Recommendation for Cave course in Florida

[kensuf]

Oh, I'm going to throw some recommendations out for cave instructors. These are people that I have personally co-taught with and seen in the water.

High Springs Area

Jon Bernot - Backmount, CCR, Sidemount.

Ted McCoy - Backmount, CCR, Sidemount.

Bill Oestreich - Backmount, CCR, Sidemount.

Jim Wyatt - Backmount, CCR (do you do Sidemount Jim?)

Jon and Lauren Kieren - Backmount, CCR

Marianna

Edd Sorenson - Sidemount (he does teach CCR, but I'm not sure that he's a CCR cave instructor)

There are undoubtedly other cave instructors out there, but these are the ones I have personally had experience co-teaching with that I would be happy to send my loved ones to for a class.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I sidemount, but not the best choice for instructor.

 

[kensuf]

I sidemount, but not the best choice for instructor.

I'm in the same boat.

To the OP, Jim's statement about looking at the NSS-CDS for a list of instructors as a starting point is great. The process to become an instructor through the NSS-CDS is lengthier and more thorough than it is for every other agency that's out there. There's a reason for that.

 

[Caveeagle]

I think Ken is being modest in not putting his own name up on that post. I dive regularly with one of Ken's students and think he should be high on the list for consideration.

 

[kensuf]

You dive with him and admit it? Wow!

 

[Kristi@CCDS]

I think Ken is being modest in not putting his own name up on that post. I dive regularly with one of Ken's students and think he should be high on the list for consideration.

I agree and second this statement.

 

[Caveeagle]

You dive with him and admit it? Wow!

Names withheld to protect the (not so) innocent.

 

[tbone1004]

Marianna

Edd Sorenson - Sidemount (he does teach CCR, but I'm not sure that he's a CCR cave instructor)

he is, and is also an IT for the Sidekick and Sidewinder

 

[PfcAJ]

Take GUE fundamentals in shanghai. Then come to Fl and take Cave 1 with Messersmith, Tanguay, Egorov, Mudry, or Gideon Liew if he's in town (from Singapore and speaks mandarin).

There's a strong GUE group (China Underwater Explorers) based out of Hong Kong that dives in Guanxi a lot.

 

[jerrwhy01]

You dive with him and admit it? Wow!

Why wouldn't he admit it, women throw themselves at me and men want to be like me; just being in my shadow is enough for most. I'm being entirely too modest though.

On a more serious note I will toss Ken's hat into the ring for a list of instructors to be considered. I had him for NAUI cave I and AN/DP and will finish out my full cave training with him once I stop buying dive gear and build my fun fund back up.

Ken is pretty thorough in his instructing; you'll learn a lot and improve on the things your are already good at.