First off, let me say a huge THANK YOU to those who have helped with my questions about cave diving and training. I'm scheduled to begin my training with GDI (Rick Murcar) in a few weeks, and have communicated with some of his former students who have each provided a wealth of insight into the course, their personal experiences, and helpful hints on how to stay on Rick's good side, 
Thanks to Jeff Toorish, H2Andy, Scubafool, and Gilless. you guys have been great!!!
I have to say, that I'm impressed by how many people have taken the time out of their busy days to share this info with me. Add to that the people I've talked to at dive shops, and out at the various dive sites, and it is clear that there are tons of helpful, supportive, people out there who are more than willing to welcome new members to the cave diving community.
Of course it goes without saying that Rick has been awesome. True to his posts here on SB, he is a wealth of information, encourages questions and doesn't hold back with his knowledge and experience. Heck, I haven't even started the training with him, but feel like I've known him for quite some time through our phone and email discussions.
To all of these people, Thank You, Thanks, Cheers, Merci, Gracias, Danke, Mahalo, Arigato, Grazie.
On the other hand, I sent my Cavern instructor a message through Facebook, asking about his cave training, insights, etc., and got the following response:
"Sorry Don, I don't think I can help you with the information you're looking for. If you do however have questions still, please feel fre to contact me through my place of business at xxx at 555-1234 or xxx@xxx.com. But I would prefer my personal contact methods (facebook, myspace...) be reserved for personal contacts, and work related business stay at work."
Now, considering the guy isn't a cave instructor and that the place he works doesn't offer cave training, my questions were purely about his personal experience. Talk about BS, and I told him as much. I mentioned that of the people I had communicated with, he was the only one to give me such a BS answer. I also mentioned that many of the others were also instructors (albeit not Cave instructors) and yet each of them was helpful.
And so I get more of the same:
"I'm not sure what BS answer you're talking about, I didn' give you any answer. You right I'm not a cave instructor, and because of that, the liability of giving you the wrong idea about what your cave course may or may not be, isn't something I willing to accept. And since it looks like you have plenty of other instructors to contact, I don't see any reason for you to have to contact me again."
Keep in mind that this was the guy that did my Cavern ceritification, and I spent a decent chuck of change at his dive center diving on dive trips and doing other training. Talk about having a VERY bad taste in your mouth. So here's a big Thanks for Nothing for that!!
Thanks to Jeff Toorish, H2Andy, Scubafool, and Gilless. you guys have been great!!!I have to say, that I'm impressed by how many people have taken the time out of their busy days to share this info with me. Add to that the people I've talked to at dive shops, and out at the various dive sites, and it is clear that there are tons of helpful, supportive, people out there who are more than willing to welcome new members to the cave diving community.
Of course it goes without saying that Rick has been awesome. True to his posts here on SB, he is a wealth of information, encourages questions and doesn't hold back with his knowledge and experience. Heck, I haven't even started the training with him, but feel like I've known him for quite some time through our phone and email discussions.
To all of these people, Thank You, Thanks, Cheers, Merci, Gracias, Danke, Mahalo, Arigato, Grazie.
On the other hand, I sent my Cavern instructor a message through Facebook, asking about his cave training, insights, etc., and got the following response:
"Sorry Don, I don't think I can help you with the information you're looking for. If you do however have questions still, please feel fre to contact me through my place of business at xxx at 555-1234 or xxx@xxx.com. But I would prefer my personal contact methods (facebook, myspace...) be reserved for personal contacts, and work related business stay at work."
Now, considering the guy isn't a cave instructor and that the place he works doesn't offer cave training, my questions were purely about his personal experience. Talk about BS, and I told him as much. I mentioned that of the people I had communicated with, he was the only one to give me such a BS answer. I also mentioned that many of the others were also instructors (albeit not Cave instructors) and yet each of them was helpful.
And so I get more of the same:
"I'm not sure what BS answer you're talking about, I didn' give you any answer. You right I'm not a cave instructor, and because of that, the liability of giving you the wrong idea about what your cave course may or may not be, isn't something I willing to accept. And since it looks like you have plenty of other instructors to contact, I don't see any reason for you to have to contact me again."
Keep in mind that this was the guy that did my Cavern ceritification, and I spent a decent chuck of change at his dive center diving on dive trips and doing other training. Talk about having a VERY bad taste in your mouth. So here's a big Thanks for Nothing for that!!
