TDI Training - Fort Lauderdale/Miami, FL area?

[bridgenet]

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good TDI instructor/dive shop in the Fort Lauderdale area? Actually could be anywhere in Florida that is near a major airport. Would be nice to hear a recommendation versus pick someone via the phone. Would like to take the Advanced Nitrox and Decompression classes in April/early May and continue with the same individual through Advanced Trimix later in the year. Fort Lauderdale has cheap flights from Boston so was my first pick but open to suggestions. Wrecks in the area are also a plus :).

Thanks in advance,

Kev

[WreckWriter]

I highly recommend Mike Rodriguez. mikey@mango.net

WW

[bridgenet]

Who is Mike associated with? Dive shop/area? I had voice mail and email from a "Mike" in Dania Beach/Fort Lauderdale called Southeast Oceanic Services. We played phone tag today. Their email sounded good but figured before I book anything I really wanted some references on people in the area, and what better place than here to get the facts.

Thanks,

Kev

[WreckWriter]

He's independant.

WW

[Doppler]

WreckWriter once bubbled...
I highly recommend Mike Rodriguez. mikey@mango.net

WW

I second this recommendation... only dove with him once many years ago at a "We love Brett" TDI gathering, but have heard a couple of folks speak highly of him.

Good luck with the training.

DD

[Wendy]

My friend Lesley is teaching an advnaced Nitrox class soon, not sure what other classes she teaches. She is located in Miami.

www.runawaylobster.com

[WreckWriter]

Wendy once bubbled...
My friend Lesley is teaching an advnaced Nitrox class soon, not sure what other classes she teaches. She is located in Miami.

www.runawaylobster.com

Les is NAUI. I don't think she can do full trimix yet. Do check with her though, she's great.

WW

[Divesherpa]

Are you a cave diver?

[Quest]

WreckWriter once bubbled...
I highly recommend Mike Rodriguez. mikey@mango.net

WW

Is Mike TDI? I thought he was IANTD?

The only TDI school i know of is "American Dive Center". Its in coral springs and boca raton.

But, if your looking for technical diving instruction in general i recommend Capt. Jim Mims with OceanDiving(.com) in pompano.

He teaches IANTD and i believe is on the board of advisors for IANTD. He is very knowledgeable and experienced.

I cut and pasted his IANTD Certs i got off IANTD instructor listing. Not sure how up to date the site is as he may very well have more certs. I think he also has Padi and YMCA instructor (or instructor trainer) certs. but im not sure.

EANx Instructor
Advanced EANx Instructor
Wreck Instructor
Technical Instructor
Technical Wreck Diver Instructor
Trimix Instructor
EANx Gas Blender Instructor
Trimix Gas Blender Instructor
LSS Service Technician Instructor
Oxygen Provider Instructor
Diver First Aid Instructor
Normoxic Trimix Instructor
Dräger Dolphin & Atlantis I Instructor
DrägerRay Rebreather Instructor
EANx Instructor Trainer
Wreck Instructor Trainer
Technical Instructor Trainer
Technical Wreck Diver Instructor Trainer
Oxygen Provider Instructor Trainer
Trimix Instructor Trainer
Trimix Gas Blender Instructor Trainer
EANx Gas Blender Instructor Trainer
Wreck Instructor Trainer
Normoxic Trimix Instructor Trainer
Diver First Aid Instructor Trainer

[Quest]

Oh also disregard below the line those arent his certs but mine as you see below this posting too.

[WreckWriter]

Quest once bubbled...
Is Mike TDI? I thought he was IANTD?

He's both. I stand by my recommendation, over and above all others in the area.

WW

[bridgenet]

Leave this board for a day and got busy :). Thank you everyone for the input. I know it is a religion to many but I've decided to go TDI versus IANTD but ideally was looking for an instructor that taught both. That way he could mix it up as needed given TDI gives a bit more freedom in training, I believe. If the instructor is good won't matter agency being represented. Also Trimix is > 200 dives with IANTD and I would rather get my trimix earlier and then practice with an instructor while taking other courses.

Anyways ended up with following:

American Dive Center, Boca Rotan - talked to them a couple of times, seemed like a good way to go, but once they finally nailed the pricing down was >$2K with rental gear/boat. $1K just for the two courses where most others are $6-700. They have an online course which is nice when used in conjunction with the manuals for prep work prior to the classroom training.

Discovered a bunch of unused Frequent Flyer points and not alot of people traveling so was able to go to Grand Cayman April 2 - 9 and work with Dive-Tech on short notice. They seem very professional, reasonable rates, and are primarily IANTD. Instructor does both and is giving a full 6 days to the courses where others seemed to be taking short cuts with 4.

Should be ready to start Trimix training by mid summer, no desire for deep air. At that point will look into Southern Florida again.

Thanks all for the help, am sure there will be many more questions as I get educated :puter:

Kev

[AquaTec]

you will like Dive Tec I have doev with them a number of time, and they are well qualified to give you a good course.

askthem to take you to the donut, it is a beautiful spot at about 320 feet

also say hi to Chris for me, he is their resident Video guy,
tel him Doug from Whistler said i just got my rebreather and my video camera, and i'll see you on the bottom

[Bottomfeeder]

WreckWriter once bubbled...
I highly recommend Mike Rodriguez. mikey@mango.net

WW

Mikey is the guy you want. He's a very experienced and active gas diver, and among the best of the best when it comes to deep wrecks. See his website http://www.mikey.net

[bridgenet]

Thanks for the link. I will definitely look him up this summer when I do full Trimix. From the description of the courses on his web site it is TDI also. Ironically our backgrounds are alot alike so we should get along well... even same job... exception is I don't fly planes, only started to jump out of them, call it the ultimate in buoyancy control :).

Thanks again,

Kev