Best agency for learning Tech diving - criteria given - honest :)

[The Chairman]

I find my diving thrilling, fun and often challenging. If I didn't I would probably find something else to do. That doesn't mean I try to push the envelope to get my adrenaline going. I'm def not going to hijack someone's thread, giving them a public spanking for doing the very same thing I do. I think it's refreshing that epoque is so honest in evaluating his motivations without a hint of hypocrisy. I think he'll do just fine.

 

[WhiteSands]

Hello - I am going to Thailand in a few days and can't seem to get anywhere by reading the various agency websites. I dont know enough to know what to look.

I want to learn Tec diving and can't wait to get stuck in to the theory as much as get wet. With the caveat firmly in place, that I realise all agencies/systems will have their merits, and critically, of course its the instructor not the agency alphabet that matters. Could you guys please help me decide (or put me in the right direction) on which course to take based on these three criteria:

1) I am most interested in a) diving deep just for the thrill/adventure/self-discovery/video with lights and learning about mixed gases; b) cave diving as a future direction

2) Where the qualification is most recognised worldwide (my thinking is: one might argue CMAS is a superior system for OW than PADI but nothing beats PADI to just rock up with your card and do a fun dive anywhere in the world). With technical diving being much more specialist, I would like to certify with an agency which is widely recognised wherever I go to dive.

3) My diving is mainly SE Asia and Red Sea - with one-off trips all over.

Thanks in advance for any tips

ps. I have searched the forum and cannot find a thread - sorry if I missed this - kindly post a link and I will read

Based on your requirements (esp. #2), probably go with TDI or IANTD.

 

[Wingy]

2) Where the qualification is most recognised worldwide (my thinking is: one might argue CMAS is a superior system for OW than PADI but nothing beats PADI to just rock up with your card and do a fun dive anywhere in the world). With technical diving being much more specialist, I would like to certify with an agency which is widely recognised wherever I go to dive.

You will find PADI cards will not give you equal recognition in French controlled territories - CMAS in French Polynesia, Madagascar, Mayotte etc will not require you to have a check out dive where many ops will require you to do a check out dive with a PADI card or depth limit you. Obviously at a tec level this is probably irrelevant.

 

[TSandM]

If all you can find where you are going is PADI instructors, and you want to do it there and then, you don't seem to have a lot of options.

When it comes to getting on a boat, or buying helium, my experience has been that nobody cares what agency your card is issued by. If you are intending to tech dive solo, it probably doesn't matter from a logistical standpoint.

Most of us tech dive with buddies, though, and it may matter to your buddy. If you have a steady buddy who is also going through training with you, that may not be an issue, but if you don't, you will almost certainly have to prove yourself to your buddy, no matter what agency issued your card. I know very few people and only one agency where someone's credentials will be taken on face value, to do a significant technical or cave dive.

 

[Oldbear]

I just did a Google search for "Tech Dive Thailand" and got a lot of results.

I suggest the OP does a similar search and pick as many of the listed training centers as possible for the region of Thailand they are going to. Once they composite their reginal list write each training center and ask for recommendations and any other questions you might have. Then ask SB about any of these training centers actual training and for recommendation.

When I have asked SB for recommendations in United Arab Emerites, Red Sea Egypt, Utila and Roatan Honduras, Seattle Washington, and the Florida Keys all of my recommendations have turned out to be with really great instructors and guides.

Give it a try and see what happens...but I think asking a specific question about a vast country is a little to broad.

 

[LiteHedded]

shoot gideon an email gideon@gue.com
he's in singapore and can teach you. he's one of the best divers i've ever seen and taught my tech 2 course

 

[The Chairman]

Where does Andy Davis teach out of? He's a no-nonsense kind of instructor I would like.

 

[Scott]

Where does Andy Davis teach out of? He's a no-nonsense kind of instructor I would like.

Andy is in Subic Bay.


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[boulderjohn]

I find my diving thrilling, fun and often challenging. If I didn't I would probably find something else to do. That doesn't mean I try to push the envelope to get my adrenaline going. I'm def not going to hijack someone's thread, giving them a public spanking for doing the very same thing I do. I think it's refreshing that epoque is so honest in evaluating his motivations without a hint of hypocrisy. I think he'll do just fine.

I wrote something along these lines in another post recently.

About a month ago I did two dives a few days apart.

1. Dive #1 was to a very nice wreck at about 100 feet max. I used EANx 32, which cost me close to what it would have cost me for air where I bought it. I explored for a while, and when it was time, took a couple minutes to ascend, did a three minute safety stop, and got back on the boat. I had a great time. After that we did a second dive on a nearby reef.
2. Dive #2 was to a very nice wreck at about 200 feet max. I used a blend of 18% O2 and 45% helium for the working part of the dive and both EANx 50 and EANx 100 for decompression, and that combination cost me a small fortune. I explored for the same amount of time as the previous dive, and when it was time, took about an hour to ascend, with multiple stops looking out at fellow divers who were also floating along doing nothing but hang out at their decompression stops, and got back on the same boat as the previous dive. There was no second dive. I had a great time.

So what was it about the second dive that made it so much more special that I was willing to pay all that money, carry all those tanks, own all that extra gear, and spend all that mind-numbing time decompressing?

 

[HungoverDiver]

So what was it about the second dive that made it so much more special that I was willing to pay all that money, carry all those tanks, own all that extra gear, and spend all that mind-numbing time decompressing?

Is your question rhetorical?


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