I would like to get cavern certified in January 2009 while on vacation in Mexico. I'll be staying in Puerto Morelos, can anybody here recommend a good instructor in the area? I'd prefer to get certified by NSS-CDS or NACD :yawinkle:
Thanks for the help!
Only one that I know of on Cozumel, he teaches for both the NACD, and NSS-CDS. His name is German Yanez. German is pronounced like "Hermaan".Quote:
Originally Posted by shiva
EDIT: German is on Cozumel, look at the links for other instructors on the mainland.
http://www.safecavediving.com/instructors.asp
http://www.nsscds.org/training_new/instructorlist.htm
I dove with German a few years ago while on vacation. I only did a couple of dives with him because I was on a cruise and only had that 1 day. He was very professional and gave thorough briefings before the dive. I haven't taken any classes with him, so I can't vouch for his instruction. He did seem safe and professional in every regard. His web site is http://www.yucatech.net .
I dove with German on Cozumel, and I can also attest to his professionalism - he led each dive by the book. I know he dives both Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula, and he is an expert on cave biology. I was also just on a dive vacation, not class, but based on his knowledge, skills and friendly demeanor, I would definitely recommend German as an instructor!Quote:
Originally Posted by underwaterjedi
German does come to the mainland to teach.
I'll be on the Yucatan in January 2009 also and am taking NSS-CDS cavern and basic cave from Bil Phillips of Speleotech. www.speleotech.com
Thanks everyone for the help! Have you had any experience with Steve Bogaert of www.aztecdiving.com ? I'm told he rocks
Steve is a good instructor, and the NSS-CDS safety officer for Quintana Roo.Quote:
Originally Posted by shiva
You were told correctly...Quote:
Originally Posted by shiva
Bogaerts is an extraordinary individual at every level. he's more expensive than most on a straight cost basis - but the cheapest instructor out there on a learning per dollar spent basis.
If you are just interested in taking a cavern class, Dennis Weeks of Diablo Divers is a PSIA cavern instructor, working on his NACD cave instructor cert (he may have finished it by now -- I don't know) who was the NACD safety officer in 2007. Dennis is a very active dry caver as well as a cave diver and cavern instructor, and he's also a very nice guy. I haven't dived with him, but my husband did several days of guided cave dives with him while I was in class in May, and Peter liked Dennis a lot as a person and as a guide. Dennis is based out of Puerto Aventuras.
I took my original cavern and intro classes from German, who is also a very nice man and very patient. I did them on the mainland; it's not a problem.
In the NACD/NSS universe, another vote for Bogaerts. I have never dived with him, but I know some of his students and they were taught well and thoroughly :)Quote:
Originally Posted by shiva
Well except for Andrew :p