A list of instuction going over and above the minimum training standards...

[DCBC]

I'm a little confused about the purpose of your question. I teach a basic program that far exceeds minimum standards. As I'm situated in Nova Scotia, I doubt that you'll be putting my name on your list...

Everyone is a student. Every student learns differently. People have different expectations. If the reason someone wants to be certified is to dive in 20FSW in warm clear water on their vacation to the Bahamas, they only need minimal. Most of my students are extremely fit members of the military who wish to prepare themselves to become military divers. Subsequently, my course is not for the faint of heart.

Different instructors offer different programs (with the exception of PADI, as Bob has already pointed-out). So I'd be surprised if you receive the answer you seek here. Contact the various agencies and get a list of Instructors in your area. Articulate to these instructors what you are looking for and discuss the possibilities with them. I'm confident that you'll find something suitable. If not, save your money and I'll train you (be careful what you ask for...)

...So this time, let me be more specific. Could we start a list of contacts for instructors and dive shops who go over and above the standards in teaching courses? As I stated in a previous thread, I like lists. ...

 

[Peter Guy]

DCBC wrote

Different instructors offer different programs (with the exception of PADI, as Bob has already pointed-out).

I beg to differ. I'm a PADI instructor and affiliate with a PADI shop and I think I'm on pretty safe ground when I say, I teach a very different "open water program" than other instructors in the shop. This is not to say that the students aren't all introduced to the same basic skils but that is NOT the same as saying the "program" isn't different.

 

[TSandM]

For every GUE diver who's taken and passed fundies that's gone on to become a great diver, there are twelve hovering in 20 feet of water in a quarry still practicing their S-drills dreaming of the day when they've got enough practice to actually get out there and do a real dive.​

I think that's quite unfair. Almost every single GUE-trained diver I know is out there doing dives . . . photographing, scootering, traveling, and generally enjoying the world underwater. I know a couple of people who have decided to follow the GUE ideas who won't leave a single, sheltered dive site "because they aren't good enough yet", but they are rare. Most of us take the skills and run with them -- which is not to say that we don't practice from time to time, because practicing not only keeps us good at what we were taught, but it's also fun in and of itself. I can't remember who it was (it may have been OzGriffo) who recently posted about the sheer fun of executing a perfect, coordinated ascent in a star formation. Working together as a closely knit team is a pleasure in and of itself, but it's far from the only pleasure we seek out in diving!

 

[mathauck0814]

I think that's quite unfair. Almost every single GUE-trained diver I know is out there doing dives . . . photographing, scootering, traveling, and generally enjoying the world underwater. I know a couple of people who have decided to follow the GUE ideas who won't leave a single, sheltered dive site "because they aren't good enough yet", but they are rare. Most of us take the skills and run with them -- which is not to say that we don't practice from time to time, because practicing not only keeps us good at what we were taught, but it's also fun in and of itself. I can't remember who it was (it may have been OzGriffo) who recently posted about the sheer fun of executing a perfect, coordinated ascent in a star formation. Working together as a closely knit team is a pleasure in and of itself, but it's far from the only pleasure we seek out in diving!

I'll admit that your diving group in WA sounds to be quite active. You should, however, visit Dutch Springs some weekend and see the massive cadre of GUE divers hovering on the 20 foot platform in a star position or practicing bottle rotations. A very good friend of ours with his fundies pass has been "ramping up" to dives ~100fsw for years. 500 quarry dives, check! It's pretty comical, honestly.

 

[TSandM]

Aren't you guys out East more limited in availability of open water diving, though? Here in Seattle, we have a dozen dive sites within a 45 minute drive of downtown, and probably 20 or 30 more if you're willing to drive a couple of hours. We also have excellent and easily available charter boats, and the weather is such that they can run essentially every weekend, all year. I think things are a little different on the East Coast.

 

[mathauck0814]

Aren't you guys out East more limited in availability of open water diving, though? Here in Seattle, we have a dozen dive sites within a 45 minute drive of downtown, and probably 20 or 30 more if you're willing to drive a couple of hours. We also have excellent and easily available charter boats, and the weather is such that they can run essentially every weekend, all year. I think things are a little different on the East Coast.

Hard to say, clearly we definitely have more diving in San Diego, but when we're back east there are lots of dive sites available from shore in New England that you can always get to. I don't have a lot of experience in New York/New Jersey, but I believe there are charters that run frequently.

 

[Griffo]

I'll admit that your diving group in WA sounds to be quite active. You should, however, visit Dutch Springs some weekend and see the massive cadre of GUE divers hovering on the 20 foot platform in a star position or practicing bottle rotations. A very good friend of ours with his fundies pass has been "ramping up" to dives ~100fsw for years. 500 quarry dives, check! It's pretty comical, honestly.

Since pasing Fundies, i've been introduced to a bunch of keen as GUE divers who are wanting to advance down the GUE path. They dive every weekend , and on every dive practice skills. However that's at the beginning and end of each dive, in between the dive is a fun dive, although obviously we practice buoyancy and trim throughout. What's wrong with a little skill practice on each dive to get you where you want to be as a diver? I want to get into deep wreck dives, but i'm not going to get there, or pass the course, if I don't practice the basic skills constantly till they are second nature.

 

[DCBC]

What I'm saying Peter, is that you teach to PADI standards; no more, no less. If you don't, you can expect to have your Instructor's rating revoked by PADI for non-compliance. Obviously different individuals instruct in different ways, but the course content (as prescribed by PADI) is the same, or at least it should be. My program could not be run under PADI because of their restrictions, that was all I was saying (as Bob has previously described).

DCBC wrote

I beg to differ. I'm a PADI instructor and affiliate with a PADI shop and I think I'm on pretty safe ground when I say, I teach a very different "open water program" than other instructors in the shop. This is not to say that the students aren't all introduced to the same basic skils but that is NOT the same as saying the "program" isn't different.

 

[Peter Guy]

DCBD --- That may well be "all you are saying" but that is not what you wrote. Of course different agencies may (and I'm sure do) offer different courses of training for the Open Water student. Why wouldn't they? But "different" doesn't mean "better" -- it just means different.

The PADI system, as you know, is designed to teach recreational diving and thus may well not be appropriate for you who are teaching military divers. But pehaps there are different goals here.

 

[DCBC]

Peter, Yes, different Agencies offer different courses with different requirements. The poster appears to be seeking content 'outside of the normal box.'

Although there are different training programs available, not all are focused on diving in ideal conditions (although many are). The only goals that are valid here are that of the student. People should be encouraged to seek training that provides them with the skill-sets and challenges that they wish to pursue.