I have been meaning to drop you a line regarding my recent experience with my first ANDI Course (CSU/SWD) and one of ANDI’s IDT, Todd Powell ITD#116. As I mentioned this was my first ANDI course and I went into it not expecting much since all of my previous diving course experience was limited to a certain large, "Club Med", diving agency. What I received during the CSU/SWD course was over and above anything I expected from the course and Todd. Todd’s enthusiasm, professionalism, non-biased and knowledgeable approach combined with the in-depth and excellent course content made the entire experience very rewarding.
While I was somewhat skeptical about the final SWD exam, thinking that it was going to be a "shut off your brain and fill in the correct answer from the text" it was anything but that. While many of the answers I felt comfortable with, having studied diligently, there were some that I really had to work at and think about. It was an excellent process and I think very differently about it now.
I am now an ANDI (and Todd Powell) convert. While the learning curve was somewhat steep, I honestly believe that the difference between my diving abilities and understanding prior to the course and after completing it are truly night and day. I am a much better, more informed and safer diver. This course has re-invigorated my desire to learn more about diving and diving related activities. Most divers seem to have their opinions about things (courses, equipment, configuration etc) and one thing I learned very quickly was to identify who I agreed with and respected. This is very important in both saving money and safety. I now have great respect for both Todd and ANDI.
The courses are really "courses for divers by divers ". Clearly ANDI’s standards are high and the diving community benefits from this.
I am currently participating in the TSD and have mapped out a number of other ANDI courses that I plan to complete in the near future. I am very much looking forward to each one.
Sincerely,
David Gagnon.
This letter is to inform you of how I feel regarding one of your ANDI
Instructors located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. His name is Rick
Malone and he owns and operates UP Blue Water Divers out of Escanaba,
Mi.
I think that ANDI is lucky to have a guy like Rick. I have always been
interested in Diving and I have brothers and friends who are divers.
This year, I decided to pursue this sport. I called several dive shops
in the area (even up to 90 miles away). Some of them were professional
dive shops and others were people doing it from their homes. Many of
these shops were offering “cheaper” courses and/or quick courses, but I
chose Rick because is the only one in my area that works with your
agency. I asked him why he chose ANDI and he told me “because it is the
best”. I now have to agree with Rick, it is the best. The training that
we received from Rick was very thorough. We had over 40 hours of classes
plus the pool and open water dives. The educational books that ANDI
provided were excellent and full of useful information. As an extra
benefit, It turns out that Rick is a great guy with lots of knowledge
and experience, plus he has a great personality. Even though I am new to
this sport, I can tell that ANDI is a great Agency that strives to be
the best in the business by providing a quality educational program that
allows a person to grow from Open Water Level 1 to any of the more
advanced programs.
I am about to take Advanced Open Water Level 2 and SafeAir courses. I am
very fortunate to have a great instructor and an awesome agency that
will enable to me to develop into a professional in this sport.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to promote your agency
in my area.
Tony Lambert
VP of Operations
VanAire Inc
Please visit our website: www.vanaireinc.com
