PADI/TDI

[Freedive WI]

That new PADI card is quite restrictive as you can only use hte 32% mix while usig the PADI RDP air tables and need to have a nitrox certified instructor, or divemaster, along with you.

When I took my first nitrox class, from IANTD, we needed to do all the math and make the dives. TDI shortened it up to just the math and analyzing the mix- the improtant stuff. PADI added some OTU tracking, and even made a nice little chart to track it with. THis is kind of a step in the direction of the Advanced nitrox classes where you learn all about tracking. SDI. the TDI recreational spin-off, even has a Computer nitrox class that's shorter than the TDI one. I think that I even have a YMCA nitrox card around somwhere, but I don't remember hwat I had to do differently to get that one.

In the end they will all do the same thing for you- get you a basic nitrox fill.

If you want to start getting "tec" fills, like 50% deco gasses and pure 02 fills, then you need to take another class no matter which agency you did your initial course through. So that is a mute point.

It's been my experience that most places will teach the TDI nitrox course because its faster and cheaper than a full-blown PADI course, where you have to actually get in the water and dive- plus TDI offered all of us a free cross-over a few years ago which took the added expense out of it for the instructors.

Don't worry about the card you have, just get out and use it.

Jon