KISS IANTD instructors in TX
#1
Posted 28 February 2006 - 06:37 PM
After less-than-satisfactory experience with TDI, I'll pass on their course. A friend had one of their CCR books, and it looked identical to their Nitrox course, with an extra 15 pages on RB basics. It was weak, at best.
I don't know IANTDs training policy, but I'm guessing I'll have to have the Advanced EANx before the RB cert begins, or at least run concurrently with it. Can't tell for sure, 'cos they have a crappy website. Lotsa non-training related info, zip about the training courses. Yo! Brain check! What are you folks trying to sell here?
#2
Posted 28 February 2006 - 07:35 PM
But IANTD does provide for good courses when taught by good instructors - I am very pleased with my local IANTD intructor and have found him beyond compare.
Good luck!
Once in a while, it is good to step back, take a breath, and remember to be humble. You'll never know it all - ScubaDadMiami. If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't achieve - Lao-tzu. One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him - Chinese Proverb.
#3
Posted 01 March 2006 - 12:13 AM
Looks like there's two of 'em, Eric Keibler in Houston and Roni Liberman in Austin. Anyone out there have any opinions on either one? I'd like to take the course this summer, and I'm *always* open to suggestions. Anyone here have any experience with 'em?
Sorry, I have not kissed either one. Eric is a guy, so he's out. Is Roni with an "i" a girl?
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
#4
Posted 01 March 2006 - 12:24 AM
Looks like there's two of 'em, Eric Keibler in Houston and Roni Liberman in Austin. Anyone out there have any opinions on either one? I'd like to take the course this summer, and I'm *always* open to suggestions. Anyone here have any experience with 'em?
I do not know about Roni but I do personally know Eric Keibler; I would recommend him in a heartbeat. He was my instructor for Nitrox and I felt he was excellent.
#5
Posted 01 March 2006 - 12:49 AM
As DiveGirl says, with a good instructor, they run a great training program. I do believe that the best course that they teach is the Advanced Nitrox program. And I am certain that you will need to take that before taking RB course as my future Inspiration instructor is discounting that in my case because he doesn't need to cover that course in my case.
I am sure that your instructor will do it as part of the RB course.
#6
Posted 01 March 2006 - 07:43 AM
How are you planning to get a KISS? Has Jetsam started production again?
#7
Posted 01 March 2006 - 08:56 AM
I am finishing my IANTD rebreather training any time now.
Edited by ScubaDadMiami, 01 March 2006 - 11:56 AM.
"For the diligent diver, closed circuit rebreathers are actually safer than open circuit scuba." Tom Mount
#8
Posted 01 March 2006 - 09:58 AM
Looks like there's two of 'em, Eric Keibler in Houston and Roni Liberman in Austin. Anyone out there have any opinions on either one? I'd like to take the course this summer, and I'm *always* open to suggestions. Anyone here have any experience with 'em?
I do not know about Roni but I do personally know Eric Keibler; I would recommend him in a heartbeat. He was my instructor for Nitrox and I felt he was excellent.
I am familiar with Eric professionally and would recommend him on that basis. I have not had any specific experience with either instructor in a training situation. Be sure to report back if your experience justifies our recommendations! Oh... Eric has helped support SD HHH in the past.
ITB...
Actually, the WORST day of diving is better than the BEST day at work...
and... my life is not measured by the number of breaths I take, but by the number of breaths I take UNDER WATER
"I see you are no stranger to pain." -- "I was married... TWICE!!!" HOT SHOTS, PART DEUX
#9
Posted 01 March 2006 - 11:59 AM
Howard: I already have Jeff's book, got it 3 years ago when I started getting interested. Read it cover to cover a few times to get everything straight in my head. I had to wait 'till I had some more dives under my belt before going for the class, though. I finally hit 101 in Coz in January, hope that's enough for the IANTD minimums. I just found out about Tom's book before Christmas, and plan to order it once I'm settled in Texas (right now my life's in turmoil). I figure it's required reading for the IANTD course.
Perrone: naw, I'm not buying Gordon's unit, although I like the general design a LOT better than any of the electronic CCR designs. From an engineering standpoint, it's more robust and has fewer failure modes than the other CCRs. Having to hit a manual O2 add button every 20 minutes or so is cake, and if you forget a bit, it's not disastrous; the PO2 just drops a bit lower. I'd initially planned to buy one of Gordon's, but finally decided to roll my own. I have a modified Russian IDA-71y along the lines of Dave Sutton's 'Son of Frankenstein'. I did a LOT of research in gas mechanics before building it, and it works fine. My earliest version had an orifice like the KISS, the final version is using a Swagelok SS precision metering valve. The ADD button is a high end O2 pushbutton valve from Parker Precision, and it's screwed through the side of the chassis with a safety cover. I've dived it in a pool for roughly 6 or 7 hours (damn, but that's boring....). It's reasonably lightweight compared to some of the other designs, and hell for stout. I just can't take it on a trip without official training. Right now it's gutted as I'm replacing the hoses with SS tubing.
OK, I'm totally clueless here. What's the 'current issues' with IANTD? They seemed like an OK training organization, from the few folks I'd talked to that took some of their courses. Everyone spoke highly of 'em.
And yeah, I thought Liberman was a 'Ron', not a 'Roni' from posts I'd seen elsewhere about rebreathers. Your guess is as good as mine on that one. The 'Roni' is from the IANTD site. I *think* she/he runs the RB course on the Explorer liveaboard that runs from Baja to the PNW. I'd looked at that boat for a vacation trip last year, and went with the SD trips, instead. Goin' on a trip solo isn't as much fun as with a crowd!
#10
Posted 01 March 2006 - 12:06 PM
Contact me directly at Kamala@SingleDivers.com for your private or group travel needs or 864-557-6079 AND don't miss SD's 2018-2021 Trips! ....here! Most are once in a lifetime opportunities...don't miss the chance to go!!
SD LEGACY/OLD/MANUAL Forms & Documents.... here !
Click here TO PAY for Merchandise, Membership, or Travel
"Imitation is the sincerest flattery." - Gandhi
"Imitation is proof that originality is rare." - ScubaHawk
SingleDivers.com...often imitated...never duplicated!
Kamala Shadduck c/o SingleDivers.com LLC
2234 North Federal Hwy, #1010 Boca Raton, FL 33431
formerly...
710 Dive Buddy Lane; Salem, SC 29676
864-557-6079 tel/celfone/office or tollfree fax 888-480-0906
#11
Posted 01 March 2006 - 12:43 PM
Here's their instructor search page, one of the few useful items on their site:
http://www.iantd.com...ors_search.html
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users