PADI Tech?

[RJP]

I have not seen much to recommend their program. Some examples are equipment requirements like dual bungied wings with the second inflater disconnected and bungied behind the divers right shoulder.

The equipment list for DSAT was published in Undersea Journal 2002 (3rd quarter IIRC)
I have seen no amendment to that equipment list since. I am not a DSAT instructor so I may have missed a training bulletin on the subject.

Can't speak for 2002, but I took the DSAT Tec Deep course last year, with the most recent materials, and there was no mention whatsoever on the equipment list of any requirement for bungied wings or redundant bladder/inflater.

There was discussion of these things in the body of the book in the section where gear was discussed - simply in terms of citing the range of available gear configs, with appropriate pro's and con's of such items...was a fairly balanced presentation, and could in no way be misconstrued as a "requirement" or specific recommendation.

 

[Pullmyfinger]

Ive been looking around the Austin area and talking with a few instructors. I came across a guy that teaches the PADI Tech program. Has anyone taken these classes? Any opinions? Thanks.

In regards to any opinions:
I can't think of any reason to take a PADI course for technical dive training. Why would you choose PADI over any of the other technical agencies?
Not PADI bashing, but I don't see how PADI could be offering a course that's better than what's already offered by those that are teaching technical training.
PADI is largely a recreational agency. Not who I'd look to for decompression training.
I understand that selection may be limited in your area, but given a choice I'd look to another agency.
In regards to the old line about "it's the instructor", this is true. But the search for "the instructor" begins with the agency in my opinion.

-Mitch

 

[RJP]

In regards to any opinions:

I don't see how PADI could be offering a course that's better than what's already offered by those that are teaching technical training.

In regards to the old line about "it's the instructor", this is true. But the search for "the instructor" begins with the agency in my opinion.

Don't take this the wrong way but - assuming that your profile is relatively up to date - your opinion regarding how to select a tech instructor seems to be based on ZERO experience actually doing so. If that is the case, it carries very little, if any weight in this discussion...

About Pullmyfinger
Biography
New diver, PADI and YMCA certified while in Pensacola, Florida last year.

Certification Agencies
PADI and then YMCA (Open Water 2) ...a much more thorough class.

Certification Level
YMCA open water 2

# of Logged Dives
50 - 99

Beginning your search "with the agency" is neither necessary nor sufficient to ensure that you'll get the type, level, and quality of tech training that you desire/need/deserve. I suggest you keep this in mind in the future... should you decide to actually pursue enough tech training to allow you formulate an opinion on the topic that is sufficiently meaningful to warrant sharing it with others as if it was "the voice of experience."

 

[Pullmyfinger]

Beginning your search "with the agency" is neither necessary nor sufficient to ensure that you'll get the type and level of training that you desire/need/deserve.

I disagree, each agency offers their own training progression. Pursuing training with a specific agency means that you'll get exactly the type and levels of training that you might be looking to progress toward. TDI starts with advanced nitrox and decompression procedures usually as a combined course. They allow their instructors some latitude in how the material is taught.
GUE starts with Fundamentals, they are more rigid in how their instructors teach their courses. You probably already know this, but the OP may not. So...

...the first question may very well be which agency (or which course progression) meets your goals. It serves as a good starting point in my opinion. From there, look for an instructor. The question of type and level of training that you need or desire can be answered by looking at what each agency offers. Then what ever your training desires or needs (goals) are can be matched up with what each agency offers.

I agree with the old advice about finding the best instructor. But it's still the agency to a point, the instructor is teaching from some source. In terms of progression, the agency matters somewhat in this regard also.

Of course, there is the issue of what's available in your area vs. being able to travel.

Interesting topic.

Take care,
Mitch

 

[Pullmyfinger]

RJP,

I would not have posted in this forum if I didn't have a valid opinion. Pasting my "about me" information in your response as if to somehow negate my point and strengthen yours is juvenile and irrelevant.

I doubt that my information is completely up to date on any of the dive forums that I'm a member of. Good of you to check and point it out though.

My responses are civil and valid. Do you initiate the vetting process on everyone who post here?

-Mitch

 

[RJP]

Ok...thanks for updating your profile. It is genuinely relevant to look at someone's profile in order to determine the relative value of their opinion. (Everyone believes their opinion to be VALID, that's just not the same as it being VALUABLE.)

Would you care to share which certifications you've just added in updating your profile? Readers of this thread still don't have enough info to determine whether your opinion is supported by any relevant experience.

 

[Pullmyfinger]

Profile updated.

 

[waterpirate]

Is there anyone diving tech in your area? If so go meet them and listen to what they have to say. If there is not a tech group in your area, seek an instructor that teaches the enviroment in which you wish to dive.
A cave is no place for a wreck trained diver, and a quarry trained diver should not be in the ocean un mentored.
Eric

 

[RJP]

A quarry trained diver should not be in the ocean un mentored.

Please explain why a properly trained OW-certified diver needs a "mentor" in the ocean.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I;d rather have a competent trained quarry diver as my buddy than a two weekend wonder who happened to do their dives in the ocean. I've seen quarry trained OW divers with better skills than a few ocean experienced instructors.