Looking for Tech Training

[rddvet]

The best instructor with the most years technical diving overhead experience above and beyond any of his GUE colleagues, diving both the caves of the Yucatan AND overseas Philippines/Indo-Pacific/Micronesia Wrecks (i.e. Truk Lagoon) is Kelvin Davidson in Tulum:

Who we are » Third Dimension Diving

GUE Instructor resumé | Global Underwater Explorers

Now that's a guy to add to the list - thank you

For once I 100% agree with Kev. Kelvin is the absolute way to go. I've known Kelvin 5 or 6 years now and will continue to do so. I met Kelvin when he did some guided cave dives with my wife and I. My wife and I are very conservative, heavily safety minded, and are not goal oriented divers. We were impressed at how much Kelvin embodies that same philosophy. He is extremely safe, well rounded, and has an ability to teach in a manner that is easy to understand and effective. He's got more dives under his belt than most of his local counterparts. He's also very much an instructor's instructor, meaning he's the guy people in his area go to in order to become instructors or advance their instructing. While he is a GUE instructor and upholds most GUE standards in his regular diving, he is not 100% GUE. He can teach most any course for the major agencies such as IANTD and TDI. The mechanics and adherence to precise skills of the GUE mentality are part of all of his courses no matter the agency your card comes from.

I live 2 hours from florida's cave country, but I travel to mexico to take courses with Kelvin. We're moving into rebreathers in December and Kelvin will be his instructor.

There are many great instructors you'll get recommended. There's also many recommendations you may get for people who actually suck. Kelvin will absolutely make you a safe, competent diver. It's a decision you would not regret.

 

[divezonescuba]

You could find a local tec instructor that you are comfortable with, do the initial skills dives where you are at and then do the later dives on a trip. That’s what we sometimes do with our students.

Or you could go to Bonaire and do the whole course there. Bonaire has the great advantage of being able to do the dives right off of the shore. You do not need to worry about additional boat expenses or having the dives cancelled due to weather. The weather thing is really important if you will be there on a limited time trip. I was going to do all of my initial tec training in FL, but would have never finished due to weather. I was able to complete it in Bonaire without any problems.

There are two really good tec instructors down there. German Arango (Mr. G) is with Buddy dive and Kevin OBrien (KOB) with VIP divers. Mr. G does things with a GUE flavor, while KOB who is also a course director is straight PADI / DSAT. KOB came from the Great Lakes area, so he is used to the conditions that you dive in now.

 

[EireDiver606]

I don't think you gain as much when a course is drug out over time - doing something daily for a few weeks helps it stick IMO.

Doing courses for *weeks* sounds exhausting. Not sure if you have done any demanding courses yet. 12 hr days can be grim when you start to get chaffing..

 

[ChuckP]

A lot of good info. Tech diving covers so many different types of diving and I really would like the training to focus more on the way I would dive in the future, how I would apply it in my diving. The ability to stay with one instructor, a long as the mojo is good is a big advantage too.

I watched a video on sidemount skills and it looks like I could spend some time in the pool learning a few things long before I even think about getting on that plane.

I'm back down south in a few weeks and will probably take the hike over to Tulum to see what it's about and narrow the focus down somewhat.

I appreciate all the information.

 

[rddvet]

A lot of good info. Tech diving covers so many different types of diving and I really would like the training to focus more on the way I would dive in the future, how I would apply it in my diving. The ability to stay with one instructor, a long as the mojo is good is a big advantage too.

I watched a video on sidemount skills and it looks like I could spend some time in the pool learning a few things long before I even think about getting on that plane.

I'm back down south in a few weeks and will probably take the hike over to Tulum to see what it's about and narrow the focus down somewhat.

I appreciate all the information.

Since you're so close being in Cozumel, I'd email Kelvin and set up a day to swing by and meet him. I think he could pretty much answer any question you'd have on how to progress. I think even if you don't choose him as an instructor, you'd learn alot from the conversation.

 

[Billy Northrup]

-John Chatterton in FLL / Pompano. Gritty and salty training with tons of added value experience. Nice wrecks to learn you craft on.
-Miami Technical.... Neat airBnB concept of immersion learning available.
-Horizon Divers Key Largo, excellent staff with daily tech diving. Bunk house and all gasses on site.

That's my view as a salty wreck diver, not much into "glamour shot" diving

 

[RyanT]

I strongly recommend Extended Range Diving Services. They are an independent instructor team who are incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and just great teachers. They actually might be perfect for your particular situation. They put together trips where one of their primary goals is training. You could join one of their scheduled trips or even propose one that might work better for your schedule. They are flexible and work hard to accommodate their students.

My buddy and I both have done all of our tech training with them and we've been super happy with the flexibility and quality of instruction they provided.

Extended Range Diving Services

 

[kensuf]

I've heard great things about Kelvin and the Zero Gravity guys. Also I'm going to give a shout out to @oya (aka Roger Williams) who just moved to mainland Yucatan, half-way between Playa and Tulum. He's a TDI Trimix instructor and an NSS-CDS Basic Cave instructor - I got to know him while he was interning here and I'd gladly send a loved one to take a class from him.

 

[mheaster]

In your area in Michigan, I'd not hesitate to recomend Rich Synowiec - Divers Incorporated in Ann Arbor! I've not trained with him personally but have sove with him two years in a row on a live abord at Isle Royale!

 

[flymolo]

Adding another recommendation for Kelvin & Third Dimension Diving.