THE NEXT GENERATION IN TEAM-BASED DIVING
Oct 8 - UTD Symposium 1.0 Catalina Photos Added
Sept 19 - New Alki Reef Scooter Video
By offering NAUI training in addition to UTD training, we are able to provide a wide breadth of superior dive instruction of all levels to the Pacific Northwest.
UTD ITC/CROSSOVER - BUILDING THE FOUNDATION
In December 2008, Brian Wiederspan and Jeanna Edgerton were 2 of 9 instructors, worldwide, invited to attend the first ever UTD ITC/Crossover. Those 9 instructors, in addition to founder Andrew Georgitsis, former Training Director for Global Underwate Explorers (GUE), would become the 10 core instructors of the new agency.
The Instructor Crossover consisted of 9 grueling 12+ hour days focusing on the ethos and teaching philosopies of UTD, UTD course content and standards and in-water skills. Much of our time was also spent building the Standards and Procedures, Course Curriculum and the unique "UTD Playbook". This would be the foundation of the agency.
It was very important to all the participating instructors that we "teach the way we actually dive". We feel we've accomplished this with the UTD Curriculum.
WHAT IS UTD?
Unified Team Diving International (UTD) is an educational organization that certifies both instructors and divers who want to dive and/or teach utilizing UTD's comprehensive and holistic approach. While remaining consistent with it's roots in the Hogarthian/DIR configuration and philosophy, UTD International extends beyond these methodologies to create a new generation of divers. UTD believes a prepared diver is a "thinking diver", one who's keen sense of self, team members, environment and equipment enables him or her to reach their full diving potential while understanding and preventing situational hazards. This advanced skill level is realized through UTD International's innovative course structure, state of the art teaching methods, comprehensive student education materials, online learning center and classroom (online classroom), and rigorous teaching standards. This certification process is an inclusive approach that is accessible to all in the diving community while maintaining UTD/DIR/Hogarthian compliance.
UTD, or Unified Team Diving, is an inclusive philosophy that unifies the team towards the dive, ultimately improving the safety, conformity and competence of the team and the members and therefore the enjoyment of the dive.
Although the roots of UTD philosophy and principles can be found in the Hogarthian/dir equipment configuration and diving principles, UTD is the next generation of teaching and presenting diving principles that highlight consistency and unification within your team’s:
- Equipment configuration
- Dive objective and planning
- Training level
- In-water skill set
- Diving experience
The certification process is more an instructional path/methodology that leads the diver/instructor to a “Unified Team Diving” approach and ultimately makes them a “Thinking Diver”. We define “thinking diver” as one who understands the aquatic environment, is aware of the team and equipment, responds calmly to new situations, is proactive rather than reactive and enjoys diving for the sheer pleasure of it.
The advantage of seeking out instructors carrying the UTD certification is that by doing so you will ensure that wherever you train in the world, whatever course you take, you can be certain that all the UTD training you have received to date, or will receive in the future, will be consistent and compatible with utd/dir/Hogarthian approach to diving. This will ensure you are consistent within your team, education and experience, and diving practices.
To see a schedule of our upcoming classes, please see our Schedule Page
For a list of our UTD Courses, please see our UTD Training Page
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