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

[SLIM]

SInce I am able to teach cave diving from 2 differant agencies, and from what I see when I go to FL now and watch some of the other well known instructors and some that arnt as well known. I think it would be nice to make it so that you can not take a weeks worth of class and be done. Also that you should have to take differnat levels with differant instructors and that maybe just maybe you would be requierd to take each level after you have completed so many dives at that level before you could move on.

I have sat and looked and pondered about this long and hard but do not see any way it working out. I know of many that I have trained and some have gone past their level of training and yes I let thm know how unhappy I am about it. I see many fromm other instructors and know they would do the same.

It is kind of a double edge sword that they think they have learned it and have read all about it and they know what they are doing. As we have found out from a accident at WW it shows that there is still so much to learn. From that accident I have gotten a few that are willing to finish now. Sucks it took that to drive it home.

We can read all about the damage in all the systems. I know many of who their instructor was and that they would not let them pass doing dives like they are doing and their bouancy but once out of an instructors eyes many could give a rats A$$ about how they do it THEIR way. We might need to go back and after class make so many dives be a guided dive so to speak with a mentor before they are allowed to go on.

Remember once you ahve the class and the training it is nothing more then a liceanse to learn how to cave dive, they are just tought the skills to survie and now need to build from there.

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.

It is US (all cave divers) are the ones responable for keeping the systems nice and paying attention to our control. Once out of class with a card, it is hard to kep track of divers and how they will perform.

SLIM

[MORGAN]

Took PADI Cavern up here in New England.

Took NACD Intro Cave in Florida with Mike O'Leary. Since my initial cavern certification was PADI, the deal with Mike was that the course would be Cavern/Intro if necessary, and just Intro if not.

Took NSS/CDS Apprentice & Full Cave with Mike O'Leary as well, about 18 months and 40 cave dives from Intro to Full.

In many years of learning to do (and teaching others to do) some fairly complex and occasionally dangerous things, (firefighting, paramedic-ing, technical rescue, mountaineering, rock & ice climbing, ski patrolling, vertical caving, whitewater paddling, emergency, critical care, and critical care transport nursing, as well as cave and tech diving) I have to say that Michael O'Leary is one of the finest instructors I have encountered in any field.

I can see the virtue of taking classes with more than one instructor. Fortunately I have had dive buddies and mentors to help me address my inadequacies!


Mike

[WJH]

All my cave courses were with the same instructor, and as long as you like what you are getting from the first instructor, I believe this works well, since it can be like one long ongoing course as you continue to absorb all the instructor has to offer as a cave diver as well as through his course content.

I also continued to dive with the instructor after the course was completed as a mentor as well as picking up another mentor who added another perspective and a focus on some different skills.

As has already been discussed elsewhere on this board, the mentors who come along after certification can be as if not more important than the original classwork.

WJH

[caverkevin]

I had never heard of cave diving when my dive shop suggested I take the training. Had never been been to Florida to go diving. Really didn't know about the different levels of training. Was informed about the four classes. That doing all of them in doubles I would not qualify for a cavern or intro cert. Did not research instructors. Went down with one of the instructors from my shop for a 7 day cave class.

Had a great course with Bill Rennaker that kicked by butt. At the end Bill told us it was a "licenses to learn" when we were completing the paperwork. This class really pushed me to go out, learn and be a better diver.

Would I suggest this method to everyone, no. For some people it works very well. I doubt I would have been happy doing the courses piecemeal. Being able to attend a "zero to hero" is a valid option.

Cheers!!

Kevin Jones

[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