"There's a man in the ladies room" the tale of my Intro to Tech class Day 1 and now 2

[Ber Rabbit]

Ber, this was a great post. I appreciate you and Steve posting your reports about the class because it sounds like something that I would really like to consider (perhaps next year if I can not take a third trip). I would want it not because I plan to go Tech (maybe but it is not in the plan right now) but because it sounds like a great expansion on what I already know.

I think Duane will do the class with 3 people. I may know a couple who would be interested in taking it if location and schedule would work out for everyone. It's a great class for knowledge and skill expansion, actually it's perfect for that. Duane is willing to let you pick his brain all you want.

I think the biggest utility of these classes is exactly that: Expanding your knowledge, and your capabilities!

The unfortunate thing about the Intro to Tech classes is that, as far as I know, they MUST be taken in doubles (which makes sense; most people tech dive in double tanks). For the recreational diver who doesn't WANT to dive doubles, either because they don't need the extra gas or because they don't want to spend the considerable money involved in acquiring double tanks, it's hard to find a class that teaches the same kind of material. Cavern classes will do it, if you are near a place where there are caverns, but for general consumption, still the only classes I know of that teach this kind of buoyancy and trim, non-silting propulsion, gas management, basic decompression, and emergency procedures are Fundies and Essentials.

TDI's Intro to Tech does not have to be in doubles. It can be taken in a single by a recreational diver to focus on improving gas management, team awareness, buoyancy, trim and SMB deployment.

Duane told us we could take it in singles. He said you don't get quite as much out of it but the only thing I saw that didn't apply to a singles diver was the valve drill. Everything else seemed like it could be done in a single tank with a long hose. Duane has one student set of doubles you can rent, a complete set, so all you really need to bring is your mask/fins/exposure protection and a drysuit hose if you're dry.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Duane is teaching the class at Haigh on 9/20-21 for several of my buddies. I don't know if he still has room in that class session or not. I'd fire him an email if you're interested. Also, Duane's website is Precision Diving.

 

[Standingbear56]

It's a deal! We can make some extra cash on the side too. You bet unsuspecting people that little bunny can't pick those tanks up

Heck O Long Eared Fuzzy One, I probably can't lift em!!!:gulp18:
Safe, No Hernia (or Hisnia in your case) Diving!
George

 

[rongoodman]

TDI's Intro to Tech does not have to be in doubles. It can be taken in a single by a recreational diver to focus on improving gas management, team awareness, buoyancy, trim and SMB deployment.

I did the TDI Intro course last weekend and was the only one in doubles. My drysuit is still causing me some issues, but the doubles are no problem, especially with an aluminum BP. The back kick still works, but it seems to take a lot longer to get the extra mass of the doubles and the slung 40 in motion.
I think it's going to be a good course for TDI, but it's new and still being refined. It needs a better text than the old Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I did the TDI Intro course last weekend and was the only one in doubles. My drysuit is still causing me some issues, but the doubles are no problem, especially with an aluminum BP. The back kick still works, but it seems to take a lot longer to get the extra mass of the doubles and the slung 40 in motion.
I think it's going to be a good course for TDI, but it's new and still being refined. It needs a better text than the old Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures.

Intro to Tech doesn't have a textbook that I'm aware of. I do agree however that the Adv. Nitrox and Deco Procedures manuals are extremely poor as well as being outdated. They are sorely in need of revision.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Heck O Long Eared Fuzzy One, I probably can't lift em!!!:gulp18:
Safe, No Hernia (or Hisnia in your case) Diving!
George

Spec sheet says they only weigh 87 pounds empty. I bet they don't go 300 pounds full and set up to dive as doubles.

I know I can wear one set of double 100's while carrying a second set a short distance in a bear hug as long as I can pick them up and put them down at waist height.

I'm tellin' ya, we could make some serious cash with this show
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[crpntr133]

Intro to Tech doesn't have a textbook that I'm aware of. I do agree however that the Adv. Nitrox and Deco Procedures manuals are extremely poor as well as being outdated. They are sorely in need of revision.

Didn't Steve and Rick both say that the new ones were on their way? I sure hope so because the ones we got were poor. 3/4 of Adv. nitrox was in my NAUI nitrox course.

 

[Steve_Dives]

I would like to try 80's one day. Eliminate the need to roll onto your side and the problem goes away

I'm sure there's a reason I may need to execute a roll while swimming...and also a head spin.

Here I disagree, single file without lights for commuication means you might as well be a mile away from your buddy. Separating to the side while you go around a tree that's 6 inches wide means you can still look to the side and check on your buddies without going head first into a tree yourself.

If it's a six inch wide tree it's no trouble. If it's a stand of trees over 5 feet wide it's different.

I don't know if the guys consciously checked to see if they could clear the line but I had checked all three of us as we approached and went under to ensure there would be no entanglement.

Yep. And I checked behind us to see if we silted any and checked Duane to make sure he didn't get hung up and/or wasn't shutting down one of our posts.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

If it's a six inch wide tree it's no trouble. If it's a stand of trees over 5 feet wide it's different.

No it's not. Side by side is still the easiest way because I don't have to turn around and tangle myself in a tree to see if my buddy has done the same. There are no leaves on these trees so it's not like you can't see your buddy through them. Single file is fine if light signals are available. My pet peeve is buddies who get behind my line of sight.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Standingbear56]

Spec sheet says they only weigh 87 pounds empty. I bet they don't go 300 pounds full and set up to dive as doubles.

I know I can wear one set of double 100's while carrying a second set a short distance in a bear hug as long as I can pick them up and put them down at waist height.

I'm tellin' ya, we could make some serious cash with this show
Ber :lilbunny:

OK, my very fuzzy friend - lets do it!!!!!
Have a GREAT weekend - I'm going diving, but only with my wimpy 95's! No ruptured Bear this weekend :no, however next one.......

Take Care,
George