TDI Technical Divemaster course

[Rhone Man]

I had vaguely heard of this course, but never heard of anyone who actually taught it until I came across someone offering it whilst reviewing technical diver training options in Thailand (long story).

The TDI website is certainly not very forthcoming about what is involved (to say the least). Intuitively technical diving and divemastering seem not to mesh in my mind. Self reliance vs babysitting.

Does anyone know much about the course? What does it involve? I am not thinking of doing it - I am just genuinely curious.

 

[rjack321]

Technical divemaster = a capable leader helping tech divers avoid killing themselves (not always an easy task)

Does not equal "look over there kids, a turtle..."


Should understand:
scooters
trimix
CCRs (if possible)
gas mixing
consequences of different schedules
omitted deco
IWR
etc

 

[muddiver]

I am also interested from the view point of a divemaster insted of an instructor. I would think it would be more of a surface support role, not unlike Tenders are to surface supplied divers (i.e. your the divers bitch, go get more coffee).

 

[Wookie]

I hold a TDI technical DM cert. I have it for insurance purposes. My insurance (vessel in-water liability) does not kick in unless someone on the vessel is certified to supervise the level of diving being conducted. Technical Divemaster serves that requirement. I had to be a Divemaster in good standing with an agency (I'm a TDI instructor) and a technical diver. Strictly an insurance requirement. I like crew members on tech trips to have a card so they are aware of the special requirements tech divers have when helping them to kit up (rich on the right, reel hanging from butt ring, etc). We don't make anyone dive any certain configuration, but if we see something we haven't seen before we ask about it. The awareness has saved dives before.

 

[Colliam7]

I hold a TDI technical DM cert. I have it for insurance purposes. My insurance (vessel in-water liability) does not kick in unless someone on the vessel is certified to supervise the level of diving being conducted. Technical Divemaster serves that requirement. I had to be a Divemaster in good standing with an agency (I'm a TDI instructor) and a technical diver.

Is it then a certification, at least for someone with your particular background, granted on the basis of having the pre-requisite credentials, or was there additional training required?

Strictly an insurance requirement.

Interesting, that you already held an Instructor level certification, and technical diving credentials, and that did not satisfy the insurance requirement. Nonethless, thanks for the explanation.

 

[GShockey]

Does not equal "look over there kids, a turtle..."

That is the funniest thing I have read in a long time......

 

[captndale]

As Wookie noted, the Technical DM certification is an important consideration for those charter operators who take out tech divers. Many charter insurance policies do not cover passengers once they leave (jump off of) the boat. The captain or mate's instructor or DM insurance will cover their activities as a dive supervisor and also cover the boat as an additional insured if they are certified to the appropriate level. TDI Dive Masters are certified to act as diving supervisors to the level that they, themselves, are certified as TDI technical divers. I have certified a couple of dive charter boat captains for just this purpose.

To answer the original question, most TDI Technical DM courses, I think, are conducted one-on-one.

 

[liuk3]

Doesn't UTD also have a technical dive master rating? I think I was talking to one of their dive master candidates or dive master, and I remember him talking about how he was going to try to get some kind of technical dive master rating. Maybe talk to those guys as well if you are interested in the type of program.

 

[rjack321]

Doesn't UTD also have a technical dive master rating? I think I was talking to one of their dive master candidates or dive master, and I remember him talking about how he was going to try to get some kind of technical dive master rating. Maybe talk to those guys as well if you are interested in the type of program.

Yes I hold it. The DM program itself is more like an AI, I mostly help with Rec and Intro level deco courses.

Afterwards you're basically "blessed" as a DM up to your highest cert level. I host and organize tec trips anyway so this isn't unfamiliar territory for me regardless of the card.

 

[DevonDiver]

What does this course give you, that the combination of it's prerequisites doesn't already?

DM + appropriate tech dive qualification, seems to cover what you'd need. The advert talks about 'advanced knowledge' and 'advanced techniques'. What would those be? It's very vague.

I always thought that a 'technical divemaster' was just a tech diver who was employed to act as a guide for divers in a particular location. Expert knowledge of specific sites seems to be the biggest requirement, in addition to having the right tech ability/certification to dive those sites safely and comfortably.