Which is the best agency to learn with and why?

schford

Ok Folks,

which agency do you think offers the best Rebreather courses......and why?

Cheers

Stuart

Decodiver

People will generally be unable to give unbiased feedback on all agencies, as they will rarely have been taught by them all.

I teach CCRs for 3 of the agencies listed at Diver and Instructor level.

The really important factor for a course, is the choice of Instructor.

Someone who has enough experience, coupled with recent relevant use of the product/course taught and the patience and teaching ability to impart that knowledge at the student's pace.

Cheers

Dave Cooper

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CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer
CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on
Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel

www.zerogravitydiving.com

Rebreather World Terms & Conditions

schford

Thanks Dave,

good point - have added an additional option....

Stuart

Nad

Well the best way is of course the instructor, but the agency is also important when you travel and you wish to do some particular dives: it has to be a recognised one.
However an experienced and skilled instructor it's the first choice.

Nad

__________________
The Impossible is often the Untried

ROB DAVIE

Folks,

I would have to say that ALL of the major technical training agencies that offer Rebreather courses are good. After that, it boils down to a question of how good your instructor is when working with you. Because individuals vary so much, it is incumbent upon the student to interview the instructor (and vice versa) before beginning training to find out if they will be compatible.

As a student, you want someone who is acknowledged to be good, but also someone with whom you can get along.

As an instructor, you want someone who will sop up the knowledge you impart, and at the end of the course, say honestly: "I learned a lot, and I enjoyed working with you!"

Rob Davie

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"CC Rebreathers will become a viable part of tech diving WHEN PIGS FLY!!"--GI3

Deep Thought

The quality of instruction you get is directly related to the experience of the instructor and how they transfer their knowledge to the student. The best instruction is from an instructor who take the time necessary to see that each student is safe and comfortable with the skills that are outlined by an agency. If the instructor is only teaching to the minimum of an agencies requirements they are probalby missing some students needs.

Personally I've never felt that I got a good value in training from an instructor who lacks the ability to challenge me with skills or knowledge.

I teach from multiple agencies and they all have good intentions, so it boils down to the quality of resource materials that they provide.

ron

imdown

I had no question as to who I wanted as my instructor. Researched a few instructors and made my choice based on their expectations of a student pursuing ccr diving. One needs the challenge of "earning" their cert. from an instructor that demands it.

Pelagian

I firmly beleive that it always come downs to the instructor.

However I beleive with most agencies it is now too easy to jump though minimum standard hoops to become an instructor.

I teach for 5 Agencies(Rec & Tech) and in all my training the one consistent feature is that it has been very easy for me to become an instructor.

The 2 notable excpetions were my BSAC crossover(the theory was extensive) and most of IANTD diver and instructor courses(I had to keep doing watermasnhip evaluations to make sure I was still fit to dive and not coasting by on theory and skills alone).

I once asked a CEO of a tech agency whether he thought tech standards are dropping, and he said without pause, yes.

We did't go into that more, but it was quite an eye opening answer.

I have seen and dived with some very scary tech divers who are themselves instructors, with high RMV's, poor fitness and declining skill levels. I have held my self back in tech despite pressure from my buddies and bosses to rise up the ranks because I never wanted to be one of those divers.

I'm generally considered to be a little over anal, but when I look at the type of divers i want to emulate , I beleive that this is what is necessary for me in order to acheive my goals.

I guess in the end it comes down to both the Instructor and the Students willingness to commit the effort to excell in our sport

I hope this doesn't come off as elitest, just what I expect from myself as both a Student and an Instructor.

Cheers

Seb

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'Because... I was Inverted!'