What a great experience this was!
I have been diving a few times in various locations and decided it was time to finally get certified. The process was simple and thorough.
We started with a day class where we covered the classroom basics. Kelly was a great instructor who made the day fly by quickly. Her sense of humor made it very tolerable to sit for several hours. =)
The pool dive training was something I thought would be rather lame, but actually, it was really helpful. It was good to have a very close and comfortable environment to learn the equipment and really get a feel for the way it works. We did each drill required and were given ample time to learn what to do, practice it and make ourselves comfortable. Kelly and Steve had many people on staff there to help us. I think the ratio was probably about 2:1. It was perfect.
The two lake dives were great as well. We went to Lake Pleasant and were given the chance to explore a bit as we practiced the maneuvers and trained for safety. Safety and comfort were clearly the top priority for Steve, Kelly and the entire staff. Their passion for diving was clear.
One thing that I liked a lot about Steve and Kelly, was that they were very interested in our "independence". They did not want to baby us through the process. They knew when we traveled, that we would have to fend for ourselves, so they instilled confidence in us by allowing us to do everything on our own. They watched and checked us at all times, but they didn't do it for us. I think that was immensely valuable.
Overall, a great experience. I'm not planning to join them on a trip. They were truly enjoyable to learn from.
Highly recommended. Great training. Great pricing. Great people.