What do you look for in an Instructor

[DiverQueen]

An instructor should be caring that his or her students do well in the class, that they feel comfortable in the water.  The instructor helps the student through any phobias about diving, mask clearing, etc.

Teach safe dive procedures and reflect them in his or her own dive history.  How much air is in the tank upon return from the dive?  Stay within the limits for the level of certification being earned.

Let the students know about Dive Shop activities, Get-Togethers, Fun Dives....Web sites like this for other divers to network and meet other divers.

Encourage the students to continue their dive education beyond the basic O.W. Class with Advanced, Rescue and Nitrox and other options!

Have repair parts available for whatever may go wrong....B/C malfunctions, torn mouthpieces...whatever!  The "Save-A-Dive" Kit is just the beginning to what may need to be available for class as well as after.

I was lucky enough to be certified through Smith Diving in 2005 with a couple great instructors...Robin was my Pool and Classroom instructor.  For Open Water Checkouts, I had Will Hastings.  Unfortunately he died in a car accident in August of 2006...Almost to the date of my checkout dives :'(  Rest in peace Will!

What I learned from him is to always carry a spare....From a spare B/C in the car for when mine malfunctioned, to spare mouthpieces for when I bit through the flanges or bite tabs on mine.  Now I use a different style and don't have that problem nearly as much!  Miss you Buddy!