Suggestions for an OW class near Ocala, Fl ?

[Tol]

My girlfriend and I are looking for a good open water class near Ocala, FL. We are very willing to travel any reasonable distance.

Does anyone have any feedback about either of these?
Birds Underwater in Crystal River
The folks at Ginnie Springs

I'm very open to suggestion. We'd like a good class and are hoping that you might help us find it.

Thanks you so much in advance.
Tol

 

[Rice]

Hi, I live in gainesville and was trained at Water world (www.h2oworld.com) on 13th street. I enjoyed my training and the people there are very nice.

Lloyd Baileys scuba (www.lloydbaileysscuba.com) is near I-75 and they have a huge place with enthusiastic salespeople. Lloyd is a fantastic businessman with quite alot of technical experience.

Best Dive Center(www.bestdivecenter.com) had a really nice owner that offered to take my wife and i to 40 fathom grotto for some deep expereince very cheaply. he knows his business and I'm looking forward to diving with him this spring.

I dove rainbow spring during my training with Birds underwater. Basically my class form water world used birds boat. It was OK, but I wasn't thrilled with the guy from birds. he might not have been an instructor however.

I also dove ginnie during my training. the spring is not to be missed. I wonder how much it costs to get trained there. (Springs are nice and all but they get boring after a couple of dives)

good luck finding a good instructor. if you need any more imput feel free to post.
Rice

 

[jpdunc]

I highly recommend Bird's Underwater in Crystal River.

In February of this year (2002), my wife and I (53 & 55), our son and his wife (30 & 32), and my wife's brother (55) all took the PADI Open Water course with them and successfully completed it.

After approximately 40 dives in the Central Florida area springs, the Florida Keys, Cozumel, and Grand Caymen we all went back to them in October for the Advanced Open Water Course. We also successfully completed it.

Our instructor for both was Rudy Banks and I highly recommend him. We insisted on him for the Advanced class because we liked him so well from the O/W course.

Check out his bio at their web site www.birdsunderwater.com.

I hope this helps.

 

[The Chairman]

He helped teach my Instructor's class and is an awesome instructor and diver. You will be learning from absolutely the very, very best.