looking for a tech dive instructor in Boston area

[fengz]

Hi,

I am thinking of getting into tech diving, could anyone recommend a good instructor in the greater boston area? Thanks,

feng

 

[hubbles]

Aquatic Escapes in Londonderry, NH if you're north of Boston. Technical Training - Aquatic Escapes Dive Center

 

[fengz]

Thank you, hubbles. I will check them out.

feng

 

[Tug]

Hi,

I am thinking of getting into tech diving, could anyone recommend a good instructor in the greater boston area? Thanks,

feng

A few instructors that come to mind are Heather Knowles and Dave Caldwell who run Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions and the Gauntlet out of Salem, MA (northernatlanticdive.com). Matt Marcoux, aCaptain on the Daybreaker also teaches and is well regarded (divedaybreaker.com).

While I haven't trained with any of them, they have good recommendations from my friends and I have been out on their boats many times.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[macado]

Matt Marcoux on Daybreaker (Cape Ann Charters). I took Deco Procedures and Advanced Nitrox with him and thought he was a great instructor. He is also a Revo Rebreather instructor if you're looking to go that route.

Heather Knowles and Dave Caldwell on The Gauntlet (North Atlantic Dive Expeditions). Have never taken any formal classes with them but they have a great reputation and I have been on their charters and know they run a good operation. They offer full line of tech classes from basic tech courses, trimix to rebreather training I believe.

Mark Bowers at Andy's Sport Shop in Fitchburg, MA. Friend has taken classes with him and enjoyed it.


Other People/Places that I know of but dont have any experience with:
Tom Huff at Northeast Scuba in Chelmsford, MA
Aquatic Escapes in Londonderry, NH
GUE/DIR Option: Ed Hayes in ScubaShack in Connecticut

 

[fengz]

Thanks for all the info! I've only been able to find contact info for Heather Knowles so far. I had several email exchanges with her, and she seemed very nice and helpful. I think I will take a drysuit class first before I jump into tech classes.

 

[Rainer]

Heather Knowles and Dave Caldwell would be a very good place to look (as others have mentioned). When I first contacted Heather about doing a tech class, she suggested I get in touch with Ed Hayes in CT about first doing a GUE Fundamentals course. Was a really great prep and foundation for later tech training. Definitely worth getting comfortable in that drysuit and NE diving conditions, though, before venturing into a (virtual) overhead. Good luck!

 

[macado]

Thanks for all the info! I've only been able to find contact info for Heather Knowles so far. I had several email exchanges with her, and she seemed very nice and helpful. I think I will take a drysuit class first before I jump into tech classes.

Definitely get comfortable in a drysuit especially before engaging in any technical training in New England. Just in general you want to be warm however it becomes even more critical when you start doing decompression stops and have a virtual ceiling where you can't immediately ascend to surface even if you're cold.

Drysuit is absolutely essential since you will have deco obligations that you would have to basically suffer through that would not be fun in a wetsuit. Your body will also not decompress efficiently when you're cold.

I think it's also a good choice to engage in technical training in an area where you do most of your diving.

 

[fengz]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I've decided to take the drysuit training first, and wait till next year for the tech training.