Tech classes near Southern Pines,NC?

[tracydr]

hey, I'm looking for an instructor for intro tech, advanced nitrox,deco procedures, and maybe side mount.
Any good recommendations?

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Where do you want to do the courses?

 

[RyanT]

Yes, Jon Belisario with Olympus Dive Center in Morehead City, NC. Great instructor, great shop!

 

[tracydr]

A quarry would be fine,I'd rather not drive all the way to Moorehead city if I can help it.
I live in the far south central town of Laurinburg,about 40 miles from Southern Pines,about the same to Fayetteville.

 

[tbone1004]

@Capt Jim Wyatt you miss the title of the thread Jim?

@tracydr unfortunately no real close quarries to you so you'll have to head up to Raleigh if you want those kinds of courses or out to CLT, Columbia etc. You live in a pretty dead zone for deep enough diving

 

[RyanT]

What tbone said. For those classes you need to be able to get some real water over your head and it's hard to do in a quarry in our part of the world. I feel your pain; I'm 6 hours from Morehead City, but the diving is great and so is the shop, so I just suck it up and make the trip. If you are trying to save money, Olympus does have a bunkhouse you can stay in for (I think) $30/night.

 

[uncfnp]

Hi tracydr. No specific recommendations but some things to consider if you haven't already.

For just an intro to tech class I would consider quarry but when you get into the meat of tech, do the course in the conditions you plan to use them. If you are looking at diving tech off the NC coast, do your classes there. If its cave and sidemount you want, head to Florida for your classes with an instructor that dives sidemount cave.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

@Capt Jim Wyatt you miss the title of the thread Jim?

DOH!! Yes...

 

[tbone1004]

DOH!! Yes...

The keys aren't exactly what I would call "near" to Fayette-nam!

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

The keys aren't exactly what I would call "near" to Fayette-nam!

Culturally or geographically ... indeed!!