DSAT Level 1 vs. TDI Advanced Nitrox/DECO

[skdvr]

I am wanting to get into Tech diving and I am having a little trouble with trying to figure out where to start. I know that a lot depends on the instructor but are DSAT Level 1 and TDI Advanced Nitrox/Deco basically the same course? Is there anywhere that I can find a side by side comparison between the two. I have DSAT training local, for TDI I would probably go up to Chicago. In the DSAT explanation is says "This course teaches you to make gas switch, extended no-decompression dives using air and enriched air to 130 feet". What is extended no-decompression? I would assume that the TDI Advanced Nitrox/Deco teaches a little more since it goes in Deco procedures? I understand that the TDI course is really two courses that are generally taught together. I am just curious to what your take is on one or the other. Just from what I have read about DSAT it does not get real specific about what you get out of the class, or I guess I should say what you are trained and qualified to do after the course.

Thanks
Phil

[mm_dm]

Making gas switch, extended non-deco dives means you can pick a nitrox mix that works for the depth you are planning and then switch to a richer mix for the shallower portion of your diving when you ascend to a point where you can safely switch. You will not go into deco in that program or learn deco procedures, the idea is to extend your dive time by planning around more than one mix while staying within NDL. DSAT has a deco program, probably called DSAT 2. It looks from the title that the TDI combines both the classes, which was how I learned with NAUI. It was a progression from technical nitrox (using nitrox beyond recreational limits while staying within NDL) into decompression diving, all of it involving gas switches..sometimes just a richer mix for deco, or you could make a switch for the travel portion of your dive, to and from depth as well. Hope this makes sense...I'm still on my first cup of coffee.

[ianr33]

I dont know much about DSAT but if it does not include real deco dives then it seems a waste of time to me. (Just Googled this,looks like you need to do "DSAT Tek Deep Diver" to do real deco. Where do they come up with these names??! )

I did TDI. Final dive was 150 for 30 minutes with 2 deco gases (36% and 80%)

I like the simple progression of the TDI courses.

Another thing to check with the DSAT course would be what % of O2 you get certified for. With TDI you would get a card for 100% O2 which gives you more options.

[skdvr]

DSAT deep (level 2) is their Deco level, and level 1 is around $750 and DSAT Deep is $575. From the sounds of things I can get just as much out of the TDI courses as I would get from doing both DSAT courses at about 1/2 the price of the DSAT courses. I really think that TDI is the way that I would want to go. Not that there is anything wrong with the DSAT course just that I could pay actually a little less for Advanced Nitrox/Deco than I would for DSAT level 1 and get more knowledge (by the book) and certification.

Phil

[mm_dm]

I read the new DSAT manual from cover to cover and I found it an easy to follow, well thought out training manual. It makes all the formulas, procedures etc, very easy to grasp in comparison to the old NAUI manual which was, in a word, cryptic. There were some ideas in the book I didn't agree with, but I had to hand it PADI for coming up with a training manual that was so informative and user friendly. That being said, if you can save money without sacrificing quality I'd do that. TDI has a proven track record with their quality of training.

[Dive-aholic]

The TDI courses will allow you to do a little more...but that isn't always necessarily the best thing. By the time I took the TDI courses, I already had some overhead experience. The TDI courses allowed me to build on that and learn new skills and theories. DSAT should do the same thing, but it will run a little more money. However, if you have to travel to complete the TDI courses, you may be faced with paying the same amount in total expenses regardless. DSAT is local and will cost you $1325 plus books. TDI is maybe $700, but now you have to include gas to get you to Chicago at $4/gallon, hotel room for at least 3 nights, food away from home.

E-mail both instructors and get them to tell you about their classes. Choose based on that. I did like most of the DSAT book. I bought it and read it and found it a little more useful than the TDI book. But TDI has also rewritten many of their books since I did the course.

[CompuDude]

I've not been impressed with PADI's, err, I mean DSAT's "tech" courses.

Stick with TDI, which is a real tech company with a solid history. You need to do some research on your instructor, as with any tech training, but at least TDI has a proven track record, and makes recommendations that make sense.

DSAT has beautiful training materials (PADI is mostly a printing company, after all), but you'll get better information from TDI. Most of the good information will come from the instructor rather than the manuals, however.

[skdvr]

Thanks for all the info.... I am a ways away from doing the course anyway, but before I do actually do the course I will be contacting different instructors to get a feel for what will be taught and how it will be taught. There is a guy in my dive club that is going through the DSAT program right now. I will have to talk to him and see what he thought about it once he is finished...

Thanks again for the info...

Phil

[texdiveguy]

Heres my take..... I had both available to me....I read both DSAT's 2 training manuals and found them good....well done and easy to understand (I still have and refer to them as required). I did the same with TDI and the 2 entry level course books--Adv. Nitrox and Deco Proc.,,,again good information but a little less flash...but who needs the bling-bling! After considering all the options I decided to go the TDI course rought for many reasons (even though the instructor was an 80 miles round trip from my home). TDI has in my opinion the best technical diving programs going for the information/training and general budget keeping the diver in mind. DSAT's ....many of their instructors are new to technical diving and hince lack real-world experience which is vital in this path of training.....they have struggled to get any hold on the market as yet. 'Now' I did complete DSAT's Gas Blender training and found it very good. Check with both your instructors and interview them....its your training and you have to go with what you really feel is best for you. For me I am glad I took the TDI path of instruction, was a great move on my part and I hope to take a few other select programs in the future with a TDI instructor/s.

[ianr33]

Originally Posted by texdiveguy

....many of their instructors are new to technical diving and hince lack real-world experience which is vital in this path of training.....

Good Point!

Ask any prospective instructors what sort of diving they do for fun. (Hopefully they do dive for fun and not just teach!)

My deco instructor said his deepest ever dive was 450 feet. That seemed good enough to me!