International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers

International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
Abbreviation IANTD
Motto Leader in Diver Education
Formation 1985
Type NGO
Purpose Underwater Diver training
Location
Region served
 Global
CEO
 Tom Mount
Key people
 Dick Rutkowski
Tom Mount
Website http://www.iantd.com/
Formerly called
 International Association of Nitrox Divers (IAND)
European Association of Technical Divers (EATD)

International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD) is a SCUBA diving organization concerned with certification and training in recreational diving, technical diving, cave diving, wreck diving, rebreather and diver leadership. It is a pioneer in the introduction of Enriched Air Nitrox diving to the recreational diving community.

History

Dick Rutkowski, the former dive supervisor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), formed the International Association of Nitrox Divers (IAND) in 1985 to teach nitrox to recreational divers. This program was developed through NOAA during his tenure. In 1992 Tom Mount became the President and CEO, and the name of the organization was changed to the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD). The 'T' was added when the European Association of Technical Divers (EATD) merged with IAND. Billy Deans has also served as a director of IANTD. Prior to founding IAND, Dick Rutkowski worked for Dr Wells and was director of the diver training at NOAA. This was the first organisation to offer international training to recreational scuba divers.[1]

As it was the first program to offer certification in Enriched Air Nitrox, the company was kept at a slow, yet steady pace from 1985 through February 1992 with the support of Hyperbarics International. In 1991 Tom Mount joined Dick and IAND became the first to offer training programs in all aspects of Technical diving (Advanced Nitrox, Deep Air, Technical Diver, Cave and Wreck Penetration, Normoxic Trimix, Trimix and Rebreathers, etc.).

Qualifications

The IANTD qualification system was structured as follows as of January 2013.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Recreational programs
  • Oxygen Administration
  • Diving Medical Technician
  • AED
  • Hyperbaric Chamber Operator
  • CPR
  • EANx Blender
  • Trimix Gas Blender
  • LSS Service Technician
  • Underwater Theatrical Performer
  • Recreational Trimix Diver

Technical programs

  • Technical diver
  • Expedition Trimix Diver
  • In Water Recompression
  • Normoxic Trimix Diver
  • Trimix Diver

Cave Programs

  • Cavern Diver
  • Introductory Cave Diver
  • Cave Diver
  • Limited Mine Diver
  • Mine Diver
  • Technical Cave Diver
  • Rebreather Cave Diver
  • Advanced Cave - Stage
  • Advanced cave - side mount
  • Advanced Cave - DPV
  • Advanced cave - survey

Wreck program

  • Wreck diver
  • Rebreather Wreck Diver
  • Advanced Wreck Diver
  • Technical Wreck Diver

Rebreather programs

  • Rebreather experience
  • Recreational CCR Diver
  • SCR Rebreather Diver
  • CCR Diver

Leadership programs

  • Dive Master
  • Cavern Dive Master
  • Advanced EANx Supervisor
  • Advanced Recreational Trimix Supervisor

References

  1. ↑ About IANTD
  2. ↑ "Recreational Programs". IANTD. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Technical programs". IANTD. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Cave programs". IANTD. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Wreck programs". IANTD. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "Rebreather programs". IANTD. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Leadership program". IANTD. Retrieved 26 January 2013.

External links