Not sure what what was available for training and OW courses in coastal cities in mid-60's, but in the midwest, we learned from the U.S. Navy Dive Manual, read everything we could on diving, and were self-taught. Being self-taught and learning from experience may not be the best way to learn to dive, but at the time, that was all that was available to us. Cave diving with home made wetsuits and weights, J-valve steel 72 filled at the local fire station, plastic backpack, no bcd, single regulator with no octo, spg or computer. Oh, those were the days! However, I don't recommend going back to those days or doing what we did with the equipment that we had. Personally I am very happy to take advantage of the technological advances, and appreciate the availability of advanced training programs.
