Next step / possible training to pursue

[Cdncoldwater]

Hi Cdncoldwater,

I think you are missing the point of a PAD Tech 40 (and even solo training). With PADI Tech 40 you may perform the training in a recreational single tank rig as long as you have D-rings available to secure your stage bottle. You will be taught to attach your stage bottle in the water (you don't have to pack the stage bottle on deck and hurt your back). U/w you won't even know the stage bottle is there. It is almost weightless.

Solo training makes you think about redundancy and taking care of your own bad self. A good solo diver can be the best dive buddy you can ever have, because they don't need to rely on you for most u/w safety issues. You will be your buddy's escort while he/she performs their direct accent to the surface in case they suffer an u/w issue.

You also get a formal primmer on gas planning and you learn to gauge/calculate your SAC (some call it RMV—PADI taught me to call it SAC).

The Tech 40 class is a comprehensive course like no other you have had in recreational diving. Also, you learn to be a real dive buddy, a true dive buddy. Not a faux buddy like in OW. You will plan a dive and then as a team you will dive the plan without using computers. You will learn about staged decompression for real. You will learn about deco gases.

My buddy team was given tasks. My buddy and I divided up the tasks and followed our dive plan. We were busy. Yes, we were task loaded. We followed our decompression schedule no matter what. It was rainy, windy, and cold on the surface. It was cold and murky u/w. Did not matter, we had to follow our dive plan.

To some degree Solo, and especially Tech 40 adds additional layers of discipline to your diving. With those two classes, I feel I have the background to handle almost all contingencies u/w from 0 to 130 fsw for my buddy and I, or if solo.

Am I a practicing or real Tech diver? Heck NO!

Tech 40 and Solo training were the only classes outside of OW, that were worthwhile for me.

cheers,
m

Hi @markmud, Thanks for the info. I did my SDI Solo and PADI Self Reliant Diver courses last year as my LDS could certify both; we used the SDI manual and the requirements are very close. I have been diving solo often and did my rescue course a few years ago. I plan all my dives based on SAC and RMV (which includes dive factor combined with SAC as taught in SDI); carry redundant gear and practice skills; a huge benefit of solo is doing what you want on every dive when solo lol. I might look at Tech 40 but I think it might be a course that I do but don't practice after, similar to Rec Trimix or Tech Side Mount that were mentioned by my instructor.

 

[Cdncoldwater]

I wouldn't call TDI Helitrox a rec. class, as it goes with the full tech AN/DP. It's just not as deep as full trimix.

IANTD rec trimix is no deco, no second gas and 130' max. It is rather like Nitrox with a big emphasis on a slow ascent rate, and its dives are optional. It has deep and nitrox as prerequisites. I just finished it. Plus RAID has a trimix option within their rec deep, no-deco, class.

(Of course, IANTD advanced rec trimix is in the IANTD tech lite group and includes accelerated deco, so....)

Over kill on learning can be good, particularly when things can go bad.

I was offered IANTD Rec Trimix, not TDI Helitrox and I'm already a Nitrox diver maybe that was the thought process of the instructor. I have few opportunities to dive deep, beyond 100 feet locally.

 

[Cdncoldwater]

Thanks everyone for the options and information. I don't have a "deep" cert as there is no real deep local diving unless you get a charter but I may look at that. I plan to talk with the instructors here who can teach rec and tech, luckily I have access to PADI, SDI/TDI, IANTD locally with very competent instructors.

Definitely have some good advice to mull over.

 

[Wibble]

Another recommendation for TDI ANDP and Helitrox.

Why; it changed my diving and gave me access to extend dives beyond recreational limits in terms of time and depth, it’s also very interesting and expands one’s understanding of our sport.

Sidemount provides the stability and redundancy for your dives and is probably the most self-reliant scuba rig of all. ANDP will add another stage but it can be a small ali40 or ali50. You’ll be planning your dive for your deco to be completed on "back gas" should your accelerated deco cylinder fail. It’ll also have a limit of max 50% of your deco gas (to save the rest for a buddy).

This then gives you the skills to do a 50 min 30 metre dive with 20 mins of deco (or more depending on SAC).

Bottom line…. More time diving for the same effort.

Would suggest you take the helitrox option just to experience it and get the card. Who knows when you may, or may not use it. But if someone suggests 30 mins at 45m you could say yes.

 

[Cdncoldwater]

Another recommendation for TDI ANDP and Helitrox.

Why; it changed my diving and gave me access to extend dives beyond recreational limits in terms of time and depth, it’s also very interesting and expands one’s understanding of our sport.

Sidemount provides the stability and redundancy for your dives and is probably the most self-reliant scuba rig of all. ANDP will add another stage but it can be a small ali40 or ali50. You’ll be planning your dive for your deco to be completed on "back gas" should your accelerated deco cylinder fail. It’ll also have a limit of max 50% of your deco gas (to save the rest for a buddy).

This then gives you the skills to do a 50 min 30 metre dive with 20 mins of deco (or more depending on SAC).

Bottom line…. More time diving for the same effort.

Would suggest you take the helitrox option just to experience it and get the card. Who knows when you may, or may not use it. But if someone suggests 30 mins at 45m you could say yes.

I'm looking really hard at the Tec40, AN/DP or IANTD Rec Trimix now as I get the best "bang for my buck" training wise. I have more than 75 dives in side mount so it is a configuration I'm comfortable with and I don't think adding a AL40 for deco would be to bad. Helium here is $5/cf or more and I think skill fade is a big issue, I taught a lot of skill based competencies in the military and "use it or loose it" is a real factor so Helium is a skill that could be easily lost IMO.

 

[Marie13]

I'm looking really hard at the Tec40, AN/DP or IANTD Rec Trimix now as I get the best "bang for my buck" training wise. I have more than 75 dives in side mount so it is a configuration I'm comfortable with and I don't think adding a AL40 for deco would be to bad. Helium here is $5/cf or more and I think skill fade is a big issue, I taught a lot of skill based competencies in the military and "use it or loose it" is a real factor so Helium is a skill that could be easily lost IMO.

What helium skills?

Adding Helitrox onto AN/DP is the same number of dives. You just have to do extra eLearning. And the gas costs. Actually, Helitrox replaces the DP part. It’s AN/Helitrox. You have to do the DP bookwork, but no card. The deco stuff is covered under Helitrox.

 

[MichaelMc]

The benefit of tech side or tech 40 is the likely upgrade of your base skills that you use at any depth or dive. Plus a bit of even back gas deco extends dive time nicely, even at 60'.

Yeah, helium skill seems a slower ascent rate, not really that perishable.

Another recommendation for TDI ANDP and Helitrox.

AN/DP seems a lot of training gear and lost deco plans, if your intent is never accelerated deco.

 

[Cdncoldwater]

What helium skills?

Adding Helitrox onto AN/DP is the same number of dives. You just have to do extra eLearning. And the gas costs. Actually, Helitrox replaces the DP part. It’s AN/Helitrox. You have to do the DP bookwork, but no card. The deco stuff is covered under Helitrox.

I honestly don't know anything about helium but it would I believe be a factor in calculations ref depth, NDL etc? I know with EANx there are depth limits based on percentages and I keep a spread sheet in my EANx analyzer case for when I confirm my gases prior to solo diving.

 

[Marie13]

I honestly don't know anything about helium but it would I believe be a factor in calculations ref depth, NDL etc? I know with EANx there are depth limits based on percentages and I keep a spread sheet in my EANx analyzer case for when I confirm my gases prior to solo diving.

Yes, there is that, but I hate math, so I use MultiDeco. Why not use the technology?

 

[Cdncoldwater]

The benefit of tech side or tech 40 is the likely upgrade of your base skills that you use at any depth or dive. Plus a bit of deco extends dive time nicely, again even at 60'.

Yeah, helium skill seems a slower ascent rate, not really that perishable.


Seems a lot of training gear and lost deco plans, if your intent is never accelerated deco.

Definitely looking to increase skills, such as finning, buoyancy, planning etc, knowledge/skill, depth increase would be a side benefit. I believe my propulsion, trim, buoyancy, nav, ascent/descent and planning are good. Solo was a humbling and very rewarding course so looking to build off that.