DIRF class in Indy May 2-4

[jbr1026]

Mike,

You mentioned that you had 3 fundamentals classes booked and are having a hard time filling them up. 3 booked classes in a short period of time is rather aggressive. If I can offer my opinion what worked well for us down here in Indy was to get six spots filled. We were very lucky because those filled quickly and the class grew from 6 to 12. We ended up having three instructors teach it. I would try to get one of your classes full then those people that take the class will talk about how much the learned and other divers will see them in the water and begin to ask questions. You will then be able to fill later fundamental classes up quickly. Is there a market for that many in a short period of time? If you can get your DMs in the class after your students see them in the water they will want to emulate them. I know they are all accomplished divers from the sounds of it, but once you see yourself on video there can always be improvement. Again this is just my opinion.

Jay

 

[Dan Gibson]

I would just highly recommend they take it. It really doesn't matter how good the diver is (or thinks they are), they will get something out of the class. Most people I know say it's the best $300 they ever spent in diving.

When I first took the class, the sponsor was a Cave 2 diver. He is now doing support dives for the WKPP. He definately got something out of the class and was no slouch at the time. Two others in that class were at the Fundamentals ITC/IE in January. It was impressive to see how far they came in one year. Just listening to these instructors is very beneficial.

Jay has implemented much of what is taught here into his OW classes while still meeting PADI requirments. I would think that you will definately walk away with some good ideas. I know it has helped in recent classes.

We actually had a lady who was certified sit in and watch her husband get certified. She was floored by what she saw. It didn't look like anything she had gone through. After the second night in the pool, she insisted that they were far better divers than what she experienced in her class. There was nothing special about these guys, they just didn't learn bad habits from the start.

Another of Jay's student went on a trip recently for his referral dives. He had all DIR gear setup. He was warned that he may encounter some resistance. Nothing could be futher from the truth when he did the dives. No one believed that these were his checkout dives. He absolutley blew these guys away.

The best part is that when all your help look good in the water in front of students, sales go up.

Dan

MikeFerrara once bubbled...

There are a couple problems with requireing my DM's to take the class. First it's hard to get DM (good ones) at all. All my DM's are cave and trimix trained and aren't exactly slouches in the water. Of course we can all get better and I would like them to take it. I'm just not sure I can require it especially with what I pay them. I of course plan to participate in one or more of the classes.

 

[diveski01]

cwb once bubbled...
Anyone have a list of the DIR-F classes taking place in the Midwest this year? Seems to me there were four last year (Gilboa-3; Indy -1), but they've exponentiated a bit.

So far I'm counting between 10-13 classes in our region between now and end of July!:wacko:

Here's what I've compiled from the various sources:

Date location fifthd gue instructor(s)
25-Apr brighton, mi yes yes KANE
02-May gilboa, oh no yes GEORGITSIS, KANE, TITTLE
09-May atlanta, ga no yes KANE, TITTLE
09-May cincinatti, oh no no MACKAY
16-May minneapolis, mn yes yes KANE, TITTLE
30-May grand rapids, mi yes yes GEORGITSIS, KANE
02-Jun rutherford co., tn yes yes KANE, TITTLE
06-Jun milwaukee, wi yes yes KANE
13-Jun lagrange, ky yes no KANE
25-Jul kankakee, il yes yes KANE

There are 3 additional classes being scheduled by Mike Ferrara, but I don't have that info. He posted a link previously in this thread.

(Sorry, this thing doesn't like to keep any of my attempts at properly aligning the columns.)