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Hi all, I will preface these comments by saying that I have not had any technical (or cave) training, but have done a lot of reading in the area: The course structure for IANTD has, it seems, become quite complex (just wait for the specialty ratings :-) It seems to me that a more logical course structure would be something like: Recreational diving(air and possibly Nitrox I) - covered by all the mainstream agencies. Decompression diving (air) - IANTD, ANDI, etc. Mixed gas (trimix, heliox, with nitrox/O2 decompresion) - IANTD, ANDI, etc. This would introduce basic diving followed by the additional equipment and techniques for decompression diving followed by the complications of multiple gas mixtures/switching. Like most other commercial diving organizations, IANTD's primary aim is to be commercially successful. Hence, there is a strong economic incentive to cater to as wide a cross-section of the diving population as possible. From this perspective, the IANTD system makes sense (as it follows the undoubtedly successful PADI formula of breaking up the information into small, bite sized, chunks which can be assimilated by most people). I question however whether IANTD's aim should be to cater for this wide a cross section. I believe that technical diving should remain a small percentage of the total diving population. It is demanding in both physical and intellectual qualities and probably 90% of the divers I know should not attempt it (see Tom Mount and Bret Gilliam's book "Mixed Gas Diving"). Is IANTD trying to spread the net too wide with their approach ? Given the qualities of technical divers, I believe a less drawn out series of courses would be appropriate. As a potential consumer of technical training, I would far prefer a more concentrated approach. Maybe only a self-regulated club based system (e.g: BSAC, CDAA, NACD, etc.) should cover technical diving ? The main risk, as I see it, is the danger of people who should not be doing technical diving having accidents and giving technical diving a bad name (which could lead to government interference). What do you think ? What do the IANTD people on the list think ? I think there are now enough well informed people on the list to have an interesting debate. David. ______________________________________________________________________________ David Giddy, | Voice: +61 3 253 6388 Telstra Corporation, | Fax: +61 3 253 6144 P.O. Box 249, Clayton, Victoria 3168, AUSTRALIA | Net: d.giddy@tr*.oz*.au* X400: g=david s=giddy ou=trl o=telecom prmd=telecom006 admd=telememo c=au ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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