Scuba Coach Trace

The National Independent Divers Association, LLC (NIDA), is an organization dedicated to divers who choose to operate independently in the underwater environment. It serves experienced sport and professional divers engaged in solo diving, including operations in overhead and other high-risk environments. NIDA recognizes that diving carries inherent risks arising from the environment, pressure, equipment, and human performance. These risks are significantly increased when diving alone and further compounded in overhead or decompression-mandatory environments where direct access to the surface is restricted. NIDA is founded on the principle that safety in solo diving is achieved through personal responsibility, disciplined training, sound judgment, and self-reliance.


The purpose of NIDA is to advance solo diving competence and risk management by establishing and maintaining a community of disciplined divers committed to continuous improvement of best practices through peer engagement, shared knowledge, and structured education.
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
  • Provide formal instruction in both team and solo technical and cave diving. 
  • Promote local diving.
  • Develop a community of like-minded divers. 
  • ​Develop an organization that meets the needs of independent instructors. 


NIDA Website

NIDA Standards

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nidaheadquarters@gmail.com

National independent divers association

The National Independent Divers Association (NIDA) is an exciting new training organization founded by Trace Malinowski that follows a skydiving liability model. After more than 35 years within training agency operations and seats on the board of directors of the RSTC, WRSTC, PSAI, PDIC, and HDSA, Trace decided that the future of dive training is no longer sustainable for independent instructors. NIDA seeks to level the playing field.