The BEST Tec Training Agencies?

[mikemill]

Why was PADI so late with a Technical Program....?
Why does PADI now find itself compelled to offer a Cave curriculum...?

The answer is simple - to sell more training materials...

By that logic any new class that any agency adds is simply because they want to sell more training materials.

 

[JeffG]

It is not the Agency, It is all on the Instructor!!

and that’s not 100% true either.

Some agencies have clearly defined standards and classes, but little room for "creativity" (Think GUE) and others have standards that are not so clearly defined, but allow a lot of instructor flexibility. This setup allows for some very incredibly good instructors, but also for some incredibly bad instructors. (Think TDI)

Agency has something to do with it.

Mind you, it rarely matters. Usually its the first instructor the diver meets becomes the "good" instructor and any instructors that disagree with him/her are the "bad" instructors.

 

[carrielsal]

This year I was in the same dilemma as I decided to pursue tech training. I decided on the SSI XTR training. The number one reason for me was the instructor. Another factor, which was not an influencing decision for me, is the books. The books aren't cheap. My understanding is that with other agencies there is a separate book for every cert class. SSI has one book with several chapters that covers all certs.

 

[Meister481]

Got any actual data to back that up? Or is it just the same old drivel that actually has no grounding in fact?

The owner of the shop I work out of wrote a Nitrox distinctive specialty, is was forbidden immediately and they told him they would never allow the use of that Voodoo Gas. 6 months later they had their own specialty for Nitrox. Soon after they did this they were threatening his 5 star status because he taught IANTD Nitrox instead of PADI. BTW: IANTD nitrox is a much better class, but we will allow the student to choose if they want to do extra work to achieve the IANTD cert. They usually choose PADI because it is better know and it's a shorter class.

Why was PADI so late with a Technical Program....?
Why does PADI now find itself compelled to offer a Cave curriculum...?

The answer is simple - to sell more training materials...

Once PADI saw that they were losing market share they changed the curriculum and became a driving force in Nitrox. The same is true with Public Safety divers, PADI is now pushing this aspect of the market because it is a sustainable niche within the market, and will provide revenue for themselves/shops.

It's all about market share! Naui is now for profit and is looking to take market share from PADI. The rep is constantly inquiring about our shop changing over and teaching Naui as well as the the two agencies we carry currently. I'm afraid Naui is a little late, but it's good to see them reaching out when some shops are moving away from PADI.

PADI is the world largest certification agency for scuba, and they are geniuses within the field. They know how to market and administer standards to try to make a class appealing and worthwhile to everyone who takes it. Unfortunately, Tech diving isn't conducive to rigid standards since it has been taught as a fringe discipline for several years. I will say that the PADI materials for the DSAT programs are good, well written and useful. I'm not sure I like their proprietary formulas, but it works.

Once again I'm driven to make the point that the best GUE, IANTD, TDI and PADI instructors will produce excellent Technical divers, so find the instructor that is active diving and talk to some students. If a student tells you the class was an easy pass, look elsewhere. A good instructor will challenge each and every student to instill the fact that there is a continual learning process.

Hopefully this put an end to the PADI bashing, because it's futile. PADI is here to stay and they are good at what they do, so you had might as well get used to it. They may not be the perfect agency, but they do support their instructors with the best support media in the industry. Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

 

[Rhone Man]

Arguably the most knowledgeable instructor I have ever met was Scott Christopher up in Seattle (the man is a real fountain of knowledge, but don't tell him I said that).

When we finished the course, he basically said (in not so many words) - right, you have had the training; which agency would you like me to issue your card through? Much to his chagrin I chose TDI. Same piece of plastic, but with another instructor maybe I don't learn nearly as much.

I see some logic to what JeffG says - I think the really good instructors don't find themselves trammelled by standards, but weak standards can sometimes allow weak instructors to persevere.

 

[Rhone Man]

Why was PADI so late with a Technical Program....?
Why does PADI now find itself compelled to offer a Cave curriculum...?

I actually have huge respect for organisations who can say "you know what, we got that wrong - let's fix it." Only bloody minded people stick to decisions which are later shown to be bad calls.

As the great Dr Samuel Johnson once said: "When the facts change, sir, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"

:focus:

 

[TSandM]

There are nuances between agencies, but they are similar as far as limitations and equipment requirements.

This actually isn't true. Having sat through an elucidation of the PADI Tec/Rec Tec program last night, I was quite struck by how much training (and how deep) the program has before it introduces any helium. This is one of the BIG differences in technical programs. Some agencies don't do any technical diving without trimix, and others don't do any trimix until the bitter end.

 

[mania]

Here is a link to the questions in Walter's post that I think you are referring to - this is a Sticky under the 'New Divers and Those Considering Diving' forum. They are generally oriented toward OW training, and may not be as directly applicable here - but are excellent, nonetheless. How to find an excellent SCUBA class

Many thanks! That's exactly what I had in mind (meanwhile Walter send me a link as well - thanks Walter). I still think that some of these questions are also aplicable to a recreation diver looking for a technical training.
BTW - I'm looking for years for a definition what is technical diving

 

[Rhone Man]

BTW - I'm looking for years for a definition what is technical diving

That will always inspire a pretty fruity debate on SB, but I always like the Wikipedia definition(s):

Technical diving - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Rainer]

Helium is very, very scary. Best to leave it for balloons.

This actually isn't true. Having sat through an elucidation of the PADI Tec/Rec Tec program last night, I was quite struck by how much training (and how deep) the program has before it introduces any helium. This is one of the BIG differences in technical programs. Some agencies don't do any technical diving without trimix, and others don't do any trimix until the bitter end.