Tec training

[nikmarg]

Hello everyone,

My name is Nick i live in BC about an hour from Vancouver.

I’m certified with PADI, rescue diver and a bunch of other specialties and I have about 100 dives.

I’ve been looking to get into Tec and wanted your opinions for courses.
I know gue is the golden standard but from the looks of it I’m not keen on going that route, I’m a smoker and I guess it’s big no no for them.

Looking to dive backmount not side mount, I appreciate any input on this.

 

[OsirisPan]

Greg at Ocean Quest is brilliant. Has helped write some of the programs used by organizations. They regularly dive Tech also. Give them a call with your goals and have a conversation. Here's a link to there normal Tech stuff.

https://diveoceanquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ocean_Quest_Technical_Diver_Programs_2023.pdf

 

[lostsheep]

Why do you want to go tech? 100 dives isn’t a whole lot and certainly not enough to have exhausted the dives within your reach. I suggest talking with more experienced divers in your area as you’re gaining more experience. Find an instructor or mentor you like, pick their brain, and start diving tech style, I.e., BPW , drysuit, doubles etc.

Instructor is more important than agency , don’t buy the gold standard non sense.

And, quit smoking or at least learn to lie about it.

 

[inquis]

The instructor is more important than the agency, and typically it's a 3-class sequence. PADI (Tec 40, 45, 50) gives you limited deco early on and two deco bottles at the end by standards. TDI (Intro to Tec, Advanced Nitrox, Deco Procedures) front loads the deco theory with actual deco dives toward the end. TDI standards require one deco bottle, so it's on the instructor to go beyond that. Insist on one that does; gas switch errors are arguably the most frequent fatal error. Both have a Trimix version to reduce narcosis. Both can combine classes to streamline the discussion and dive sequence.

PADI requires Rescue, but I believe TDI does not. However, it is one of the more valuable classes, as the goal is to expand your awareness beyond yourself -- something quite invaluable in the technical diving level. I suggest you take it regardless of which agency you ultimately wind up with.

Talk to a few shops & instructors. Are they regularly doing tech dives themselves? Does their demeanor appeal to you? Will they work into your schedule? What is included or not in the fees (gas, boat charters, pool time, etc.)?

Best of luck in your journey!

 

[OsirisPan]

Also as a heads up Tech diving is very expensive even if you do it on the cheap. Just the right equipment is atleast 5000 prior to any training.

Ive spent 1500 (drysuit with required things)+600 (undergarments)+1000 (dive computer and backup computer)+2000(regs+tanks)+700(BCD)+800 (lights)+ probably another thousand of Misc (boots, hood,DSMB, backup masks and knives etc).
Buying a deco bottle with regulator would probably be another 500-1000 or so. Then Nitrox and O2 Decompression fills is more expensive than air. If you want to do wreck or cave then you are adding some lines/reels, extra lights.

As you progress into the 50m longer deco if you intend to dive in Vancouver you will probably want heated undergarments (500-1200) + Battery for them (800-2500)

If you are already diving well and dont need a foundational course training costs are approx
Advanced nitrox + Decompression (1600-1800 CAD) [45m deco]
Extended (800 CAD) [50m]
Normoxic trimix (1400 CAD) [65m]
Full cave with minimum training days would be (2000-3000 USD)
Advanced wreck (2000+ CAD)


I will spend 10000 CAD on diving this year to get ANDP and Full Cave + Required gear (not including flights, accommodation etc

 

[nikmarg]

Greg at Ocean Quest is brilliant. Has helped write some of the programs used by organizations. They regularly dive Tech also. Give them a call with your goals and have a conversation. Here's a link to there normal Tech stuff.

https://diveoceanquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ocean_Quest_Technical_Diver_Programs_2023.pdf

That’s where I did my ow back in 2012, Greg is great, that’s who I was leaning towards

 

[nikmarg]

Also as a heads up Tech diving is very expensive even if you do it on the cheap. Just the right equipment is atleast 5000 prior to any training.

Ive spent 1500 (drysuit with required things)+600 (undergarments)+1000 (dive computer and backup computer)+2000(regs+tanks)+700(BCD)+800 (lights)+ probably another thousand of Misc (boots, hood,DSMB, backup masks and knives etc).
Buying a deco bottle with regulator would probably be another 500-1000 or so. Then Nitrox and O2 Decompression fills is more expensive than air. If you want to do wreck or cave then you are adding some lines/reels, extra lights.

As you progress into the 50m longer deco if you intend to dive in Vancouver you will probably want heated undergarments (500-1200) + Battery for them (800-2500)

If you are already diving well and dont need a foundational course training costs are approx
Advanced nitrox + Decompression (1600-1800 CAD) [45m deco]
Extended (800 CAD) [50m]
Normoxic trimix (1400 CAD) [65m]
Full cave with minimum training days would be (2000-3000 USD)
Advanced wreck (2000+ CAD)


I will spend 10000 CAD on diving this year to get ANDP and Full Cave + Required gear (not including flights, accommodation etc

Yes I’ve noticed, I started buying all the equipment a while ago so I pretty much have everything except the tanks.
It looks like it’s going to be an expensive journey.

 

[nikmarg]

Why do you want to go tech? 100 dives isn’t a whole lot and certainly not enough to have exhausted the dives within your reach. I suggest talking with more experienced divers in your area as you’re gaining more experience. Find an instructor or mentor you like, pick their brain, and start diving tech style, I.e., BPW , drysuit, doubles etc.

Instructor is more important than agency , don’t buy the gold standard non sense.

And, quit smoking or at least learn to lie about it.

Well I think you have to start somewhere, by getting some basic tech courses at the beginning I think it will give me some things to work on while racking up dives.
I’m only 33 so knock on wood I still got some time,
I don’t expect to dive the Britanic in the next few years but I have to start somewhere to get there at some point.

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

Stop smoking - no seriously, lungs are pretty important in diving.

100 dives is perfectly fine to get into doubles/twinset and techie diving, as long as you have some dives in a drysuit. Fastest way to dive wrecks is ANDP with TDI (maybe with Intro to tech, or better yet - GUE Fundies).

 

[nikmarg]

Stop smoking - no seriously, lungs are pretty important in diving.

100 dives is perfectly fine to get into doubles/twinset and techie diving, as long as you have some dives in a drysuit. Fastest way to dive wrecks is ANDP with TDI (maybe with Intro to tech, or better yet - GUE Fundies).

I’m European smoking is a requirement for diving!
Jokes aside I know I have to quit, definitely not the best habit