International Diving Educators Association

Last updated
International Diving Educators Association
AbbreviationIDEA
Formation1952 (1952)
Type NGO
PurposeScuba Instructor training and recreational diving certification
Location
  • 4604 49th Street North Ste 202 St. Petersburg, Fl 33709
Region served
Americas, Asia and Europe [1]
CEO
Rick Butler
Affiliations RSTC Europe [2]
Diving Equipment and Marketing Association
Formerly called
Florida Skin Divers Association (FSDA) Scuba Training Committee

The International Diving Educators Association (IDEA) is an American diving training organization that was originally established in 1952 as part of the Florida Skin Divers Association (FSDA).

In the early days, Scuba Instructor training and certification was handled by the FSDA Scuba Training Committee which was also in charge of Standards & Procedures and new diver certifications. By 1976 there were more FSDA instructors outside of Florida than within the state.

In February 1976, the membership voted to expand the Scuba Training Committee to an international certification agency. The name was changed to the International Diving Educators Association (IDEA). In 1979, IDEA was reorganized and incorporated. IDEA made its first international appearance as a member of the Diving Equipment Manufacturers Association (DEMA) in Las Vegas in 1980. IDEA grew into over 30 foreign countries and across the continental United States. In 1996 IDEA became the fourth largest certification agency worldwide. [3]

IDEA is American owned and operated by US military veterans and first responders. In 1987 the majority of certification agencies agreed to form a not-for-profit agency known as the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). The purpose of the RSTC is to allow member associations a vehicle for developing standards and to monitor quality control for the mutual benefit of the recreational diving industry and the general public.

IDEA, along with the other members of the RSTC, developed the standards for the Entry Level Scuba standards registered and approved by ANSI. IDEA has affiliates operating in Asia and Europe. [4]

IDEA Europe is a member of RSTC Europe. [2]

References

  1. ↑ "The Story". IDEA Europe. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 "European Agencies". WRSTC. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Our Story | America's First Scuba Agency | IDEA Scuba". 9 August 2022.
  4. ↑ "IDEA International Affiliates". IDEA. Retrieved 10 December 2012.


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