TDI Technical Divemaster course

[String]

Its basically a technical guide type qualification. Means you can look after/supervise people performing tech dives (along with the logistics of sorting out the fills, surface support etc) without actually being an instructor.

In some places its required to guide divers on decompress dives.

 

[muddiver]

Its basically a technical guide type qualification. Means you can look after/supervise people performing tech dives (along with the logistics of sorting out the fills, surface support etc) without actually being an instructor.

In some places its required to guide divers on decompress dives.

Wow! Now there is a new tangent for the PADI "Hey you can dive here, this deep throught this thing because we provide a dive guide!" :shocked2:

I can see it now. Folks on vacation doing 300 foot deep cave and wreck penitrations after getting the Resort version of scuba instruction - because they are following a "Qualified" dive leader.

 

[String]

I can see it now. Folks on vacation doing 300 foot deep cave and wreck penitrations after getting the Resort version of scuba instruction - because they are following a "Qualified" dive leader.

I suspect it would be very popular with people of certain eastern european origin....

 

[DevonDiver]

TDI Tech DM standards are here: http://www.togle.com/scubatech2000/images/technicalDivemaster.pdf

 

[Wookie]

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.

My TDI instructor cert is for nitrox to 40%. The tech DM allows me to supervise trimix divers.

 

[AndyNZ]

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.

I offer the course, though haven't actually taught one.

The TDI requirements are minimum requirements - if you read between the lines, essentially the DM candidate needs to do all of the same skills/times as the diver level course.

The way my course offering is scheduled, if the candidate hasn't done their DM and/or technical course with me then they are expected to "audit" a diver level course. Audit is a nice way of me saying "I want to check you out before I take an money off you in case I don't think you should be doing this". The candidate essentially has to demonstrate their comptence as a technical diver first.

Once they've done that, I would (if I ever teach this) spend a fair amount of time making sure they fully understand the theory involved - decompression models, equipment conifgurations and so on. I would expect the candidate to be able to present a lecture competently on the topic and help a tech student gain the understanding they need. I would never use a Technical DM in this way - but if I am going to sign them off then I want them to be in a position where if they are on a boat and someone asks them a question that they can answer it. With the theory aspect, my main driver is to make sure that the candidate realises that whilst they may do things one way that it is not the only way.

Once the candidate has completed the theory element, it's back to interning through at least two diver level courses. During those courses, I will encourage the students to approach and ask the candidate questions. I'd also get them to present some material in class and also get them to help the students develop dive plans based around my requirements for skills on a dive.

The way I structure all my tech classes, say deco procedures, the skills are all done shallow-ish (dives ranging from 8m to 30m) and after that the students get to go and have some fun doing graduation dives. As the students have essentially completed their course, I put the DM candidate in control of the group and get them to "guide" the divers. By guide, I mean assist them in creating a dive plan and then ensure that the students dive the plan. I would be in the water watching the DM watching the students.

This is entirely theoretical right now, the duration and cost seems to put people off!

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

I offer the course, though haven't actually taught one.

The TDI requirements are minimum requirements - if you read between the lines, essentially the DM candidate needs to do all of the same skills/times as the diver level course.

The way my course offering is scheduled, if the candidate hasn't done their DM and/or technical course with me then they are expected to "audit" a diver level course. Audit is a nice way of me saying "I want to check you out before I take an money off you in case I don't think you should be doing this". The candidate essentially has to demonstrate their comptence as a technical diver first.

Once they've done that, I would (if I ever teach this) spend a fair amount of time making sure they fully understand the theory involved - decompression models, equipment conifgurations and so on. I would expect the candidate to be able to present a lecture competently on the topic and help a tech student gain the understanding they need. I would never use a Technical DM in this way - but if I am going to sign them off then I want them to be in a position where if they are on a boat and someone asks them a question that they can answer it. With the theory aspect, my main driver is to make sure that the candidate realises that whilst they may do things one way that it is not the only way.


Once the candidate has completed the theory element, it's back to interning through at least two diver level courses. During those courses, I will encourage the students to approach and ask the candidate questions. I'd also get them to present some material in class and also get them to help the students develop dive plans based around my requirements for skills on a dive.

The way I structure all my tech classes, say deco procedures, the skills are all done shallow-ish (dives ranging from 8m to 30m) and after that the students get to go and have some fun doing graduation dives. As the students have essentially completed their course, I put the DM candidate in control of the group and get them to "guide" the divers. By guide, I mean assist them in creating a dive plan and then ensure that the students dive the plan. I would be in the water watching the DM watching the students.

This is entirely theoretical right now, the duration and cost seems to put people off!

That's very similar to how my course is proceeding. It was offered to me at no cost by my instructor so that he would have an extra pair of eyes on students. We dive frequently and are pretty good friends so it cuts down on hotel costs, driving etc. I appreciate the mentoring and will likely be a better diver for it.

 

[damiano82]

I think there's a few point not clear:
To go for a TDI DM course

- you have to be already a recreational DM

- you have to be a tek diver

The DM level allowed you to supervise tek divers at the level of your maximum certification: If you are a adv tmx diver, you can supervise till 100 m if you are a deco pro, you can supervise till 45 m.

To became TDI instructor you have to be TDI DM first.

 

[Rhone Man]

To became TDI instructor you have to be TDI DM first.

Is that last one correct? That doesn't chime with my understanding.

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

Is that last one correct? That doesn't chime with my understanding.

I don't believe that to be the case.