Which Course to Go (Tech or Pro)

[Andy_W]

Hi All, been awhile since my last diving course. Currently holding iantd adv nitrox.
If you are in my shoes what course would you take next and why?

1. Continue to technical (which course?)
2. Go Pro (rescue, dm and so on?)
3. Take GUE or UTD course to fine tune and remain with adv nitrox.

I dive mainly warm water.
Thank you

Andy

 

[ajduplessis]

Go tech and do IANTD Normoxic or full Trimix Course. Cave will also test you a lot. Rescue is always a good idea and IMO should be a pre-req for any non-recreational courses.

 

[Ste Wart]

Personally I'd stay with IANTD, but I'm highly biased. The problem is though you are in an IANTD black hole. SE Asia is not the best place for IANTD. I thin possibly my old boss Ben is still in teaching status at B&J on Tioman (Scuba Diving in Malaysia on Tioman Island with B&J Diving Centre in Salang and in ABC) which is an easy hop from Singapore. Otherwise you best bet is Tech asia in the Phillipines (Instructors Team @ Tech Asia).

If you are based in an around SE Asia, I would recommend the Technical Diver course as opposed to Normoxic Trimix. You can move straight to full trimix from either, and personally I have never found the benefit of diving trimix in the favourable conditions of SE Asia (& the Red Sea); to depths of up to 50m, it's money down the drain. Personal opinion.

As for going Pro. If you see a future in teaching diving go for it, if not avoid like the plague. There's no point in taking a DM course if you're not going to use it and you'll learn more skills on your average tech course anyday.

That and dive-god DM's are PITA

 

[Andy_W]

Well said,
I'm in IANTD black hole and stay in other part of IANTD strong base. I'm working full time and I dont think I will teach any time soon. Eventhough I will consider rescue course.

Please dont flame me, due to my geographycal position; let say if I cross and took TDI course, which course to take "Extended Range" or "Deco Procedure"

A little bit background about my course; I took IANTD Deep Diver combined with Adv Nitrox previously.

Thanks

Andy

 

[DevonDiver]

If you're asking the question... I'd have to say 'none of the above'. All of them require substantial financial investment - and should only be pursued if they are a personal burning ambition.

 

[BluewaterSail]

I'm no expert, but shouldn't the order of events be:

1) Define what you would like to be able to do, or where you want to go
2) Find out what course(s) would help you achieve your goals?

 

[waterpirate]

I disagree,
Sometimes the thirst for knowledge and enjoying the ride trump any goal oriented objective. The one thing I concur on is the piles of cash needed to progress. That being said if you are in no hurry, or do not have a sprinters mentality, the cash can be drizzled out, not puked out all at once, with plenty of dives possible between cash outlays.

If you switch to TDI the next course would be deco procedures. There is a flow chart of sorts on the tdi website with several forks in the road.
Eric

 

[Doppler]

What an odd but interesting question!

Becoming a "dive pro" carries with it a strong possibility that you will NOT be taxed to further your diving skills. I see sport diving instructors who are unable to perform the basic in-water and risk-management and dive planning skills required of a technical diver. DM, AI, OWI training is more about business and logistics than anything else.

Technical diving is a whole different story... or should be.


I would suggest speaking to an experienced instructor-trainer (sport and tech not just one or the other) about your goals and aspirations before making any commitment at all.

 

[TSandM]

I think the real question is what you want from taking another course. Technical and professional track courses are really entirely different in their focus -- one set of classes is designed to develop your skills for a certain kind of diving, and the other is designed to develop your skills for supervising and instructing other divers.

If you, like me, just enjoy taking a class from time to time to learn something new or challenge your capacities, why don't you see if you can hook up with some of the GUE or UTD divers in Singapore and do some dives with them. See if the method of diving and the standard to which they are held appeals. You have access to both kinds of classes where you are.

On the other hand, if you have a strong desire to help introduce other people to diving, go with the pro courses -- but realize they won't really improve your own diving skills, except to make you grow eyes in the back of your head.

 

[Doppler]

Go tech and do IANTD Normoxic or full Trimix Course. Cave will also test you a lot. Rescue is always a good idea and IMO should be a pre-req for any non-recreational courses.

Just reading Lynne's response above and realized you are in Singapore!

I know a few instructors in Singapore -- all good folks -- who should be able to sit down with you and chat about your options. PM me for contact information.