The BEST Tec Training Agencies?

[Peter Guy]

I must say I'm almost always amused by the people who say He is "too expensive" for "entry level tech" dives. What does that mean, "too expensive?"

This past weekend my wife and I drove 150+ miles to Vancouver to do some diving in a new place (for us). We decided to use 25/25 in 100's for the dive with the planned max depth of 130 FSW. If my math is correct, that meant we had 50 ft3 of He per set which cost us about $35 (I know that's cheap, but let's call it $50 for an average fill).

As it turned out, I came down with a cold and worried that my ears might not clear and Lynne mused whether she would do a dive anyway with some "recreational" divers because she had 25/25 and it was "so expensive." When asked how much breakfast cost.....

The point is, I really think people fixate on the cost of the gas as opposed to the whole cost of the dive/diving -- the drive (300 miles), lodging (for us, two nights), meals (for this dive, two dinners, two breakfasts), charter fees, etc. The He cost is a small % of the total cost -- and what we get for it is a very clear mind, ease of breathing and a squeaky voice!

Yes, He is more expensive than Air -- but hey, that's diving!

 

[mdb]

Rhone Man: No worries mate. I'm sure some squeaky voiced Helium diver will be on soon. I'm a deep air fan myself, just me.

I do like to see all the gas mixers and their comments. Something to learn every time.

 

[elan]

I must say I'm almost always amused by the people who say He is "too expensive" for "entry level tech" dives. What does that mean, "too expensive?"

This past weekend my wife and I drove 150+ miles to Vancouver to do some diving in a new place (for us). We decided to use 25/25 in 100's for the dive with the planned max depth of 130 FSW. If my math is correct, that meant we had 50 ft3 of He per set which cost us about $35 (I know that's cheap, but let's call it $50 for an average fill).

As it turned out, I came down with a cold and worried that my ears might not clear and Lynne mused whether she would do a dive anyway with some "recreational" divers because she had 25/25 and it was "so expensive." When asked how much breakfast cost.....

The point is, I really think people fixate on the cost of the gas as opposed to the whole cost of the dive/diving -- the drive (300 miles), lodging (for us, two nights), meals (for this dive, two dinners, two breakfasts), charter fees, etc. The He cost is a small % of the total cost -- and what we get for it is a very clear mind, ease of breathing and a squeaky voice!

Yes, He is more expensive than Air -- but hey, that's diving!

In Europe He can cost 4 times as much as it is in the US. Some resorts or areas may not even have it. Spending 200 bucks for a dive to 130 ft can be a bit overkill.

 

[netmage]

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.

NAUI's Helitrox, and the bundling of it w/ Adv Nitrox/Deco as a 'Tech 1' type offering is only a few years old.

Personally - I prefer it... I bank 21/35, and that gets me thru 99% of my diving.

 

[TSandM]

In Europe He can cost 4 times as much as it is in the US. Some resorts or areas may not even have it. Spending 200 bucks for a dive to 130 ft can be a bit overkill.

It's like here, where I decided against a trip to Canada last night because there's no Nitrox available there. We all make risk-benefit/comfort decisions about our diving. For me, it's clear -- I'm stupid enough in the top 100 feet, and I have no desire at all to find out how stupid I could be deeper than that If helium were unavailable or prohibitively expensive, I'd just limit my diving. But other people can and have made other decisions.

 

[Rhone Man]

In Europe He can cost 4 times as much as it is in the US. Some resorts or areas may not even have it. Spending 200 bucks for a dive to 130 ft can be a bit overkill.

And it is cheap in Europe compared to other parts of the world. Oh bugger, we are starting.

So, PADI Tec diving courses, huh?

 

[adamtodd]

I agree it is not the agency, but the instructor. However standards differ. I am not sure what the PADI standard is for Tech Diving. I do feel that it is a little to easy to qualify for PADI OWSI- I really hope this isn't the case for the TECH program.

Also, I think the instructor's role is only to start the training process. Teaching good practices and of coarse safety. This training should continue after the coarse is completed. Forever.

 

[Meister481]

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

:focus:

Give it time.

For a garage mixer it's not bad, if you have to buy a helium mix of some sort from a reputable shop it gets quite costly. I know I'm not going to charge someone regular fill price when I have to have a Haskel and an extra bottle of he in the shop.

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

I agree it is not the agency, but the instructor. However standards differ. I am not sure what the PADI standard is for Tech Diving. I do feel that it is a little to easy to qualify for PADI OWSI- I really hope this isn't the case for the TECH program.

Actually to be a PADI/DSAT (Tech) instructor, you should be PADI MSDT (PADI OWSI + 5 specialty instructor + 25 c-cards issued) and have only the tech diver level training. There's no tech instructor training. It's just an administrative procedure.

 

[adamtodd]

Actually to be a PADI/DSAT (Tech) instructor, you should be PADI MSDT (PADI OWSI + 5 specialty instructor + 25 c-cards issued) and have only the tech diver level training. There's no tech instructor training. It's just an administrative procedure.

Wow. I just read the PADI Tech Intructor requirments, and your right... That's shocking.