PSA - Professional Scuba Association Certification

[carlthecat]

Hey all. I am PADI OW and nitrox certified and am looking into getting into technical diving (deep and extended time). I live in Orlando, FL and a dive shop in the area suggested PSA - Professional Scuba Association to get certified for deep and extended range nitrox up to 100% oxygen (100% O2 isn’t nitrox – just wanted to add that before someone flamed the post).

PSA’s Narcosis Management certification is setup in 6 levels which can be taken in succession but the preceding classes must be completed before advancing to the next level. The levels are:

I – 100 feet
II – 130 feet
III – 150 feet
IV – 180 feet
V – 200 feet
VI – 240 feet

The instructor I talked to also said I could combine the training with advanced nitrox (to 100% O2 - see above) to learn stage decompression techniques.

Anyway, I have a couple questions:

1) Has anyone heard of PSA or have an opinion of their setup and program?

2) Will dive boats (or other shops chartering the dive boat) accept this certification for technical dives?

2) If I get certified from PSA, will other certification agencies accept the certification if I wanted to advance my knowledge with a different agency after I am done with PSA (for example Trimix)?

Thanks for any and all replies in kind,

Carl the Cat

[knotical]

While I have no recent experience with them, PSA has been around for quite a while, and should be universally recognized.

[Downeast Diving]

Founded by Hal Watts in 1962, PSA is known world-wide. Not to worry. As for other agencies, you may have to see how your certification level integrates with with their training methodology. You should be fine.

Dennis--