Which Agency

[Teller]

Before I start I know everyone is going to say its all about the instructor. Where I live I can choose from just about anything, SSI, PADI, NAUI, TDI. For someone who is trying to get into tech diving do any of these agencies have any pluses over another? Is the end result the same for all of them? Can one teach me to dive deeper or stay down longer than another? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ajduplessis]

I don't want to sound biased, but go with an agency that primary focus on tech. IANTD is one of them. I believe GUE, TDI and NAUI are also very good. I would not be to "obsessed" with depth at this time. There might be a depth limit between agencies during training (should not be a lot). Do the training and get experience. You can always go deeper once you are more experienced.

 

[tstormdiver]

I don't want to sound biased, but go with an agency that primary focus on tech. IANTD is one of them. I believe GUE, TDI and NAUI are also very good. I would not be to "obsessed" with depth at this time. There might be a depth limit between agencies during training (should not be a lot). Do the training and get experience. You can always go deeper once you are more experienced.

I agree 100%

 

[TSandM]

The way the curriculum is broken up differs from agency to agency -- go read the class offerings and standards, and decide which sequence makes most sense to you. One of the differences is where helium is incorporated into the diving -- some agencies will have you doing some fairly deep dives before you get any training to use He. You have to decide if that's okay with you.

When you decide on a class sequence that makes sense, look for an instructor who is doing the kinds of dives you aspire to. You don't want someone who has 200 or so open water dives, and his only technical dives are the ones he did to get his instructor rating (and unfortunately, such people exist). You want to train with someone who really dives, and has an appreciation for why rigorous training is required to do any diving where the surface isn't a viable option.

 

[waterpirate]

Without opening up a whole can of worms, just a 1/2 can. TSM is right about the helium. Divers are hotly devided over the issue of when to introduce he. You should read that thread and others to help you decide. I would advise you take a recreational he course for your initial tech intro experiance and then do not dive medium deep air. Remember adv. open water when you did a skill at depth and shallow to show you the differance? At 150 you can be farm animal stupid. The solution he.
Eric

 

[mk706]

After researching instructors and shops I settled on a shop with several instructors I really clicked with. This one shop has instructors for PADI Tec, GUE, TDI and IANTD. We discussed several options with the different agencies, and IANTD was the best fit for me.

Agree with TSM that diving deep on air/EAN didn't appeal. IANTD's curriculum fit my objectives and provides a nice path for continued learning. As for the shop, I went with Silentworld in Key Largo. I have worked with several instructors there who are all top notch. Cannot say enough good things about the owner Chris Brown who provided the tech instruction.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

TDI, GUE, and IANTD are all very good. I am more towards TDI because I am a TDI girl. But you look at them and talk to the instructors about where you want to go, how far, and your focus. Then choose the one or ones that really suit you best.

 

[rongoodman]

If you decide to go with TDI, the new(ish) Helitrox addition to Deco Procedures will let you avoid the deeper air/Nitrox dives.

 

[Rhone Man]

I did a gas blending course with an instructor about a year ago, and he offered to issue me the card through any one of a number of agencies.

I asked for TDI, just because that was where my other certs were, and because it is the easiest one for dive shops to verify online.

 

[TSandM]

If you have the option, see if you can go diving with a couple of your possible instructor's former students.

One of the things I am extraordinarily glad of, even though I have struggled mightily at times, is that my technical instructors have had high standards and have not tolerated any sloppiness of technique, planning, or thought. On the other hand, I have seen cave divers swimming with their hands, and technical divers who can't execute an ascent without hanging onto an upline. And if you are starting out, you really don't know what a reasonable standard of performance ought to be. I can suggest watching the 5thD-X videos -- your instructor should look like those guys, and so should his students (at least close!)