Cave Instructor recommendations

[carrielsal]

I will be in Florida next month. I'll be diving the Vandenberg with David Jan 21-24 and would like to take cavern and basic cave classes immediately afterwards. Do any of you guys have recommendations?

Carrie

 

[chrisculina]

I will be in Florida next month. I'll be diving the Vandenberg with David Jan 21-24 and would like to take cavern and basic cave classes immediately afterwards. Do any of you guys have recommendations?

Carrie

Check out Chipola Divers. I'm taking cavern and intro to cave there next summer. Looks nice, and the communication with Rob (Dive-aholic on SB) has been very good.

 

[200 Bar]

Scott Maclean- Depth Perception, Tampa

 

[carrielsal]

Could you also tell me why you recommend a particular instructor? Did you take a class and felt it was worthwhile? Is there something that this instructor does or is good at that makes him/her an outstanding instructor?
Thanks!
Carrie

 

[timle]

Nick Leone - took Cavern and Intro with him. A good instructor and a good guy all around. Spent extra time on my weak parts (frog kick) and ran a good challenging class - when completed I felt ready to dive at the level I was certified for.

Rich Courtney - have not taken a class with him. Heard good things all around and deal with him alot getting gas at Cave Excursions East. Knows his stuff, has a good reputation, fun to be around, dives alot.

 

[Texas Torpedo]

Obviously, Mike Ange if available when we are down there. You really have the cream of the crop to pick from in Florida, though my only experience thus far is with Mike. The only potential problem is going to be scheduling or finding a class open during your days there.

 

[tasdiver]

+ 1 for Rich Courtney . . . challenging but patient instructor . . . you will come out of the class knowing you know what you know

Good information can be found here . . .

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cave-diving/121296-how-choose-cave-instructor-my-opinion.html

 

[Martini]

+2 for Rich. He is loads of fun to train with and will run you through the wringer.

 

[zaberman1]

good luck!

Try Jeff Bauer, president of NACD, took them with him, great instructor!
H: 850-656-3864
W: 850-644-0266
jeff.t.bauer@gmail.com
BigBendDiving.com - Cavern and Cave Diving Instruction

Jeff Loflin also has a fantastic reputation, I know some people who took the classes with him. Chairman of NSS-CDS:

jeffloflin.com

Jill Heinerth is also wonderful...

 

[SandyRobinson]

good luck!

Try Jeff Bauer, president of NACD, took them with him, great instructor!
H: 850-656-3864
W: 850-644-0266
jeff.t.bauer@gmail.com
BigBendDiving.com - Cavern and Cave Diving Instruction

Jeff Loflin also has a fantastic reputation, I know some people who took the classes with him. Chairman of NSS-CDS:

jeffloflin.com

Jill Heinerth is also wonderful...

Several buddies of mine and I also took cavern thru full cave (in addition to AN, Deco, and Trimix) through Jeff Bauer. He was fair, worked with us, and provided us the opportunity to work on many different skills and drills Also, he had an uncanny ability to remember all of our mistakes during our checkout dives. All of the above have helped make us better cave divers and made sure we could handle various issues while cave diving. Jeff lives in Tallahassee so it would be easy for him to do a day of dives at JB and alternate with Peacock, Ginnie, or Little River. The millpond also has some other caves in addition to JB.

One of my buddies took a gas mixing course with Jeff Loflin and was impressed with him. I have met Jeff several times at Edd's and found him to be good guy.

I dove with Tracy Grubbs during an NACD skills seminar and based on that dive and feedback, he seems to be a good instructor.

Ditto what others have said about Rich Courtney. I have not dove with him but have met him several times at his shop, on a dive trip, and at the NACD annual social - super guy!