Question Agency vs instructor selection (Netherlands)

[wetb4igetinthewater]

@Cheizz

Not local, but would you consider heading to Poland to train under Tomasz Michura? When I move back to Europe, I do intend to make the trek to Poland for training.

 

[Cheizz]

@Cheizz

Not local, but would you consider heading to Poland to train under Tomasz Michura? When I move back to Europe, I do intend to make the trek to Poland for training.

Maybe as a next step, advanced training...

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Maybe as a next step, advanced training...

another good option. I've just never seen video of someone so motionless in the water performing skills (even without fins). An amazing artist underwater.

 

[BoltSnap]

it gives the instructor initial pro status.

If an agency "gives" pro status to somebody, it is a huge problem. The agency creates the instructor through its leadership training and a "pro status" is gained once the instructor candidate earns it.

But my real growth came from other agencies. So while I did start with one agency, that agency did so little to the improvement I made in myself as an instructor. Fortunately, I had mentors with DIR backgrounds (where the best instructors tend to come from). Its just a matter of fact. Same applies to other instructors I know. Their original agency did nothing for their growth. Training with other agencies did. It isn't uncommon, but people who are stuck inside the same agency may not realize that. That isn't uncommon either.

Well, that is a problem with the agency you chose to go through. Had you made the correct and proper choice from the beginning, you would have been a competent instructor from the day you walked out from your instructor's course. For you to go to other agencies and other "mentors" to learn to be a competent instructor is the proof to show that agency matters.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Sidemount is really stable and comfortable in the water. Resilience is always a good thing.

Yup agree. I have yet to decide on sidemount or backmount twins for my TDI course but am thinking towards sidemount as my instructor does a lot of sidemount deep dives. Another thing we were discussing is if I need a second DC but he said basically anything with a bottom timer and depth measuring. So I sent him a pic of my cressi digital console and he said yup that would do.

This console also keeps information from the previous dive as well.

 

[Wibble]

@Cheizz -- Isn't there an active mine diving community in Belgium? Maybe even some caves?

I ask as you'll find there's sidemounters around that specialism and they may well have an opinion on sidemount instructors.

My Intro to Cave instructor, Mike Thomas, is a well known cave diver and also with the Cave Diving Group (CDG) who are the UK's sump divers (there are only a couple of pure diving caves in the UK, most are caving with diving through sumps). Anyway, his pragmatic approach to sidemounting was a massive side-benefit that I didn't expect from the course (as ever it's the instructor's knowledge, not the course material). Little things like how to rig the sidemount cylinders with normal stage mounting kit is super helpful especially when moving them around and is completely obvious once shown. As a result of this experience, my sidemounted bailout cylinders with my rebreather are so utterly under control.

 

[Cheizz]

I have found one school run by cave divers here in the Netherlands. That should definitely help.

 

[BoltSnap]

I have found one school run by cave divers here in the Netherlands. That should definitely help.

Are there caves to dive in the Netherlands or do they go to other European countries to dive caves?

 

[Cheizz]

Are there caves to dive in the Netherlands or do they go to other European countries to dive caves?

No caves in the Netherlands. They dive in Germany and France regularly, the Balkans sometimes.

 

[Wibble]

BTW have you listened to the podcast "Speaking Sidemount". Very interesting and lots of great people interviewed. Highly recommended.

I seem to remember an episode with a Belgian diver talking about the mines in the Ardennes.