Scuba Diving International

In April of 1994 Bret Gilliam and group of highly motivated Technical Diving Instructors formed Technical Diving International as the third training agency dedicated to programs outside the traditional sport diving envelope. UK technical diving pioneer Rob Palmer joined and TDI soon became an international success story. Bret Gilliam is considered one of the pioneers of technical diving. He is a veteran of the professional diving industry with over 15,000 logged dives with experience as CEO of UWATEC USA, Publisher of Deep Tech & Fathoms magazine and an internationally published author/photographer of ten books and over 400 articles on diving. In early 2003 the company was sold to an investor group with long standing General Manager Brian Carney taking over as CEO & President. All those that established and continue to work within the company are active divers and have been responsible for developing many of TDI’s & SDI’s training materials, manuals and standards. It is a business, backed by experience and a commitment to customer service, that is run by divers for divers!

We have always been known for our no nonsense approach to providing dive facilities and instructors with good service, sound advice and superior teaching materials provided at an excellent value. Change in the diving instruction business has traditionally been a slow process with few of the established agencies willing to be “first” with any departure form the “old way of doing things”. We led the acceptance of modern technical programs with TDI and continue to do the same in traditional scuba training.

We have examined every aspect of how diving topics are presented to cut to the heart of the material. We have also decided to be the first to stand up and say that teaching dive tables is out-dated. Virtually allactive divers now use a personal dive computer because it makes their diving experience easier, safer, and more fun. Why shouldn’t students be afforded the same benefit? In the SDI program, dive tables are presented as a historical reference on the way we used to plan dives. Students are shown how tables work but are provided a computer as part of their basic gear from the outset. This approach greatly enhances the satisfaction for the student.

Skin Diver Course

Scuba Discovery Program (Resort Diver Program)

This program is designed to give perspective students of minimum age 10 years an introduction to Scuba diving in a controlled environment under the direct supervision of an insured Instructor.

Future Buddies Program

This program is designed to provide children between the ages of 8 & 9 an introduction to scuba diving in a controlled environment under the direct supervision of a guardian or parent and an insured Instructor

Open Water Scuba Diver Course

This entry-level certification course is designed to give students the necessary skills to safely conduct open water dives in conditions similar to their training, to a maximum depth of 18msw / 60 fsw without the direct supervision of an instructor. Minimum age 18 (15 with parental consent) though students between the ages of 10 to 14 may obtain a Junior Open Water Scuba Diver Certification.

Inactive Diver Program Refresher Course

The Inactive Diver program is designed to update and review the knowledge and skill level of an inactive diver. SDI encourages the use of this program for Instructors, Assistant Instructors, Divemasters and Resorts or Dive Facilities that have questions regarding the diving history of an individual.

Advanced Aadventurer Diver Course

The SDI Advanced Adventure Diver Program has been created to allow Open Water Divers to experience a range of diving activities under the direct supervision of a SDI Open Water Instructor. The diver completes dives from any 5 of the non-overhead SDI Specialties. As this is Certification by Experience no Advanced Adventure Manual is required and each dive counts towards the individual Specialty chosen.

Advanced Diver Development Course

The SDI Advanced Diver Development Program was created to make truly “Advanced Divers”. Under the old way of training a student could take an Advanced Course right after an Open Water course and only have a total of nine (9) dives all under the direct training of an instructor. The SDI – Advanced Diver Development program requires a new OW student to take four (4) SDI specialties or equivalent, along with having a total of twenty (25) logged dives. SDI feels a diver will truly be “Advanced” after this is accomplished.

Rescue Diver Course

The rescue certification course is designed to develop the knowledge and necessary skills for an individual to effectively perform diver rescues and assists and to administer the necessary first aid.

Master Scuba Diver

The SDI Master Scuba Diver Development Program was created to make truly “Master Divers”. The SDI – Master Scuba Diver Development program requires a new OW to take eight (4) SDI specialties and the Rescue Diver course, along with having a total of fifty (50) logged dives. SDI feels a diver will truly be “Master Scuba Diver” after this is accomplished.

SDI Specialty Programs

SDI offers a range of Specialty Diver Programs designed to develop the necessary skills for an individual to effectively perform designated skills underwater. SDI Specialty Programs are prerequisites for the Advanced Diver Rating (4 Specialties) and Master Diver Rating (4 Specialties + Rescue Diver). Many SDI Specialties can be run by an Assistant Instructor and most only require two dives.

SDI Solo Diver Program

SDI released the industry’s first Solo Diver Program. The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards, and proper procedures for diving solo. The course focuses on self sufficiency, gear redundancy and self rescue and meets the needs of photographers and others involved in diving without immediate contact to a buddy.

Divemaster Course

This program is designed to develop the skills & knowledge necessary for an individual to lead certified divers in the open water environment. Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may assist an active SDI instructor during approved diving courses and supervise and conduct dives for certified divers, provided the activities are similar to the graduate’s prior training.

Assistant Instructor Course

This course is designed to have students gain practical teaching experience with an active SDI instructor. Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may teach and certify students in the Skin Diver course, conduct the Inactive Diver/Refresher course and conduct the Knowledge Quest review in the Open Water Scuba Diver course under the guidance of a teaching instructor and may also individually run many of the SDI Specialties.

Instructor Candidate Course (ICC)

The SDI instructor candidate course is designed to teach current Divemasters or Assistant Instructors with a minimum 100 logged dives the knowledge to safely function as an independent instructor. This program is broken up into 2 sections, an Instructor Development course (IDC) and an Instructor Evaluation course (IEC), run by at least two separate SDI Instructor Trainers.

Instructor Trainer Qualifications

SDI highest level of training is Instructor Trainer rating. Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may teach an SDI instructor course (IDC) independently and co-teach the IEC. This course may be taught only by personal assigned by SDI World HQ.