NSS-CDS vs the world

[OFG-1]

Sub Zero, you sound like a troll. NSS-CDS has been around for 20 plus years longer than GUE or UTD (which still sounds like Urinary Tract Disorder to me). They have had instructors worldwide for a long time, since the mid 70's.

Once you get past that, your question is the same as asking if a Ford/Chevy/Dodge truck is better, when we all know that Toyota is. You are going to get the same type of useless BS arguments from the usual suspects that have strong personal feelings about their brand, and will take every opportunity to bash the hell out of everyone else.

You need to tailor your question to your personal goals. First, why do you want to cave dive? Do you want to be in a team setting? Expedition setting? Is the recreational for fun, or do you want to do long exploration dives. Is a rebreather in your plans? I understand that these goals may shift over time, but what are your thoughts, today? What is your level of financial commitment?

All instructors are independent. All agencies have a set ot training standards that you can view online, and you will be surprised how similar the core standards are between agencies, if you look at similar levels of classes. The instructor is, in theory, required to have each student meet the standards.

Find an instructor you like. Ask them for a pre class skills assessment. If your skills are poor, take a Fundies class. If you want to dive side mount, then GUE is probably not your best option. As I said, your training should be fitted to your goals, not the opinions of a group of idiots, like me.

[tbone1004]

From what I have seen the crossover is the weak link.

Bernot is overhauling the x-over process this year

[Brent]

Sub Zero, you sound like a troll. NSS-CDS has been around for 20 plus years longer than GUE or UTD (which still sounds like Urinary Tract Disorder to me). They have had instructors worldwide for a long time, since the mid 70's.

Once you get past that, your question is the same as asking if a Ford/Chevy/Dodge truck is better, when we all know that Toyota is. You are going to get the same type of useless BS arguments from the usual suspects that have strong personal feelings about their brand, and will take every opportunity to bash the hell out of everyone else.

You need to tailor your question to your personal goals. First, why do you want to cave dive? Do you want to be in a team setting? Expedition setting? Is the recreational for fun, or do you want to do long exploration dives. Is a rebreather in your plans? I understand that these goals may shift over time, but what are your thoughts, today? What is your level of financial commitment?

All instructors are independent. All agencies have a set ot training standards that you can view online, and you will be surprised how similar the core standards are between agencies, if you look at similar levels of classes. The instructor is, in theory, required to have each student meet the standards.

Find an instructor you like. Ask them for a pre class skills assessment. If your skills are poor, take a Fundies class. If you want to dive side mount, then GUE is probably not your best option. As I said, your training should be fitted to your goals, not the opinions of a group of idiots, like me.

Being a current CDS instructor, I was going to add some thoughts, but I have to say that OFG-1 pretty much hit the nail on the head, so having said that, I'm outta here!!

[sandy]

Being a current CDS instructor, I was going to add some thoughts, but I have to say that OFG-1 pretty much hit the nail on the head, so having said that, I'm outta here!!

Plus, you have to give a lot of respect to someone using Lewis Grizzard as their avatar!

[Brent]

Plus, you have to give a lot of respect to someone using Lewis Grizzard as their avatar!

Excellent point!!

[diver42]

Find an instructor you like. Ask them for a pre class skills assessment. If your skills are poor, take a Fundies class. If you want to dive side mount, then GUE is probably not your best option. As I said, your training should be fitted to your goals, not the opinions of a group of idiots, like me.

I wouldn't expect that to be true for very long.

[Jack Hammer]

The CDS has some great instructors, do your research if that is the agency you prefer. OFG made some excellent points.

GUE Fundamentals is an excellent primer into the basic skills ALL cave and tech divers should have, regardless of how they choose to progress afterwards. I have various levels of Tech, Cave, up to Cave DPV training through multiple agencies, Fundies was the most challenging class overall for me and set a great foundation to help me focus on the important aspects for the other courses I've taken since.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[bigdave]

NSS-CDS has been around for 20 plus years longer than GUE or UTD (which still sounds like Urinary Tract Disorder to me). They have had instructors worldwide for a long time, since the mid 70's.

This. I am continually amazed at the lack of respect for the agencies that pioneered training for cave diving. In the 70s, cave diving training was developed to address fatalities and introduce safe techniques. You didn't train for the sake of training itself, pretty cards, or the cachet of an training organization that is perceived to be prestigious or "better."

You trained to dive caves. People were only interested in who your instructor was.

Now there's a lot of money and ego on the line.

[MORGAN]

...who your instructor was.

Still far more important than which agency prints your card.

[bamafan]

This. I am continually amazed at the lack of respect for the agencies that pioneered training for cave diving. In the 70s, cave diving training was developed to address fatalities and introduce safe techniques. You didn't train for the sake of training itself, pretty cards, or the cachet of an training organization that is perceived to be prestigious or "better."

You trained to dive caves. People were only interested in who your instructor was.

Now there's a lot of money and ego on the line.

Other than nostalgia what advantage does training with the CDS offer over any other agency? I honestly don't see one and think that offering training that is not far superior to any other agency causes conflicts of interest with the other goals of the CDS. I sincerely believe the CDS and cave community would be better served if the CDS was no longer in the training business.