TDI Advanced Nitrox/Helitrox - what to expect?

[DevonDiver]

I did GUE Fundies and aim to go further. The thing that struck me most during the course was my relatively bad positioning in the water. Within recreational standards it was quite reasonable, but not by GUE standards. Also trim was not near what it should have been.

What I notice most is how those skill perish rapidly when further task-loading is introduced. This is why, when practicing these skills in a pre-tech/recreational context, you need to test how ingrained those fundamental skills are by adding further stressors and/or demands.

Once truly ingrained, fundamental skills should not perish when other task loading is introduced.

GUE Fundamentals accomplishes this. I've seen divers try and 'self-teach' fundamentals in private that failed to achieve that ingraining of skills - they focus too much on 'looking right', but don't acknowledge that further task-loading needs to be introduced 'on top' of simply looking good.

It's not an ingrained skill if you have to focus, even slightly, on performing it.

The issue of developing fundamental skills prior to technical training is becoming (slightly) better understood by the diving population. 'Serious' tech diving aspirants now devote some in-water time to developing trim and buoyancy. That's good.... but, they tend to overlook that issue of adding further stressors. They can have fine trim/buoyancy...and have slick photos on their Facebook to prove it... but that competency can frustratingly evaporate on their first tech training dive....

As far as DM or even instructor skills go, I have not seen much DM's or instructors with the level of skills needed to pass tech courses. The only ones who performed on that level were those who are trained and teach tec.

About 1/3rd of my tech/sidemount/wreck students are already 'pro' level divers (DMs and Instructors). I concur that very few have the precision skills necessary to ensure a seamless transition to diving at tech levels. The more experienced 'pros' can actually suffer a harder transition, because bad habits have become very ingrained. Especially with issues like dropping the legs/going vertical whenever task loaded.... because that's how they teach and dive as a routine...for years.

Breaking bad habits is a slower process than learning good habits from the outset (or early stages of diving).

For that reason, if technical diving may be a future interest to someone, I can't stress enough the value of getting early training/ mentoring from a diver who is already accomplished at tech diving levels. Every dive thereafter builds and promotes those fundamentals... rather than detracting from them.

Only perfect practice makes perfect.

 

[KevinNM]

What I notice most is how those skill perish rapidly when further task-loading is introduced. This is why, when practicing these skills in a pre-tech/recreational context, you need to test how ingrained those fundamental skills are by adding further stressors and/or demands.

Once truly ingrained, fundamental skills should not perish when other task loading is introduced.

GUE Fundamentals accomplishes this. I've seen divers try and 'self-teach' fundamentals in private that failed to achieve that ingraining of skills - they focus too much on 'looking right', but don't acknowledge that further task-loading needs to be introduced 'on top' of simply looking good.

It's not an ingrained skill if you have to focus, even slightly, on performing it.

Yeah, it's a lot harder than it looked. I was told by my instructor that it takes a few years for most people who get a fundies rec pass to be able to get a tech pass if they work at at it. Some people can do it in a few months, but they normally have talent, lots of opportunity to dive and a good level of experience. I'm not one of them.

I can do pretty well sometimes, but not consistently heavily task loaded. Doing a timed ascent while running the SMB and getting an s-drill tossed in wasn't pretty. I can demonstrate a pretty decent back kick, but getting it to work consistently while doing an a team exercise, not so much. It will eventually get there.

 

[Scared Silly]

As others have said, if taking AN/DP/He take a fundies course of some sort before hand. I did not and got worked. My wife was in the course as well and decided not to complete the course simply because of the additional task loading.