Technical Diving International

Technical Diving International (TDI) claims to be the largest technical diving certification agency in the world, and one of the first agencies to offer mixed gas and rebreather training. TDI specializes in more advanced Scuba diving techniques, particularly diving with rebreathers and use of breathing gases such as trimix and heliox.

TDI provides courses and certification for divers and for instructors.

TDI was founded in 1992 by Mitch Skaggs, Bret Gilliam and David Sipperly after a split away from International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD) in 1993. The agency aimed to provide training materials and education for specialized diving situations. Some courses offered by TDI include open circuit courses such as diving with Nitrox as well as Rebreather courses. They also provide training for overhead environments like caves and wrecks, mixed gas training and were one of the first diving agencies to create a comprehensive insurance plan for technical diving instructors.

In 1998, the International Training brand expanded their offerings by starting a sister organization known as Scuba Diving International (SDI) focusing on the sport side of scuba diving. In 2000, another sister organization was launched called Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) to teach public safety diving to public safety organizations.

One of TDI's main goals since its inception is to be an innovator in the technical diving market, providing the latest programs & techniques and altering the previously held perception that technical diving was too risky. By 1993 a few technical diving organizations had begun to form to prepare professional divers for technical diving situations and TDI joined the market. TDI created a training mission to shed new light on traditional diving limits while offering courses that meet the standards set by the World Recreational Scuba Training Council.

In February 2004 Bret Gilliam sold the conglomerate company, International Training, Inc. to an investment group led by Brian Carney.

Technical Diving Student Courses/Technical Diving Professional Courses

These courses are offered by TDI for both student and professional certification.