Rec to Tek, best transition???

[BigJetDriver]

What would be your recomendation on the best route to move into tek diving?

P.S.---I THOUGHT YOU WERE EATEN BY SHARKS!! :11:

 

[novadiver]

The real learning comes after training, the class won't make you a technical diver , it will give you an oppertunity to become a technical diver. and don't get caught in the agency crap slinging, If a GUE rigged deco bottle works for you, then use it. If you like the way TDI teaches you to shoot a lift bag, well do it that way. If you learn from all the agencies, you'll have a good knowledge base to move your diving into what has come to be known as "technical" diving

 

[matt_unique]

.....

6. How big is your bank balance ?
Expect you will spend $3500-5000 on equipment and another $2000 on initial training, Then you have to go out and do the dives beyond training.

7. Do you understand your pysiological limitations?
Can you work well under stress and time limitations?

8. Do you understand your emotional limitations?
Do you understand that this is the most dangerous type of diving and that small mistakes can have large disaterous results ?

9. Is it deep that you want or is it long ?
Some folks just want to do deep spikes to be cool. Others have
a need/desire to explore which takes both time and depth.

10. In what environment were you trained ?
If you started out in warm clear water the transition to colder, darker, more challenging enviroments does not get better with tech. Where you train will be critical to the ultimate sucess of your diving.

If you can answer those questions honestly and with your family understanding and accepting the risks and then you really want to get into tech diving seek out the absolute best people from each training agency and have a nice discussion. Get all the particulars up front. Pathway, costs, equipment required etc. Oh a few more question you need to ask. Ask the guy you are talking to who trained him/her, how many tech dives they do when not training, and this is the best one. "If I was to pick a trainer other than you who would it be?"

Regards,

I respect Joel's bio (never been diving with him) but I think some points are a bit exaggerated. I will say too I agree with many of the points.

The cost for equipment will largely depend on what you have already. Top of the line regs work great in the deep as they do in the shallows. Reels work the same at 60' as they do at 160'. So the cost will depend on what you currently have. Most recreational divers, as was the case with me, have mostly recreational gear which would not cut the needs of tech dives. So if you are starting from scratch you are looking at a good chunk of change. The initial training is not as expensive as listed above either. If we're talking Deco Procedures through Adv. Trimix then definitely. You would most likely start with a Deco Procedures and Advanced Nitrox course and this is about $600 total plus a few hundred for the boat charter fees. (Using TDI as an example). I think people are crazy to blast through all the tech courses without building experience between courses. That's just me.

Only you know your motivations. If you want to dive deep for short periods of time to see a wreck I think that is OK too. Maybe you just want to experience the deep. Don't do a deep dive just to say you hit a depth of course.

I agree with most everything else posted. Be weary of tech instructors who do not do tech dives for fun. Definitely ask them about their recent tech experiences. Do research to gauge what an experienced tech resume should look like.

--Matt

 

[JS1scuba]

I respect Joel's bio (never been diving with him) but I think some points are a bit exaggerated. I will say too I agree with many of the points.

Thanks -- while some may think it's exaggerated it's really not.

The cost for equipment will largely depend on what you have already. Top of the line regs work great in the deep as they do in the shallows. Reels work the same at 60' as they do at 160'. So the cost will depend on what you currently have. Most recreational divers, as was the case with me, have mostly recreational gear which would not cut the needs of tech dives. So if you are starting from scratch you are looking at a good chunk of change.

If you consider that a tech set up complete with regs, BCs, gauges, cylinders, suits, computers etc will cost about $5k to get in we are on target.

The initial training is not as expensive as listed above either. If we're talking Deco Procedures through Adv. Trimix then definitely. You would most likely start with a Deco Procedures and Advanced Nitrox course and this is about $600 total plus a few hundred for the boat charter fees. (Using TDI as an example). I think people are crazy to blast through all the tech courses without building experience between courses. That's just me.

That's right the training fees are about $600-800 for base nitrox based training but you seem to have left out the cost of gas, tank rentals (if you dont have any) boat fees, travel, hotels, meals misc etc .... now you can rack it up FAST. I know what my clients spend on training so my numbers are pretty accurate

Only you know your motivations. If you want to dive deep for short periods of time to see a wreck I think that is OK too. Maybe you just want to experience the deep. Don't do a deep dive just to say you hit a depth of course.

This is a problem area with way too many tek-divers-to-be they want to hit a depth for no other reason than to put it in the log book.

I agree with most everything else posted. Be weary of tech instructors who do not do tech dives for fun. Definitely ask them about their recent tech experiences. Do research to gauge what an experienced tech resume should look like.

Ideally you want a tech instructor who has done his/her training and active diving in a variety of environments, is well versed in all of the details of tech and rec and one who was trained by some of the best out there --- While we train new tech instructors all the time and many are good at thier new craft, you want one who has a good appreciation for what is involved. your tech instructor needs to really have his act together with all of the staff, support, back up equipment and good sense to make this work. Some may think this approach is "too much" but then when you are about to pony up for this dont you want the team who can deliver the most for you ?

Ask a LOT of questions. Do a LOT of research.

Regards,

 

[matt_unique]

Thanks -- while some may think it's exaggerated it's really not.

If you consider that a tech set up complete with regs, BCs, gauges, cylinders, suits, computers etc will cost about $5k to get in we are on target.

Definitely....but if you already have two tanks, at least one good reg, reels, 40cf deco bottle, etc. you would not need to spend as much to get equipped.

That's right the training fees are about $600-800 for base nitrox based training but you seem to have left out the cost of gas, tank rentals (if you dont have any) boat fees, travel, hotels, meals misc etc .... now you can rack it up FAST. I know what my clients spend on training so my numbers are pretty accurate

I mentioned the boat fees but certainly if you are talking about people traveling to a location to receive training then of course you need to add travel costs and such. I'm sure your numbers are accurate but not everyone travels to another location to receive training. If you want to dive where you live you should get training in that area to get familiar with the challenges. If you plan to tech dive in NE don't travel to Cozumel to get your training

This is a problem area with way too many tek-divers-to-be they want to hit a depth for no other reason than to put it in the log book.

That is a scary reason to go deep. We have all read stories about the consequences of this thinking.

Ideally you want a tech instructor who has done his/her training and active diving in a variety of environments, is well versed in all of the details of tech and rec and one who was trained by some of the best out there --- While we train new tech instructors all the time and many are good at thier new craft, you want one who has a good appreciation for what is involved. your tech instructor needs to really have his act together with all of the staff, support, back up equipment and good sense to make this work. Some may think this approach is "too much" but then when you are about to pony up for this dont you want the team who can deliver the most for you ?

Ask a LOT of questions. Do a LOT of research.

Regards,

I dive in NE so I wanted a tech instructor with experience primarily in NE. I assume you meant experience in many conditions as opposed to geographic experience. If you dive in the Great Lakes you don't want an instructor with tech experience primarily in warm/clear water for example. The minimum requirements for any dive certification beyond OW (including instructor) are scary in my opinion.

--Matt

 

[Wildcard]

First decide if tek is really what you want.

You need to ask yourself the following questions.

1. Are you getting into tek too soon?
Do you have at least 75-100 really good practical dives completed.

2. Are you getting sufficient information?
Talk to the pros who do this all the time and find out what's involved.

3. What is your real motivation for tech?
Is it just to look cool or is there something you really want to see?
Have you exhausted the recreatonal path ?

4. Are you physically strong enough?
Are you in shape and able to manage the gear both in and out of the water ?

5. Are you disciplined ?
Are you prepared to stay in shape and stay up on all the developments ?

6. How big is your bank balance ?
Expect you will spend $3500-5000 on equipment and another $2000 on initial training, Then you have to go out and do the dives beyond training.

7. Do you understand your pysiological limitations?
Can you work well under stress and time limitations?

8. Do you understand your emotional limitations?
Do you understand that this is the most dangerous type of diving and that small mistakes can have large disaterous results ?

9. Is it deep that you want or is it long ?
Some folks just want to do deep spikes to be cool. Others have
a need/desire to explore which takes both time and depth.

10. In what environment were you trained ?
If you started out in warm clear water the transition to colder, darker, more challenging enviroments does not get better with tech. Where you train will be critical to the ultimate sucess of your diving.

If you can answer those questions honestly and with your family understanding and accepting the risks and then you really want to get into tech diving seek out the absolute best people from each training agency and have a nice discussion. Get all the particulars up front. Pathway, costs, equipment required etc. Oh a few more question you need to ask. Ask the guy you are talking to who trained him/her, how many tech dives they do when not training, and this is the best one. "If I was to pick a trainer other than you who would it be?"

Regards,

1. Plenty of dives, not too soon IMHO
2. Im asking for more info and getting lots of it.
3. I don't do things to look cool ( like many of the nitrox divers I see) Im working twards a vague goal at this point, mostly it's to further my skills, and Im getting boored with the diving Im doing.
4. I m 40 Y/O 6 foot and 185. I stay id decent shape.
5. Yes
6. Im emabrased at how much I get paid for the little real work I do, money is not a problem.
7. I split my time between being a paramedic and dearming bombs. I can handle stress.
8. see number 7
9. Im thinking more deep than long
10. Trained in warm and clear but home is dark, cold , and murky.
I like the last question. I will rember that.
Did I pass?

Some great info here guys, thanks.

 

[Wildcard]

"That's right the training fees are about $600-800 for base nitrox based training but you seem to have left out the cost of gas, tank rentals (if you dont have any) boat fees, travel, hotels, meals misc etc .... now you can rack it up FAST. I know what my clients spend on training so my numbers are pretty accurate "

Part of the reason I want to do this now is cost. I live in Hawaii, for now, but don't expect to be here a whole lot longer. I have my own boat plus one I run as back up capt. on occasion. I have most of the gear I need. So doing it now is a good thing money wise.

Now another part of this question. I am intrigued by rebreathers. Is this a seperate route or part of tek training?

 

[chrisch]

Now another part of this question. I am intrigued by rebreathers. Is this a seperate route or part of tek training?

Moving to a rebreather is pretty much starting over.....

If I had the money.....

IMHO they make a lot of sense when the depth/BT get to a point where carrying gas is a problem. Prior to that its "nice but not essential". Most who have them seem to like them.

Chris

 

[Bobby]

"That's right the training fees are about $600-800 for base nitrox based training but you seem to have left out the cost of gas, tank rentals (if you dont have any) boat fees, travel, hotels, meals misc etc .... now you can rack it up FAST. I know what my clients spend on training so my numbers are pretty accurate "

Part of the reason I want to do this now is cost. I live in Hawaii, for now, but don't expect to be here a whole lot longer. I have my own boat plus one I run as back up capt. on occasion. I have most of the gear I need. So doing it now is a good thing money wise.

Now another part of this question. I am intrigued by rebreathers. Is this a seperate route or part of tek training?

IMHO if I were you at your stage of diving I would get the tec training and practice those skills while learning about rebreathers from books, people, and forums. Then when you have your tech gear fairly sorted in a year or two move into the rebreathers.
For recreational diving and to get your feet wet you could look into an SCR such as the Dolphin or Azimuth. The only concern is that there will be a lot of new things to learn and dial in with the tech and the same goes for the RB. Going two different directions with dive training at the same time can be like standing in the middle of a road. Going down one side or the other at a time is a lot safer then walking down the middle and easier to keep it straight.
One last suggestion is that no matter what you do please consider going SCR before CCR. Yes many have gone directly CCR but there is a learning curve with RB's and the SCR will be much easier to manage in CF situations. It is not the amount of dives that make up experience but the CF dives and how you manage and learn from them that really give you solid skills to manage things in the H2O.
Good luck, have fun with it, and keep it safe.

Bobby

 

[P_Abercrombie]

NAUI, IANTD and GUE all offer courses in recreational helium (often combined with Advanced Nitrox) where you can gain experience diving in doubles, etc. All done in depths between 100 and 150 feet. Not alot of deco involved but you get a chance to use the gear, learn how to develop dive plans, etc.