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We are located on the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, where all federal safety rules and government regulations apply. Although both English and Spanish are the official languages, the latter is without a doubt predominant. Therefore, our courses are given in Spanish, though universal terminology and commands are taught in both languages. This is critical to our specialized training because safety at heights can only be achieved with good communication, and only if we are able to understand one another.
Our teaching staff has vast experience working as adventure guides, cavers, rock climbers, rescuers, riggers and industrial vertical workers. In doing so, they stay up to date on all new techniques, equipment and regulations. Knowledge is never-ending. Even students with years of experience can benefit from our courses, given the continuous development of new equipment and techniques. Our courses are well-supported by decades of successfully putting them into practice.
Classes are held at our facilities in San Juan. In addition to a store with a vast inventory of rope access, safety and rescue equipment, our premises are fitted out with a fully-equipped classroom, an indoor practice area, and the essential amenities needed for a fast-flowing, well-planned day of instruction. For the practical portion of the tower climbing and maneuvering courses, we use a tower site only 15 minutes away, adding to a realistic scenario. We instruct with passion because we have a genuine desire to transform our students into well-trained and thoroughly prepared technicians who will excel in their jobs at heights.
All courses are intensive and require good physical condition, plus good reading, writing and learning skills. Students must be adults (21 years or older). We work in small groups, so our maximum capacity for any class is 8 participants with one instructor and two assistants.
NATE Member
Born in Alaska but raised in Puerto Rico, has been on the caving and rock-climbing scene since he was 14 years old, when he was captivated both by spelunking and the vertical world.
In 1987 he founded Aventuras Tierra Adentro Inc., the first company in Puerto Rico dedicated to ecotourism in combination with outdoor sports such as caving, rappelling, zip lining, via ferratta, canyoning and rock climbing. Being a proven entrepreneur, a year later Rossano established the Rope & Rescue School, and opened his own store in a two-story building on Piñero Avenue in University Gardens, San Juan.
The years of hard work and the store’s one-stop-shop uniqueness did not go unnoticed. In May of 1999 Rossano was recognized by the Executive Sales & Marketing Association with the Top Management Award 1998, Tourism Category.
Rossano has also earned some fame and recognition within national and international caving circles. In 1987 he broke two world records in the Mechanical Vertical Rope Climbing competitions at the annual convention of the National Speleological Society (NSS) in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. Rossano snapped the previous record—which had stood unbroken for 11 years—of 28.1 seconds for 30-meter climb with a new time of 25.7 seconds. He also shattered his own record of 4 minutes and 40 seconds at the NSS convention the previous year in the grueling 120-meter climb. His new record was 4 minutes 10.5 seconds.
One of Rossano’s most prestigious recognitions was to be named a Fellow by the Award Committee and Board of Governors of the NSS at its 1995 convention in Huntsville, Alabama. The NSS is affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, dedicated to the exploration, study, and conservation of caves.
Thanks to his knowledge and expertise in rope access and anchors, Rossano has been hired for many industrial jobs, such as: removal and installation of lights and speakers in coliseums and stadiums; light maintenance on tall buildings; assistance in vertical measurements at constructions sites; installation of safety nets on cliffs; installation of life-loading anchors for construction workers; and flight special effects for entertainment shows, among others.
In several occasions, he has been retained as an expert consultant in legal cases and lawsuits related to vertical accidents.
During the last 25 years he has been rock climbing around he world in search of new challenges.
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Accountant by profession for more than 20 years, around 1998 Edda decided to try something new and exciting, and found a deep passion for rock climbing. At that time, climbing areas and routes were limited on the island, so she joined a small crew of developers to help with this issue. Thanks to her managerial expertise, speed of expansion was quickly noticed. From that point on, traveling all around the world to climb on different types of rocks became part of her lifestyle. Together with Rossano Boscarino, she is co-author of the Puerto Rico Rock Climbing Mini Guides series.
In 2001 she joined Aventuras Tierra Adentro, Inc as a woman of many hats—accounting manager, adventures coordinator, marketing director, and graphic artist, among other positions. One of her main contributions was the development of technical manuals and presentations for one of our most successful divisions: the Rope & Rescue School. At present, she also assists as an instructor in many of the courses.
On several occasions she has been part of a rope-access-team in many industrial jobs at heights, such as installing safety nets on cliffs, installing life loading anchors for construction workers; removing speakers and lights from stadiums; and creating special effects for entertainment shows.
Edda is also a consultant for the expert witness services we offer, created to assist with investigations related to lawsuits over accidents occurred while working at heights.
Born in Puerto Rico, has always been interested in the great outdoors.
Since childhood, always involved with some sort of outdoor activities; starting as a Windsurfing instructor while in high school, SCUBA Diver, Explorer Scout, Wilderness Survival, Bushcraft & Camping.
All the while studying Computer Science & working in fabrication shops, mainly woodworking. Briefly worked as an IT consultant.
In 2013 he was invited to a “caving tour” and after marveling at this new realm of caves & underground rivers, he was hooked!
After becoming a member of the National Speleological Society (NSS) & the Puerto Rico Speleological Society (SEPRI) in 2014 he proceeded to take every course and certification they offered at the time and was nominated to be a Board Member by 2018.
Later, in 2018, he became the head instructor of the CSC or Caving Safety Certification course, after successfully completing it 4 times.
While teaching the Caving Safety Certification, he noticed a large gap in the knowledge being passed on to new cavers. There was a surprising lack of vertical skills among the local caving communities and this was trickling down to new cavers. After witnessing several close calls, he founded Air Vertical School. A rope access school dedicated to teaching rope access & safety to cavers and vertical sports enthusiasts.
By 2019 he was nominated head of the Rescue & Safety Committee as well as the Cave Survey Committee of the Puerto Rico Speleological Society where he was awarded the Speleologist of the Year Award; an award that had not been given in nearly a decade.
At the end of 2019 he began working in Aventuras Tierra Adentro Inc. as a caving adventure guide where he remained until the company decided to close that division after 34 years.
Currently he works as an instructor of Rope & Rescue School; continues to run Air Vertical School & works as a freelance Rope Access Technician.
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