ITDA-IHMP Agency Slovakia

ITDA-IHMP Agency originally emerged as a concept in Florida in 1997/1998 and was established in Europe in 1999 by Steve Murray together with several of the most experienced professional technical and sport diving instructors from ITTB (The International Technical Training Board of the ETDA European Technical Diving Agency Ltd.).

The goal was to provide safer and more advanced diver training and to establish higher standards for divers from different parts of the world.

The founding members were certified professional diving educators at training director level from certified agencies recognized at both national and international levels. They identified the need for worldwide standardization of instructor training, safer diving and the use of the latest technologies in education.

Today, ITDA-IHMP Agency International is an international training system whose programs cover recreational, sport, technical, rescue, medical and professional diving.

ITDA-IHMP Agency brings together many outstanding professional diving instructors. Their common goal is to achieve a high level of service and training within their respective areas of expertise.

ITDA-IHMP Agency covers sport and technical diving, instructor training, commercial diving training, hyperbaric and medical training, as well as specialized first aid and rescue courses for divers.

The training system combines elements of professional, technical, sport, medical and rescue diving with an emphasis on practical skills, safety and diver competence.

In 2010, ITDA-IHMP Agency International Inc. Ltd. was established with the goal of unifying the training system and its international operations.

ITDA-IHMP Agency Slovakia builds on this international system and provides divers in Slovakia with access to recreational, sport, technical, rescue and instructor diving training.

Standards for the individual levels of ITDA-IHMP programs are designed to address the requirements for safe and competent diving. Training reflects the needs of divers at regional and local levels while also taking international requirements into account.

ITDA-IHMP programs cover sport and technical diving, instructor training, rescue and medical diving, and other specialized diving activities.

RSTC and CMAS

ITDA-IHMP training standards take into account international requirements for recreational and sport diving, including standards and recommendations from relevant organizations such as the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) and CMAS – World Underwater Federation.

Training programs are adapted to the actual needs of divers and the conditions in which diving is performed.

ISO and EN Standards for Diver Training

International ISO standards and European EN standards define requirements and competencies related to diver training and certification.

Relevant standards include, for example, EN 14153-1, EN 14153-2 and ISO 24801-2:2014.

For divers using nitrox, the international standard ISO 11107 is also relevant, defining requirements related to the competencies of divers using enriched breathing gases.

The purpose of standards is not merely to meet formal minimum requirements, but above all to develop the practical skills necessary for safe diving.

UK HSE and Professional Diving

ITDA-IHMP training programs also take into account requirements and standards used in professional and occupational diving, including relevant UK HSE requirements.

UK HSE List of Approved Diving Qualifications (PDF)

IDSSC – International Diving Schools and Standards Council

Diving standards may be applied according to the specific region, national territory and jurisdictional waters. In general, separate requirements exist for recreational, professional and rescue diving.

IDSSC supports the implementation of diving standards and regulations developed by leading organizations and adopted by the international diving community.

ITDA-IHMP is a member of IDSSC and takes relevant industry safety codes and procedures into account within its training system.

Key Elements of the Training System

• Emphasis on rescue and safety skills from the basic and continuing levels of training.
• Emphasis on practical training and a sufficient number of training dives.
• An integrated instructor training system covering sport, technical and medical diving.
• Specialized programs focused on hyperbaric medicine and Dive Medic training.
• The possibility of progressing to higher levels of diving qualification, including technical, rescue and instructor training.

Sport and professional programs of the ITDA-IHMP Agency International group are expanding throughout Europe, the European Union, the USA, Asia and other regions of the world.

The training system is designed to meet the needs of divers in a wide range of conditions – from the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean to the Baltic Sea, North Sea, North Pacific and cold northern waters.

ITDA-IHMP Agency adapts training to regional conditions and differences in diving. Programs take local laws and diving conditions into account while maintaining the requirements of applicable international standards.

ITDA-IHMP Agency Slovakia represents the Slovak operation of an international training system for divers who want to develop their skills from recreational and sport diving through technical, rescue and instructor levels.