Anyone know if there's somewhere in Texas (preferably Austin) that offers equipment technician classes? I'm interested in things like regulator service and tank VIP, and others. I'm currently researching options on furthering my dive shop enjoyability, and looking into some of the larger places that offer the IDC, they also have some equipment classes, but I would prefer to stay as local as I can for most of the training.
Equipment repair classes?
- Thread starter mph005
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Crazyduck
Contributor
As a simple suggestion. Interview local dive shops that you like and work for the shop that fits you the best. You are shifting from a student role into more of a leadership position.
Then when you have a shop picked out it makes the dive shop almost like home and you grow into the next phase of your learning.
Regulator classes are usually provided on a schedule from year to year. Senior staff will sometimes take someone in and teach them the basics. In my experience it comes every one to two years. Classes are a minimum cost. Dive shops who sell the same product locally usually get together and share a day with a factory rep who teaches group of people. Over time you will get chances to cover multiple product lines. Certain product lines are more complicated than others.
If possible when you find a shop see if you can start working with a staff member that will aid in mentoring you into the process.
The tank VIP process is a little different and a higher cost.
Also when you start working for most dive shops that you need to wear their gear- hence another expense.
Good luck on the process and enjoy the experience.
Regards, Andrew
Then when you have a shop picked out it makes the dive shop almost like home and you grow into the next phase of your learning.
Regulator classes are usually provided on a schedule from year to year. Senior staff will sometimes take someone in and teach them the basics. In my experience it comes every one to two years. Classes are a minimum cost. Dive shops who sell the same product locally usually get together and share a day with a factory rep who teaches group of people. Over time you will get chances to cover multiple product lines. Certain product lines are more complicated than others.
If possible when you find a shop see if you can start working with a staff member that will aid in mentoring you into the process.
The tank VIP process is a little different and a higher cost.
Also when you start working for most dive shops that you need to wear their gear- hence another expense.
Good luck on the process and enjoy the experience.
Regards, Andrew
driftwood
Contributor
I know that Tom's used to offer some classes for rec divers that gets more into the nuts and bolts of equipment, give them a call. Also, there was a thread earlier this year that Royal Scuba was offering a class on VIP's, you might give Nico a call and see what he offers. Let us know how it turns out. Repair tech seems to be a natural way to work your way into the business of diving.
BTW, both are in central Austin.
BTW, both are in central Austin.
I don't know about Austin, but there was a place up in Plano that offered tech training. Their program was supposedly pretty intense and offered a general certification on all regs, not just specific makes.
Swing by Oak Hill Scuba when you get a chance. I can talk to you about the basics of repair. If it looks like a good fit, we can move on to more formal training. We'll be running some repair and VIP classes next month.
You could call John Lindsey 512.257.2000 he has been doing servicing, repair etc for years and has quite an encyclopedic knowledge of equipment. Best of luck.
Sounds like you have your choice of shops to talk to. Might be best to start based on your location. Northwest would be Scubaland (John Lindsey), Central would be Tom's, South would be Oak Hill Scuba (me).
Very good point
. If you want to have a better understanding of how your equipment works, as well as how to do some preventive maintenance, an equipment specialty class is the place. If you are looking to make yourself more employable by a dive shop, you want to learn how to repair regs and VIP tanks. Of course, you will need to learn the brands the particular shop carries. Not all shops offer the same brands.
If you want access to parts and documentation to service your own equipment, sorry, you have to work for a dive shop. We're not allowed to sell parts to the general public. Lots of discussion about that aspect of the business in other threads, but we have to honor our dealer agreements.
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