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Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 10:56 am
by Tangfish
I get asked all the time about Open Water instruction, by people from all over the PNW. I didn't do my training here locally and it was also a long time ago, so you could say that I'm "out of the loop". :rawlings:

Would any of you more recently certified OW/AOW/Rescue divers please offer a recommendation, based on your own personal experience, please? :notworthy:

Basically it would be helpful to know:

1) Instructor's name
2) Shop they're with (or if they're independent, what area(s) they typically serve)
3) General satisfaction level with the quality of instruction you received and total price you paid thru the end of your certification

*please don't bash the person or shop here if you didn't like your course, I'm looking specifically for positive recommendations. IF you feel compelled to let me know about a negative experience please do it through PM as I don't want this to turn into a wall of shame thread. :smt064

These prospective OW/AOW students and I thank you in advance for any recommendations!

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 4:06 pm
by Tangfish
*sniffle* zero recommendations?!

C'mon folks, I know that there are some good instructors in our ranks!

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:53 pm
by verrinne
David nansel of TLSEA in des Moines, hes a great guy

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:16 pm
by KneeDeep
Bob B... enough said.

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 11:05 pm
by Jeremy
If we are strictly talking open water only I'd say Fred of Argonaut diving (ton of DM and AI support) or Peter through Bubbles Below (tech friendly perspective) would be who I would send my kids to.

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 11:46 pm
by Tangfish
KneeDeep wrote:Bob B... enough said.
Bob is on sabbatical, he was my go-to recommendation for years.

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:09 am
by KneeDeep
Tangfish wrote: Bob is on sabbatical..
I believe that has ended :)

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:51 am
by Tangfish
KneeDeep wrote:
Tangfish wrote: Bob is on sabbatical..
I believe that has ended :)
Oh really? That's news to me. :rawlings:

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 11:42 am
by Penopolypants
It's true, but he is not teaching OW, he's limiting it to sidemount, photography, workshops, etc.

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 12:32 pm
by KneeDeep
Penopolypants wrote:...he is not teaching OW, he's limiting it to sidemount, photography, workshops, etc.
You are correct Pen... I totally missed that.. thought it included OW.

Will see how long that lasts :)

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 3:42 pm
by Penopolypants
This is true. :)

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 3:07 pm
by LCF
I know it sounds self-serving, but I think my husband does a very good job of his classes. We teach with the "early transition to neutral buoyancy" approach (no "on the knees") and emphasize good buoyancy control, trim, and buddy awareness. Peter teaches more gas management than is required, especially in his Nitrox class. We've gotten a lot of good feedback from students, and referrals of friends. Plus, a fair number of our students have remained active divers, which I think is the real acid test.

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:44 am
by Grateful Diver
I'd recommend Casey Offord, who is teaching through Fifth Dimension. Casey worked with me for a few years, helping with OW, AOW and Rescue classes, and does a fantastic job. He and Peter are the instructors I now refer people to when they inquire with me about those classes I no longer teach.

Calvin, I didn't respond until now because the original post is worded such that I thought you only wanted to hear from people who were either recently certified or inquiring about classes ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 9:40 pm
by apostle228
I did my OW certification in March with Chad Kent at Evergreen Dive Services in Everett. I was very satisfied with his instruction, he was patient, knowledgeable and left me with no question unanswered. I look forward to doing other classes with him and his shop in the future to further my level of knowledge and training.

As for what I paid, he runs a special program for the military service members here in Everett at the Naval Station, and the total cost was $335, all inclusive. For that I also applaud him :)

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 6:51 am
by ScubaJess
I took my open water class from Silent World in Bellevue last July. It was great! Cory Newman is the nicest guy and even sings to you during your open water class, some of my favorite surface swim memories! Getting certified was the best thing I ever did! I got to meet some great friends in class and also from hanging out in the shop.

He even lets you know who the other Trekkies are in class. :eric:

I hope your friend has a great experience wherever they end up going. :)

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 11:07 pm
by bike_reck_ben
Mike Waymire and Bret at Sound Dive Center in Bremerton! Caution: don't dish it out to Bret if you can't take it! A couple of good guys with more collective time underwater than the Ranger. Basic open water and dry suit courses every month and a rescue diver course starting July 23rd.
Ben

Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 12:32 am
by AdrianSmith
Waymire isn't an instructor, he's a DM, and having worked at Sound Dive Center for four years all I ll say is you'd better have deep pockets and not much concern for teaching to standards if you're interested in getting certified there.

Re: Recreational Instructor Recommendations

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 8:32 am
by PapaZ
Don Kinney
Hoodsport n dive - Tumwater store or Hoodsport store.

http://www.hoodsportndive.com/index.php ... aining-sdi