Are you a recreational, rectech or technical diver.

[DCBC]

Still learning how.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I always perceived recreational as no deco (or rather min deco) and no overhead environment dives. Technical diving in my view would be dives with staged decompression and/or overhead environment. I'm not sure what techrec or techreational diving is and have often wondered what people were referring to as such.

Another way to classify diving would be non-paid for fun (recreational) versus getting paid (professional or commercial).

I agree with most of the above.

I regard myself as a technical diver as most of my diving is done in overhead environments usually with some deco, or consists of dives to maintain the skills needed to do overhead diving.

I don't think getting paid is a good way to define "commercial" diving. I am not an instructor but I have assisted with more than my fair share of classes and that in no way comes close to what I would regard as commercial diving.

Having spent lots of hours getting paid under contract to be in water that is usually cold, dirty, zero viz or all three with an expressed purpose or goal (inspection, search and recovery, salvage, construction, repair) I feel that is different than recreational instruction. For one, there is essentially zero threat in an instruction environment and that is often not the case for a commercial diver where you can and should minimize the threat, but often cannot completely eliminate it. You also normally are working under some degree of time pressure or deadline, and again that is not the case to the same degree in recreational instruction.

That said, I agree that trying to put tech and rec diving together just because neither involve compensation makes no sense either. Tech diving in my opinion carries with it the absolute requirement to be able to deal with problems on the bottom without immediately surfacing due to a hard (wreck or cave) and/or soft (deco) overhead environment. That requires a level of training and a mindset that is well in excess of what is needed for recreational diving. Also, to be done properly and truly be techncial in nature it also requires redundancy in equipment and the training to properly use that equipment.

 

[DennisW]

I'm a diver.

Me, too.

 

[Slonda828]

Me, too.

I agree. This whole thing seems a lot of trouble over a few words. Who cares, and moreover, does it even matter? How would this practically change anything in the course of one's diving? I suppose if you wanted to get in a semiotic debate we are all recreational divers unless you are in the military or carrying an ADCI or AAUS card in your wallet.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

I'm a diver.

Me, too.

I agree. This whole thing seems a lot of trouble over a few words. Who cares, and moreover, does it even matter?

Oh, not me! I want to be laid to rest with respect. If I died underwater as a diver, I'd be belittled all over the web.

I'm a surfer! So, if I die underwater, I'll be a surfer who died scuba diving. The scuba dorks will make fun of me, but this really nice tribe of surfers will say comforting things for my family to read.

 

[Slonda828]

Oh, not me! I want to be laid to rest with respect. If I died underwater as a diver, I'd be belittled all over the web.

I'm a surfer! So, if I die underwater, I'll be a surfer who died scuba diving. The scuba dorks will make fun of me, but this really nice tribe of surfers will say comforting things for my family to read.

It's funny that you mention that. If you die climbing, surfing, or fighting then someone will eulogize you wonderfully and talk about how you died doing something that you loved dearly. If you die as a diver a bunch of overweight middle-aged people will pick apart your death and talk about how you were a safety liability on Scubaboard. Define irony.

 

[ScubaSam]

Hi, Dave,

I don't see myself as a recreational or a tech diver. I'm simply a diver who wants to dive as many different environments as my wallet and my schedule will allow.

As for training, I have to finish the required dives for my Adv Nitrox/Deco Procedures certification when the local dive season opens in the spring. I know that cave training is in my future because the cenotes stole my heart.

Outside of the training, I want to dive with as many SBers as I can cause without any of you, I'd be buddy-less or is it buddyless, buddy less...regardless you get the idea...I'd be :depressed:

 

[Walter]

don't fail me now...

Let you down? You and Wookie already made the point before I posted. I supported you with my post. Since then, Saspotato, Underwater Ogre, Diver0001, bowlofpetunias, LeadTurn_SD, TraceMalin, Lone Frogman, Rick Murchison, DennisW, Slonda828, and ScubaSam all have seemed to agree with us. I don't think I let you down.

If the existing terms are so terrible, what sensible terms can be used to convey the same meanings? Because it IS a useful distinction to make efficiently in many discussions.

In what way is it useful? What is the accepted definition? This isn't one. There are several conflicting definitions accepted by various parts of the diving community. Even if one definition were accepted, what purpose would it serve? The definitions I've seen tend to lump different types of diving together as technical. An expert in one is often clueless in another. If you don't want to be on a boat with recreational divers who are geared up in CCRs, wreck reels, extra bottles and scooters, perhaps you should look into the type of dive planned instead of what the divers call themselves. Why would you care if a diver has a scooter? As long as he's not your buddy, it shouldn't affect you. Why would you care if a diver has a reel? You don't have to penetrate a wreck just because someone else is. Besides, there are other uses for a reel. Why would you care if a diver uses a rebreather? How does that affect you? Extra bottles indicate extended bottom time or a deep dive. Extended bottom times can affect you. Ask about the planned dives before booking. Deep dives can affect you if there's nothing for you at shallower depths, but often dives have options of deep or shallow.

When I say, "I'm a tech diver," what exactly does that tell you? It tells you I might be switching mixes on a dive. It tells you I might dive in caves. It tells you I might penetrate wrecks. It tells you I might dive deeper than 130 feet. It tells you I might make dives requiring staged decompression. It tells you I might dive with a rebreather. It tells you more about my ego than my diving. It's a useless designation.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Just exactly what is the difference? Better yet, how do you perceive the differences?

I don't use, or need to use, labels. I do all sorts of dives ... deep, shallow, wreck, cave, reef ... and mostly just slow cruises at recreational depths looking to see who's home that wants their picture taken ...

I’m all about having a great time and enjoying diving and sharing that same joy with others.

Except for my friends and acquaintences who are commercial divers, I could say that about every diver I know ... and even my commercial diver friends enjoy diving and sharing that same joy with others when they're not working.

There seems to be a myth that people who dive in wrecks, caves, or any of those other distinctions you mentioned in the OP don't dive purely to enjoy themselves. It's a crock. They may take their diving more seriously than the person who enjoys an occasional reef dive ... but that's because the increased risks imposed by the harsher environments they dive in demand it. However, just because they're willing to put in the effort and expense to learn how to mitigate those risks doesn't mean they're not doing it purely for fun ... because they are.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Blackwood]

Let you down? You and Wookie already made the point before I posted. I supported you with my post. Since then, Saspotato, Underwater Ogre, Diver0001, bowlofpetunias, LeadTurn_SD, TraceMalin, Lone Frogman, Rick Murchison, DennisW, Slonda828, and ScubaSam all have seemed to agree with us. I don't think I let you down.

I'm just playing.

It tells you more about my ego than my diving.

There it is! Just wanted my prediction to come true