maintaining depth for one. that's enough to task load people, at least in midwater. caves are way easier
100% agree...
Most entry-level tech students put themselves under enormous task loading simply because they don't have ingrained fundamentals.
Building on additional skills when the underlying skillset still demands a high level of focus causes a breakdown in capacity.
Consider a 'simple' deco ascent:
1. Maintain accurate ascent the rate of 10m per minute.
2. Maintain team positioning and cohesion.
3. Maintain situational awareness and ability to observe problems and respond instantly.
4. Deaccelerate ascent do as to not overshoot stops.
5. Maintain proper horizontal trim throughout.
6. Maintain stop depth +/- 25cm
7. Signal/communicate effectively with the team throughout.
8. Deploy DSMB during ascent and control reel at proper ascent rate.
9. Gas switch using proper protocol.
10. Conduct accurate deco as planned, coordinated as a team.
11. Deal with unanticipated issues and failures as they arise.
12. Deal with environmental variables such as low visibility, current etc
Less experienced divers tend to consider these challenges individually and assume that; because they can do each thing if permitted to focus solely upon it... then they could do all those things simultaneously. They can't. It takes a lot of practice... far more than the humble few ascents they'd undertake on a tech course/s.
In the first week or two of practice, the average student is going to get themselves into quite a messy state doing 'simple' deco ascents. Many will learn the meltdown that can happen when so many conflicting priorities of action impose themselves simultaneously.
Weak instructors... those who promise to certify students in a short timescale... alleviate that stress for their students... allowing the fundamentals to collapse and not insisting every component is done accurately and in a timely manner. THAT is why there seems to be an increasing number of sub-standard tech divers floating around (pun intended)
