Ted-

I got my basic with NAUI. After almost killing myself a couple of times 
due to the now laughable omissions in training, I read every book, 
magazine, post and webpage to try to learn what I really needed to know 
in order to survive atlantic diving. To get into nitrox you need a card, 
to get that you had to have and advanvced, so I took the downright funny 
PADI "advanced" class. Finally I had the TDI nitrox class which included 
a manual which appeared to have been printed on recycled toilet paper. 
Fortunately my instructor was Mike Hillier, who is a no-BS type person 
and an all around great guy.

Since then I have progressed by reading, watching, listening and 
experimenting. I refuse to take another course by some money-grubbing 
agency. I am convinced that I can learn more doing my own research then 
can be taught. Now I see that all the tech agencies are so moribund by 
bureaucracy and pig-headedness that they can't adapt to new concepts 
which every diver should be intensely interested in. Most dive shops 
require you to have all the bullshit nickel and dime courses, but for the 
determined diver, you can do an end-run around all the BS.

One of the absolute best sources of information has been from this list. 
Techdiver exposes the BS artists and shines the light of truth on the 
gutter rats. I am particularly grateful to George Irvine and the other 
WKPP fellows for changing my dive trips from doom-induced nausea ordeals 
to joyful adventures. I got rid of my crappy gear (lost my ass on that) 
and got the good stuff. When I jump in the water now-a-days, my kit is 
tight, and I am full of confidence.

Why couldn't 3 classes by 3 different agencies do that?

   Jim


On 9/4/97 6:58 PM Ted Green wrote:

>
>       Jim,
>         In my opinion, TDI offers the best approach of the four 
>technical training agencies in the U.S.. I am not going to say they 
>are perfect, just better than the rest. If you don't agree, tell me 
>which one is better and why (saying they are all bad doesn't answer 
>the question ).
>         BTW, which technical agency cards do you hold? Did you take 
>your classes at Sears & Roebuck or Montgomery ward. In your own 
>opinion, you couldn't be much of a diver since you learned to dive 
>from one of those no good dive instroketors who was swapping c-cards 
>for cash. Actually, you are probably one of those cyber divers who 
>posts a lot and seldom gets wet.
>
>             Ted
>
>> From:          Jim Cobb <cobber@mi*.co*>
>
>> Ted-
>> 
>> What I would like to know is why do you work for an agency (TDI) who's 
>> head guy is not only a fat slob, but is also a deep air laughingstock? 
>> Can't you trade cards for cash under a more reputable group? You know, 
>> I'll bet your the kind of guy who does level 5's with Hal Watts.
>> 
>>    Jim 
>> 
>> On 9/4/97 6:09 PM Ted Green wrote:
>> 
>> >
>> >        Jim,
>> >          As an expert, why don't you explain why you wouldn't teach 
>> >"gas management" and "self rescue" until your in a trimix class. Are 
>> >you trying to say that gas management isn't important on a 
>> >decompression air dive?
>> >     I can already hear you wine, when you fail the class because the 
>> >two other people in the class were better than you and you were the 
>> >bottom 30% of the class that was supposed to fail.
>> >     Of course it's more likely George Irvine will kiss Tom Mount's ass, 
>> >than you will get off  $1,000 for a course!
>> >     Tell me mister expert, how many more divers would die each year 
>> >because they were to cheap to take the $1,000 course and figured they 
>> >would learn how to do it from a video and a bunch of "techdiver 
>> >posts"?
>> >                Ted
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>Ted Green (owner)                
>Tidewater Aquatics (Dive Store)  
>Salisbury Maryland USA
>TDI IT #029
>SSI MI #178
>
>The world contains but three types of people:
>            1. Those who make things happen.
>            2. Those who watch things happen.
>            3. Those who wonder what happened.
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