Tech Diving for Seniors?

[ABay Diver]

I’m turning 69 in September and in pretty good health. No high blood pressure or heart issues. Started diving in my mid-teens 50 years ago but gave it up in late 20’s for career, family etc. Got back into it 4 years ago and got advanced, deep, wreck and Nitrox certified and am thinking about tech. Have read a lot about decompression theory but know nothing about getting tech certified. Im a little overweight and my leg strength isn’t great but for almost 69 not too bad. How physically demanding is tech training? I strain a little to get up a dive boat ladder with a steel 100 on my back. I question if i could do it unassisted with doubles on my back and deco bottles to boot. Should i just stick to recreational? Thanks for any insight.

 

[The Chairman]

I went with a rebreather for precisely this reason... that and it's far quieter. I'm interested in it as far as cave diving is concerned. I feel no need to go deep or long.

 

[ABay Diver]

I went with a rebreather for precisely this reason... that and it's far quieter. I'm interested in it as far as cave diving is concerned. I feel no need to go deep or long.

Do you have to be tech certified to get rebreather certified?

 

[rsingler]

Me too. I found midway through doubles training that I couldn't stand from one long session with a rough beach exit where I was on all fours. I didn't have the strength after the long dive to stand with one thigh from that low with my doubles on my back. So I switched to sidemount, so that I could prop one bottle if I were ever in the same situation.
But like Pete, I then switched to a rebreather (JJ-CCR). I can manage that with a bailout bottle and one stage just fine. And the diving is great! And the Choptima is even lighter.

 

[The Chairman]

Do you have to be tech certified to get rebreather certified?

Of course not. But you don't get much more technical than a rebreather.

 

[rsingler]

Do you have to be tech certified to get rebreather certified?

You should do AN-DP at least. After that, there's lots of arguments about handling stages, but until you hit MOD2, you won't miss more extensive doubles training.

 

[ABay Diver]

You should do AN-DP at least. After that, there's lots of arguments about handling stages, but until you hit MOD2, you won't miss more extensive doubles training.

AN-DP, MOD2? Can you point me to a resource for this lingo?

 

[ADVRider808]

AN-DP, MOD2? Can you point me to a resource for this lingo?

Advanced Nitrox - Decompression Procedures

TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver

www.tdisdi.com

 

[RyanT]

AN = Advanced Nitrox. DP= Decompression Procedures. These are separate courses from the TDI agency, but are typically taught together as the basic tech diver training on open circuit. MOD 1 is the first level rebreather, MOD 2 is the next level rebreather training.

 

[ABay Diver]

AN = Advanced Nitrox. DP= Decompression Procedures. These are separate courses from the TDI agency, but are typically taught together as the basic tech diver training on open circuit. MOD 1 is the first level rebreather, MOD 2 is the next level rebreather training.

Thank you!