Scuba Coach Trace

The National Independent Divers Association (NIDA) is an association dedicated to supporting the practice and advancement of solo diving and self-reliant exploration in extreme environments.

Our focus is on experienced divers who operate where there is no direct access to the surface — wrecks, caves, deep technical dives, and any situation where overhead environments or decompression obligations require a high degree of personal self-sufficiency.

NIDA exists to:

  • Publish professional standards and best-practice guidelines for solo and extreme-environment diving
  • Promote personal responsibility as the foundation of safe and competent diving
  • Advance risk literacy so divers make informed, disciplined decisions in high-consequence environments
  • Foster a peer network where experienced divers share knowledge, techniques, and mentorship


Unlike traditional scuba training agencies, NIDA is not a training or certification body. It does not issue certifications or authorize instructors. Instead, it provides a professional framework of standards, philosophy, and community for divers who already possess advanced skills and wish to further refine their independence, judgment, and operational discipline.

By joining NIDA, divers align with a professional association dedicated to recognizing and supporting solo and self-reliant diving as a legitimate discipline — grounded in competence, accountability, and respect for the environments we explore.


​Membership $25 annually


NIDA Standards

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nidaheadquarters@gmail.com

National independent divers association

The National Independent Divers Association (NIDA) is a professional membership association organized for the advancement of safe practices, education, and peer support among divers engaged in solo cave diving and solo technical diving. NIDA is not a certifying agency and does not issue credentials. Its activities include publishing training standards, hosting workshops, and promoting research and exploration.