Looking for excellent instructor in southern Cal.

[treidm]

Staying around the Marina Del Ray area, would travel if not to far. Looking for recommendations on Dive instructors, and the LDS they are at, in the area.
OW to start, but plan on tech, down the road.

Will any instructors have a problem if OW taken with BP/W?

 

[orangelion03]

Cant get much more local than these guys...

Lost Patrol Dive Club
Marina Del Rey, CA
Meeting Times: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:30 pm
Meeting Place: Elks Lodge, 8025 W. Manchester, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
Contact: lostpatrolmdr@yahoo.com
Web Address: http://www.geocities.com/lostpatrolmdr
The club sponsors dive trips, social events, and monthly meetings.


You're welcome. :monkeydan

 

[headhunter]

Welcome to ScubaBoard!

While I've never been there and have not met Jim personally, I have a friend who is currently taking classes at Scuba Toys with Jim Hoffman in Cypress. She and others that I've heard from recently, absolutely rave about the level of instruction here. I think that this is only about 30 minutes away from Marina del Rey depending on traffic.

They will let you take OW in a BP/W and will even rent them to you.

Here is their website address which has all of their contact info on it.

http://www.scuba-toys.com/

Christian

 

[boomx5]

You can also contact Marc Hall . He's a NAUI instructor and a very good diver...he may be able to help.

 

[Otter]

Marc is in San Diego.

 

[dazedone]

I have a guy that lives in MDR, is a tech diver, and is a big proponent of the BP/W and long hose. He also is a tech diver. He can do PADI and IANTD open water. He is very thorough and makes sure you do it right before he passes you, but it is worth it. Private message me and I will give you his info.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Two more Padi instructors who are also GUE certified are
Susan Grant, coralcuts@aol.com
and Maciek Arkuszewski, markusze@gmail.com

 

[scottfiji]

Welcome to ScubaBoard!

While I've never been there and have not met Jim personally, I have a friend who is currently taking classes at Scuba Toys with Jim Hoffman in Cypress. She and others that I've heard from recently, absolutely rave about the level of instruction here. I think that this is only about 30 minutes away from Marina del Rey depending on traffic.

They will let you take OW in a BP/W and will even rent them to you.

Here is their website address which has all of their contact info on it.

http://www.scuba-toys.com/

Christian

I believe cypress is hours away from marina del rey during normal driving hours...

 

[headhunter]

I believe cypress is hours away from marina del rey during normal driving hours...

That may be true during "rush hour". It's about 35 miles which should be no big deal on a Saturday or Sunday for a class. My friend who is currently attending classes there is driving to the shop from Lawndale (south of Marina del Rey by about 12 miles) doesn't seem to think it's much of a drive but, of course, everyone will have a different opinion on what's too far.

I don't think that there are many places that will teach OW in a BP/W, so this may be the guiding issue.

I've also heard great things about Susan and Maciek, which maxbottomtime mentioned, but they teach in Porter Ranch which would be a bit longer drive. Maciek is one of the people who had great things to say about Jim Hoffman. Marc Hall, in San Diego, is another person who has said great things about Susan, Maciek and Jim. So, it sounds like this is a small circle of instructors diving a BP/W who know and respect each other.

Christian

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I've also heard great things about Susan and Maciek, which maxbottomtime mentioned, but they teach in Porter Ranch which would be a bit longer drive. Maciek is one of the people who had great things to say about Jim Hoffman. Marc Hall, in San Diego, is another person who has said great things about Susan, Maciek and Jim. So, it sounds like this is a small circle of instructors diving a BP/W who know and respect each other.

Christian

There's no pool at the Porter Ranch Sport Chalet, so the pool sessions can be at any store. I know Susan sometimes uses the West Hills shop as well as Diamond Bar. There is also a Sport Chalet in MDR. She usually teaches the beach portions from Malibu to Redondo and the boat dives are usually on the Island Time from Long Beach.