TDI Technical Courses

[Rainer]

The TDI Advanced Wreck manual is another one that has gone through a recent revision....it is pretty good reading....photos could have been a bit better IMO.

Alan, who is the author? Do you know if/when the adv nitrox / deco proc manuals are being re-written?

 

[texdiveguy]

Has anyone read or used in a course some of the lesser commented on TDI books such as cave or ccr type programs?

 

[JeffG]

The TDI Advanced Wreck manual is another one that has gone through a recent revision....it is pretty good reading....photos could have been a bit better IMO.

I haven't seen that one yet, but I would like to.

 

[texdiveguy]

Alan, who is the author? Do you know if/when the adv nitrox / deco proc manuals are being re-written?

I really don't have a clue to the reworks of the Adv. Nitrox or Deco Proc. books.

The author on the TDI Adv. Wreck text is Mike Ange//2004.

"CAPT. Michael R. Ange wears many hats in the diving industry including, Managing Director of the Americas Division for the Professional SCUBA Association, International and a contributing author and Technical Editor for SCUBA Diving Magazine. A published author, photojournalist and internationally recognized lecturer, Mike has a personal training background as varied as his list of students including military, law enforcement, technical and recreational training. Certified with several agencies, he holds instructor trainer ratings including Advanced TRIMIX, Semi-Closed and Closed Circuit Rebreathers, Technical Wreck and Cave. Additionally, he is a Certified Advanced Diver Medic with The International Board of Undersea Medicine and an USCG Licensed Master with Power, Sail and Commercial Towing Endorsements.

Mike has published training standards, five textbooks, and well over 100 journal and magazine articles on recreational diver safety and training, technical training, and emergency response diver training. His next book, Diver Down: Real World SCUBA Accidents and How to Avoid Them, is due for release by a division of McGraw Hill Publishing in September of 2005. He has delivered presentations and training to emergency medical personnel, rescue, law enforcement, military special operations units and advanced diving professionals from around the world including presentations in Portugal, Thailand, Singapore, and numerous locations in the USA.

During his diving career, Mike has safely trained well over 2,500 divers, certified hundreds of instructors and dozens of instructor trainers, logged well in excess of 5,000 safe dives including over 200 to depths in excess of 200 fsw and participated as a diver in several expeditions including two to The USS Monitor. He originated and was the project leader for the Skin Diver Magazine “Sub Aquatic Survivor Expedition - 2002” which has become an annual media covered event. In the academic community, he has served at various times as adjunct faculty at six colleges and universities and was visiting faculty to the Scientists in the Sea Program VI conducted by Florida State University and the U.S. Navy. Mike was one of the establishing faculty members for the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society sponsored course for physicians: Medical Assessment of Fitness for Diving.

Additional accomplishments in the diving industry include being: the current Managing Director of Waterproof Gear, Inc – The North American Division of Waterproof AB in Sweden, the International Marketing Manager and Business Unit Manager for Dräger Safety, Inc’s, Americas Diving Division 2000 - 2002; the founder of SEAduction® Dive Services, Inc., a successful retail and training business in Central North Carolina; a successful independent consultant for diving equipment manufacturers; and an expert witness and consultant on diver training and equipment liability. Mike served as Senior Technical Training Staff and a Training Board Member for SDI & TDI from 2001 through 2004 and as the International Training Director for Emergency Response Diving International from 1999 through 2004. In 2000, his innovative approach to the industry was recognized internationally when he was selected for inclusion in the International Who’s Who of Entrepreneurs.

In the non-diving community, Mike has been recognized for graduating with honors from Appalachian State University, was selected for the Who’s Who of American Law Students twice (‘94 & ‘95), is currently working toward an LLM Degree in Admiralty and is an active supporter and advocate for veterans of the United States Armed Forces. "

 

[amascuba]

No, but I think one should have their facts straight. Twenty years ago no one was even teaching technical diving concepts to the general diving public. The term "technical diving" was not even coined until about fifteen years ago. So saying that TDI is 20+ behind the times, without evidence or personal experience to back up the claim, is without any merit or credibility.

To my knowledge, I have the latest and greatest versions of the TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures books. I don't have them on hand, but I think they were written in the 2000/2001 time frame. The material is those two books are severely out dated as there has been progress in decompression theory and a better understanding of how the body reacts to gases under pressure. Even by 2000 we had a greater understand of these topics, but the author either thought the newer information was to premature to include or chose to ignore it all together. I understand that TDI is making progress in updating it's class material .. maybe even the standards. I don't know anybody higher up within TDI to be able to say what exactly is happening to revamp their programs. I read and pay attention to what ever Steve Lewis posts on TheDecoStop.com because I believe he is a wealth of experience and knowledge. I look forward to reading the updated texts that he is working on and has already published. One man can only do so much in a given day however. Until the programs are revamped though, I can only go by what the programs are currently and from what I've seen of the two classes I've taken they are drastically behind the curve and dare I say vintage 1990? What do I know though? Like you said, I'm only 26.

 

[texdiveguy]

What do I know though? Like you said, I'm only 26.

If only to be 26 years younger.....no hair growing on top my ears and sore morning muscles--lol

 

[SparticleBrane]

I love it when people pull the age card.

 

[daniel f aleman]

I turned 50 yesterday - 26 seems like a million years-ago...

None of the materials from the agencies can offer "state of the art" information, as they are outdated from the date of publication. Instructors are always ahead of the material (see Bob's comments above) and instructors should be able to adopt necessary materials, as well as adopt necessary techniques, to complete training (like NAUI instructors can).

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Happy Belated Birthday! Has your AARP magazine arrived yet? (Those hosers are merciless, you magically get the rag within a week of the big day...)

 

[texdiveguy]

Happy Belated Birthday! Has your AARP magazine arrived yet? (Those hosers are merciless, you magically get the rag within a week of the big day...)

LOL.....I did get a sub. to the large print Readers Digest for me and the misses!!