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

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epoque

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Location
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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
 
Epoque - One of the reoccurring themes on SB that you will see repeated quite often is to take an instructor not an organization. When it comes to tec, I don't think this could be any more true. From my experience, the better instructors have developed their own course. It will cover the material required for organization X, but will go above and beyond in what is actually taught. Granted they'll pick an organization that they teach under, but that's really just the organization that your card will be coming from.

My recommendation is to start looking for tec instructors in your area. Ask for recommendations and to be honest, don't be unwilling to travel to an instructor if the reputation is that good.
 
Thanks Drice. I am off to Thailand and this is my chance to learn Tec since I will have some free time to start, while my girlfriend is learning OW. I really do appreciate that finding a good instructor is paramount as I caveated in my question, but hypothetically, assuming the perfect instructor (which includes chemistry) is available at all schools, which certification/agency would you recommend based on the criteria of my question? Many thanks.
 
Diving deep “just for the thrill” is likely to get a frosty reception from many of what most people would consider the best instructors out there. But then maybe a long life, or a long life without permanent disabilities, is not one of your goals. And who is to say? Hopefully you find spelling it out plainly helpful.
 
Listen to Drice! The agency is not important at all compared to the instructor. Find a great instructor and the agency will be accepted world wide.
 
1) I am most interested in diving deep just for the thrill/adventure/self-discovery/video with lights and learning about mixed gases;

That's not a very good reason to get into tech diving. I wouldn't take you as a student if you told me that.

We do deep/technical dives for specific reasons. "Just for the thrill" isn't one of them.
 
Epoque - if you find the perfect instructor, agency does not matter. You are taking the instructor's course, not PADI's course. My TMx cert is DSAT for the only reason that the instructor that I chose is currently processing cards through PADI for TMx.


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But hypothetically, assuming the perfect instructor (which includes chemistry) is available at all schools, which certification/agency would you recommend based on the criteria of my question?

Since the first of your criteria is foolhardy, the others are immaterial. Get a card from whichever instructor is willing to take you on and, if you earn it, certify you.

Once certified, be sure to tell any dive op and buddy that you ever plan to dive with that you're into tech diving mainly for the thrill. See how that goes over.
 
Oh goodness Carcharodon - get over yourself. Apart from commercial diving where people dive for their living, we are all diving for the thrill. Are you not? If not, then really you should give it up. I don't know what you imagine me to have realistically meant by 'just for the thrill' or if you are just nitpicking with the subtext being you have done more dives. Don't you find your post rather patronising. The thread above mine is someone talking about world records attempts - what are they for? The thrill. I am not falsely dressing up my desire to challenge myself for the pleasure in and of itself of learning and growing as a person by doing things that take training and experience. I do not need to pretend that I am diving deep for some profound reason other than joy iteself. However i happen to want to visit deep wrecks and overhead dives/caves. All of that is in the question - why do you try so hard to pick out one thing to create division instead of welcoming a new member and admittiong you get a thrill from a sport. Why do people base-jump or do any extreme sport. It does not mean they are wreckless. And anyway, who made you the police of why people should enjoy diving?

ps. You didnt spell anything out - you gave your opinion rather than a ruling based on what everyone thinks.

---------- Post added March 29th, 2015 at 08:33 PM ----------

Thanks RJP - I have been told that BSAC are good to learn Technical diving with but was only able to find PADI schools where i am going so that is why i wanted to ask.

---------- Post added March 29th, 2015 at 08:35 PM ----------

Guys - I just happened to see this quote on a signature on an Instructor posting on this board:

"The reasons for diving deep, like any thing in live. Can only be understood by those that share the same passion.

Anton Swanepoel"

BY the thrill of it, i mean the experience of conquering a challenge of mind and body.

---------- Post added March 29th, 2015 at 08:44 PM ----------

Thank you NetDoc - I did not realise that all agencies are accepted everywhere - that makes this a whole lot easier. I will now be able to meet some instructors and chat with them about what I am looking to do and go from there.
 
Tech divers only tech dive to be bored. /s

I get it. Going somewhere that few people go is ****ing cool. Doing something difficult is ****ing cool. Learning about all the stuff is ****ing cool. Mastering all the skills is ****ing cool.

****ing cool in AJ's language might be 'thrilling' in OP's language. It doesn't have to mean reckless or foolhardy.
 
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