I completed the TDI Adv Nitrox and Deco Procedures course 3 weeks ago in Egypt I purchsed the Manuals before I even booked the course so I could start learning the new theory and get an idea of the new skills/procedures that I would need to master.
Wow talk about disapointing the manuals were/are crap I was even given the latest version of the Deco Procedures manual but to be honest I cannot find what it is thats been updated except the way the manual is presented visualy.
However the instructor I had was absolutely amazing and she was what made the courses worthwhile the stuff I learnt from her made up for the disapointing manuals the discussions on decompression theory and the different software/tables availabe realy got the brain working.
And I totaly agree find an instructor that is actualy doing the diving that you want to learn about I was lucky in mine a world record holder "Women's Deepest Wreck Dive on Open Circuit" 160metres by Nina Preisner. Although I may be biased as she was also my Open Water Instructor 2 years ago
I would totaly recommend these two courses to anyone as long as you have the right instructor as the manuals dont realy teach you anything.