Maryland Certification

[RiverHill]

I am looking for a good instructor in Maryland for Certification. I am in Westminster, MD and I am close to Frederick and Columbia and the general Baltimore area. Any suggestions on shops or instrction would be helpful.

 

[cornfed]

Try AquaVentures in Cockeysville, http://www.aquaventuresonline.com/

 

[DrSteve]

I second Cornfed...Aquaventures is *very* good. I did my cert with Joe. No high pressure sales crap like most other dive shops.

Other good places are Columbia Scuba.

Also there is the Brass Anchor which is in Frederick.

 

[cornfed]

Other good places are Columbia Scuba.

They're pretty good provided you want to buy a bunch of gear and only dive once or twice in the carribean...

If you'd like to get good advice (without any pressure) and be taught by instructors that are not only very experienced but dive a lot locally then you'd be better off with Aqua Ventures.

 

[DrSteve]

They're pretty good provided you want to buy a bunch of gear and only dive once or twice in the carribean...

If you'd like to get good advice (without any pressure) and be taught by instructors that are not only very experienced but dive a lot locally then you'd be better off with Aqua Ventures.

My wife did her first cert through Columbia before we relocated and she re-did it with a VA Beach outfit. They may have pushed for equipment purchase, but the instruction was good and that makes all the difference.

 

[cornfed]

My wife did her first cert through Columbia before we relocated and she re-did it with a VA Beach outfit. They may have pushed for equipment purchase, but the instruction was good and that makes all the difference.

I don't want to get into a pissing match or start bashing the shop but my experience hasn't been the same. I've had some friends certified there who weren't impressed by some of the instructors and after talking with them I don't think I'll take any classes there. They also have gear rental policies which can make getting gear for short weekend trips somewhat annoying. Combining all that with the fact that I don't feel I've always gotten the best advice from them makes it hard for me to recommend the shop.

I understand what you're saying about having a good instructor, but I consider the service and support you get after a class to be just as important. So I guess it would be fair to say, given the different opinions expressed here anyone considering the shop should probably to do a little research and make their own decision.

 

[DrSteve]

LOL no pissing match intended. If I am taking a course the instructor and the level of instruction is all that matters to me. I have my own gear and generally purchased it without consultation from a LDS.

 

[toodive4]

If looking for Private Lessons I can arrange to come to your home for classes... pool at Goucher college in Towson and the quarry of your choice for checkout... recommend Guppy Gulch... $550.

I am an SSI AOWI doing private lessons only through Cooperation with Scuba Venture in Sinking Springs, PA. No sales pitch, just one on one teaching at your pace. I can provide references.

If still interested in a shop program, I would recommend Divers Den on Harford Road for PADI and Aqua Ventures in Cockeysville for SSI.

Ken

 

[valligurl]

Hi Riverhill

I certified with Dave Stealy of Blue Marble Divers in Hagerstown. It's a YMCA certification, and I think highly of the group. I've been diving with them since 1994. We just got back from Palau, and they're in Myrtle Beach right now. His DM's are very good also. And they have a trip planned for Curacao in August. A very friendly, low key group . Really, they are family!