Gainesville Area - Friend looking to get OW cert with an eye on Full Cave

[DarkSloss]

Hello Forum,

Been a while since I've posted here. I finally made my way back to the Yucatan for some diving after a 2 1/2 years absence from the overhead environs. Glad I decided to do a refresher day. My skills were a tad rusty to say the least. Never again will I let so much time go by.

Anyway...I'm writing because a great friend was in MX with me and seems absolutely convinced that we wants to get his OW cert and eventually venture into the FL caves. Luckily, he lives in Gainesville and has whole new world right outside his front door.

My question is...are there any good instructors down there who could begin a diver's OW training with an eye on eventually getting a cave cert? What I'm thinking is a non-PADI class where buoyancy and horizontal trim are an extreme focus from the very beginning? Perhaps learning the harness/backplate with a single tank from outset as well, so the transition to doubles is more seamless?

Any advice from the N. Fl. folks would be immensely appreciated!

Thanks so much,

Andrew

[jj1987]

My wife took Rec 1 from Mer on here and that course covers basic rescue skills, nitrox (and tables to use it), standard HOG gear configuration, gas planning (enough gas to direct ascend, enough gas to return to a safe exit, all while ensuring you have gas for 2 divers to do minimum decompression, etc), shooting SMB from depth, as well as the basic kicks (frog/flutter/back kick/helicopter turn). Essentially all the skills except doubles and a can light which are taught in fundies are taught in Rec 1 (obviously not expecting the diver to be at a tech pass level by the end of Rec 1). The last time I talked to Mer she was getting ready for another Rec 1 course in the near future, so it might be worth a PM.

It's a bit longer than most OW courses, but the course was far superior to the OW course I took through NAUI years ago.
http://www.globalunderwaterexplorers...1-nitrox-diver

[tbone1004]

Lots of GUE options in that area if he wants to stay in backmount. If he's looking at sidemount I think Harry Averill would be a great option. He'll teach in backmount no problem, but if sidemount is something he's interested in, I think Harry will teach him in sidemount from the get go.

http://cavediverharry.com/

[Superlyte27]

Get with Kristi at CCDS. 386-454-4444. She'll teach it.

[DarkSloss]

Fantastic! Thanks for the advice everyone. I will read up on each of these instructors and spread the word. Hoping to visit said friend in February and get into some of these FL caves for the first time myself!

[shellmoundal]

If he lives in Gainesville I would suggest Lloyd Bailey. He has taught most of the instructors in full cave. He also teaches OW and has a hugh shop in Gainesville. Lloyd Bailey Scuba.

[cmint]

DarkSloss, I just sent you a private message, let me know if you don't get it.

[LiteHedded]

second recommendation for mer. she's good people

[jj1987]

If he lives in Gainesville I would suggest Lloyd Bailey. He has taught most of the instructors in full cave. He also teaches OW and has a hugh shop in Gainesville. Lloyd Bailey Scuba.

Lloyd was my OW instructor. He does not recommend bp/w for OW students. He recommends jacket BC for OW and even through intro cave, with switching to a bp/w when you go to doubles. Everyone has their personal preference and I'm sure many people on here would recommend Lloyd, but I don't think this course would match the OP's desired course.

[nakatomi]

I would recommend getting OW certified in any configuration and gather experience first, before thinking about technical or overhead diving. A minimum of 100 dives post OW certification is what I would deem acceptable and/or sensible.

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