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Hal Watts training approach is incredible... While I was there for my intro to cave and mixed-gas courses (not with Hal Watts, tough), I've met someone who did deep air training to 240 feet fast enough to scare everybody (or anything) that has some form of intelligence. After the 200 feet dive, he told the instructor that he was not clearheaded enough and would not be very helpful if a difficulty occurs (he felt he was dangerous). The instructor told him not to worry has he had only to follow him... then they dove to 240 feet the next day. (scarrry!) That guy which took his Intro to cave with me was invited to go on a dive to 240 by Hal (I did not ear about any cost involved when he gave the invitation). He went on the dive and received an invoice equivalent to $185CAN for that 10 minutes of bottom time! (just a bounce dive to go deep, you know?) I was glad that I only went snorkeling to 60 feet (that was FREE). As you said, nothing is free but Hal Watts is not the only one like this... I got information from another place which used (my info is 2 years old) to sell a deep air course for only 300$, when you included the boat, air, nitrox, O2, book and c-card, the cost was only 700$ or 750$! It seems that to get into technical diving, you need: 1. to have plenty of money to invest 2. to be rich and be willing to spend a lot of money 3. to have a wallet big enough to be scared of walking on the street with it 4. to be a fair diver This is not always true tough, I found some instructors that really like what they are doing and they do it well (and slowly). Note: I do not believe that the said (100 to 240 in 4 days) courses are preparing divers to do technical dives... in my mind, they only prepare them for a suicide. Michel Therrien m.therrien@ne*.qc*.ca* >P$A is unsurpassed at wallet surgery. They remind me of the line an old video >game used when you lost: "Sensors detect another quarter in your pocket." > >I regret to admit that I got talked into the 100 foot course a few years back. >It went something like this: > >"The course is only $100." uh, doesn't sound too bad. > >"PLUS the $30 workbook." sigh. okay. > >"PLUS 2 air fills at $12 each." gulp. okay. > >"And say $25 if you want to deco on our O2." are you ****ing me? > >"How 'bout a 40 Fathom Grotto t-shirt?" AY CARAMBA! > > >At that point I should have run like hell. The only worthwhile thing I got out >of the course was the guy talked me into joining DAN and I am still a member. > >I also still have my unbelievably cheesy PSA C-card. It serves as a healthy >reminder to know something about the course and instructor BEFORE you start >coughing up money! > >David Hale >
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