IANTD courses

[Beanie]

Alright guys
I've been looking at technical diving courses (BK's link to Phil Short's website partly to blame)

Just interested to know what they are like

What stuff do you learn in them?

How much use has it been to you?

All the general stuff that you'd want to know really.

I'd appreciate a hand seeing as I know some of you are Tech divers

(Well two of you at least)


Cheers
Beanie

[Sakara Drinker]

I did TDI but it is very similar to IANTD. You learn very strict dive planning, the need to be at a stop at exactly the right time, your buoyancy control has to be second nature, you will learn a lot of extra decompression theory and physics / physiology. Quite a lot really. I found the courses very worthwhile for the information they gave me and the diving standards and practices they instilled in me. I think it improved all my diving, even just bimbling around at 6m with my camera as I often do.

The questions you want to ask yourself are why do you want to do it? And do you want to put yourself through it. If you do all the courses then it can get pretty demanding.

[Beanie]

Well the main reasons I want to do it are:-
-for the fun (duh)
-for the challenge (as above)
-for the whole quest for knowledge thing
-make me a better diver
-plus I really want to get into cave penetration beyond little swim throughs and caverns

C'est bien?

Beanie

[Sakara Drinker]

Sounds reasonable. Give it a shot then, I really enjoyed doing it.

[sira]

PM Gary A he is a IANTD instructor and I did my Rec Trimix course with him and he is a top guy.

[Suggsy]

Beanie lad, I don't want to dampen your obvious enthusiasm but you've only just done your DM from being OW or AOW when we went diving in April?
Personally I'd recommend regular diving for fun and without instruction to gain some experience. By experience I mean so skills, buoyancy, buddy awareness become second nature and doing dives you are qualfied for now are becoming boring. Entering into the overhead environment of a cave is no mean task, sure you could learn the skills, but are you ready to master them? As I believe you will not get a 2nd chance for an incorrect decision.
For inspiration just check out our very own dive god BK. All hail the BK, we are not worthy, we are not worthy.

[Jenkins]

Which course are you looking at?

I must say that my Trimix was BY FAR the hardest diving course I have ever done, both in terms of the accademic skills and the intensity of the dives. That said I wouldn't hesitate to do further training with the agency.

The MOST IMPORTANT decision though isn't the training agency but rather the individual instructor, shop around and look for recommendations.

[Bobco]

what she said

[air-guzzler]

(11-08-2008 07:10 PM)Suggsy Wrote:  Beanie lad, I don't want to dampen your obvious enthusiasm but you've only just done your DM from being OW or AOW when we went diving in April?
Personally I'd recommend regular diving for fun and without instruction to gain some experience. By experience I mean so skills, buoyancy, buddy awareness become second nature and doing dives you are qualfied for now are becoming boring. Entering into the overhead environment of a cave is no mean task, sure you could learn the skills, but are you ready to master them? As I believe you will not get a 2nd chance for an incorrect decision.
For inspiration just check out our very own dive god BK. All hail the BK, we are not worthy, we are not worthy.

Looks like i will need to take more interest in the above


But the one thing i would say is that any technical instructors would have serious questions to ask if the person is not capable of the basic skills to be demonstrated as if they where second nature

if you fancy a dip then im sure our own little dive god & his fat Buddha mate me would be only happy to demonstarte some of teh skills oncluding OOA, Valve drills, & Gas changes any others wanting to join us would be more than welcome

[Beanie]

I quite like the idea of you and BK giving us a demo and all that jazz AirGuzzler

Seeing as we all seem fairly agreed Bk is our dive god *all Hail*

I've got the whole of the summer to go around places

I would appreciate some guidance in this area

Seeing as I know no one who does it who I can natter to

Plus my local dive centres only do DSAT which doesn't cover the stuff I want to learn in the longer run


Beanie