Does Tec50 make sense to take?
- Thread starter Texasguy
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For those reading this thread who don't know, there is a lot more to using a second decompression gas than carrying another bottle. Carrying a second bottle means for the first time that the diver has a very real possibility of choosing the wrong decompression gas at the wrong depth and succumbing to oxygen toxicity. Different agencies teach different methods for ensuring that does not happen. Staging two bottles and retrieving them is a new skill. Determining which gas to carry in which position is something to consider. When you switch from one gas to another, there is a good possibility of tangling hoses. After you are done with the first gas, you have to stow the regulator without losing or gaining depth on the deco stop.
And that is preparation for trimix, because in the trimix class, you have to work with 4 deco bottles on the first dive (which is a shallow training dive).
I tend to get easily narked and as a result have little recollections of dives deeper than 40m on air. I much prefer the clear head of Tx for any dive deeper than 35m and when I was faced with the choice of Tec45/50 or a Tx course, I chose the latter.
DevonDiver
N/A
As mentioned, PADI now have a trimix option with Tec45 and Tec50. They should have done this long ago IMHO.
They should also promulgate it better... but to do so would disadvantage Tech Deep instructors (Tec40-50), as only Tech Trimix instructors could offer it.
I'm not a technical instructor so please inform me if I'm incorrect. Aren't tec 40-50 deep air still a requirement to begin helium blend diving and I think they changed it to tec 55 Normoxic, tec 65 is hypoxic and maybe tec 100 is expedition trimix or 100 may just be a CCR thing. I just don't see them going from Tec 40 at 145' single deco gas to a helium blend mix for tec45. I could be wrong on all points though.
ajduplessis
Contributor
Kind of scary really considering your talk about adaptive and thinking technical divers.
DevonDiver
N/A
I'm not a technical instructor so please inform me if I'm incorrect. Aren't tec 40-50 deep air still a requirement to begin helium blend diving and I think they changed it to tec 55 Normoxic, tec 65 is hypoxic and maybe tec 100 is expedition trimix or 100 may just be a CCR thing. I just don't see them going from Tec 40 at 145' single deco gas to a helium blend mix for tec45. I could be wrong on all points though.
PADI have now created a normoxic trimix option for Tec45 and/or Tec50. Qualified Tech Trimix instructors can apply to teach this option.
Given that some agencies offer Recreational Trimix, it's not absurd. The main difference is in theory scope. . . and it's 6 dives, not 4.
Trimix isn't rocket science. With normoxic trimix there's very little practical in-water difference. . except you have less narcosis to content with.
Having recently completed Tec 50, I can understand the need for a separate course.
Handing the two deco tanks, and doing gas switches at 70 and 20 feet, plus switching back to back gas between switches and air breaks requires a lot more proficiency than might expected at the Tec 45 level.
All that while getting the usual exercises of wrong gasses, ooa, leaking valves, and valve drills, etc.
I did the last two dives on trimix. I think helium is too expensive to do open circuit trimix. If I ever go deeper, it will be with a rebreather.
Handing the two deco tanks, and doing gas switches at 70 and 20 feet, plus switching back to back gas between switches and air breaks requires a lot more proficiency than might expected at the Tec 45 level.
All that while getting the usual exercises of wrong gasses, ooa, leaking valves, and valve drills, etc.
I did the last two dives on trimix. I think helium is too expensive to do open circuit trimix. If I ever go deeper, it will be with a rebreather.
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