Pros / Cons of TDI/SDI Tank VIP Course

[napDiver]

They are offering a TDI/SDI Tank VIP Course that I'm considering taking. They said from the tank valve to the tank itself, it will cover full service and maintenance including O2 cleaning. Furthermore that I can VIP my own tanks and the shops will fill them.

Anyways I'm a little skeptical if it actually works that way in the real world. What's the real life Pros/Cons? Is this the best VIP course? Also price seems okay for ~$200 bucks including materials.

I'm thinking about doing this cause I have about 8 tanks and I may end up partial pressure blending my own deco gas in the future. Don't worry, I know I'm no way near ready to do that and need to learn the dangers and get trained.

 

[decompression]

Very good course for personal info......very unlikely a LDS will fill your tanks with your own VIP sticker on them......possible but rare.

 

[edwants2dive]

Very good course for personal info......very unlikely a LDS will fill your tanks with your own VIP sticker on them......possible but rare.

I have seen this said on threads here before. The questions I have are one if you have completed the course do you receive some sort of documentation for that and second is refusal to fill primarily because they are losing the money on the annual VIP through them?

 

[_Ralph]

I took the course many years ago.... having more than a handful of tanks makes the $$ a no brainer.

To the issue of compressor owners filling your tanks....

It depends. I haven’t been turned away without having a ‘shop’ VIP sticker. But I also had a chat with my usual compressor owners to see if they would have any issues before hand.

The LDS has no issues, nor missing my money for their time to do upwards of 20 O2 vip/year when they are already busy enough (and in a realistic timeframe for me).

The $$ fornthe course, and the money for the tools afterwards should pay you back within the first year or two depending on how many tanks you own, and what the going rate for VIPs are ...

_R

 

[Marie13]

I did mine with @abnfrog last year. Fellow student was @lowviz

Very thorough course. Took 10 hours. Inspected multiple tanks including the infamous “alumisteel.”

 

[tridacna]

Very good course for personal info......very unlikely a LDS will fill your tanks with your own VIP sticker on them......possible but rare.

I work at one of the oldest dive stores in NJ. We never quibble over fills with stickers we don't "know". As long as the inspector is legit and can be verified, it's a scam to refuse fills. The real scam is PSI getting those renewal fees for online tests every three years. With the least relevant questions you've EVER seen.

 

[tridacna]

I did mine with @abnfrog last year. Fellow student was @lowviz

Very thorough course. Took 10 hours. Inspected multiple tanks including the infamous “alumisteel.”

Marie, I'm curious. Do you do your own inspections now? Do you have all the tools to do this on an ongoing basis? I only ask because I know that not doing these on a regular basis can make you rusty (pardon the pun!) and it's tough to remember procedures and methods after a break. Maybe it's because I see such a large variety of tanks that makes it a little more cerebral than if you inspect one type only.

 

[Hartattack]

You could also get VIP stickers with "your shop" printed on them. Another reason why that entire Visual Inspection Sticker Program could be scammed in a heartbeat. Nevertheless, the course stands and I believe SDI gives you certification documents. I did the PSI course years ago and decided to go with SDI next year because it is around $600 cheaper than the PCI to recert.

 

[Marie13]

Marie, I'm curious. Do you do your own inspections now? Do you have all the tools to do this on an ongoing basis? I only ask because I know that not doing these on a regular basis can make you rusty (pardon the pun!) and it's tough to remember procedures and methods after a break. Maybe it's because I see such a large variety of tanks that makes it a little more cerebral than if you inspect one type only.

I was going to, but circumstances and the plague intervened. It’s been more than a year now and I doubt I’ll end up doing it. The class was excellent for the knowledge. If I have to empty a tank to switch out valves, it’s no big issue now. Did that recently with my new 85s before cave class. The valves I had at home were nicer than the DGX ones that came with the tanks. I’ll switch them out, poke my head inside before the switch, and use a whip to add a few hundred PSI.

 

[OTF]

“alumisteel.”

??