I was thinking about going with PADI but since this looked like a good deal I was willing to try them. As far as going with TDI I was under the impression (mistakenly apparently) that you needed to do the SDI course first.
I know that there are options to SDI. I was just wondering why they don't include tables with their courses. Thanks for the quick replies!
I think the OP's original questions have been adequately answered and thanks to all of our members who contributed.
I would like to add a couple of small clarifications.
All SDI divers are expected to dive with a personal dive computer... NO EXCEPTIONS. the reasons for encouraging sport divers to use 21st century technology to help manage their inert gas loading should be self-evident.
But just in case: one could make a strong argument for the skills developed when using a good sextant, a chronometer and declination tables to fix a boat's position, but a GPS is more likely to give accurate information about location... and for the weekend navigator therefore, a GPS is a far better option.
We feel the same can be said for personal dive computers vs dive tables, EAN tables and manual calculations. PDCs simply represent the best possible practice for the sport diving community at large.
But there are divers who want more knowledge. For them, we offer Technical Diving International's Nitrox Course. It's all about tables, and working out nitrogen loading, MODs et al manually.
SDI nitrox is NOT a required prerequisite for taking a TDI basic nitrox course. It's the diver's choice and why we continue to offer both.
The SDI Nitrox course is available online and has been popular in that format for a couple of years.
Hope this sorts things out.