Excerpts from the IANTD Standards and Procedures Manual:

IANTD believes it is better to be safe, cautious and demanding in training than to have even one accident. IANTD is dedicated to producing knowledgeable and skillful divers. Both are key to developing competent, confident and relaxed divers, who can fully enjoy the exhilarating experiences of advanced and technical diving.

KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING are beyond doubt, the keys to power in any endeavor one undertakes. In diving, the combination of knowledge and understanding equates to safety. IANTD designs all program material to instill in-depth knowledge to the student and practitioner of advanced and technical diving. This knowledge develops greater confidence and understanding of both the enjoyment and risk aspects of safe diving. To ensure a sound knowledge base, IANTD is demanding on the subject material presented in its programs.

SKILLS and STRESS MANAGEMENT are important in performance of safe dives and in the ability to survive when faced with stressful events in the water. IANTD programs are designed to develop superb water skills, and relaxed and comfortable divers. To achieve this, techniques are taught and drills are incorporated that enable divers to realize their full potential. The confidence developed in this type of training will reward students by allowing them to become self-confident and self-reliant divers.

Stress management exercises are placed into our programs to simulate realistic diving emergencies. The purpose of these exercises is to train divers in response awareness, and to develop in their minds a memory of having experienced a similar event before. It provides a rehearsed response to an emergency.

IANTD believes confidence and efficiency are developed by spending time in the water. All programs specify required minimum minutes of bottom time to be accomplished within a certain number of dives. IANTD is the first to incorporate this into diver training. IANTD believes basic survival skills must be PRACTICED until they become reflex reactions.

IANTD believes that our instructors do set the example. To this end, the instructor must always be in the water supervising the dive, demonstrating overall good diving skills while providing an extra element of safety in the water. At the same time, the Instructor must take care that the student does not depend upon them. They must ensure confidence is being developed.

IANTD believes that being confident, competent and knowledgeable, through responsible training, enables one to survive the seemingly impossible.