Background information to Technical diving

[Inalara]

Hi Guys

I'm not currently a technical diver, nor do I see myself going this route yet, but I'm interested in finding out more about it in general as I've dived with a number of technical divers on recreational dives and always end up asking about their gear etc.

For example, I was chatting to a technical dive instructor about diving in general and they mentioned about caving diving and how long he takes to teach how to set up gear safely.

Just minor and pretty general comments, but made me think more about my own gear set up and awareness of reducing "snag" risks for my own recreational diving by maybe making small changes to my own set up.

So is there any specific reading that you would recommend that gives a good over-view of general technical diving concepts/principles; I'm not looking for course level knowledge, if I ever want to take it up, I'll work out why and what I want to achieve from it, then I'll find a good instructor and course that meets that objective and get the training, but I'm looking for something that may make me broaden my concepts/view and make me more aware of all the things I know nothing about....

 

[TSandM]

THIS is a good article about equipment configuration considerations. It does present one viewpoint, but brings up a lot of the questions one should ask oneself about gear.

But gear is only one part of technical diving. Learning about decompression -- what's known, and what's not, and what the arguments are -- is another big part. There are a lot of interesting resources on the web. You might start with THIS article by Steve Lewis. If it intrigues you, search on Erik Baker (Understanding M values) and Ross Hemingway for some more good decompression-related reading.

There are practical considerations, like gas mixing and dissimilar tank matching, and calculating gas requirements for the dive and the deco. I'm not sure where there's anything on line to read about this.

And finally, there's technique, which you really have to learn in the water. But the 5thD-X Intro to Tech and Technical Diving DVDs are an introduction. (You may have to look for them in 5thD's ebay store, because their website appears to be down at present.)

Hope this helps.

 

[do it easy]

The Last Dive by Bernie Chowdhury has some details about tech diving, mixed gases, and decompression sickness. It's a literary work, so it's not too technical, but will give you an idea of some of the broad concepts.

 

[MattL]

Allso DIR book at gue talks about grear set up why they do it that way and tech diving basics.

 

[texdiveguy]

TDI manuals can offer you an insight.

Also this supplier has some great books: Best Publishing Company-Scuba Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine

 

[Inalara]

Thanks for the help all, much appreciated

 

[johnny_bravo]

Brett Gillliam's "Deep Diving" is a good background source with a little more detail...

Cheers.

-J.-

 

[stevewirl]

deepeer into diving by john lippman . this was essential reading prior to my tech course