NSSCDS VS. IANTD training

[Jonesy920x]

I am researching instructors and programs for cave certification. Full courses from cavern to full cave. What are the differences between the NSSCDS, NACD and IANTD training courses.

The IANTD path:
Cavern and wreck diver
Introductory Cave Diver
Cave Diver

NSSCDS:
Cavern
Introduction to Cave
Apprentice Cave
Full Cave

I am a NAUI
AOW
IANTD
Nitrox
Advanced Nitrox

I realize that it has more to do with the quality of instruction than the licensing body, but I am interested in opinions. I have two different training centers in mind.

Golden Arrow Technical Diving (Denis Bourret)
Aztec Diving (Steve Bogaerts)

I am a newbie so please forgive my ignoranceuppy:

 

[Dive-aholic]

I teach through all three. My courses are the same regardless of the certification issued at the end of the class. The main difference is the student manual you will have to purchase. But those are all pretty similar, as well. There are also some minor differences in standards. IANTD includes some standards not included in the CDS or NACD standards. But like I said, all my courses are the same, so regardless of the card, my students complete all the skills required by all the agencies I teach through.

 

[TSandM]

I don't know anything about Golden Arrow. But I have friends who have trained with Steve, and he appears to be very thorough and meticulous with his students.

I think when it comes to cave diving, with few exceptions it is far more about the instructor than the agency.

 

[rongoodman]

I think the IANTD manual is the worst of the bunch, although Matt from Protec has written a more up-to-date version of it. Also, IANTD appears to defer accelerated deco and O2 use until their Technical Cave Diver course, but I'm not sure if this an agency thing, or just the way things work out in Mexico.

 

[Jonesy920x]

I don't know anything about Golden Arrow. But I have friends who have trained with Steve, and he appears to be very thorough and meticulous with his students.

I think when it comes to cave diving, with few exceptions it is far more about the instructor than the agency.

That's exactly what I thought. I'm also looking at Robbie Schmittner. The deal I made with my wife is that I'd train somewhere warm next winter so she could do some ow diving and beach time.

 

[lovles2274]

My instructor with IANTD teaches it in 4 parts. Cavern Diver, Introduction to Cave Diver, Apprentice Cave Diver and Full Cave Diver. Classroom and dives with each course. Come to sunny central Florida and get wet.

 

[TSandM]

I don't think central Florida would win wife points -- the OW diving there isn't inspiring, and there aren't any pretty beaches! (And not much in the way of frou-frou drinks, either )

 

[rjack321]

I would go with Bogaerts since I have seen his former students dive and would happily dive with any of the ones I've seen (I have no cards from any of the agencies you've listed).

In the Riviera Maya area I would also recommend:
Bill Phillips
Speleotech

And Chris, Danny or Fred with Zero Gravity (you would need to take GUE-F and get a tech pass first)
DIR Mexico - Cave Diving Instruction, Training and Guiding In Mexico

 

[dl348]

My instructor with IANTD teaches it in 4 parts. Cavern Diver, Introduction to Cave Diver, Apprentice Cave Diver and Full Cave Diver. Classroom and dives with each course. Come to sunny central Florida and get wet.

IANTD does not have an Apprentice Cave level. The only agencies that I am aware of that do are NACD, NSS-CDS and PSAI. Just out of curiosity, who was your IANTD instructor?

 

[Jonesy920x]

IANTD does not have an Apprentice Cave level. The only agencies that I am aware of that do are NACD, NSS-CDS and PSAI. Just out of curiosity, who was your IANTD instructor?

Tony Cerezo at PRTDC in Aguadilla Puerto Rico. I've just recently got back into diving and have the luxury of traveling there for work in the winter. Much better than the "Frozen Tundra of Wisconsin"

I don't think central Florida would win wife points -- the OW diving there isn't inspiring, and there aren't any pretty beaches! (And not much in the way of frou-frou drinks, either )

Central Florida can be cold in the winter. My wife and I are (well she still is) competitive barefoot waterskiers, so we spend a lot of time in the Winter Haven area in the winter months. So that wouldn't cut it..