Best place to learn for beginner

[scubapoker]

We have stayed at Deep Blue View. Menno's set-up is a bed and breakfast located in one of the residential neighbourhoods (Republik). They run a very nice B&B and dive operation. The have 4 rooms available. Breakfast is aways great - omletes of your choice.

You can do your OW dives with him.

Menno has his own compressor and will do enriched air if you wish. He has large lockers for you and multiple rinse tanks.

He also has a terrific boat and will take you out to Klein Bonaire for a day of diving

I'd recommend them.

Thanks Hawkwood!
I know you probably didn't get certified at Deep Blue, but maybe you can give me your thoughts on Menno (who I have chatted with on email) and whether or not he genuinely cares about whether his students are safe and competent divers or whether they try to pump out certifications to make a buck. I read the sticky Jax recommended about who is responsible for what when it comes to diver safety and I want to steer clear of any dive shop who are not responsible when it comes to making sure new divers are competent.

Thanks in advance!

 

[scubapoker]

I did the SDI on-line course for OW and Nitrox, but chose that route because I travel alot and getting home in time to meet the course schedule was a big issue for me.
I co-ordinated my on-line class work through Grand Bahama Scuba (in Freeport, Bahamas) and completed the OW portion just last week.
I cannot say enough good things about Fred and Melinda Riger, the owners; they were extremely helpful, patient and knowledgeable, and I had a blast!
My wife is a non-diver/won't get her hair wet/I'll sit on the beach kind of vacationer, and she was comfortable enough with them to suggest that next year we take my daughters down to get certified through Fred and Melinda.
I think the most important thing is that you open a line of communication with the shop you're interested in, and make sure they can answer your questions and you're comfortable with them.

KevinL

Hi motorref

Did you feel confident that the online course was as good as an in class course? Were there times where you felt like the online course was a compromise?

 

[scubapoker]

For what it's worth, I'd recommend doing the in-shop course. I was in the same boat you are in, didn't have anybody to go to the class with. I met three or four people I hit it off with, and we completed the OW course and dives and had a great time. I still run in to a few of them, even though I moved to a different shop. It's a great way to get into scuba and make new friends at the same time. I have to agree with TStormdiver, the face to face approach is much more effective than the online courses, IMHO.

Hi Starcruiser

Another reason that I don't really want to do an in class course is that here in Toronto, the shops require you to purchase snorkel, fins and mask in order to do the pool portion of the training. I really prefer not to purchase anything until after I am certified and know that diving is something I will stick with and do on a semi-regular basis. Last summer when I went to the shops to enquire about courses, they all required me to have my own fins,snorkel mask and were quick to try to sell me some.
Other reasons for considering online learning is I have continuing education courses in Aruba at the end of January and would like to have the classroom (or elearning) portion done before then.

 

[ohmdiver]

Just a thought, and I apologize if this got mentioned before...but..
You may find someone local to dive with if you take a local course, or find out about a local dive club,

There is all sorts of diving, freshwater diving, like in Lake Ontario or Erie or Tomborery all offer some awsome dives and they keep your skills up...

 

[Hawkwood]

Thanks Hawkwood!
I know you probably didn't get certified at Deep Blue, but maybe you can give me your thoughts on Menno (who I have chatted with on email) and whether or not he genuinely cares about whether his students are safe and competent divers or whether they try to pump out certifications to make a buck. I read the sticky Jax recommended about who is responsible for what when it comes to diver safety and I want to steer clear of any dive shop who are not responsible when it comes to making sure new divers are competent.

Thanks in advance!

Scubapoker,

I would not be concerned. Deep Blue is not a dive operation in the traditional sense. It is a B&B that caters to divers and has all the facilities to support them. Menno and his wife are instructors. Teaching etc. is not the main focus of thier business - they don't "pump our certifications to make a buck". If you do go with them, as Menno to show you the "elusive sea bunny".

 

[motorref]

Hi motorref

Did you feel confident that the online course was as good as an in class course? Were there times where you felt like the online course was a compromise?

I had no problems with the on-line course work, but not everyone can do it; I took notes as if it was in a classroom, and easily passed the tests.

KevinL