Same or different instructor for cave courses?

[alias]

Did you take all your cave courses from same instructor? (Not counting in specialist courses like stage/DPV etc) Why, why not? Would you recommend doing it one way or another? (Or why do you plan to take your cave courses from same/different instructor/s)

[battles2a5]

I had a great intro instructor, but I took app/full in Mexico to get a different perspective on the training, see different systems, and try to ferret out any training gaps or bad habits I had picked up as a basic diver. My second instructor plans dives much differently and showed me a bunch of new little tricks. The way I see it, each instructor looks at their students through a different prism, so it's good to have more than one set of eyes on you while you are learning the craft.

[Cali Knucklehead]

Nope. I did the first half (cavern & intro) in FL and 2nd (app & full) in MX. I like working with different instructors - each has something different to offer and you get away from the "there's only one way to do this" mentality. Friends have also used different instructors so we've also been able to teach each other a thing or two. Our SoCal group has worked with a number of instructors (in a training or mentoring environment) including:

Rose Meadows
Mike Ainge
Scott Carnahan
Matt Matthes
Tamara Kendall
Ralph D
Rich Courtney
Corey Mearns
Jim Wyatt
Larry Green



Bruce

[aainslie]

You forgot Steve Bogaerts.

Nope. I did the first half (cavern & intro) in FL and 2nd (app & full) in MX. I like working with different instructors - each has something different to offer and you get away from the "there's only one way to do this" mentality. Friends have also used different instructors so we've also been able to teach each other a thing or two. Our SoCal group has worked with a number of instructors (in a training or mentoring environment) including:

Rose Meadows
Mike Ainge
Scott Carnahan
Matt Matthes
Tamara Kendall
Ralph D
Rich Courtney
Corey Mearns
Jim Wyatt
Larry Green



Bruce

[Kaneo]

i think it is a good idea to use different instructors.
cavern/intro Bruce Tipps
full cave Rose Meadows
scooter Bill Oestreich

[Kaneo]

sidemount bill rennaker

[amphipod06]

Pat Watson

Dive safe,

Celia

[metaldector]

I used a different instructor for cavern, intro, and then one instructor for Apprentice and finally Cave. Each level had many dives between and many months, I stayed at the apprentice level the full year before going full cave. I believe I learn more and certainly different skills from each instructor. And as a bonus I have 3 friends in the cave instructor business instead of one.

[Bill Rotella]

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

[Cali Knucklehead]

You forgot Steve Bogaerts.

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