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.
"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).
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 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 - (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 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 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.
See also
References
External links ANDI official webpage ANDI Europe webpage