World's Highest Diving Certification?

[Spazzy]

I was just debating with my girlfriend about what is the 'highest' or most 'senior' civilian diving qualification available?

Is it PADI's Course Director?

Trimix CCR Instructor Trainer?

BSAC First Class Diver?

CDAA Penetration Instructor Trainer?

If not then what is it?

 

[DevonDiver]

PADI's is probably 'Tech Trimix Instructor Trainer' (CD + Tec).

SSI would be the same.

Basically.... the highest rating IMHO, would be a mix if Instructor Trainer, plus high-end tech qualifications (expeditionary Trimix CCR).

 

[Scott L]

I would say without a doubt GUE's T3 & C3 certifications. Both course curriculum's involve exploration level skills...

Technical Diver Level 3 | Global Underwater Explorers

Cave Diver Level 3 | Global Underwater Explorers

 

[String]

Id say there is no such thing. Yes there are levels of qualification within specialisation but no "overall"

Yes a CCR cave instructor trainer is going to be bloody good cave diving in CCR. However he might be rubbish training people in 3m of water single tank entry level. Conversely a course director will be very good at teaching instructors recreationally but maybe useless in a cave.

An advanced trimix instructor trainer (open circuit) will be good teaching open circuit instructors but know nothing about CCR and vice-versa etc.

So its a pointless question - there are so many different areas requiring different skillsets you can't possibly say one is better than the other.

(other than it definitely isnt BSAC first class )

Most agencies pinnacle qualification is the instructor trainer. For every diving grade there must be an instructor grade to teach it and by definition the standards expected of him will be higher than the diver grade itself.

PADI's is probably 'Tech Trimix Instructor Trainer' (CD + Tec)

I thought they were about to reduce the requirement for that now to IDCS to get more people to do it ?

 

[Blackwood]

Altitude Diver


Joking aside, wouldn't it be Training Director (or equivalent)?

 

[Kingpatzer]

Being an instructor isn't necessarily a high qualification in terms of skill sets related to diving. In many cases that rating is about the methods of instruction.

For example, in the PADI system the IDC does not bring any additional dive skills to bear. There is time perfecting 'demonstration quality' skills. But having passed the IDC doesn't itself mean any additional skills have been trained. If a diver practices the skills learned through master diver (provided they took meaningful specialties) they will already have those skills developed at the start of the IDC.

 

[Walter]

It all depends on definitions. It's not necessarily someone who teaches, unless you are looking for the highest level of teacher. If you are looking for a teacher, it will vary from agency to agency. For example, in SEI instructor trainers certify instructors, course directors certify instructor trainers and the CEO certifies course directors. Other agencies don't necessarily work in the same way. In NAUI, course directors certify instructors, instructor trainers assist in teaching instructors.

If you're not necessarily looking for teachers (I wouldn't), then you have to define your terms. Are you looking for someone who is particularly good a buoyancy control? Someone who is top notch at cave penetration? Wreck penetration? Making extremely deep dives? Doing specific tasks at depth (construction, repairs, recoveries)? They are not always the same people.

 

[Blackwood]

For example, in SEI instructor trainers certify instructors, course directors certify instructor trainers and the CEO certifies course directors. Other agencies don't necessarily work in the same way. In NAUI, course directors certify instructors, instructor trainers assist in teaching instructors.

Who certifies NAUI Course Directors?

I think the OP was asking a question about "rank" as it were, not "who's the best diver."

To me, it's the people who certify the people who certify the people who certify people.

For GUE it's Jarrod Jablonski (director of training).
For UTD it's Andrew Georgitsis (training director).
For SEI it's Tom Leaird (CEO)
For IANTD it's Tom Mount (?)

etc..

 

[diverdoug1]

I was just debating with my girlfriend about what is the 'highest' or most 'senior' civilian diving qualification available?

Is it PADI's Course Director?

Trimix CCR Instructor Trainer?

BSAC First Class Diver?

CDAA Penetration Instructor Trainer?

If not then what is it?

recreational or comercial?

 

[Amphiprion]

Wouldn't an expedition trimix instructor trainer be the higest? I would assume that this would also be CCR due to the gas consumption.