In May 2009, I had the opportunity to ask Andrew Georgitsis a few questions about DIR, UTD, and GUE. Andrew is the founder of Unified Team Diving (UTD). UTD is a new training agency that focuses on DIR training for both recreational and technical divers. Andrew was also the training director for GUE and created the GUE curriculum that is mostly in place today.
Andrew Georgitsis - UTD Founder
Most recently, Andrew has found a new home in the Bay area and is looking forward to building a friendly dive community while remaining committed to the UTD philosophy and providing students with diver education that is second to none. Andrew will also continue to pursue his exploration dreams around the world and provide like-minded divers with opportunities for unique diving experiences.
DJ: Given that there are other training agencies out there, some are focused on DIR, why did you start UTD?
AG: There certainly are other training agencies out there, but after many years of bashing my head against the wall for decent support materials that are relevant to the way I want to dive and teach, I decided to develop my own materials to support my own classes. After a while the word spread that there are DIR related materials available and other instructors who were in the same boat started contacting me to use my materials in their classes. That is when I decided to develop the first training agency to have a full range of good solid DIR related materials that support the students before, during and after class and more importantly support materials for instructors wanting to teach DIR based classes. So I decided to develop a full range of materials to support the recreational levels, technical levels, trimix levels, rebreather levels and overhead levels. These include power points, video, workbooks, gas planning and so on for the students and instructors alike. The power points and videos needed to be more than just outlines but needed to have voice overs and instructor notes for each slide along with the skills so that students and instructors using these slides could understand what is on the slide or in the video. The video’s demonstrate the skills with instructor voice overs to help the students understand what it is that they need to work towards. The say a picture is worth a thousand words. We then developed the highest set of standards and procedures to support the instructor and give them a guideline as to what is expected in each class and level. We also decided that there was a very real lack of co-hesiveness in the social side of an agency. Most agencies simply want to sell materials or c-cards or are designed to promote selling equipment that is recommended by that agency. I did not want any of that. I believe that the most important part of diving is belonging to a tribe – we not only dive and explore but we share our experiences with others that have a similar mindset.
DJ: UTD first came out as an accreditation body, why the change to a training agency?
AG: Initially my concept was to allow any instructor or student taking a DIR based class to use the materials regardless of their training agency. Instructors could still certify their students through their current training agency. This would meet the needs of community for good solid DIR related materials. As it turned out the training agencies pushed back and felt that it was competition to their sales of materials or promotion of a certain brand of equipment. So I decided to rather develop a training agency that trained instructors from the ground up to use our materials and teaching methodologies and therefore giving a more consistent instruction. This would allow us to ensure that we had quality control over the instructors and the quality of the classes.
DJ: Agencies such as GUE has it’s roots based on cave diving, where does UTD get it’s roots?
AG: UTD roots are based in the DIR community which is essentially based on cave diving. Although these are the roots and certainly the basis for our equipment configuration, UTD teaching philosophy is so much more. It is the next generation of DIR diving. We are creating the thinking diver as opposed to a protocol diver.
DJ: Are UTD classes, both recreational and technical, for everybody? Please explain.
AG: Yes. Many years ago while DIR was growing one would need to take a base class in DIR in order to get the basics and then would have to move up the ranks. This has changed dramatically and now with DIR being more widely spread and most people being able to get a basis in DIR more easily, most students entering the class have got a solid basis in DIR and there really is no need for them to start at the bottom. They can enter the UTD program at any level they feel qualified for. Of course, taking a class does not guarantee certification, but UTD instructors work with their students to ensure they learn and understand their shortcomings and where to proceed. Therefore all UTD classes and classrooms are standalone and comprehensive. For example, one does not need to take Essentials to enter into Rec 3 or take the Rec 3 online classroom.
DJ: What is UTD doing, specifically, to gain world wide recognition as a training agency? Will UTD ever become a part of the RSTC?
AG: UTD gained worldwide recognition almost immediately due the word being spread by the internet. UTD has it’s full set of standards and procedures online for all to review and evaluate. UTD, UTD materials and UTD standards and procedures where reviewed by an independent agent for the major scuba insurance companies. We passed without a hitch and therefore gained access to instructor liability insurance for our instructors through Willis and Associates. They are our agents for the underwriters of all scuba related insurance. As far as RSTC, although we do meet and exceed all their standards and procedures and requirements to belong to the group, they keep it closed to other agencies as they require that you be training students in for several years minimum and that you have instructors in at least 32 states. This of course would mean that we need to grow rapidly which is something we refuse to do. I will not sacrifice quality instruction and top shelf instructors for the sake of numbers to meet RSTC. In fact, other well known and highly recognized agencies such as NAUI do not belong to RSTC for a number of other reasons.
DJ: In your opinion, do you think instructors in other agencies can teach DIR classes? What type of background, training, or experience should one have to be able to teach a DIR type class?
AG: That is a very open ended question. In reality DIR is open source and just about anyone can read and regurgitate the information to a student. So yes, anyone can claim and say they can teach DIR. The reality is that quality instruction is so much more than simply reciting the information. It starts with the instructor’s mindset in their personal diving and then translating that to the student in a way that changes behavior. At UTD we not only provide the most consistent materials, and teaching methodologies and have developed the finest instructors, we also support those instructors with the most well laid out and robust “Playbook” that details out each skill and protocol taught to the finest point. This keeps all UTD instructors on the same page. We all teach the same methodology without adding some personal variation to the skill or protocol. The materials and the video also help keep the consistency, as does the community based website and classroom with open discussions from the students from all over the world about the classroom information.
DJ: GUE bases most of it’s training programs as a result of the work done by the WKPP. What type of explorations will UTD be able to draw from to evolve the future of UTD?
AG: GUE bases most of it’s training programs and teaching philosophies on the work I did as training director and I developed the programs they still use today. From WKPP they take some of the protocols such as 80% of the ATA deep stop, but in reality the programs are based on solid diving principles. UTD instructors and divers are very involved with a wide variety of projects world wide on which they draw their experience. These include most recently the Graf Zeppelin in Poland, as well as cave projects in Italy and France. But we want all our members and instructors to explore and share their experience and not just highlight one project.
DJ: There has been a stigma surrounding DIR. Do you think that this stigma or negativity will hinder UTD from growing? What will UTD do differently to distance themselves from this stigma?
AG: There certainly has being a stigma surrounding DIR as this was transfered from instructors to students. In UTD it is our goal to be very inclusive and open to all, and this attitude has being injected into all our instructors who then pass this attitude on to their students. You will find UTD to be an open community and members are very welcoming of all.
DJ: In the past, you once said that there is no DIR CCR. UTD is now embracing CCRs. Why? Will you eventually move to a CCR for your personal diving?
AG: CCR diving for the longest time has had a rapid growth with poor instruction to support the growth. This I believe has lead to the large number of accidents. It is my belief that we can provide a solid training program that allows one to safely dive a CCR. With the recent improvements in the equipment, a configuration that supports DIR, and the understanding of proper bailout with the skills and mindset to handle, then I believe CCR can be safer and endorsed by UTD. I am personally moving over to CCR as we speak.
DJ: Why should people consider UTD over other training agencies? What differentiates UTD instructors?
AG: UTD is unique in many ways, including the fact the we have a full range of materials that are all online for anyone, regardless of their agency affiliation, to take and learn from. We have the highest set of standards in the industry, the most comprehensive instructor support materials, a quality control process that insures students receive the highest quality instructor and probably the most important is that we have the most highly training instructors in the industry. Our instructors have all taken a 7 day crossover just to become a UTD instructor – we don’t do paper crossovers. This type of intensive instructor training instills a solid teaching foundation, with a good understanding of the classes and what is to be taught but most importantly shows a dedication from the instructors to want to be the best in the industry.
DJ: Explain why you dive.
AG: The passion for exploration.
Many thanks to Andrew for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer my questions. To find out more information about UTD, you can visit the Unified Team Diving web site.
Dive Safe,
Duane Johnson
Precision Diving
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