certification ?

[LCF]

A lot of the instructors I know can teach for various agencies, and I think they basically teach the class they teach, and you choose the card you want. That was the case with my Intro class, where we went with TDI because the instructor said they were the fastest to get the cards out (and they were quick!).

There are some differences in limits at the lower levels. I think NAUI's Cave 1 class makes a great deal of sense, because it allows you thirds and one jump, which may be all a lot of people are ever going to want.

GUE is different; the GUE cave instructors, as far as I know, don't teach for any other agency. GUE doesn't break things up into three or more steps, and won't teach a zero-to-hero class, or a class for one student. GUE classes tend to be longer (five days for Cave 1) and have a mandatory prerequisite in Fundamentals. They are also very expensive, as cave classes go. But the instruction tends to be excellent and the standards are uniformly high.

I have cards from TDI, GUE and NACD, and nobody checking cards at a gate has ever cared which one I show.

[ffdiver5597]

A lot of the instructors I know can teach for various agencies, and I think they basically teach the class they teach, and you choose the card you want. That was the case with my Intro class, where we went with TDI because the instructor said they were the fastest to get the cards out (and they were quick!).

There are some differences in limits at the lower levels. I think NAUI's Cave 1 class makes a great deal of sense, because it allows you thirds and one jump, which may be all a lot of people are ever going to want.
.

That was mainly my point too. I found an instructor that I liked, I didn't choose him because of the agency he can teach for. But when it came down to choosing my cards thats when the little differences between the agencies came into play.

In hindsight, I would have been completely happy at the NAUI cave 1 level for a long time. But at the intro level, I feel so restricted (most likely in my head, my skills are what keep me restricted not the card) by the standards and by the end of my last trip, I wanted to sign up for a full cave class right there. I don't plan on doing 4000ft penetration dives with 15 jumps, I just want to be able to restrict myself rather than my training to restrict me. Does that make sense?

[Sludge]

NAUI and PADI both offer cave cert's. as does TDI.

I was looking through an old wallet the other day and found a NAUI Cave card from the late 90s. I was unaware I ever had it.

[undercov31]

I took NAUI cavern and cave 1, I liked the cave 1 class. There was no time limits and I could make 2 jumps or gaps and I stayed at cave 1 for 2 years before getting my nacd full cave.

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[RN]

NACD and NSS-CDS are both cave diving training agencies. That's the only type of training they focus on. Of the agencies listed, they also have a pretty strict process in place to become an instructor. Some of the other agencies don't have as strict a process. You will have a better chance of choosing a good instructor if you narrow the list to those on the NACD and NSS-CDS websites. Get recommendations from other cave divers, as well. Don't just ask for an instructor name. Ask for details about the classes. Remember everyone thinks their instructor is the best so a name isn't really enough.

[stairman]

I would have to agree with Rob. Its much easier to get an instructor rating with the other agencies. It pretty drawn out for NACD and NSS. Im sure there are many good instructors with them all though. To ask for recommendations on this forum has been done but to ask for them thru PM's might get more suggestions for those that want to remain anonymous.

[temrich]

Anyone familiar with the PSAI standards? Are they based off of the NSS-CDS/NACD standards?

[MORGAN]

NACD and NSS-CDS are both cave diving training agencies. That's the only type of training they focus on.

That's why I chose NSS-CDS. Plus I was an NSS member long before I got into diving.

I picked the instructor first - he could certify in NSS-CDS, NACD, TDI, and IANTD. But as he said, and I agreed, "Your cave certification ought to be from a cave diving agency."

Mike

[RN]

Anyone familiar with the PSAI standards? Are they based off of the NSS-CDS/NACD standards?

For cave class or for becoming an instructor? Gary Taylor is the current PSAI president. He came from IANTD, so the current standards are very similar to IANTD. As for becoming an instructor, PSAI has the lowest standards I've seen out of all the agencies.

[diveongas]

For cave class or for becoming an instructor? Gary Taylor is the current PSAI president. He came from IANTD, so the current standards are very similar to IANTD. As for becoming an instructor, PSAI has the lowest standards I've seen out of all the agencies.

Hmm..... Preparing a response forthwith......