Padi Dsat

[HybridDiver]

Hello, has anyone took the Padi Dsat course before? If so tell me how different it is from TDI?
Chris

 

[ScubaAndDreams]

Deep Air to 165'....bottom line: It's not a good idea to do 165' on air or nitrox...(unless they changed that....but last time I checked it was pretty much as advertised above..if I am wrong I apologize)

 

[HybridDiver]

So no to padi dsat?

 

[Dive-aholic]

The major difference is DSAT has better books. Otherwise it's all on the instructor. DSAT does require that the instructor be breathing the same gas as the students. So if the instructor gets narced at 165', that wouldn't necessarily be a good thing. BTW, I did a TDI course, but bought the DSAT books as well as the TDI books and read both.

 

[Colliam7]

Hello, has anyone took the Padi Dsat course before? If so tell me how different it is from TDI?
Chris

Just to be sure, I think you are referring to the PDAI / DSAT Tec Level 1 and Tec Deep courses. If not, my error. (DSAT is an organization / company rather than a course.) But, I recently completed the PDAI tec courses - great courses! Very thorough, good content.

I agree with the comment that the instructor makes a difference, and I had a terrific one, but I knew that going in as I had trained with him before.

Not sure about the comment that it is not good to go to 165' on air. In fact you can easily, and safely, go a bit deeper on air (MOD is ~187).

In looking at tec, I determined that I wanted to develop the required skills (equipment and procedures) at reasonable depths, then progress to trimix and deeper depths. So, working on drysuit, doubles, deco bottles, lift bags, etc., etc., and learning to hold deco stops precisely, determine deco schedules, etc., etc. - which is a large part of what the PADI tec courses are about - worked for me. I can't compare it to TDI.

 

[GrimSleeper]

Deep Air to 165'....bottom line: It's not a good idea to do 165' on air or nitrox...(unless they changed that....but last time I checked it was pretty much as advertised above..if I am wrong I apologize)

Other than air, what would you be planning on breathing at 50 metres? Adding helium to the mix that shallow is, unless you're diving in an overhead environment, just adding complication to the deco schedule and removing a level of conservatism in your inert-gas exposure. Not to mention being horribly expensive...

Other than the materials being way better (lots of TDI/IANTD instructors use DSAT books to teach tec courses), the main advantage of DSAT tec courses is that they offer a more direct route into deep diving. One Tec Deep course, one Tec Trimix course, a few dives, and off you go to 125 metres, if that's your desire. The other agencies tend to break everything up into several sub-courses for both deep air and trimix.

Main disadvantage of DSAT? Some IANTD & TDI divers, in particular, will sneer at you for being a 'PADI' tec-diver. Even if they've only trained to do trimix diving within recreational limits (what's that all about?) and don't actually know what they're talking about.

I'm not bitter, it just gets boring explaining that, no, I have actually been trained properly. :shakehead

 

[Steve R]

I agree with the comment that the instructor makes a difference, and I had a terrific one, but I knew that going in as I had trained with him before.

Not sure about the comment that it is not good to go to 165' on air. In fact you can easily, and safely, go a bit deeper on air.

Now that's the education I like seeing people get.

 

[Colliam7]

Main disadvantage of DSAT? Some IANTD & TDI divers, in particular, will sneer at you for being a 'PADI' tec-diver.

Good point. Forgot to mention in my post that PADI is a relatively 'new entry into tec', so you may well hear some comments like these in considering which way to go.

Also, fully agree with GrimSleeper's points about the quality of the training materials. Putting aside the usual debate about PADI vs NAUI vs whatever, part of PADI's 'stock-in-trade' is the quality and scope of training materials provided both for the student and the instructor.

 

[Steve R]

Other than the materials being way better (lots of TDI/IANTD instructors use DSAT books to teach tec courses), the main advantage of DSAT tec courses is that they offer a more direct route into deep diving. One Tec Deep course, one Tec Trimix course, a few dives, and off you go to 125 metres, if that's your desire.

perfect.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Technical texts...

As far as content, I like the IANTD technical diver Encyclopedia though I don't think it's set up well for use as a text. I also like the GUE texts.

The TDI texts that I have are...well...lacking.

The DSAT books are nice to look at...if you don't look to close. I have the first edition (have there been changes?). Personally, I think the actual content leaves a lot to be desired and I sure wish they'd stop publishing pictures of all those kneeling divers.

Air to 165? Not me. You know what they say?...Been there, done that.