Question How to prepare for tech diving without diving?

[Robert H. Diver]

Thank you all for the great replies, I stopped by my school's library today and looked for the books recommended. I didn't find any but did come across a few regarding mixed gas diving. I'm assembling a list of books to order and hopefully find cheap copies of (The Tao of Survival Underwater looks particularly interesting, but at $100 it's a tall order). The Essentials of Human Factors in Diving also looks pretty good, and will be going on my list.

As for the physical aspect, I will be adding more focus on squat-like exercises. Squatting 135 isn't too bad for me, but I haven't tried standing up or walking around with the bar, so that will definitely be something to work on.

My instructor here teaches PADI only, so I might register with my shop at home and do the SDI DM program semi-remotely. I'll have to call and find out how that all would work out (can I do some or all of the dives with a PADI instructor and take my signed logs home?). It's the free pool and quarry time that is a big draw as practice with buoyancy and trim are so important.

Why waste time and money getting your “DM” when that’s not your goal…

 

[Wibble]

@Will Megginson ...

Why waste time and money getting your “DM” when that’s not your goal…

The first thing about technical diving is it's not "recreational" diving per-se. It's outside of recreational diving in that it requires different equipment configurations and different / better skills.

DiveMasters are generally not technical divers. This is especially the case for those who're completely ensconsed within the PADI/recreational diving system and who are not trained in the skills of technical diving.

Not all DiveMasters are cut from the same cloth; there's plenty who are technical divers. Just be aware that there's little technical knowledge in the recreational community.

...

Regarding books; I'd suggest getting one and reading that. All the others are great for background reading; you need to have one to get off the ground. It's also cheaper to get only one book.

Technical Diving an introduction - Mark Powell

 

[Robert H. Diver]

@Will Megginson ...


The first thing about technical diving is it's not "recreational" diving per-se. It's outside of recreational diving in that it requires different equipment configurations and different / better skills.

DiveMasters are generally not technical divers. This is especially the case for those who're completely ensconsed within the PADI/recreational diving system and who are not trained in the skills of technical diving.

Not all DiveMasters are cut from the same cloth; there's plenty who are technical divers. Just be aware that there's little technical knowledge in the recreational community.

...

Regarding books; I'd suggest getting one and reading that. All the others are great for background reading; you need to have one to get off the ground. It's also cheaper to get only one book.

Technical Diving an introduction - Mark Powell

I’m well aware of this, did you mean to tag the OP? I don’t understand why he’d want to take the DM course when he wants to go the tech route.

 

[Marie13]

I’m well aware of this, did you mean to tag the OP? I don’t understand why he’d want to take the DM course when he wants to go the tech route.

“Free” pool and quarry time was mentioned by the OP as a draw for doing DM. I wonder how much he has to spend for DM class to get the “free” pool and quarry time.

 

[Wibble]

I’m well aware of this, did you mean to tag the OP? I don’t understand why he’d want to take the DM course when he wants to go the tech route.

I was using your post -- which I completely agree with -- to move on the discussion for the novice and tech-curious OP that DM's don't always know which way is up. For technical diving you need to talk to actual technical divers who use the skills all the time.

 

[Robert H. Diver]

“Free” pool and quarry time was mentioned by the OP as a draw for doing DM. I wonder how much he has to spend for DM class to get the “free” pool and quarry time.

Right? Go find a friend with a pool and practice skills if you want. I’m not paying for a DM course for “free” pool time. Could use that money for actual dives and training.

 

[Robert H. Diver]

I was using your post -- which I completely agree with -- to move on the discussion for the novice and tech-curious OP that DM's don't always know which way is up. For technical diving you need to talk to actual technical divers who use the skills all the time.

Absolutely.

 

[Will Megginson]

So the DM program might not be the best choice for me after all. My instructor up here in MD was an extremely prolific wreck diver and I will be asking him about his thoughts on the subject. He doesn't teach tech any more, so I'll have to stick to doing it on leave at home in FL.

I really appreciate all of your input on planning my introduction and training in technical diving. Now to pick which materials to purchase.

As previously mentioned, my long term goal is to get my Full Cave Certification. I have watched a bunch of YouTube videos and read a bunch of articles and as cool as it sounds and as much as I want to go in, I have a healthy respect for the dangers of cave diving and want to do everything right before going into a cave.

The best way I have heard it is, "An open water diver has every skill they need to go in to a cave, and none of the skills to safely make it back out."

 

[Marie13]

So the DM program might not be the best choice for me after all. My instructor up here in MD was an extremely prolific wreck diver and I will be asking him about his thoughts on the subject. He doesn't teach tech any more, so I'll have to stick to doing it on leave at home in FL.

I really appreciate all of your input on planning my introduction and training in technical diving. Now to pick which materials to purchase.

As previously mentioned, my long term goal is to get my Full Cave Certification. I have watched a bunch of YouTube videos and read a bunch of articles and as cool as it sounds and as much as I want to go in, I have a healthy respect for the dangers of cave diving and want to do everything right before going into a cave.

The best way I have heard it is, "An open water diver has every skill they need to go in to a cave, and none of the skills to safely make it back out."

Here’s something cave diving related to read (FREE). Parts are rather dated but it’s the foundation of the cave diving rules.

https://nsscds.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Blueprint-for-Survival.pdf

 

[VikingDives]

So the DM program might not be the best choice for me after all. My instructor up here in MD was an extremely prolific wreck diver and I will be asking him about his thoughts on the subject. He doesn't teach tech any more, so I'll have to stick to doing it on leave at home in FL.

I really appreciate all of your input on planning my introduction and training in technical diving. Now to pick which materials to purchase.

As previously mentioned, my long term goal is to get my Full Cave Certification. I have watched a bunch of YouTube videos and read a bunch of articles and as cool as it sounds and as much as I want to go in, I have a healthy respect for the dangers of cave diving and want to do everything right before going into a cave.

The best way I have heard it is, "An open water diver has every skill they need to go in to a cave, and none of the skills to safely make it back out."

If I were in your shoes, I'd talk to that instructor and see what he thinks about your plans. Just because he isn't teaching anymore doesn't mean he can't give you a little mentorship. If he can teach you to back kick and hold a hover in neutral buoyancy and horizontal trim, you'll be head and shoulders over most of the people that are going from rec to tech. There are skills and there are certs. Both are necessary, but skills are what you need to get the certs.