Question Should I become a tech diver? Mostly dive south Florida

[vspeeds]

Thank you in advance for any comments and feedback.
I'm a 4-5 hour drive from Key Largo and Pensacola. I'm interested in diving Chuuk at some point, maybe in 2026. In any case, it would not be an annual trip, likely a one and done.
For the FL dives, it's easy to do tech diving with Horizon Divers. I have never seen a tech diver on my Key West dives on the Vandenberg. And my 2 trips on the Oriskany I didn't have tech divers.
I don't have a dive buddy at rec level. Not sure I will have one as a tech diver.
My question is, if I start "tech diving" what are my opportunities locally in FL? What dive operators host a single tech diver? I have my SDI solo and I can only solo dive with one operator. I'm concerned with making the effort to become a tech diver and being limited in what I can do with the equipment and training.
Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Centrals]

Why not?
Learn something different. It also give you an option in diving.
As for the buddy? You will meet some eventually.
Nothing to sorry except your bank balance!

 

[bipolarbear]

If Truk is on your bucket list than AN/DP is a no brainer, and preferably Advanced Wreck as well. You will really want the additional bottom time available to you on doubles with at least a single deco gas.

 

[Germie]

Why not? Even if you don't do it often, it will make a better diver from you. And maybe you will learn to know new divers.

I also became a technical diver without knowing one. And I live in a country where you don't have deep waters for technical diving (max 50m, a long way from shore). But there is quite a big tech community here. I did not know that when I started. But when you start doing it, you learn to know new people.

 

[BHWookiee]

Spend time with the GUE crew in the training center in North Florida, GUE is all about team work and safety. I suspect that would be a good avenue to meet fellow tech divers (and potentially dive together down south).

Coming from someone who is not a tech diver yet, but has done a lot of research, being very interested in getting into it soon.

 

[happy-diver]

Do you do another driving course at every 10km speed increase, or do you just go driving
and meet people, and compare techniques and get invited to more drives, even go racing

 

[Dsix36]

Do you do another driving course at every 10km speed increase, or do you just go driving
and meet people, and compare techniques and get invited to more drives, even go racing

I really hope that you are not trying to tell the OP to just skip the training and start doing bigger dives to meet the tech people. That is an extremely quick way for a diver to get themselves in trouble or dead.

 

[InWay2Deep]

It's a good way to up your skill level, do you have any experience in a tech config? Doubles/Sidemount? If not you really should start there and then get a bunch of diving in that configuration first, then think about taking a tech course. Also you need to decide how much/how deep you are planning to go. A lot of deep tri-mix dives a year on OC is going to get expensive quick in the gas bill. I know people are saying "deep air" is coming back but personally I think that's the wrong answer. CCR is very accessible these days you just have to keep your skills up, it's not something to pull out of the closet a couple times a year.

 

[Mr_C]

I did Truk on CCR - it was amazing. The long bottom times that tech diving (OC or CCR) opens up what you can really see there. But it is not a quick thing to be comfortable. I would not put a date on being done and ready for Truk, vs get the training and when ready go.

I do know lots of people enjoy Truk with just AOW - you will just not have the long times on the deeper wrecks.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I did Chuuk on Aluminum 80's -- no need to go tec.