Technical training

[JeffG]

In any case, answering a question by making broad statements about "blithering idiots" isn't a responsible answer ... and it doesn't contribute anything useful to the conversation.

Unfortunately, it is also highly accurate.

 

[El Orans]

Moved to Technical Diving Specialties.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Maybe Bob, you might want to ask how on earth Jeff and I keep seeing the same things, and coming up with the same names..........

Um ... hmmmm ... that's a tough one. Let's see ... betchya Jeff don't see a whole lot of tech instructors up in Edmonton. So where would he get his tech training? Hmmm ... Great Lakes area, perhaps? Ontario, maybe?

So Steve ... where are ya from? Would you and Jeff have exposure to the same instructors, perhaps? Maybe the same classes?

Just a WAG ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[String]

I am not familar with IANTD, but for TDI, some instructors insist that a student takes Extended range before trimix.

Its certainly not standards or an agency requirement. Quite the reverse is the current trend is to quietly retiring that course (effectively deep air) anyway. I certainly dont know of any TDI instructors that do that and know of a few that have actively told people NOT to take it as they dont need to do it.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Hello All;

I am planning to continue my training in the direction of technical diving. I was looking at several agencies IANTD, TDI and GUE. For what I have seen GUE seems to have the toughest requirements, which I don't think is a bad thing.

Besides the quality of the instructor would you recommend GUE?

Thanks;

According to your profile, you have somewhere between 50 and 100 dives and have been diving less than a year.
If that's the case, then I'd recommend that you not spend too much time wondering about which technical agency to use at this point, but rather get some more basic stuff under your belt - just go diving. With a little more experience you can better define what you want. "Technical diving" isn't a goal... it is a collection of equipment and skills tailored to safely accomplish something underwater. Until you know what you want to accomplish, you can't really drill down to what "technical diving" means for you, and you're setting yourself up for a lot of wasted time and money.
A couple of courses I highly recommend for every diver are Rescue and Cavern. Those go a long way towards making you a "good diver" and will help open your eyes & focus on which direction you might want to go. And of course I recommend my own Technical Foundations (SSI) course as the very best "jumping off" point... but even then I like for my students to have some idea of why they're wanting to learn the skills, so I can tailor the class in that direction
Rick

 

[String]

Personalities aside, the 'average' GUE instructor is miles ahead of your 'average' ABC instructor. Just take a look at what it takes to become an instructor for either.

Care to back that comment up with actual proof of how they're better than other agencies with their instructor training schemes?

 

[JeffG]

Um ... hmmmm ... that's a tough one. Let's see ... betchya Jeff don't see a whole lot of tech instructors up in Edmonton. So where would he get his tech training? Hmmm ... Great Lakes area, perhaps? Ontario, maybe?

(All the way to trimix...)ummmm...at least 2 in Edmonton. Calgary has 2 that I know of, but I think there are 2 more.

I've met a bunch in BC, a few more in Ontario.

We flew in 3 different GUE instructors over the last couple of years. A GUE instructor candidate is in Edmonton right now.

I ended up getting my training in Calgary.

 

[Steve R]

So let me get this right Bob, you agree that we both have seen blithering idiot Instructors that can't do valve drills, but that it's not a resposnible thing to say?

Why? because it's true?

We believe it is highly accurate, and actually quite typically of the sloppiness we speak of. By design it's all over the map, and is too inconsistent to hang your hat on in most cases.

Neither Jeffs instructors (plural) or mine are the same, save possibly one.

It's too obvious my friend.

I'll bet you've never seen a GUE instructor perform or allow a student to do a kneeling valve drill though, and call it the standard

lol

 

[Steve R]

Care to back that comment up with actual proof of how they're better than other agencies with their instructor training schemes?

Absolutely. I live in Ontario, call me when you get here. Nothing proves like water.

 

[JeffG]

Would you and Jeff have exposure to the same instructors, perhaps? Maybe the same classes?

No. We both know Dan MacKay. That would probably be it. I did bump into Steve Lewis once...shook his hand. That is about it.