Someone suggested I post a report on this, so here it is...
Last weekend I did the PADI/DSAT Discover Tech intro to tech diving. This is essentially the first lesson in the PADI/DSAT Tech Diver course and is designed to introduce recreational divers to the equipment and techniques of technical diving, along with the chance to try diving with the equipment in a swimming pool.
The session began with the reading of the introduction section of the course book which explains the main differences between recreational and tech diving - this has a very different tone to the PADI recreational books - the tone is less "welcome" and more "warning". It is very clear about the extra risks involved and that you need to be prepared to accept these.
After reading the book I then spent about an hour with the instructor going over and setting up a tech rig based around a double set and tech wing; we covered the reasoning behind the design of the tech rig and the reasoning for the long hose, double regulator set up, etc. We then went on to cover the set up of a stage bottle and gas switching techniques.
It was then time to get wet! We first took the stage bottles to the pool and then returned for the rig - this involved walking up four flights of stairs to the pool wearing steel doubles - an introduction to the extra effort involved in tech diving
Once by the pool we did the equipment checks and fell into the water.
We then went through a series of tech diving exercises, beginning with just swimming in the rig and then out-of-air drills and swimming while air sharing. Next we went through a series of gas-switching exercises. Finally, without warning, the instructor did a "breathing the wrong gas" procedure which involved yanking my regulator from my mouth and giving me his to breathe.
All in all, a fun day. Now, I guess I have to see if the bank account can stand the idea of at least the DSAT Tech Level 1 course...
Last weekend I did the PADI/DSAT Discover Tech intro to tech diving. This is essentially the first lesson in the PADI/DSAT Tech Diver course and is designed to introduce recreational divers to the equipment and techniques of technical diving, along with the chance to try diving with the equipment in a swimming pool.
The session began with the reading of the introduction section of the course book which explains the main differences between recreational and tech diving - this has a very different tone to the PADI recreational books - the tone is less "welcome" and more "warning". It is very clear about the extra risks involved and that you need to be prepared to accept these.
After reading the book I then spent about an hour with the instructor going over and setting up a tech rig based around a double set and tech wing; we covered the reasoning behind the design of the tech rig and the reasoning for the long hose, double regulator set up, etc. We then went on to cover the set up of a stage bottle and gas switching techniques.
It was then time to get wet! We first took the stage bottles to the pool and then returned for the rig - this involved walking up four flights of stairs to the pool wearing steel doubles - an introduction to the extra effort involved in tech diving
Once by the pool we did the equipment checks and fell into the water.We then went through a series of tech diving exercises, beginning with just swimming in the rig and then out-of-air drills and swimming while air sharing. Next we went through a series of gas-switching exercises. Finally, without warning, the instructor did a "breathing the wrong gas" procedure which involved yanking my regulator from my mouth and giving me his to breathe.
All in all, a fun day. Now, I guess I have to see if the bank account can stand the idea of at least the DSAT Tech Level 1 course...
