The BEST Tec Training Agencies?

[mania]

That will always inspire a pretty fruity debate on SB,

Yeah I know. With no clear definition so far

 

[Meister481]

This actually isn't true. Having sat through an elucidation of the PADI Tec/Rec Tec program last night, I was quite struck by how much training (and how deep) the program has before it introduces any helium. This is one of the BIG differences in technical programs. Some agencies don't do any technical diving without trimix, and others don't do any trimix until the bitter end.

PADI, TDI and IANTD teach air and nitrox down to 165-180 feet. Seems pretty similar to me.

GUE teaches Helium earlier than the others, but that is just a nuance IMO. I like that they do that, but I'm not sure it's neccesary.

 

[TSandM]

Well, I don't know if it's an agency policy, but my husband's NAUI Tech class was 21/35 for 150 feet as well.

 

[DCBC]

Helium is very, very scary. Best to leave it for balloons.

It's only another gas; nothing scary once it's understood.

 

[Meister481]

I have no experience with NAUI, but I did look it up. They use He early as well, I still like it, but unfortunately not many divers I know use mix when they go to 150'. The availability and expense of mix is a substantial issue. In an Ideal world I think the use of He would benefit tech training, but preparing the diver for real world situations is the key to training safe divers.

If A diver is trained to dive to 150' and gets on the boat to dive a wreck at 150', the captain will let them dive regardless if they have mix or not.

I have no issue diving to 150 on Nitrox, I've done it and with the proper training and practice it's safe. Not for everyone, but it's what I know.

 

[Jim Ernst]

and that’s not 100% true either.

Some agencies have clearly defined standards and classes, but little room for "creativity" (Think GUE) and others have standards that are not so clearly defined, but allow a lot of instructor flexibility. This setup allows for some very incredibly good instructors, but also for some incredibly bad instructors. (Think TDI)

Agency has something to do with it.

Mind you, it rarely matters. Usually its the first instructor the diver meets becomes the "good" instructor and any instructors that disagree with him/her are the "bad" instructors.

Yup... Good Point Jeff, I didn't stop to consider the facts from that stand point!!

 

[LiteHedded]

Helium is very, very scary. Best to leave it for balloons.

agreed. makes you talk funny.
plus helium is for sissies.

 

[Rainer]

It doesn't bring the "macho".

agreed. makes you talk funny.
plus helium is for sissies.

 

[boulderjohn]

That will always inspire a pretty fruity debate on SB, but I always like the Wikipedia definition(s):

Technical diving - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yeah I know. With no clear definition so far

To be honest, I am pretty satisfied with the first sentences in the PADI and NOAA definitions cited above. They elaborate, but to me this sums it up pretty well:

PADI: "diving other than conventional commercial or recreational diving that takes divers beyond recreational diving limits."

NOAA: "Technical diving is a term used to describe all diving methods that exceed the limits imposed on depth and/or immersion time for recreational scuba diving."​

Both definitions rely on a scuba-specific use of the term "recreational," as opposed to a more common lay definition used elsewhere in the thread (I.E., not professional or commercial). In scuba, "recreational" usually refers to diving done within the limits defined by agencies in OW instruction.

When we teach OW divers, we tell them limits of depth and time. We tell them not to go into overhead environments. We tell them that if they wish to get into those areas, they need further training to be safe. I think that, by default, "technical diving" has come to mean all the diving done outside the limits defined for recreational diving.

I know that is not universally accepted by any means, but it works for me.

 

[Rhone Man]

Astonishing - several clear cut chances to lurch into the traditional Helium vs Deep Air debate, and no one grabbed any of them...

:focus: