American Nitrox Divers International (or ANDI) was founded by Ed Betts and

Dick Rutkowski Richard Rutkowski is a pioneer in the fields of hyperbaric medicine, diving medicine and diver training, especially in relation to the use of breathing gases. Background Rutkowski joined the US government service in 1950 and served during the K ...

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. " SafeAir" is ANDI's term of art for breathing mixtures with extra oxygen added that are commonly known as

nitrox Nitrox refers to any gas mixture composed (excepting trace gases) of nitrogen and oxygen. It is usually used for mixtures that contain less than 78% nitrogen by volume. In the usual application, underwater diving, nitrox is normally distinguished ...

or Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN).

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." 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. Between the years 1989 and 2000, ANDI is reported by the

Divers Alert Network Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a group of not-for-profit organizations dedicated to improving diving safety for all divers. It was founded in Durham, North Carolina, United States, in 1980 at Duke University providing 24/7 telephonic hot-line div ...

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.

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. 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".

Open Water certification

* Introductory Scuba Experience - ISE * 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 Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) is a recreational scuba diving certification level provided by several diver training agencies. Agencies offering this level of training under this title include Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PA ...

- (L2) AOW * Ocean Explorer - (L2) OCE * Expert Scuba Diver - (L2) ESD * Ocean Expert Explorer - (L2) OEE *

Rescue Diver Rescue Diver is a scuba diving Scuba diving is a Diving mode, mode of underwater diving whereby divers use Scuba set, breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface breathing gas supply, and therefore has a limited but va ...

- (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

* Dry Suit Diver - DSD * Dry Suit Instructor - DSI * Diver Propulsion Vehicle - DPV * Night Diver - NGT * Boat Diver - BOT * Deeper Water Diver - DWD * Navigation Diver - NAV * Specialty Instructor - (L1-2) SPI * Marine Environmentalist Specialty (MES) * Total Buoyancy Control Specialty (TBC)

SafeAir (Nitrox) certification

* Limited SafeAir User - (L1) LSU * 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 * 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 * 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 * 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 * 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. * 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. ANDI ratings for

recreational diving Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasur ...

supervision and instruction are recognized by the

Health and Safety Executive The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a British public body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare. It has additionally adopted a research role into occupational risks in Great B ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

as of 2015. ANDI is recognized as a technical diving organisation by the

Chamber of Diving and Watersports Chamber or The Chamber may refer to: Organizations and government *Chamber of commerce, a form of business network *Legislative chamber, a deliberative assembly within a legislature *Debate chamber, a room for people to discuss and debate Arts ...

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

as of 2016.

References

External links

ANDI official webpage
{{Authority control Underwater diving training organizations 1988 establishments in New York (state)