The BEST Tec Training Agencies?

[Red Sea Shadow]

Adv Nitrox and Deco are usually done together, I actually had a hard time finding anyone that would teach Deco alone, and extended range is optional.

I teach Advanced Nitrox alone, mainly to people not interested in changing their recreational gear setup (BCD I mean).

 

[IDS_Bill]

Also to participate in a PADI Tec 40 class you should be holding one more license, which is the Deep Diver Specialty.

Not sure what you mean by one or more license but you have to have your Deep and Enriched Air specialties before starting Tec40

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Not sure what you mean by one or more license but you have to have your Deep and Enriched Air specialties before starting Tec40

By one more license I mean the Deep Diver Specialty. In comparison with TDI you don't need it.

 

[M_Bipartitus]

Nearest PADI/DSAT shop to me lists about ~$400, $500, $600 for Tec 40, 45, and 50. They also mention a small discount for the second two if the have the books already (presumably from the previous course). IIRC, their prices include gas fills, not that they would be that much pre-trimix.

 

[IDS_Bill]

Nearest PADI/DSAT shop to me lists about ~$400, $500, $600 for Tec 40, 45, and 50. They also mention a small discount for the second two if the have the books already (presumably from the previous course). IIRC, their prices include gas fills, not that they would be that much pre-trimix.

If you are determining your technical diving education by price then you need a priority adjustment.......

 

[M_Bipartitus]

I'm not, but it was a point of discussion above.

 

[Colliam7]

Case 2: You have an agency who is missing some things and could improve their procedures but the instructor says, "Hey, this is satisfying standards, but I would like to show you some additional techniques and relate some practical experience that I have picked up over the years". NOTE - you are NOT increasing the requirements to complete the cert (bad) you are increasing the amount of knowledge passed on to the student.

In general, I would view this behavior as indicative of a very good instructor.

One of the worst things I have seen lately is instructors who stick to the minimum standards to slip their students through. Sure the minimum depth for a final dive might be 120 but is that the same as hitting 165 and really getting the effects of narcosis, decompression requirements, etc? (Just one of many examples).

But, a very pertinent example in this discussion! It is valuable for a student to gain as much controlled experience as standards allow, not merely settle for the minimum, unless there truly are extentuating circumstances. When I took the Deep Specialty, we were diving a wall in Roatan and I remember descending to exactly 130 ft - the depth limit for the final dive, and hovering there. I wasn't anxious to go to 131, but I wanted to experience 130, to know how it affected me. Likewise on Dive 12 in Tec Deep, I went to 165' when I could have stopped at the top of the van (Forty Fathom) and easily met the minimum depth of 150'. But, I wanted to see what I felt like at 165'. I don't believe this is Darwin Award behavior - it was consistent with course standards, it was done in the controlled environment of the course (the instructor was the same in both cases and he knew why I was doing what I was doing and agreed). IN OW classes, I try to allow student divers to experience the maximum allowable depths, thermoclines, etc., to give them as broad an experience as is reasonable and safe. To me, that is a positive aspect of the PADI system. There are standards which must be met, but the instructor does have certain flexibility in providing an instructional offering that is safe, responsible, and valuiable to the student.

 

[Rhone Man]

Likewise on Dive 12 in Tec Deep, I went to 165' when I could have stopped at the top of the van (Forty Fathom) and easily met the minimum depth of 150'. But, I wanted to see what I felt like at 165'. I don't believe this is Darwin Award behavior - it was consistent with course standards, it was done in the controlled environment of the course

Agree completely. When I did my TDI Extended Range 'deep' dive, going down to about 165 feet I felt good, in control, aware. By the time we hit 180 feet I had tunnel vision and serious paranoia. Very glad I made that discovery in the controlled environment on the course with an experienced instructor.

Contrast that to my PADI Deep Diver specialty, where we hit a max depth of 78' and I didn't learn a damn thing about the effects of narcosis.

There are qualifications and educations, and they do not always overlap.

 

[Meister481]

A very good example of differences, Lynne. And, PADI only recently changed their standards to allow helium on Dive 12 (last and deepest) of the Tec Deep course. Personally, I suspect that shift will continue to evolve, and helium will eventually be allowed in all PADI Tec courses, beginning at Tec 40. But, that will take time.Well, not exactly accurate. PADI teaches air only to 165', which is deep enough, certainly. And, some would consider GUE's early inclusion of helium to be a major difference, not a subtle nuance. I do not necessarily, but it was such a contentious issue that it may have pushed PADI in the direction of incorporating the helium option in Tec Deep, on Dive 12 as noted above.

There are a number of SB threads that debate the relative conservatism of the algorithms used in different dive computers. Suunto, in particular, sems to attract more than a little criticism, some of it quite vigorous, on the basis of how conservative the algorithms used in their computers are perceived to be. In some ways, PADI is the 'Suunto' of dive training. They are conservative. They didn't move into nitrox quickly (as several posters have noted), they didn't move into technical training as early as some, they don't allow helium as early as some, only now are they moving toward Cave training. Like Suunto, they are not conspicuous risk takers. So, if someone wants truly 'cutting edge' - the absolute frontier-moving training course, they should probably look to an agency other than PADI. That is not a criticism or compliment to PADI or any other agency, and doesn't mean one agency is 'best' or 'worst', going back to the topic that strated this thread. Rather, there are some differences that divers should consider in selecting which agency to train through.

Thanks, looking at it in this light does show He as more than a nuance.

In general, I would view this behavior as indicative of a very good instructor.But, a very pertinent example in this discussion! It is valuable for a student to gain as much controlled experience as standards allow, not merely settle for the minimum, unless there truly are extentuating circumstances. When I took the Deep Specialty, we were diving a wall in Roatan and I remember descending to exactly 130 ft - the depth limit for the final dive, and hovering there. I wasn't anxious to go to 131, but I wanted to experience 130, to know how it affected me. Likewise on Dive 12 in Tec Deep, I went to 165' when I could have stopped at the top of the van (Forty Fathom) and easily met the minimum depth of 150'. But, I wanted to see what I felt like at 165'. I don't believe this is Darwin Award behavior - it was consistent with course standards, it was done in the controlled environment of the course (the instructor was the same in both cases and he knew why I was doing what I was doing and agreed). IN OW classes, I try to allow student divers to experience the maximum allowable depths, thermoclines, etc., to give them as broad an experience as is reasonable and safe. To me, that is a positive aspect of the PADI system. There are standards which must be met, but the instructor does have certain flexibility in providing an instructional offering that is safe, responsible, and valuiable to the student.

If the shop owner finds out you certified someone to 130 ft without taking them there, you're in for a reaming. This is the main reason I chose this shop to call home.

Agree completely. When I did my TDI Extended Range 'deep' dive, going down to about 165 feet I felt good, in control, aware. By the time we hit 180 feet I had tunnel vision and serious paranoia. Very glad I made that discovery in the controlled environment on the course with an experienced instructor.

Contrast that to my PADI Deep Diver specialty, where we hit a max depth of 78' and I didn't learn a damn thing about the effects of narcosis.

There are qualifications and educations, and they do not always overlap.

Once again, if you train to minimum standards, you can expect minimum results. I would hope the instructor would apologize to you instead of congratulating you.

 

[texdiveguy]

I have not read ALL these pages. But to the owner of the thread,,,,visit with differnt agencies and talk it up with the insructor. I found for my recreational through DM that PADI was good,,,then I got into technical and have found TDI to be good for me in my area. View my BIO for some course listings I have taken, I am not one to hoop around allot. It's all been quality and enjoyable.