American Nitrox Divers International
{{short description| Recreational diver training and certification agency }}
{{Other uses|Andi (disambiguation){{!}}Andi}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = American Nitrox Divers International
|image = American Nitrox Divers International (logo).png
|alt = ANDI logo
|abbreviation = ANDI
|formation = 1988
|type = NGO
|headquarters = Freeport, New York
|location = 74 Woodcleft Avenue Freeport
New York 11520-3342
|coords =
|region_served = World wide
|membership =
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = Ed Betts
|leader_title2 =
|leader_name2 =
|budget =
|num_staff =
|num_volunteers =
|website = {{URL| http://www.andihq.com}}
}}
American Nitrox Divers International (or ANDI) was founded by Ed Betts and Dick Rutkowski in 1988.
ANDI has since expanded to include offices in The United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, Sweden, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Greece, Japan, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Philippines, Latin America, Middle East, with its home office in the United States of America.{{cite web|url=http://www.andihq.com/pages/intro.html|title=Introduction to ANDI|access-date=December 7, 2007|publisher=American Nitrox Divers International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212103307/http://www.andihq.com/pages/intro.html|archive-date=December 12, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy}}
"SafeAir" is ANDI's term of art for breathing mixtures with extra oxygen added that are commonly known as nitrox or Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN).{{cite book|author=Jeffrey H. Rudell|title=Bends Explained: How to Plan a Safe Dive|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ucH2GT3o5KUC&pg=PA51|date=July 2009|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-1-4401-5330-3|pages=51–}}
Origins and history
ANDI was founded by Ed Betts and Dick Rutkowski in 1988 for the following purpose - "to standardize Instructor Training, Sport Diver Training, and refill station dispensing procedures for Enriched Air Nitrox diving."{{cite web |url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/about-andi/history |title=ANDI History and Origins |year=2015 |website=ANDI |access-date=July 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623014142/http://www.andihq.com/index.php/about-andi/history |archive-date=June 23, 2016}}{{cite book|author1=Bret Gilliam|author2=Robert Von Maier|author3=Darren Webb|title=Deep Diving: An Advanced Guide to Physiology, Procedures and Systems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVbjgdorRXAC&pg=PA313|date=January 1995|publisher=Aqua Quest Publications, Inc.|isbn=978-0-922769-31-5|pages=313–}} It is one of the first diver training organisations to specialize in technical diving and in the delivery of training for the use of nitrox.{{cite book|author1=Ghazali Musa|author2=Kay Dimmock|title=Scuba Diving Tourism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-lo9T64dGSwC&pg=PA22|date=June 26, 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-32494-9|pages=22–23}} Between the years 1989 and 2000, ANDI is reported by the Divers Alert Network as certifying 49,118 divers out of a global total of 233,798 in the use of nitrox along with the certification of 3,196 instructors (out of a global total of 32,924) to specifically teach nitrox.{{cite conference |last=M.A. |first=Lang |year=2001 |editor1-last=Lang |editor1-first=M.A. |title=DAN Nitrox Workshop Proceedings. |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4855 |conference=DAN Nitrox Workshop |location=Durham, NC |publisher=Divers Alert Network |pages=65–68 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024235442/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4855 |archive-date=October 24, 2008 |access-date=July 28, 2016 |url-status=}}
Certification
ANDI offers training programs for recreational diving, use of nitrox, technical diving (including rebreather), gas blending, equipment service, diver first aid and hyperbaric chamber personnel.{{cite web |title=Courses |publisher=ANDI |url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings |access-date=July 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816171435/http://andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }} Each program is identified by “a three-letter course code”. Programs specific to diver training are also classified by a “Level of Training” in order to “differentiate the programs and their scope of training” with Level 1 (L1) being “an introductory program for new divers or divers-in-training” while Level 5 (L5) is used for the highest level of training, i.e. “exploration courses" that "involve the use of other inert gases".{{cite conference |last=Betts |first=E |year=2001 |editor-last=Lang |editor-first=MA |title=ANDI SafeAir Training |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4855 |conference=DAN Nitrox Workshop Proceedings |location=Durham, NC |publisher=Divers Alert Network |pages=31–32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024235442/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4855 |archive-date=October 24, 2008 |access-date=July 28, 2016 |url-status=}}
=Open Water certification=
- Introductory Scuba Experience - ISE{{cite web|url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/open-water|title=Recreational Open Water Diver Ratings|last=Staff|year=2015|publisher=ANDI|access-date=July 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828202343/http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/open-water|archive-date=August 28, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- ANDI Surface Diver - ASD
- Confined Environment Diver - CED
- Junior Sport Diver - (L1) JSD
- Open Water Sport Diver - (L1) OWD
- Ocean Scuba Diver-L2 OSD
- Ocean Diver - (L2) OCD
- Ocean Adventurer - (L2) OCA
- Advanced Open Water Diver - (L2) AOW
- Ocean Explorer - (L2) OCE
- Expert Scuba Diver - (L2) ESD
- Ocean Expert Explorer - (L2) OEE
- Rescue Diver - (L2) RSD
- Openwater Divemaster - (L2) CDM
- Assistant Instructor - (L2) ASI
- Open Water Instructor - (L1&2) OWI
- Advanced Openwater Instructor - AOWI
- Master Instructor - (L2) MSI
=Specialty certification=
=SafeAir (Nitrox) certification=
- Limited SafeAir User - (L1) LSU{{cite web|url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/safeair-nitrox|title=SafeAir Nitrox Ratings|last=Staff|year=2015|publisher=ANDI|access-date=July 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823205237/http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/safeair-nitrox|archive-date=August 23, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Complete SafeAir User - (L2) CSU
- SafeAir Instructor - (L1 & 2) LSI & CSI
- SafeAir Wreck Diver - (L2) SWD
- Altitude Diver Specialty - (L2) ALD
- Specialty Instructor - (L2)
- SafeAir Divemaster - (L2) SDM
- Cavern Diver - (L2) CVN
- Cavern Diver Instructor - (L2) CVI
=Technical certification=
- Technical SafeAir Diver - (L3) TSD{{cite web|url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/technical-and-exploration|title=Technical and Exploration Ratings|last=Staff|year=2015|publisher=ANDI|access-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802001820/http://andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/technical-and-exploration|archive-date=August 2, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Technical Tri-Mix Diver - (L3) TTM
- Solo Diver - (L3) SLD
- Technical Wreck Diver - (L3) TWD
- Technical SafeAir Instructor - (L3) TSI
- Technical Instructor (Specialty) - (L3)
- Technical Divemaster - (L3) TDM
- Cave Diver (L3) CAV
- Cave Diver Instructor - (L3) CAI
=Exploration certification=
- Extended Range Diver - (L4) ERD
- Extended Range Instructor - (L4) ERI
- Intermediate Tri-Mix Diver - (L5) ITM
- Tri-Mix Diver - (L5) TMD
- Exploration Divemaster - (L4 & 5) EDM
- Tri-Mix Instructor - (L5) TMI
- Cave Explorer - (L4) CVX
- Cave Explorer Instructor - (L4) CXI
- Cave Explorer - (L5) CVX
- Cave Explorer Instructor - (L5) CXI
=Rebreather certification=
- Rebreather Intro - (L1) ICC{{cite web|url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/rebreather|title=Rebreather Ratings|last=Staff|year=2015|publisher=ANDI|access-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823205153/http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/rebreather|archive-date=August 23, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Rebreather Diver - (L2) CCR
- Rebreather Diver - (L2) SCR
- Technical Rebreather Diver - (L3) TRD
- Rebreather Explorer - (L5) ERE
- Rebreather Instructor - (L1&2) RBI Technical Rebreather Instructor - (L3) TRI
- Exploration Rebreather Inst. - (L5) XRI
=Technician certification=
- Gas Blender - CGB{{cite web|url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/gas-blender-technician|title=Gas Blender and Technician Ratings|last=Staff|year=2015|publisher=ANDI|access-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823205148/http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/gas-blender-technician|archive-date=August 23, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Advanced Gas Blender - AGB
- Gas Blender Instructor - GBI
- Breathing Gas Dispenser Tech - BDT
- Breathing Gas Maintenance Tech - BMT
- SafeAir Service Technician - CST
- Service Technician Instructor - STI
- Eddy Current Tech - ECT
- Cylinder Inspection Technician - CIT
- Apprentice Service Technician - AST
- Professional Service Technician - PST
- Senior Service Technician - SST
- Master Service Technician - MST
=Dive Medic certification=
- Oxygen Administration Provider - OXP{{cite web|url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/dive-medic-and-hyperbaric|title=Dive Medic and Hyperbaric Ratings|last=Staff|year=2015|publisher=ANDI|access-date=31 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828211404/http://www.andihq.com/index.php/courses/ratings/dive-medic-and-hyperbaric|archive-date=August 28, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Oxygen Administration Instructor - OXI
- CPR Provider - CPR
- CPR Instructor - CPI
- First Aid Provider - FAP
- First Responder - FRS
- Dive Medic - DMD
- Dive Medic Instructor - DMI
=Hyperbarics certification=
- Hyperbaric Chamber Awareness - HCA: Introductory background on chamber applications.{{cite web|url=http://www.andihq.com/index.php/hyperbaric/hyperbaric-ratings|title=Hyperbaric ratings|last=Staff|year=2015|publisher=ANDI|access-date=July 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702004810/http://andihq.com/index.php/hyperbaric/hyperbaric-ratings|archive-date=July 2, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Hyperbaric Chamber Tender - HCT: Basic theory and procedures of hyperbaric chamber operation to assist a qualified chamber operator in a clinical environment.
- Hyperbaric Chamber Operator - HCO (3 levels): Unit-specific chamber operation skills and the necessary theoretical background.
- Certified Hyperbaric Technician - CHT: Practical and theoretical chamber related equipment maintenance and operation skills.
- Hyperbaric Chamber Operator Instructor - HCI
Recognition
ANDI obtained CEN certification from the EUF certification body in 2005.{{cite web|title=EUF Certified Training Systems/Training Organisations |url=https://certificates.austrian-standards.at/EUF_training_systems?locale=en |publisher=EUF Certification International|date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=May 12, 2016}}
ANDI ratings for recreational diving supervision and instruction are recognized by the Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom as of 2015.
ANDI is recognized as a technical diving organisation by the Chamber of Diving and Watersports in Egypt as of 2016.{{cite web |title= Training Agencies (recognised by the CDWS) |url= http://www.cdws.travel/diving/training-agencies |publisher= The Chamber of Diving and Watersports (Egypt) |access-date= July 29, 2016 |archive-date= November 18, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224742/http://www.cdws.travel/diving/training-agencies |url-status= dead }}
See also
- {{annotated link|List of diver certification organizations}}
References
External links
- [http://www.andihq.com ANDI official webpage]
- [http://www.andi-europe.eu/home-p454-nl.html ANDI Europe webpage]
{{Underwater diving|trareg}}
{{Authority control}}