Florida Trimix Course recommendations

[jlcnuke]

Currently considering:

Possibly cave country, but as I understand it most want full cave there, and I'd like to have Trimix done for an Oriskany dive prior to when I plan on doing full cave. I have a week off to travel before the Oriskany dive, so considering South Florida. Key Largo (horizon divers?) up to Jupiter for fun dives that week probably, so taking some time to do the Trimix course there could work out as well.

Not looking to do a wreck course, so let's leave the discussion of the wreck diver/instructor to the other thread if we can please .

Any specific recommendations for "go with this/these person/people" and/or any "but please avoid this place/person" in that area for TRIMIX courses only at this time?

 

[RyanT]

Jon Belisario at Extended Range Diving Services. He's located in NC, but travels pretty much anywhere in the southeastern US to do courses. He's a really patient, smart, and thorough instructor.

Extended Range Diving Services-Exceptional Instruction Personalized Adventure

 

[tbone1004]

full cave is required to take trimix in the caves, so no dice there.

My money would go to @LandonL in that area.

 

[jlcnuke]

full cave is required to take trimix in the caves, so no dice there.

My money would go to @LandonL in that area.

Yeah, I wasn't sure if there was anywhere I could do it as an apprentice cave diver somewhere in that area (maybe Bufurd Springs?) or not. Not 100% on the exact standards requirements for where the classes can be done. That's one of the reasons I was leaning towards doing it on my week off instead of just weekends in cave country area.

 

[WinfieldNC]

Jon Belisario at Extended Range Diving Services. He's located in NC, but travels pretty much anywhere in the southeastern US to do courses. He's a really patient, smart, and thorough instructor.

Extended Range Diving Services-Exceptional Instruction Personalized Adventure

I haven't had Jon as an instructor but I have been out on charters in NC when he was teaching and I have spent some time talking to him between dives and I have been very impressed with him. He's just as you describe.

 

[tbone1004]

Yeah, I wasn't sure if there was anywhere I could do it as an apprentice cave diver somewhere in that area (maybe Bufurd Springs?) or not. Not 100% on the exact standards requirements for where the classes can be done. That's one of the reasons I was leaning towards doing it on my week off instead of just weekends in cave country area.

it's complicated and depends on the agency, but I would recommend doing it in the ocean if you are going to be doing wreck diving in the ocean. Deco is wildly different on a line than in a cave, to the point that some agencies are creating a dedicated cert for cave decompression because it does not necessarily apply to open water diving...

 

[jlcnuke]

it's complicated and depends on the agency, but I would recommend doing it in the ocean if you are going to be doing wreck diving in the ocean. Deco is wildly different on a line than in a cave, to the point that some agencies are creating a dedicated cert for cave decompression because it does not necessarily apply to open water diving...

I expect I'll be doing deco in both.... but most of my deco so far has been open water deco. Though I expect when I get my apprentice plus rating I'll probably start racking up more cave deco as I get down to Florida and dive the caves there more.

 

[tbone1004]

I expect I'll be doing deco in both.... but most of my deco so far has been open water deco. Though I expect when I get my apprentice plus rating I'll probably start racking up more cave deco as I get down to Florida and dive the caves there more.

do trimix in open water, If you can deco properly in open water you can deco in a cave, the opposite does not necessarily apply... You want the experience in open water

 

[divezonescuba]

Phillip Yersin at EASE in Vero Beach. He is both a PADI and a TDI trimix Instructor Trainer. Sometimes you can live in their onsite facility for free and eat anything in the refrigerator as well. They have a large pool behind the facility. The dives are done out of the Boyton / Blue Heron area on a boat. They can do 300+ feet there.

If you are a veteran, he might be able to help you with that. When I took the trimix instructor course with him, there were two veterans using benefits to pay for the course and equipment.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

do trimix in open water, If you can deco properly in open water you can deco in a cave, the opposite does not necessarily apply... You want the experience in open water

I agree.