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Stan,
It's not so much a matter of agency as it is the instructor. 1) the
instructor needs to have a clue. 2) the instructor needs to have some actual
experience doing it. 3) the instructor needs to be interested in more than
cashing his paycheck.
That's not to say that the agency plays no role. They provide the
materials. They sanction the certification. Where one conflict arises is if
the agency provides poor materials. A good instructor will supplement them
with additional materials. A poor one will not.
An agency may force un-needed things via their standards. Examples being
things like "poodle skirts" for stage regulators, or rediculous tank marking
procedures. While the better instructors will avoid as much nonsense as
possible, some of these factors can affect their insurance coverage.
Another conflict can arise if the agency doesn't provide the instructor
with an option to not certify. An example (while not immediately pertinent
to tech diving, based on the rumblings in the industry it soon will be) in a
PADI course if the student completes all the requirements the instructor is
compelled to issue the certification. The instructor may not be 100%
comfortable with the student but standards state the student met the
requirements. (don't get me wrong... good instructors usually find ways
around this, but that is the way the standards read). In contrast, in a NAUI
course the instructor is not to issue a certification if they're not 100%
comfortable with doing so. (then again, some will issue it anyway, wanting to
be a "nice guy).
In the technical diving field choosing a quality instructor is extremely
important. The agency of affilation can be a bit of an indicator, but it's
certainly not the last word. I know that both NAUI and GUE are pretty picky
about who they endorse as technical instructors... i.e. that gives the
potential student a clue. To be fair, I also know some very competent IANTD
and TDI instructors.
There's a final aspect that is extremely important; the student themself.
A student that enters a course with an improper attitude could very well
leave the course with an improper attitude. Somethings are very hard to
teach. A student that's only interested in walking away with a certification
is likely to take much less away from the course than one that's there to
learn.
Nice to see you asking questions, Stan. Knowing you I'm familar with your
thirst for knowledge,
Bob Decker
www.SportDiverHQ.com
In a message dated 4/26/00 8:28:32 AM Pacific Daylight Time, trey@ne*.co*
writes:
> Stan Dilcher wrote:
> >
> > Can someone give me an idea as to how the NAUI blending course stacks up
> > against the IANTD one? I'm talking mainly course curriculum and training
> > materials - my local shop can teach either one, so I'm sure I will get
the
> > same practical knowledge regardless of the one I go with. BTW, if I ask
> > questions I hope for them to be reasonably intelligent and well
researched.
>
> > I got interested in blending and tank service when I ordered Vance
Harlow'
> s
> > book on equipment servicing and also picked up the Oxygen Hacker's
> Companion
> > on a whim. No, I'm not ready to throw together a rig and do mixing
> tommorow
> > that is over my head. I guess being an engineer with an equipment fetish
> > just heightened my curiosity. Knowledge is good, and if I remain
> interested
> > I might want to put something together down the road when my experience
> > catches up with my curiosity and ambition. TIA for any help I'm offered
in
> > the future.
> >
> > Stan Dilcher
> > Metallic Materials Engineering
> > Lockheed Martin Aero Systems
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