Tech 40 Trim and buoyancy

[crofrog]

Lastly, the one other person with me on day two ran out of air at 60 ft because the center manifold valve was closed. Our instructor blamed him and me. Shouldn’t the instructor do a precheck before new people jump in the water?

What predive checks did the instructor teach you and watch you all perform to ensure the gear was in the correct configuration for diving.

 

[crofrog]

He was diving with twin 60’s.

Do you mean twin AL63s, or twin LP50s? Is there even a 60cuft tank?

 

[Windmutt]

What predive checks did the instructor teach you and watch you all perform to ensure the gear was in the correct configuration for diving.

START in the water. Safety focussed on long hose reg. Air focused on gas type and spg pressure. Route accounted for lowest pressure and rule of thirds. I guess somewhere in the acronym we should check valves which was never reinforced by the instructor.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Why didn't "the other person" notice that their gas was NOT changing when they regularly checked their SPG?

I remember someone doing this to me for a jape. Was very funny, but not a problem as it was noticed within 10 or 15 mins. Tweaked the manifold, it hissed, the pressure dropped; normality was resumed.

It's odd that the manifold was closed at all though as, aside from valve drills, the manifold is rarely closed. Wonder if the instructor closed it as a test?

Maybe because they are overloaded?
I personally feel that an instructor in the early stages of learning needs to reduce stress which is a huge learning inhibitor. Stress/tasks get built up over time. This isn't C2 after all, but an introductory technical diving course.

 

[Efka76]

It does not mean anything that you were able to have perfect buoyancy in rec configuration. You should be experienced in diving double backmount config before you start Tech 40. if instructor would be fair with you, he would tell you that you need to have courses and experience in doubles backmount config before you start Tech 40 course. Unfortunately you do not meet minimum criteria for Tech 40 course.

My way was slightly different. I started my tech way by taking TDI Sidemount course. My instructor knew that I wanted to take TDI AN/DP course after that. Before I started my courses, I was very clearly told that I am paying for courses but I have to earn certifications and if instructor thinks that I do not meet minimum criteria for TDI AN/DP I will not be accepted to these courses. During initial training my instructor was extremely demanding on my and my buddy. We had to have a perfect buoyancy on very shallow depth (appr. 2.5 m) diving with 3 tanks. I was training for the whole week from 7 am to 9 PM every day. I was so exhausted that after the training if I wanted to drink 1 beer in the evening my hand was shaking..... and I am not a small and weak guy....

TDI AN/DP training was very brutal. I had many extreme situations, e.g. malfunctioning reg, simultaneously instructor was taking my mask from my head.... I had to keep a proper buoyancy by fixing reg issue and putting a spare mask.... I was told that if I do anything not correct I will fail.

I am not very familiar with Tech 40 course but I understand that it is equivalent to TDI AN course. My advice to you would be to have a good exprience in diving in doubles and then to do Tech 40 course. Also, change your instructor as he/she are not honest with you.

 

[crofrog]

You should be experienced in diving double backmount config before you start Tech 40. if instructor would be fair with you, he would tell you that you need to have courses and experience in doubles backmount config before you start Tech 40 course. Unfortunately you do not meet minimum criteria for Tech 40 course.

What are you talking about?

Tec40 is literally the first class in their technical program.

PADI Tec 40 and Tec 40 Trimix Technical Diving Course

Seven knowledge sections, four practical sessions, and four dives. Ideal for divers moving from recreation to technical diving.

www.padi.com

You want to point out where you need back mount double experience

I am not very familiar with Tech 40 course

I think that is obvious, neither am I but I can validate the requirements from the organziation before I post misinformation.

 

[inquis]

PADI's Tec40 does double duty as a tech intro and basic deco, up to 50% for conservatism, not accelerated deco (base the deco on the back gas). Tec45 is 1-gas accelerated, up to 50%. Tech50 is 2-gas accelerated, up to 100%.

Having 5+ dives in doubles would certainly be helpful before starting Tec50 if your singles buoyancy/trim is good. The PADI instructor shouldn't mandate that, but you may require more than the minimum number of dives to meet the standards.

 

[Efka76]

Let's take a look at pure facts:
1) You do not have experience and skills in diving backmount doubles configuration.
2) Your instructor is useless and does not help you at all
3) You are crying in internet that many things are not working for you.

Let me tell you brutally honest truth. Tech diving is not for weak and sleazy divers. If you make mistake, you die. Unfortunately, my very good friend (who was experienced cave diver drowned in Maexico caves as he made mistake). I would suggest to you to get more experience from good instructors to get appropriate backmount diving skills and then to think about tech diving. Now you are not prepared (mentally and physically) for tech diving.

 

[greeniguana]

Precheck or no precheck. If I can't breath, shouldn't I just switch regs or reach back and turn on valves?

 

[Windmutt]

Let's take a look at pure facts:
1) You do not have experience and skills in diving backmount doubles configuration.
2) Your instructor is useless and does not help you at all
3) You are crying in internet that many things are not working for you.

Let me tell you brutally honest truth. Tech diving is not for weak and sleazy divers. If you make mistake, you die. Unfortunately, my very good friend (who was experienced cave diver drowned in Maexico caves as he made mistake). I would suggest to you to get more experience from good instructors to get appropriate backmount diving skills and then to think about tech diving. Now you are not prepared (mentally and physically) for tech diving.

I am willing to forfeit $1200 and start over rather than get a card which should tell you something different about me. I am all about doing it right, which is why I used this board to validate my suspicions. No crying here, just doing what's safest for me so don't make any assumptions until you know the facts...