Same or different instructor for cave courses?

I took my cave course on rebreather and because they will not issue a card for CCR until you are finished we had to get it all the courses done before we could cave dive. I think thats nuts but it is they way they do it. Thus, we pretty much had to use the same instructor for all of it, which was great with Jill Heinrth. Almost 15 hours underwater.

Tracy Grubbs - Cavern
Jill Heinerth - Intro, Apprentice, Full Cave (IANTD)(NSS-CDS)
Paul Heinerth - Full Cave (NSS-CDS)

Pat Watson: Cavern and Into to Cave

3 years of diving

Lamar Hires: Apprentice and Cave
Lamar Hires: Recovery and RRSOM

This will be a strange post for me as my instructor has posted here as has another diver that does (has) provide(d) mentoring.

With me there is even a little more of a twist...he has been my primary instructor basically since OW, so I have done AOW, Stress/Rescue, EANx, AdvEANx and Deco Procedures in addition to the overhead.

In my case, it has worked for various reasons...from the beginning I think I had a interest in doing things more than casually and I think we built from there. Also, he is involved with more than one agency (actually 3) and he not only dives very actively at levels over what he teaches, but he continues to evolve his style and configuration with technology and missions. So, even though one instructor, it is not a case of "This is the only way to do it" (which is not to be confused with him not saying, "That will get you hurt.") We have also traveled and trained both here in the home state and in NFL.

I have also done a variety of diving in different environments/conditions with a cross section of people at the appropriate level between my training levels. So, I have been in front of many other divers, as well as doing some diving with him outside a formal class, though he always sees what it going on with me and any other diver in the area. I have been exposed to a variety of styles and performances. I have never felt undertrained.

The gentleman that I also consider a mentor is very familiar with my instructor and diving progression and provided not only an excellent diving example, but lots of communication on equipment pro/con's.

So, I have had one instructor, but a broad swath of diving environments.

edit - I just realized this is my first post on this board!

My mentor is also on this board. He pretty much taught me how to dive, then helped me adapt to dry suit, doubles and stages. He is not an instructor, but he prepared me very well for my classes. Even to this day, I learn something from him every time we go diving.

To answer the question from the OP, I did cavern with one person locally, and then my intro, apprentice and full cave was handled by John and Shelly Orlowski, and Reggie Ross helped out as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aainslie

You forgot Steve Bogaerts.

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Forgot about the courses you and Chris have done in MX.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SLIM

Look at all the divers that say they need a shake down dive. You should have done all that before in OW keeping all your skills up to par and be able to jump in and go with out doing anything that has to get your skills back.


Remember how much the SPORT has grown and all the divers that only cave dive a few time a year. They arn't as lucky to have so many systems or be able to want to come to my area and be in the colder darker water. A true or a good cave diver will always be spot on no mater how long it has been before they have been in a cave. If it has been a long time, they will do all he ycan in OW so that when they are at the caves, they are ready to go.

SLIM

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just a quick comment.

I think you may be simply referring to your own interpretation of what "shakedown dive" means. Regardless of keeping your skills up when you enter a cave it's simply a different environment and there are many more effects than just remembering how to tie a reel and
so on. You just need to get your cave spider sense back and it seems to me to be a very prudent thing to do. :)

LL

EDIT: I forgot the point of the thread here, I would Love all my students to stick with me throughout, but you know, I can't
deny that learning different perspectives is very healthy for them as long as they always get quality training.

Jim Wyatt for Cavern and Basic Cave (NSS-CDS and IANTD), excellent instructor