Technical Training to enjoy a renaissance as IANTD UK changes ownership

Following an 18 month hiatus, the UK franchise of IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers) has been bought by the dream team behind the revitalised Vobster Quay - Martin and Amy Stanton.

"In the early 90's when Kevin Gurr set up IANTD UK, it was the first technical diver training agency in Europe", stated Martin Stanton, Director of IANTD UK.  "We're therefore genuinely excited that the mantle is now passing to us.  We'd like to thank Kevin Evans and Simon Watton for caretaking the agency since 2008, and wish them well in future projects.  Now we're in for a very exciting time because currently IANTD UK (www.iantd.uk.com) is in a very good position to grow and expand.  After all virtually every experienced diver and instructor in the UK has done an IANTD training course at some point in their career.

Whilst this announcement doesn't immediately seem to be that important to ‘the diver in the sea', it's of more significance to the UK Dive Shops and Training Centres.  "From today we delighted to announce fulltime superior support ensuring same day despatch of materials, efficient processing of qualification cards and high Quality Assurance. 

We know that at the end of the day a good course primarily comes down to the quality of the Instructor rather than the Agency.  A good way of demonstrating this is by looking at Mark Powell (TDI), Phill Short (IANTD) and Rich Walker (GUE) in the water - there's not much to tell them apart.  So get a well trained experienced instructor and you gain so much more from your course.  Hence it's very important to us that we focus on high Quality Assurance and Training, delivering from the top downwards.  Consequently we're delighted to announce that Phill Short will be the new UK Training Director whose remit will include Standards of Training".

"As an Instructor, Instructor Trainer and Instructor Trainer Trainer who has maintained loyalty to one Technical Agency throughout my career - IANTD - I'm honoured that Tom Mount and Joe Dituri have asked me to be involved with the new management team at IANTD UK", stated Phill Short.  "I was very lucky to be introduced to the world of Technical Diving and the diving opportunities it could offer me by Kevin Gurr.  Over the years I've gained experience through teaching, and knowledge on further instructor courses and diving on many cave and wreck expeditions. I also consider myself fortunate that I've been trained and evaluated as a Cave Instructor by Tom Mount.

Being appointed UK Training Director and work alongside Martin Stanton is very exciting because it gives me the perfect opportunity to share some of the incredible things I've learnt over the last fifteen years.  I very much look forward to raising the quality training bar with my colleagues to help create safer and better educated divers at all levels". 

IANTD UK can be contacted by email on info@iantd.uk.com or telephone 0845 644 0635.

About the Author

Roz is the Business Development Director for The Underwater Marketing Company. (TUMC specialise in diving PR and media work).