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I would Like to get Ideas on what the "Training" cost for Cavern, Intro to cave, Full Cave. Aside from gear what does just the training about run For each cert. I am in FL if that helps and am looking at NACD-IANTD-NAUI Tec and would like to do my training with one of those agencies.
Thank You
Kinda like asking how much a car cost?
Who, what where when, how many in class..etc
you looking for cheap, or good?
I was afraid it was that way. I am wanting Good training but dont need an Instructor going over basics and charging a lot extra for it. I am by no means just searching for a cert I want the training. I just want a ball park of what training can be. I have seen cavern for 200 then seen full cave for 1800 so whats the deal.
Who= good instructor
What= cavern through full cave
Where= Florida
when= don't care
alot of instructors group the classes together. And some go from cavern to full in a few days.
I did caver/intro
then an/dp/trimix
then app/full
over the course of about a year and a half.
think I am about 3k into training
I mearly ask what my life were worth during training
So I was ready to shell out what I needed to become TRAINED
quick and easy it was NOT!
RESEARCH..and interview a few instructors
you will get a sense of what fits
establish your goals and directives, and see which instructor
best fits that model.
Then figure out what your life is worth, and see if your instructor is asking more than
what you have valued your life..
Seems to work out well that way..
cavern $269
intro $299
full $399
According to recent thread, training will cost you about 12.5 days of digging ditches.
Remember when you get quotes on training that it doesn't include gas fills, food, transportation, gear rentals(if necessary), etc.
Training alone will probably run somewhere around $1200-2000 depending on everything previously mentioned. The more you break it down into individual classes, the more it will cost. My recommendation would be to interview a few potential instructors and find the right instructor and then start asking price.
Do yourself a favor and space out your training.
Also, talk to several instructors, and do NOT base everything you decide on price alone. You'd REALLY do yourself a favor by asking for recent student references and talk to a couple of those people also.
Just some ideas to help you in your search.
If you have not done so already, try the instructor links on www.safecavediving.com (NACD) and www.nsscds.com (NSSCDS). You can find Florida instructors and get an idea of instruction fees.
I did cavern and intro together, then apprentice and full. Instructors charge 300-400 a class. That would be 1200-1600. It was 350 for the first two and 450 for apprentice and full when I did it in 2003 and 2004. Total counting gear-some used, training, hotel, gasoline, eats and nitrox was $5600ish. After I figured it up I wish I didn't.
I used an instructor out of Georgia and was very happy with the quality and cost of training. Paying more does not necessarily mean better training. Ask around (of course every diver's instructor was the best) and you will find the instructors who teach often and produce some very good divers.
I used Atlanta Technical Divers. My instructor was Mark Pergrem (CDS/IANTD/TDI/PSAI) for cavern through full cave. I am sending my #1 son to train with him if that gives you any idea of what I think of him. Mark's website has the cost of the classes he teaches. Remeber, training is purchased. Certification is earned. http://www.atlantatechnicaldivers.co...p?page=courses
$1400 - $2000 and it lasts a lifetime if you dive often. The skills are perishable & have a 'shelf-Life".
As has been said here many times it is the instructor & not the agency nor the price that should steer your decision.
Cost for training is nothing. The costs of actively continuing diving:
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training was 2000$ for a private course
I agree with spacing training out. It may cost a little more, but you get to spread it out over time. You also learn a lot more. In my case all of my classes were basically private one on one training.
I took Cavern and Intro together for $500. I dove at intro level for about 4 months.
I later took Apprentice for $500. I dove at that level for about 10 months.
I later took Full for $500.
All of the training can be done in one week but I don't recommend rushing it.
These prices were the cost of instruction only. Other expenses include. Books, Gas, Entrance Fees, Food, and Hotel. Oops forgot to mention gear.
LCD, I will repeat what has already been said. Ask around for accomplished and practicing cave instructors and solicite them directly for pricing for their time. Remember, you are not only paying for their time, but also their knowledge. You will most likely be familiar with your instructor and perhaps friends with them for many years after your training ends. That alone negates the cost factor in judging one instructor from another.
Thank you guys so much. I am not the richest of divers so I needed a ballpark to start with. Now I got one. I do not want to just buy my cert. If that was the case I would already be cave diving. I am wanting thorough training. I am now in touch with a few instructors and just feeling them out. There is a lot to be had with this training and I want it to be worth it.
Training and cost are an important part of divers life. A Teacher or an Instructor has to be paid for his Job, they are usually passionate about their job, but if the student pays the right amount usually the job is well done.
It is a mutual respect agreement between the teacher and his student. Cavern, Intro, Apprentice, cave, speciality course are demanding for the student and Instructor, most of us follow the same price base, it is honest for the student and the community.
Cheap course in tech diving means usually cheap class and cheap teaching, I hope we will keep high standards in the Tech diving community and we might avoid to end up like most of the recreational diving agencies.
Safe cave dives
I second Chicken's nomination of Atlanta Technical Divers. I was also taught by Mark Pergrem as well as Richard Blackburn, both are very thorough in their training methods. I am not saying that the other instructors that are on this forum are not qualified. I can only speak from personal experience.
LCD,
Did you get the PM I sent you with my recommendation?
Johnny Richards was an awesome instructor and a great mentor.
Put a group together. Training will be cheaper, hotels will be cheaper, getting to and from caves will be cheaper... And you'll have people to dive with at your level while in training.