Mark of the Tech Diver!
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I think, no matter how extreme the dives you're doing, if you aren't getting paid to do them, it's still recreational diving. The instructors who train others to do them are professionals (as a distinction from commercial divers, who are something different). Even the folks who are helping with these major projects are simply highly trained amateurs (as Olympic athletes used to be 
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David_57
Contributor
For me its simple a Technical Diver is actually a Recreational Diver who has taken additional training to allow them to make deeper dives safely than say a PADI Open Water Diver, like the difference between a Padi Open Water diver Max 60ft, and a PADI Advanced Diver Max 130ft. I have seen divers taking a technical dive course that should still be trying to master the basics of diving like good buoyancey control.
Lets face it anyone that decides they would like to dive to a depth of lets say 200ft or even more can, including a diver with basic training and equipment without breaking any laws, can they do it safely I doubt it.
To me the term Technical Diver just means the diver has taken additional recreational training period, does that make him or her better than a diver with Open Water training no, just means he decided to seek additional recreational dive training.
Lets face it anyone that decides they would like to dive to a depth of lets say 200ft or even more can, including a diver with basic training and equipment without breaking any laws, can they do it safely I doubt it.
To me the term Technical Diver just means the diver has taken additional recreational training period, does that make him or her better than a diver with Open Water training no, just means he decided to seek additional recreational dive training.
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OP
Diving Lore
Contributor
Rather odd negative attacks on a well meaning post. To the objectioners what bullet points belong in the recreational realm besides basic nitrox?
Val, thanks for your support. I had no idea this section has such caustic members who seem to think I've intruded on their sacred holy of holies.
To those people please re-read the OP section here which states:
The Mark Of The Tech Diver (MOTT) can sometimes be a broad one though, for the purposed of argument and keeping the Status Quo a true 'Tekkie' should be considered in the 7- 10 range.
What people take from the level system I posted is up to them. The whining on this thread beggar belief.
I'd actually take this personally but the level system (MOTT) wasn't even my creation but someone else who happens to be highly respected in tech diving circles.
I've personally planned, conducted, and completed several tech dives myself to be a level 8 MOTT.
Oh and in the UK to actually use a re-breather you need to either be a tech-diver or have a very good understanding of partial pressures and be an experienced diver. They don't get handed out to anybody and the waters are colder plus more challenging here.
Happy new year US folks
David_57
Contributor
Val, thanks for your support. I had no idea this section has such caustic members who seem to think I've intruded on their sacred holy of holies.
To those people please re-read the OP section here which states:
The Mark Of The Tech Diver (MOTT) can sometimes be a broad one though, for the purposed of argument and keeping the Status Quo a true 'Tekkie' should be considered in the 7- 10 range.
What people take from the level system I posted is up to them. The whining on this thread beggar belief.
I'd actually take this personally but the level system (MOTT) wasn't even my creation but someone else who happens to be highly respected in tech diving circles.
I've personally planned, conducted, and completed several tech dives myself to be a level 8 MOTT.
Oh and in the UK to actually use a re-breather you need to either be a tech-diver or have a very good understanding of partial pressures and be an experienced diver. They don't get handed out to anybody and the waters are colder plus more challenging here.
Happy new year US folks
Uh huh I have around the south west of the UK and to be honest found it less challenging than diving the St Lawrence River which runs the border with the US and Canada, as for cold water how does just bellow freezing sound? The water temp in Les Escumins. As for pre re-breather requirements you also require some very intense training over here they dont just sell them to anyone and then say go for it, as for caustic members your last post looks pretty insulting to me a North American diver.
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Insulting? I don't see anything insulting.
I do take issue with the particular order of the list, but I don't think anybody would argue that planning and executing dives involving staged decompression isn't what is usually meant by technical diving. A lot of people think use of rebreathers is technical diving as well.
Nitrox and drysuits? Well, those are SOP here in the Pacific Northwest for the recreational diving community. I got certified in a drysuit (which isn't all that rare). So they'd be a lot further down my list, simply because our diving conditions merit them very early in one's diving career.
I do take issue with the particular order of the list, but I don't think anybody would argue that planning and executing dives involving staged decompression isn't what is usually meant by technical diving. A lot of people think use of rebreathers is technical diving as well.
Nitrox and drysuits? Well, those are SOP here in the Pacific Northwest for the recreational diving community. I got certified in a drysuit (which isn't all that rare). So they'd be a lot further down my list, simply because our diving conditions merit them very early in one's diving career.
irishsquid
Contributor
Ditto, you just described me and my gear and I'm as much a "Tech Diver" as the Easter Bunny. My sentiments exactly as to the second part of your post.
David_57
Contributor
TSandM not talking about his original post I am talking about his last post with the following statement
Oh and in the UK to actually use a re-breather you need to either be a tech-diver or have a very good understanding of partial pressures and be an experienced diver. They don't get handed out to anybody and the waters are colder plus more challenging here.
If you don’t find that a presumptuous condescending statement good for you, I do!! I have edited my post to read me.
Oh and in the UK to actually use a re-breather you need to either be a tech-diver or have a very good understanding of partial pressures and be an experienced diver. They don't get handed out to anybody and the waters are colder plus more challenging here.
If you don’t find that a presumptuous condescending statement good for you, I do!! I have edited my post to read me.
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Is this the part you found offensive? It needs a referent.
From what I have read (and I have never dived there) UK diving is marked by cold water (maybe even a bit colder than the PNW, but not a lot), rough water (which we generally don't have, but Monterey certainly does, along with the cold), currents (which we certainly do have), and low viz (in which we specialize!) But if you're comparing UK diving with Florida or Hawaii, maybe it is more challenging. The US is a big place to compare anything to.
David_57
Contributor
Absolutley agree North America is a big place I have dove Florida the Spiegel Grove for example and found that a little more challenging due to depth when compared to the Galacia in Teignmouth, SW England although it had less vis and a depth of only 60ft plus some pretty big waves, most of the time they dive at slack tide so no current. When you compare Florida to the St Lawrence river I would have to say for me the St Lawrence would be more of a challenge than the dives I have done in Florida due to water temp, current, depth and low vis, both are in North America just differents areas. I am sure there are some challenging dives in the UK. I am off to Scapa Flow this May and will not make the assumption it will be the same as the Galicia in Teignmouth because it is in the UK.
I found the whole paragraph insulting he even insinuated re breather training outside the UK is inferior, apparently we hand them out to anyone with little to no training. I have no problem with the original post that started this thread.
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