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Training Agencies and Educational Tools This section describes what we have discovered from hands on experience with these agencies. The second part of this section deals with tools we have developed and offer freely for use by other instructors and students. Use the Agency section to understand the differing motivations of the agencies and consider what may be relevant for you. As an instructor, consider how you want to be represented. For each agency reviewed, if the first bold name is underlined, click it to go to our detailed review.
Background The diving Industry is still a relatively young one, populated for the most part by people who love diving and are figuring out how to make a business of it. It is not one that has attracted "professional managers" as a general rule. In the most part this is because the entire business is relatively small by corporate measures and the growth rate is fairly low. It is, by and large, a "mom and pop" business. The supply chain in this business is relatively straightforward: Producer to dealer to consumer with the occasional distributor thrown in to deal with small producers or dealers. This structure applies to products and in at least two cases, to instruction as well. In only one case is a producer of product also the producer of training (GUE). More complex shared development and marketing agreements that we might see in other industries do not exist in diving. When we look at training agencies, it is good to understand how they make money. One of the old sayings proven again and again is "Show me how someone is compensated and I will tell you how they behave." Rational businesses are organized so that individuals are motivated to achieve the corporate goal of sustainable profitability. Sustainable profitability also implies avoiding costly surprises such as adverse judgments in lawsuits. To the consumer of services of these businesses, it is good to see how they behave to get an understanding of where they perceive the risk to be in what they do. Our subsequent analysis of the agencies is thus divided into financial structure and risk management. Section 1 - The Training Agencies ANDI - American Nitrox Divers International 74 Woodcleft Avenue, Freeport NY, USA 11520-3342 (516) 546-2026 voice (516) 546-6010 Fax andihq@aol.com Formed in 1989 to promote the safe use of Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN), it has subsequently expanded to offer other training as well. TDI/SDI - Technical Diving International and Scuba Diving International 18 Elm Street Topsham, ME 04086 (207) 729-4201 voice, (207) 729-4453 fax worldhq@tdisdi.com The largest international technical diving training agency (TDI) acquired the struggling SDI and now offers the full range of training from entry level to advanced technical diving. NAUI - National Association of Underwater Instructors 1232 Tech Blvd Tampa FL 33619 (813) 628-6284 voice (813) 628-8253 fax nauihq@nauiww.org One of the oldest training agencies and still a legal not-for-profit association of dive instructors. They have followed the needs of the dive community with structured training programs and continue to have the most rigorous swimming and physical skill requirements of instructors of all the major agencies. PADI - International PADI, Inc. 30151 Tomas Street Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-2125 (949) 858-7234 voice (949) 858 7264 Fax The largest training agency, PADI is the recognized sales and marketing leader. Formerly known as "PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors", they changed the legal name when it was made clear they were not an association, but a for-profit corporation. SSI - Scuba Schools International 2619 Canton Court Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970) 482-0883 voice (970) 482-6157 fax Admin@ssiusa.com The second largest recreational training agency and the only one that always works through the dive retailer. It acquired the remnants of the NASDS (National Association of Skin Diving Schools), the only other dealer based training agency. IANTD - International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers 9628 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite D Miami Shores, Florida 33138-2767 (305) 751-4873 voice (305) 751-3958 Fax iantd@iantd.com One of the early innovators in the training for use of Nitrox, the agency continues to be associated mainly with technical training although it does offer entry level classes as well. GUE - Global Underwater Explorers
A new training agency growing out of the cave diving community in Florida, it has become visible beyond its size for the strong advocacy of standardized equipment configuration and intensive training for problem situations. Formally a not-for-profit organization, it has interlocking ownership with an equipment supplier, Halcyon. BSAC - British Sub-Aqua Club Telford's Quay, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FL United Kingdom 0151 350 6200 voice 0151 350 6215 fax postmaster@bsac.com A not for profit British training agency. All instructional staff are volunteers working out of the local branches of the club. Training routines differ widely by instructor but students tend to be well drilled on fundamentals upon certification. CMAS - Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques European Agency formed in 1958 to train divers and support research on diving topics.
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