future training, whether it is Rec or Tec. You become more aware of your team, your evironment and your equipment. James' years of training, experience, passion for diving and his level of instruction will give you that awareness to become the thinking diver we all should be. I am looking forward to future training with James and I highly recommend James Mott as an instuctor and as a friend regardless of what your level of training is.
Keith Colombo