What agency?

[Ari]

I am an AOW diver with an IANTD Nitrox certification.

I am considering the technical path and I was wondering what agency should I use in order to get certified.

Please bare in mind that I Live in Israel where only the big agencies have technical programs.

So what agency should it be? what are the pros and cons of each one?

Ari :confused:

[Bob3]

Hi Ari,
Make it a little easier on us, which agencies do you have available?
Also, are you looking for actual training, or just certification?

[Ari]

IANTD, ANDI and TDI.

I was certified as an AOW and Nitrox diver by IANTD. I know the guys there and it looks to me like they know what they are doing.

I would like to go through a training and certification program that will allow me to put it to good use later.

My diving club, which is naturally an IANTD center, has a lot of technical activities, mainly on weekends.

Ari :)

[HDrider]

Ari,
I used TDI. There were 2 deciding factors in my decision.
1. I know and trust a local instructor
2. In my area there is not much else to choose from.

This said I have not regretted my decision at all and feel that I recieved very adequate training. The materials are not cost prohibitive.

Curently I have taken Advanced Nitrox, Decompression procedures, and Nitrox gas blender. I plan to take Extended range, and Trimix as soon as my budget allows.

Good luck with your classes!

:book2:

Tom

[Texas Tek-diver]

Hi ya Ari,

Check each agency out and their instructors...try to get an idea of what the people teaching the courses are like.

I'm rather partial to TDI for my advanced technical diving, but the instructors at my LDS are about 95% of the reason for going there. They are extremely knowledgeable of the courses they teach and they're great people to be around on a social basis.

Use the agency that you believe will give you the best training for the level of certification that you seek. But keep in mind, the instructors are about 95% of the program.

I don't know if this helps any...best of luck.

[DPhantomas]

Hey Ari

Lets think about this together. I was start hearing about the TEK diving from Meduza, but then I've learn more and seen other companies as well.
Right now, I'm thinking of doing it with Snapir. They are TDI and their instructor (Felix) seems serious (but they all do to me), and a plus, he is doing the course in Eilat, four consecutive days.
I've been at Octopus(ANDI) and Buot as well.

Tell me what do you think...

[Ari]

I will contact you. I agree that it makes sense to think about this decision together.

Look at your email box.

As for the rest of you, keep those ideas coming.

Ari :)

[DPhantomas]

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8230

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8637

[Aviatrr]

Forget about the agencies.....the instructor is what makes the difference, NOT the agency. If you get a lousy instructor, you will receive lousy training. If you get a great instructor, you will receive great training. Don't let anybody fill your head with bull about one agency being better than another - it's all the instructor.

Mike

[maddiver]

Ari-

Look at the gue site www.gue.com and read over all the information. Their instructors come to you (you'll have to have a group of people that are interested but its worth a little effort on your part). My personal recommendation is that you find an instructor with experience in teaching diving and diving the stuff he/she teaches about. And not just a few dives. Your instructor imho needs to be near the top of the experience ladder in your area (like I said it may pay to expand your search). Instructors at GUE like Tyler Moon can certify you with multiple agency cards (ie TDI/GUE etc). So earn your GUE card and the rest come as add ons.

Tyler or Andrew would be happy to come to Israel to teach you guys (Andrew is Training director for GUE). Check out the instructor page and see all that these guys do both as far as teaching and for fun dives.



Originally posted by Ari


Please bare in mind that I Live in Israel where only the big agencies have technical programs.

So what agency should it be? what are the pros and cons of each one?

Ari :confused:

[PentiumIV]

Ari-

Tyler or Andrew would be happy to come to Israel to teach you guys (Andrew is Training director for GUE). Check out the instructor page and see all that these guys do both as far as teaching and for fun dives.


Andrew apparently IS coming to Israel... on 17th of October this year !
DIR-F + Tech-1 classes would apparently be set up :scubadive .

This is a semi-confirmed rumor :-)

[wedivebc]

I am an AOW diver with an IANTD Nitrox certification.

I am considering the technical path and I was wondering what agency should I use in order to get certified.

Please bare in mind that I Live in Israel where only the big agencies have technical programs.

So what agency should it be? what are the pros and cons of each one?

Ari :confused:

I would agree with others that the instructor makes the course not the agency. Having said that I have trained with IANDT, TDI, and ANDI. Each time I selected the course by instructor and have been happy with each. My main agency preference is that ANDI books and material are much more comprehensive and better written than the others.