Two of the primary things to consider with specialties is does the instructor actually do those dives and is he/she passionate about the subject? For example take Underwater Photography. A few years back as a DM I could have taken a half day workshop and been certed to teach a digital photography class for the agency I was with at that time. After looking at it objectively and taking my own morals and ethics into consideration I did not do it. Why? Because it would have been the biggest line of BS I would be feeding to students. Turns out the workshop was more on HOW TO SELL this new course to unsuspecting rubes to separate them from their money. Oh a few tips on composition, setting and choosing a camera, etc..
Today I still take photos and even have an HD video camera but I am in no way competent enough to teach an Underwater Photo course that I would want to take. So I refer students to actual underwater photographers that make a living or partial living with their camera. Some of them are not even scuba instructors. But they are great shooters, great divers, and know how to teach their craft.
Same with Fish ID. You could get a better education from amazon than with me on that. But I know a PhD in Marine Biology in Florida that I would send you to for a course on Fish ID that would be of the caliber I would want to take.
My scope is kind of narrow and I specialize in teaching courses that will attract the type of divers who not only don't mind but actually like diving on wrecks, in low vis, in cold water, and who hope that ops don't put a DM or guide in the water to spoil their fun. My Advanced Class has entry requirements that new OW divers can't meet without remediation in many cases.
Today I still take photos and even have an HD video camera but I am in no way competent enough to teach an Underwater Photo course that I would want to take. So I refer students to actual underwater photographers that make a living or partial living with their camera. Some of them are not even scuba instructors. But they are great shooters, great divers, and know how to teach their craft.
Same with Fish ID. You could get a better education from amazon than with me on that. But I know a PhD in Marine Biology in Florida that I would send you to for a course on Fish ID that would be of the caliber I would want to take.
My scope is kind of narrow and I specialize in teaching courses that will attract the type of divers who not only don't mind but actually like diving on wrecks, in low vis, in cold water, and who hope that ops don't put a DM or guide in the water to spoil their fun. My Advanced Class has entry requirements that new OW divers can't meet without remediation in many cases.
