Consider that if the OP is looking for technical training, he/she may not yet realize that many, many very experienced technical diving instructors DO NOT WORK in or own DIVE SHOPS.
Unlike sport diving instructors, tech instructors tend to be individual business men and women who prefer to work independently. It then follows that in order to fully research the opportunities to find good training, one has to look beyond the purview of the traditional LDS.
Does anyone know where the OP is situated. That might help us to make suggestions.
If you're looking for technical training, start by going to the various websites of the different agencies. GUE/UTD and TDI all have an ability to search for instructors by class. You're going to have to read about classes to determine which you'd like to do.
Otherwise, like everyone before me has said - talk to the divers in your area who you respect and find out who they used.
I wasn't happy with my options in my area and so it turns out that my instrucor lives on the east coast (some 2,500+ miles away) and I have to meet him various places to get training. How'd I meet him? On a boat, while diving. That's sort of how it happens.
It would be helpful if we knew where you are - then maybe folks in your area could recommend someone for you to talk to.
No, I am not looking for technical training. At least I dont think I am. Am I? Hmmm, maybe I am. Seems unfair that to be a safer rec diver I have to be tech trained.
I was planning on eventually trying it out if I got halfway decent at rec diving. Maybe I have to move it up a bit. Oh, and I live in Hawaii. I am a resort diver almost by definition! I know there are tech folks out here. I even know there is a GUE shop and instructor out here.
The answer lies within the instructor. There are a number of us who teach beyond the minimum standards for various reasons. You just have to find one that is convenient to you. In my OW class, you are expected to have great trim, buoyancy, control and be able to do anti-silting kicks before I certify you. No, it's not a long or arduous course and I accomplish this in a couple of pool sessions and 4 or 5 OW dives. That being said, I only teach private or semi-private classes, so the student gets a lot more of my individual attention and I have a method of progression that makes it fun and painless. While I am exceedingly proud of how I teach, I am not the only one who does this. NWGratefulDiver, Jim Lapenta and others here on ScubaBoard also teach to a higher level than the agencies require. We can be an insufferable bunch when it comes to talking about how we train our students, but there are few out there who would deny that we are passionate about what we do. Again, we are not the only ones who do this, we just seem to be the most vocal.
Where are these folks who will go a bit further? Is there a list? Maybe I dont want to do it locally. As I stated before, I like lists.
Also, why isnt SB a certifying agency? It has the biggest "textbook" for sure. :grinjester:
GUE Fundamentals is not a "near tech" class, unless you want it to be. It can be taken in a single tank, and is extremely worthwhile. UTD Essentials can be, too.
One of the reasons I constantly recommend these two classes is because of precisely the confusion you're suffering right now. The problem is that high quality instruction is scattered, and when it is offered under the aegis of the traditional agencies, it can be very difficult to distinguish from classes taught to minimums, which are not very useful in fine-tuning skills at all. You can find good instructors by their reputation here, for sure, but they may or may not be in your geographical area.
The reason you are getting a lot of information about technical type stuff is because tech classes (especially cave) can almost be counted upon to demand better skills from the diver. People recommend what they can depend upon. Recreational classes are much more hit or miss, and you need to know the local reps.
Is a rec pass cheaper? If I am going to ante up the same, I am going all in.
And then it raises the whole issue of when to take it. I think there are more than a few threads dealing with that.
And again, the list of over-and-above instructors? I am sure a lot of the instructors that frequently post here would be good instructors, though not always. Should the first question to a potential instructor be "what is your SB name?" followed up by a lot of search in here?
All of those things go a long way toward making someone a better and safer diver ... but you can have all of those things and not be a safer diver if you suck at making good decisions. We see it constantly in the Incidents and Accidents forum ... divers who are very experienced, very trained, and very skilled doing stupid things that get them injured or killed ... or worse yet, putting someone else in danger.
Being a better, safer diver starts with your mentality toward the dive. Do you plan and conduct dives within the limits of your training and experience level? Do you make an honest attempt to understand and prepare for dealing with the potential risks? Do you make an honest assessment of your abilities? Do you choose dive companions based on compatible mentality toward safe diving?
These and many other considerations factor into whether or not you're a better, safer diver.
I've known divers who were very inexperienced and not very skilled who I would consider better, safer divers than many I have met who are far more skilled and experienced. What makes them better and safer is their mental approach. This is one of the most important lessons I learned from my alpha mentor, Uncle Pug ... safe diving is as much about how you mentally approach the dive as it is about your skills. His gentle admonishment ... "you need to rethink your approach to that dive" ... did more to make me a better, safer diver than any class I ever took.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Agreed on all points you offered. In aviation we even have a name for it (aeronautical decision making.) Sound mental processes are key to being a safe diver.
And the list could go on: physical fitness... (How many 400 pound divers do we see that look like a heart attack getting ready to happen?)
Bjorn
Oh yeah, skills are good, knowledge is good, but having both is even better. Best (IMHO) would be both at an instinctive level. I dont think a class could give you the last case as it would have to be many weeks long in the water drilling constantly. It might even require the "old" method of an instructor messing with their students to see if they react quickly enough.
Thanks for all the input everyone.
:zen:
