DATELINE :- 5th April 2000
DEEP-AIR DIVING CAUSES RIPPLES
Andrews claims victimisation for deep-air diving exploits
Mark Andrews, who last year dived on air to the staggering depth of 156.4m, has complained in an open letter on the Internet that the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD) wishes to prevent him from acquiring one of its instructor qualifications.
Andrews maintained that Tom Mount, Chief Executive Officer at IANTD's US headquarters, had decided he was "not worthy" to teach IANTD courses.
"I wrote to Mr Mount asking for his reasons for his decision. He replied that I was encouraging other people to attempt what I had done and that this was not in keeping with his teaching onjectives," said Andrews.
He maintained that this stance was unfair because he did not wish to push the discipline upon others, regarding it more as a private interest, something to do in his own "spare time".
Tom Mount confirmed to Diver that his organisation disapproved of deep-air diving. "IANTD does not and will not support deep-air records and does not want IANTD instructors by their actions to encourage deep air diving," he said.
However, he maintained that Andrews had not been "blacklisted".
Meanwhile Kevin Gurr, who heads the IANTD's British arm, told Diver: "Mark has not yet approached us here in Britain, but if he does, our line will be that he can do a crossover course and will be taken on his merits, like any other trainee."