Teaching of decompression theory in TDI deco procedures and other courses.

[declan long]

Ok

Recently i was reading tdi deco procedures manual and found very little info on the thorey of decompression, for example no mentions of m values, deco models, oxygen window etc.... surely in a course where we engage in deco diving decompression theory to a certain extent needs to be explained? i am not sure if this is different through padi tecrec or IANTD etc.......? i know that most insts go the "extra mile" and explain it or students prread books like deco for divers etc. your opinions or explanations please?

thanks
declan long

 

[uncfnp]

TDI Deco Procedures has all that. Which edition are you looking at?

 

[declan long]

TDI Deco Procedures has all that. Which edition are you looking at?

not in the one i am looking at it dosn't its the one by joe odem witha purple binder

but all should have it,,,,,,,no/?

 

[boulderjohn]

Ok

Recently i was reading tdi deco procedures manual and found very little info on the thorey of decompression, for example no mentions of m values, deco models, oxygen window etc.... surely in a course where we engage in deco diving decompression theory to a certain extent needs to be explained? i am not sure if this is different through padi tecrec or IANTD etc.......? i know that most insts go the "extra mile" and explain it or students prread books like deco for divers etc. your opinions or explanations please?

I think the amount of decompression theory in the text is indeed a bit scant, and if you were taking the course from me, I would supplement it considerably. When I took the course myself, my instructor gave me a lot of additional materials.

The materials I would give you, though, would be quite a bit different from the ones my instructor provided. That is in large part because over the years I have developed significantly different views on the topic and would use a very different approach in my instruction. TDI allows instructors a great deal of latitude in what they teach, as long as they surpass the minimum requirements. I cannot speak for their management, but that may be part of their thinking in the development of this content.

 

[lowviz]

...//... TDI allows instructors a great deal of latitude in what they teach, as long as they surpass the minimum requirements. I cannot speak for their management, but that may be part of their thinking in the development of this content.

It is my personal experience that this (see above) is a very good thing IRL. I got much more than I expected and the instruction was tailored to my needs.

 

[Nasser]

When I took the course I was fortunate to have an instructor who indeed went beyond the manual and more in-depth with the theory. He handed out extra worksheets, recommended books, and also combined this with the use of different deco software by explaining the various deco-models... in theory and in practice.

I think that with technical diving in particular it's always good to seek out a really great instructor. Someone who not only has considerable experience diving in the type of environment you plan to dive... but also has great instructional skills and a real passion for teaching. Someone who can mentor you and assist you in your growth as a technical diver. It's not enough to rely only on the manual.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

Agencies are concerned with liability and are hesitant to provide too much information in textbooks. Having a book helps reduce liability when it is part of a thorough class requiring book or on-line study, classroom lectures, land drills, shallow or confined water critical skills practice, progressively deeper dives to develop skills or gain experience, and finally oral and written exams to test knowledge. Agencies are often concerned with giving an uneducated diver too many knowledge tools to hang himself without formal instruction.

Tech instructors on the other hand tend to be focused less on liability and more focused on teaching you to dive. Most tech instructors are highly opinionated and often disagree with one another or even the agency at times.

The authors of tech diving manuals are tech instructors themselves so they know how tech instructors think. They also know what the agency wants. They also want to share their personal beliefs in manuals they write. They know that decompression science is inexact and fluid with new information being shared every day and that tech divers often use complex strategies based upon conditions and preferences. Lastly, they want to publish something that will have a decent life span of usefulness. In order to protect an agency from liability and allow instructors to teach decompression diving based upon current information and have their manual be pertinent for several years, the result tends to be a rather general view of decompression that instructs the diver to own their decompression based upon the tables, computers, and strategies a diver chooses.

 

[rongoodman]

The TDI text is definitely light on theory. "Deco for Divers" would be a very good companion text.

 

[CamG]

In our class we were expected to read / research beyond the TDI materials.
We were required to understand and be able to explain the dive plans that we were assigned.
When it came to memorizing theory we were left to our own vises.
We had the read the "Deco for Divers" as prep for the class as well as studied the different models so it really was fun to learn beyond into practical application.
Our instructor was excellent and went well beyond the criteria.
I not only learned tons but came out of the academic time with a great amount of practical dive plan application.

This class really prepared me for Tech diving as a whole.
It grew even more demanding in the skills in the level at which we were expected to perform them.
As the class ended we went away with far more than just the skills!
I would have to say that our class might have not been normal by any means.
I was very pleased and thankful for the efforts, passion that our instructor invested in us.

Before ever taking this class I was given the advice to interview, spend some time selecting a instructor.
I did a great deal of research into a variety of instructors narrowed it down then contacted several.
It became very clear after getting several references that I made the correct decision.
Some might think this is ridiculous obsessive but it definitely worked for me.
I did not complain about how difficult, or how expensive, I knew well before going in what I was going to get.

So I say find the right instructor and you will be happy and expect to do a far amount of individual research as well.
Good luck and seek the best you can find.

CamG