TDI & PSA - Who are you training through and why?

[Fathoms Down]

Its been a while since the migration of some of the TDI heads to PSA and the courting by the PSA of TDI instructors so I was wondering, now the training season is in full swing, if you have teaching status with both agencies, who's courses are you teaching any why?

Does one offer better training that the other? Have you found one agencies training material's better and delivered more promptly that the other? Is the annual fee a consideration? Finally, if you are teaching both then will you continue to do so when it comes to renewal time?

Just being nosey

[tiewrapdiver]

Good question, as i'm currently thinking of doing my instructor status, and i'm know not sure who to go with, PSA or TDI.

[Decodiver]

Originally Posted by Fathoms Down

Its been a while since the migration of some of the TDI heads to PSA and the courting by the PSA of TDI instructors so I was wondering, now the training season is in full swing, if you have teaching status with both agencies, who's courses are you teaching any why?

Does one offer better training that the other? Have you found one agencies training material's better and delivered more promptly that the other? Is the annual fee a consideration? Finally, if you are teaching both then will you continue to do so when it comes to renewal time?

Just being nosey

The real crux is the Instructor, not the agency.

TDI courses, were from my point of view, well structured in the UK.

When the Christmas ruckus happened I found myself being invited to PSAI, I accepted.

The courses offered in the UK are written by Dave Crockford (ex TDI-UK) so the format is similar.

The options for students are there to choose which agency they want me to teach them through.

Now I submitted 5 certs for issue to TDI in March, I have not received them yet despite constant badgering.

All PSAI certs are issued the day after my fax arrives.

I will keep in status with both agencies as I have spent considerable time and money getting to where I am on the instructional tree.

I guarantee you that PSAI courses will be well thought out, will give credence to previous experience at course minimum entry requirements and will be taught by instructors who have credibility in the tech teaching field.

Not all TDI-UK instructors were invited to join PSAI, and some have been refused membership.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

[onthetrain]

I'm pitching at a slightly different level here...I did TDI advanced Nitrox & Deco procedures in Feb and my Qual cards only arrived on Friday....A 2.5 month turn around... Not impressed at all. My first and probably last TDI courses.

The training ws fine but the customer servicesucks if my experience is anything to go by.

Alan

[Scuby]

As someone who would potentially be looking for some training beyond BSAC Adv. Nitrox (when i'm not quite so bankrupt), I would say that from what I know at the minute I'd always choose TDI over PSA. Reason? Recognition! TDI are very well known, while i've never heard of PSA anywhere outside of YD. Not it may be just as well recognised by everyone who might need to know about it, but from my perspective i'd be concerned about doing training with PSA to find that I can't get nitrox fills up to my qualification, can't get insurance because the qualification isn't recognised, or something like that. I think, from everything i've heard of it, that PSA probably needs a bit more marketing and getting its name known and recognised.

David

[Fathoms Down]

Thanks for the info Dave.

Originally Posted by Decodiver

The real crux is the Instructor, not the agency.

I think we both know this but I was wondering how easy you, the instructor, find it to deal with the agency. For example PADI are very responsive and provide my students with their certs very quickly.

Originally Posted by Decodiver

I guarantee you that PSAI courses will be well thought out, will give credence to previous experience at course minimum entry requirements and will be taught by instructors who have credibility in the tech teaching field.

Are the courses not drawn up properly yet or are just the "core" courses available at the moment?

[Decodiver]

Originally Posted by Fathoms Down

Thanks for the info Dave.I think we both know this but I was wondering how easy you, the instructor, find it to deal with the agency. For example PADI are very responsive and provide my students with their certs very quickly.

No problems at all, very helpful, certs are issued next day.

Originally Posted by Fathoms Down

Are the courses not drawn up properly yet or are just the "core" courses available at the moment?

The course standards are available, ie Nitrox through Trimix OC and CCR as well as Advanced Wreck.

Dave Crockford has brought the excellent support infrastructure we were used to with TDI to PSAI.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

[Andy Mumford]

Dave Crockford will undoubtedly knock PSA in to shape as he did with TDI, I understand the concerns regarding recognition and I would agree that presently PSA is not as wide spread as the other agency in the UK but that will change given a little time.

I would suggest that if possible anyone wishing to certify under PSA should dual certify until such time PSA is common place.