Inland Empire Instructor\school recommendation?

[Ulfhedinn]

Im looking for recommendations for an Padi Instructor or school in the inland empire.

Once I wrap up AOW with Sports Chalet if they have one open for me next month then I would like to take some of the specialty certs. Sportchalet doesnt seem to offer much in the fall\winter.

Some of the ones Im looking over are...

Peak Performance Buoyancy
Night Diver
Underwater Navigator
Deep Diver
Wreck Diver

 

[dwaters]

Check out Tony at Sharky's Eco in La Verne....909-596-2505 ... link: Welcome to Sharkys Eco Diving
I have never taken any classes from them but have always been impressed how they handle their students on the boats I have shared with them. They are always willing to share tips and helps whenever I'm am in their area. They are also on this board here: View Profile: SharkysEcoDiving - ScubaBoard

Where in the IE are you? Do get out and get in some fun dives? Hope to see you in the water
someday soon.
IMHO the best next course after AOW is to take in the PADI progression is Rescue and I know an instructor from SC, Rancho is getting one going soon.

 

[diver_doug]

DEFINITELY NOT SSA IN MONTCLAIR! Not sure if you've had the "pleasure" of talking to Rusty Berry but that is definitely NOT the place you want to get certified (numerous REALLY bad experiences posted here and other places online).

I had my training done through Joe at Sports Chalet in Cucamonga and was happy with the training. I've dealt with the owner of Sharkey's in LaVerne, Wiley's Scuba Locker in Redlands, Scuba.com in Irvine and Laguna Sea Sports in Laguna and all of them seemed like good people to deal with.

 

[Ulfhedinn]

Check out Tony at Sharky's Eco in La Verne....909-596-2505 ... link: Welcome to Sharkys Eco Diving
I have never taken any classes from them but have always been impressed how they handle their students on the boats I have shared with them. They are always willing to share tips and helps whenever I'm am in their area. They are also on this board here: View Profile: SharkysEcoDiving - ScubaBoard

Where in the IE are you? Do get out and get in some fun dives? Hope to see you in the water
someday soon.
IMHO the best next course after AOW is to take in the PADI progression is Rescue and I know an instructor from SC, Rancho is getting one going soon.

I live in Banning. Im taking the AOW with Sports Chalet in Redlands in September.

 

[Scot M]

Actually, we are going to be offering most of the specialties you are looking for at SC Redlands over the next few months. Who are you doing AOW with?

 

[fnfalman]

Im looking for recommendations for an Padi Instructor or school in the inland empire.

Once I wrap up AOW with Sports Chalet if they have one open for me next month then I would like to take some of the specialty certs. Sportchalet doesnt seem to offer much in the fall\winter.

Some of the ones Im looking over are...

Peak Performance Buoyancy
Night Diver
Underwater Navigator
Deep Diver
Wreck Diver

I don't know any shop in the IE to recommend, but I will advise you to take the money you're about to spend on these specialty classes and just go diving.

Most any decent experienced divers can help you dial in your dive weight and practice some basic techniques on buoyancy control.

You don't need a "specialty cert" to do a night dive, nor do you need any "specialty training" to do navigation. The best way to learn about navigation is to go to the library and check out a book or two about land navigation. Study it and then practice it. The difference between land navigation and underwater navigation is that one is done on land and one is done in the water. Techniques are the same.

Deep dives? Work yourself down to the depth. Get comfortable with basic dive techniques first.

Wreck diving? Recreational wreck dive training is a joke. True wreck diving is a technical diving skill set.

I'm all for continual education, but some of these "specialty skills" trainings are nothing more than money makers for somebody.

 

[Ulfhedinn]

Actually, we are going to be offering most of the specialties you are looking for at SC Redlands over the next few months. Who are you doing AOW with?

Kevin at SC. I saw the Night dive in October but not the others.

 

[koyote1111]

If you are really planning to eventually take all of these specialties, you might want to look into the Master Scuba Diver Certification. I believe that the price still includes five specialties and the rescue diver course. So...if you like doing the specialties and want the experience of having an instructor...this could be the way to go. What I did enjoy the most about the Master Scuba program was that it kept me diving and I was able to find long term buddies to continue diving with.

I would also recommend interviewing the instructor and asking specific questions about what and how he will cover the material in each specialty class. There are standards that the instructor is required to adhere to...some adhere in a manner that provide quality and others in the most expedient fashion. I agree with a previous poster in that I was not at all impressed with the wreck diving specialty. Really, all of the specialties are "quick courses"...you will learn a bit, yet may not get enough experience to feel any level of proficiency. In retrospect, I view them as a very basic introduction to the specific area.

One big question to ask is, "How much time will you be investing with me as a student in this particular certification/specialty??" That may help give you a clue as to what degree the dive shop is simply a dive cert. mill. In other words, doing their best to maximize profits at the expense of quality training. Do not say yes to a certification opportunity unless you are able to get specific answers that satisfy your questions. That's the mistake that I made...I did not ask enough questions.

 

[Ulfhedinn]

I am looking to take the Rescue Diver when time and money permits and Tec 40 looks educational as well.

The classes give me an oppurtunity to meet other divers in my area, make some new friends, and make my brain work on more then day dreaming. Oh and those "required dives" gets me out of my HoneyDoos since the little lady loves to dive too.

Im still a little in the dark on the Master Scuba Diver... Is it awarded after so many dives and certs or is it really a class?

 

[limeyx]

Check out Tony at Sharky's Eco in La Verne....909-596-2505 ... link: Welcome to Sharkys Eco Diving

Seconded for Sharky's. I have not taken a class there but I have dived with them recreationally and on deeper stuff.

But I do agree with fnalfman on those specialties --- I am not sure how much benefit you will see from them. I would incorporate a night dive into the AOW, as well as buoyancy.

Then talk to Sharky and see if they can come up with something that might be more useful...maybe some club dives, or mentoring etc will be more useful

i would for sure look into a rescue course, as I think you could really learn some valuable skills there.