Ice Is Nice – but how nice is that ice really?

The Arctic season is due to start which means there will be plenty of opportunities to ‘land’ on sea-ice. The PTGA will have a range of web resources and articles on many topics directly related to guiding. I would like to share my experiences of managing a sea-ice landing, highlighting some of the most significant […]

Peer Review or (Voices In My Head)

I’d like to introduce this piece by thanking my peers. My peers are fellow EL’s, industry professionals. The reason I thank them is because (unknowingly) they assist me with difficult decision-making and safety management actions. They are my ‘judgement review team’. They are the people I respect. Most importantly, they might be the people who […]

Risk Disclosures in Polar Tourism

I came to expedition leading by way of private expeditions to Antarctica but have worked almost all my adult life in outdoor education, training leadership, guiding and accident investigation. I’ve been fortunate enough over the last 12 years to not only work with some wonderful staff and colleagues, but to work on a variety of […]

Situational Awareness and Situational Management

Situational awareness, its related heuristics and frameworks is singularly the most important concept and skill set in managing safety. It is worth an entire training program for companies and expedition staff. Situational awareness as defined by Endsley, 1988 is “the perception of elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension […]

Understanding Causal Factors

Understanding causal factors is an important part of being a safety manager and will add depth to your own decision-making. These factors are some of the most common, and documented, social and psychological factors that may affect an individuals evaluation of risks present leading to wrongly accepting increased levels of risk. Understanding these common causal […]

Brash Talk #3

It has been a busy Antarctic season for the PTGA, our affiliates and our systems. Our first ever formal assessments have been run (see interview with Seb Coultard) and a lot of trialing has turned up some good issues we never could have predicted with all the online meetings in the world. This is exactly […]

Polar Tourism Guides Association

PTGA is a non-profit professional industry association that provides internationally recognized certification and professional development for polar guides and field staff.

Polar Tourism Guides Association

PTGA is a non-profit professional industry association that provides internationally recognized certification and professional development for polar guides and field staff.

Polar Tourism Guides Association

PTGA is a non-profit professional industry association that provides internationally recognized certification and professional development for polar guides and field staff.

Polar Tourism Guides Association

PTGA is a non-profit professional industry association that provides internationally recognized certification and professional development for polar guides and field staff.

Polar Tourism Guides Association

PTGA is a non-profit professional industry association that provides internationally recognized certification and professional development for polar guides and field staff.

ABOUT THE POLAR TOURISM GUIDES ASSOCIATION

Do you guide in the polar regions? Or would you like to become a polar guide? Are you an operator who hires guides in the polar regions? Then the PTGA could well be for you…

Our qualifications and assessment process is designed by experienced guides, for guides, and they meet the international standard for adventure tourism leaders and guides (ISO 21102:2018).

Beyond accreditation, PTGA qualifications provide a framework for continued personal development throughout your guiding career – we provide the resources and a community of guides to help you to become a better guide.

POLAR GUIDING QUALIFICATIONS

INSIGHTS

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

The team at the PTGA is available to discuss any queries you may have, please get in touch.