Technical Diving

Technical diving is scuba diving’s “extreme” sport, taking experienced and qualified divers far deeper than in mainstream recreational diving. Technical diving is marked by significantly more equipment and training requirements to manage the additional hazard this type of diving entails. Tec diving isn’t for everyone, but for those who hear its challenge call, the PADI TecRec courses are the answer.  

What is technical diving?
Technical scuba diving is defined as diving other than conventional commercial or research diving that takes divers beyond recreational scuba diving limits. It is further defined as and includes one or more of the following:

• diving beyond 40 metres/130 feet deep
• required stage decompression
• diving in an overhead environment beyond 40 linear metres/130   linear feet of the surface
• accelerated decompression and or the use of variable gas mixtures   during the dive.

Because in technical diving the surface is effectively inaccessible in an emergency, tec divers use extensive methodologies and technologies and training to manage the added risks. Even with these, however, tec diving admittedly has more risk, potential hazard and shorter critical error chains than does recreational scuba diving.

Why would I want to be a tec diver?
Tec diving not only has more risk, but it requires significantly more effort, discipline and equipment. It’s not for everyone, and you can be an accomplished, avid top-notch diver your entire life without making a tec dive.

That said, there’s a cadre of individuals who want to visit places underwater that relatively few people can. Many spectacular, untouched wrecks lie at depths well below 40 metres/130 feet. Deep reefs have organisms you don’t find in the shallows. Some people enjoy the challenge and focus tec diving requires. Still others love being involved with cutting edge technologies. These reasons make tec diving rewarding.

• TecRec courses are integrated into an instructionally valid,   seamless course flow that takes you from beginning tec diver to one   qualified to the outer reaches of sport diving using different gas   mixes.
• Each level introduces you to new gear, planning and procedures   appropriate to extend your diving limits.

• The Tec Diver course is an integrated sequence of three   subcourses: Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50. You can complete them   continuously, or you can complete each level separately with a time   span between them. This gives you learning efficiency, instructional   integrity and schedule flexibility.

Prerequisites
TecRec prerequisites vary (see individual course descriptions), but the following applies to anyone interested in technical diving.

You must be :

• 18 years or older
• A mature, responsible person who will follow the required   procedures and requirements strictly and faithfully.
• Medically fit for tec diving (physician’s signature required).
• Willing to accept the added risks that tec diving presents.
• An experienced diver with at least 100 logged dives.
• Certified as a PADI Enriched Air Diver and PADI Deep Diver or   equivalent (for this program equivalency is proof of training in   recreational deep diving 18 meters/60 feet to 40 meters/130 feet   consisting of at least four dives and training in nitrogen narcosis   considerations, contingency/emergency decompression, making   safety stops and air supply management OR, have a minimum of 20   logged dives deeper than 30 meters/100 feet.)


The Fun Part
The fun part of TecRec is rising to the challenges as you dive deeper and longer than most divers ever do.


Discover Tec Diving Experience
DSAT Discover Tec lets you try technical diving equipment and procedures.

What You'll Learn
You learn about technical diving and get to try it out. Plus, Discover Tec experiences can also credit towards the Tec 40 course.

The Scuba Gear You'll Use
You will need your basic scuba gear and you will try technical scuba diving equipment.

Prerequisites
To participate in Discover Tec Diving, you must:

• Be a PADI Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another   organization).
• Have a minimum of 10 logged dives.
• Be at least 18 years old.

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Tec Basics (speciality)

This speciality is designed to bridge the gap between recreational diving and Technical diving.
It gives you the opportunity to experience tec diving practises and skills without having to make the commitment (in terms of equipment, time and cost) of the PADI Tec Deep course.

Equipment you will use :
1. We will provide you with a twin set with manifold,   harness, wing     and regs.
2. Dive Computer.
3. Appropriate Exposure Suit.
4. Weight System.
5. Reel.
6. Knife / cutting device.
7. Slate.
8. Compass.
9. Lift Bag.

We can hire you any equipment that you do not own.

Prerequisites
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or qualifying prerequisite certification.
PADI Enriched Air Diver or qualifying prerequisite certification
PADI Rescue Diver is recommended.

Required learning materials
PADI Tec Deep Diver manual.


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Tec 40 Course

If you're interested in technical diving, but haven't yet met the prerequisites for the PADI Tec 50 Diver course or PADI Tec 45 course, you can consider enrolling in the PADI Tec 40 course. It is the first subdivision of the full PADI Tec Deep Diver course and consists of the first four dives. Because you can do one of these dives in confined water (such as a swimming pool), many divers start the Tec 40 courses in the winter months, ready to continue in open water when spring arrives.

You'll learn to
• Use decompression software and dive computers to plan and make decompression dives with no more than 10 minutes of total decompression and not deeper than 40 metres/130 feet.
• Use a single cylinder of decompression gas with up to 50 percent oxygen (EANx50) to add conservatism to the required decompression.
Since it's part of the course, your PADI Tec 40 course training credits toward the PADI Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses.

The Scuba Gear You'll Use
You use recreational scuba equipment, with some minor additions to enhance your ability to deal with tec diving conditions.

The Learning Materials You'll Need
You'll use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak, which introduces you to :

• tec diving lingo.
• emergency procedures.
• decompression and stage cylinder handling.
• gas planning.

The pak includes a manual, dive planning checklist and dive planning slate. The optional Equipment Set-up and Key Skills video on DVD is a great tool to help you practice at home in between your tec diving adventures. You'll continue to use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak through Tec 50.

Prerequisites

You must :

• Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold a qualifying   certification from another organization).
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from   another organization).
• Be a PADI Deep Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from another   organization).
• Have a minimum of 30 logged dives, of which at least 10 dives were   made with enriched air nitrox deeper than 18 metres / 60 feet.
• Have a medical form signed by your physician

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Tec 45 Course 
The Tec 45 course picks up where Tec 40 leaves off and takes your training as a tec diver further and deeper. It is the second subcourse in the full PADI Tec Diver course

What You Learn
• The skills and equipment and planning need to dive to a maximum of   45 metres/145 feet.
• The knowledge to plan and execute single and repetitive   decompression dives using a single stage cylinder of EANx or   oxygen to accelerate or add conservatism to the decompression   stops.
• There would be no time limit to amount of decompression
• Prepare for and respond to foreseeable technical diving   emergencies.
• Master the basic skills and procedures you’ll need as you move into   deeper technical diving.

The Scuba Gear You Use
You use basic tec diving equipment.


The Learning Materials You Need
You'll use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak, which introduces you to :

• tec diving lingo.
• emergency procedures.
• decompression and stage cylinder handling.
• gas planning.

The pak includes a manual, dive planning checklist and dive planning slate. The optional Equipment Set-up and Key Skills video on DVD is a great tool to help you practice at home in between your tec diving adventures. You'll continue to use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak through the Tec 50 course.

Prerequisites

You must be :

• A PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold a qualifying   certification from another organization).
• A PADI Rescue Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from another   organization).
• A PADI Enriched Air Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from   another organization).
• A PADI Deep Diver (or hold aqualifying certification from another   organization).
• PADI Tec 40 (or hold a qualifying certification from another   organization).
• Have a minimum of 50 logged dives, of which at least :
  12 dives were made with enriched air nitrox deeper than 18   metres/60 feet
  6 (with or without EANx) dives were deeper than 30 metres/100 feet
• At least 18 years old
• Have a medical statement signed by a physician

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Tec 50 Course
The Tec 50 course completes your training as an entry-level tec diver, taking you past the limits of recreational diving.

What You'll Learn
During the Tec 50 course, you
• Make actual decompression dives as deep as 50 metres/165 feet
• Use enriched air nitrox and/or oxygen for decompression
• Use desk top decompression software to create custom dive tables and plan your dives
• Qualify to make technical decompression dives independently 

The Scuba Gear You'll Use
You use technical scuba diving equipment 

The Learning Materials You'll Need
The Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak, which introduces you to tec diving lingo, emergency procedures, decompression and stage cylinder handling and gas planning. The pak includes a manual, dive planning checklist and dive planning slate. The optional Equipment Set-up and Key Skills video on DVD is a great tool to help you practice at home in between your tec diving adventures.

Prerequisites
You must :

• Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold a qualifying   certification from another organization).
• Be a PADI Rescue Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from   another organization).
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from   another organization).
• DSAT Tec 45 Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from another   organization).
• Have a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which
· 20 dives must be enriched air dives
· 25 dives must be deeper than 18 metres/60 feet
· at least 20 dives must be deeper than 30 metres/100 feet
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a medical statement signed by your physician

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Tec Trimix 65
This course opens up the advantages of trimix to the diver, and divers are qualified to make multi-stop decompression dives that employ EANx and oxygen for accelerated decompression, and any trimix with an oxygen content of 18% or more.

They can dive to a maximum depth of 65 metres/210 feet.

What You'll Learn
The PADI Tec Trimix 65 course is intended to extend the depth range of technical divers already trained and qualified to use air, enriched air and oxygen for technical decompression dives beyond 50 metres /165 feet.

This course is for Tec 50 divers (or those holding a qualifying certification from another training organization). The course extends your depth range capabilities by training you to use trimix (a blend of helium, oxygen and nitrogen).

You will :
• Plan and execute at least five trimix decompression dives using   various trimix blends.
• Use decompression software to create custom dive tables and dive   plans.
• Make training dives as deep as 65 metres/210 feet.

Scuba Gear You'll Use
• Double cylinders (minimum 12 litre/70 cubic feet each, with larger   preferred) with isolator manifold.
• Primary and secondary regulators, one with two metre/seven foot   hose (approximately) for gas sharing, and one with SPG.
• Stage/decompression cylinders with regulator, SPG, mounting   hardware and proper labeling/markings. Two per diver will be   required.
• Backup decompression cylinders as appropriate and required for   the environment.
• BCD and harness – redundant buoyancy control is required (double   bladder BCD or dry suit if suitable for weight of equipment worn)
• Depth gauge/computer and backup depth gauge/computer
• Timing device and backup timing device
• Trimix decompression information (tables/trimix computer) and   backup decompression information
• Exposure suit appropriate for environment and dive duration. (If you   use a dry suit, you should be trained/experienced with its use in   recreational and technical diving prior to using it for trimix training or   diving).
• Argon dry suit inflation or other inflation system as needed.
• Weight system (if needed).
• Jon line (if needed for current diving environments).
• Inflatable signal tube.
• Reel.
• Lift bag (bright yellow or per local community practice preferred).
• Dive knife / cutting device and backup slate, backup mask   (optional).
• Compass, lights (optional).
• Drift kit (if drift decompressing).

Learning Materials You'll Need
Tec Trimix Diver Crew-Pak

The Tec Trimix Diver Crew-Pak includes all required materials, including: manual, deep stop calculation table, trimix decal and emergency procedures slate.

Topics covered include :

• Trimix diving depth ranges
• Exposure planning
• Selecting a mix
• Argon inflation systems
• Handling three or four decompression cylinders
• Decompression models
• Emergency procedures
• Face masks and multi-gas computers.

Prerequisites

You must :

• Be a PADI Rescue Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from   another organization and having proof of CPR and first aid training   with the previous two years).
• Be certified as a Tec 50 (or hold a qualifying certification from   another organization).
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have logged at least 100 dives.
• Have a medical form signed by your physician.

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