I was incredibly lucky in finding a mentor. At that time, NW Grateful Diver was organizing "Big Buddy" dives in Seattle, dives to match up new divers with experienced folks for a dive and maybe some technique tips. I attended one, and he was my buddy. He saw how badly I wanted to be a better diver, and took me under his wing. Had it not been for Bob, I'm not at all sure I'd be diving today. I'm quite sure I wouldn't have as many dives as I have, and I wouldn't be diving in caves.
I think the best mentors are people with a fair amount of varied diving experience, and a desire to help. I know that the many classes I've taken have given me a lot of ideas for helping people. And having been taught how to "see" the wildlife in Puget Sound helps me make the dives more interesting and inspiring for folks, too. Like Puffer Fish, I have a lot of gear to lend (although borrowing gear from me can be one of the most expensive things you can do in diving
) to make it easier to get someone in the water.
What I look for the most is the quality Bob saw in me . . . a real desire to dive, and to be a better diver. I don't care where anybody starts out -- NOBODY starts out worse than I was!