cave diver instructor

[bent]

Dont make your choice based on cost. Cave diving is pricey and your journey will only get pricier. Cost should not even come into the equation. If it does, consider a different hobby.

I agree that you shouldn't pick your instructor based on cost but it doesn't have to get pricier as you go along. Sure, if you want a CCR and a couple of XK-type scooters it's expensive. But once you got all your basic gear and you just wanna dive nitrox and you can dive locally, it's pretty reasonable, IMHO. I mean what do you really spend per dive other than a bit on gas for the tanks and gas for the car?
What really drives up the price are the fancy toys.

[rddvet]

I agree that you shouldn't pick your instructor based on cost but it doesn't have to get pricier as you go along. Sure, if you want a CCR and a couple of XK-type scooters it's expensive. But once you got all your basic gear and you just wanna dive nitrox and you can dive locally, it's pretty reasonable, IMHO. I mean what do you really spend per dive other than a bit on gas for the tanks and gas for the car?
What really drives up the price are the fancy toys.

Yep but toys and helium are part of the progression.


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[ppo2_diver]

A lot of good names here. I'd add Dan Patterson. He was my cave instructor and very thorough.

[jstrang]

Lots of good names to choose from, and as a tourist cave diver - I don't think you could go wrong choosing anybody who is diving and instructing regularly.

I do think you should make sure you are ready for a cave course.
You should be comfortable in the gear that you are going to start out in and drysuit you are going to wear. I would highly recommend a season of just practicing BTP.

Once you think you are a rock star - dive another month and then arrange to be humbled and start your cave course.

Have fun,
J

[MarkR]

Yep but toys and helium are part of the progression.


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Certainly can be,, But don’t have to be. Plenty of people have been cave diving for years without scooters and helium.

[jbdvr]

Cavediving has, like a lot of other hobbies, become more and more expensive. Years ago,like in the late 70's and early 80's, if you were a cavediver and wanted a scooter you built it. if you wanted a cannitser light you built it. same thing for reels. usually with scrap materials for not too much money. now all you need is a credit card. one of the "old timers", Court Smith, lives not too far from me. It's interesting how those guys back then saw a need for a piece of gear, then designed and built it.

[jason]

Cavediving has, like a lot of other hobbies, become more and more expensive.

Most people are buying way more equipment than they really need for the dives they're doing. It's like buying a Jeep loaded with off road accessories and driving it to work and Walmart.

[MarkR]

Cavediving has, like a lot of other hobbies, become more and more expensive. Years ago,like in the late 70's and early 80's, if you were a cavediver and wanted a scooter you built it. if you wanted a cannitser light you built it. same thing for reels. usually with scrap materials for not too much money. now all you need is a credit card. one of the "old timers", Court Smith, lives not too far from me. It's interesting how those guys back then saw a need for a piece of gear, then designed and built it.

I could be wrong, but I don’t remember a time when the “average” cave diver was home building scooters.

Now lights and reels.. sure. I dove with a buddy just this past weekend still diving with a home built can light. My first cave buddy in the early 90s dove with a home made wing. I used to make my own reels.

There is really nothing stopping people from making their own gear. It’s just the quality and and availability of store bought gear is better than ever.

[jbdvr]

I agree