Understanding Tank Factors

By | Training

Duane Johnson - Tech Instructor

Duane Johnson - Tech Instructor

“Tank factors? Aren’t those things people should consider when purchasing a tank? Things such as size, color and buoyancy characteristics?” This was asked by an employee at a local dive store when he overheard me talking about dive planning. It didn’t really surprise me at the time as not many people have heard the term tank factor. The truth is, tank factors are a critical part of planning our dives and divers should have an understanding of what they are in order to plan their dives properly. [Read more...]

Evolving Recreational Scuba Diving Courses: Mentoring and Coaching

By | Training

Duane Johnson - Tech Instructor

Duane Johnson - Tech Instructor

As diving professionals, we discuss with our students the importance of continuing their diving education. Learning new skills to enhance their diving is a great way to keep people diving and enjoying our underwater world. However, continuing education must go further than just learning a few new skills. As diving professionals, we are supposed to have superior diving skills, we are supposed to be trained on how to present diving material in order to maximize student learning. We should be using the opportunity continuing education courses give us to help mentor and coach divers, not just give them a license to take another class. [Read more...]

Interview with UTD Founder Andrew Georgitsis

By | Knowledge Base

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. [Read more...]