Who is a good operator for course work

[dbezaire]

Hi Folks,

I'm an OW diver who has logged about 60 dives in the Caribbean in the last 8 years. I am planning a trip in early December specifically to get my next level of certification. My eventual aim is to add Rescue Diver and additional skills over the next year or so, and then begin to organize trips to take people to dive destinations. Of course, I would not expect to be a DiveMaster at that point, just a capable tour guide.

This trip I am going alone so I can concentrate on diving for 6 or 7 days. I hope to get Advanced Open Water Certification, plus maybe another specialty or two.

So, my questions are:

1. Who would be your top choices of dive operators for a week of coursework?

2. Given answer to #1, what would be your top hotel choices for convenience, price, and accommodations?

3. Any comments on the plans outlined above?

Thanks much,

Dave

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Pesonally, I'd get my training at home, and have fun on my vacation.

I won't speak to the other points.

Steve

 

[Scubagal]

I completed my AOW in February 2004 with Dive House, the onsite op at the Fiesta Americana. My instructor used to work for Dive House, he was helping them out since it was high season. He was a good instructor, and we liked the Fiesta Americana. So convenient to eat breakfast at the restaurant right next door to the dive shop, then hop on the dive boat. The shore dives (navigation) we did right in front of the hotel. I wished I had done the bookwork prior to arriving in Cozumel, as it was a lot of reading prior to the dives. There are a lot of terrific dive ops in Cozumel, and many offer courses.

In September I completed the Rescue Diver course, and my recommendation on that would be to do it locally.

 

[LandLocked89]

We got our Open Water Certification in Cozumel a few years ago. Did all of our coursework, skills, and cert. dive with Eagle Ray Divers. It was just the two of us so we had great personal attention. They're a rather small shop, owned by Antonio and Chellie Castellanos. Chellie is originally from Arkansas. Their staff is bi-lingual, very knowledgable, and extremely friendly.

We're considering doing our Advanced Cert. with them either the next time we go down, March hopefully, or the time after.

More information: http://www.eagleraydivers.com

 

[loudives]

Go to www.bluextseadiving.com christi is great also you will see her post here often

 

[ggunn]

Go to www.bluextseadiving.com christi is great also you will see her post here often

You can try, but I believe that Christi is booked up for the month.

 

[Christi]

You can try, but I believe that Christi is booked up for the month.

Thanks Gordon and Lou

Dave actually made reservations with me for some coursework shortly after his original post.

See you next week Dave!