The road from rec to tec

[rrjc5488]

So, I've been diving the past few years with 70 or so logged dives. I've got a DM certification with deep, wreck, night, UW naturalist and EAN specialties. (I know many of you will roll your eyes at me for having a pro certification with such few dives, but I dont plan on working as a padi pro until after I get my instructor- at which I want to do a 2-3 month internship to do so for more experience. That said, I know any certain certification doesnt mean much around here.)

Anyway, I've been interested in tech diving for quite a while. I'd eventually like to do tech diving. I say eventually because I want at least a few more years doing recreational diving to gain more experience. But once I'm 'ready' to do tech diving, which route would one suggest I take? As in, which cert's should I start with and which should I progress in.

As for goals in tech diving, I'd like to do some deep (~200fsw) dives, mostly wrecks, walls, and caves.

Thanks.

 

[Doubles]

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=162144

This thread is a good read and a good start. There are many others here as well.

Most important is to find a great instructor - the agency isn't really important although some will disagree with me there. You need an instructor that you will be able to work with. There is no comparison to OW training and tech training.

If you haven't dove doubles and a dry suit. Start there, deep diving is going to require that you do both.

As for the first class, advanced nitrox and deco procedures is a good place after you have gotten the skills down on doubles and drysuit diving.

Be prepared to be in debt for the rest of your life. Tech requires lots of equipment - my garage could double for a rather large scuba shop

Cheers

Steve

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

These questions are answered best with time.

If you want to seriously get started in "tec" diving start doing some research on equipment needs, gas laws, and anything else that relates to tec diving. I myself am doing this now but even the smartest people cant apply those brains to the real thing so once you know what you need to do than practice those things. It isn't good enough to be able to just flood a mask anymore, there are hundreds of skills that should be mastered. That you can only do with bottom time so I suggest you get a couple good books on diving and than get some tanks filled cause you otta log a couple (hundred) more dives.

 

[texdiveguy]

.....there are hundreds of skills that should be mastered.

Please expand on this a bit if you would.

 

[Jimmer]

I'm in the same boat. Right now I'm looking at Naui Intro To Tech, or GUE-F. Both classes are tech based, in that you wear the tech gear, you practice the skills needed, such as valve drills, precision buoyancy control, OOG situations, all in doubles and drysuits (normally), but there isn't any actual decompression or overhead environment diving. It seems like the best place to learn the needed skills, and then you can take time practicing those skills in recreational diving and refine them before actually starting the tech training.

 

[texdiveguy]

Most of the tech related agencies offer a short 'sampler' class to give divers a taste of tech diving before they just jump both feet in....give that a try.

So, I've been diving the past few years with 70 or so logged dives. I've got a DM certification with deep, wreck, night, UW naturalist and EAN specialties. (I know many of you will roll your eyes at me for having a pro certification with such few dives, but I dont plan on working as a padi pro until after I get my instructor- at which I want to do a 2-3 month internship to do so for more experience. That said, I know any certain certification doesnt mean much around here.)

Anyway, I've been interested in tech diving for quite a while. I'd eventually like to do tech diving. I say eventually because I want at least a few more years doing recreational diving to gain more experience. But once I'm 'ready' to do tech diving, which route would one suggest I take? As in, which cert's should I start with and which should I progress in.

As for goals in tech diving, I'd like to do some deep (~200fsw) dives, mostly wrecks, walls, and caves.

Thanks.

 

[Hemlon]

So, I've been diving the past few years with 70 or so logged dives. I've got a DM certification with deep, wreck, night, UW naturalist and EAN specialties. (I know many of you will roll your eyes at me for having a pro certification with such few dives, but I dont plan on working as a padi pro until after I get my instructor- at which I want to do a 2-3 month internship to do so for more experience. That said, I know any certain certification doesnt mean much around here.)

Anyway, I've been interested in tech diving for quite a while. I'd eventually like to do tech diving. I say eventually because I want at least a few more years doing recreational diving to gain more experience. But once I'm 'ready' to do tech diving, which route would one suggest I take? As in, which cert's should I start with and which should I progress in.

As for goals in tech diving, I'd like to do some deep (~200fsw) dives, mostly wrecks, walls, and caves.

Thanks.

I'm in the exact situation. It's time to take my adventures further but I'm just not sure which direction I want to go yet.

 

[Meng_Tze]

While tech diving is equipment intensive, that is not the end all to it. Proper training and mindset are FAR more important. Knowing how to plan a dive, when not to dive, when to call a dive. Where your limits are in terms of training, mindset and experience. All this comes with dedication, experience and training.

All (well, maybe not 100%, but above 90%) of tech divers end up doing decompression dives. So a good path to follow would be to look at that: nitrox/adv. nitrox and then decompression.

If you want to go deeper, you will end up with trimix. If you want to do overhead, you will need cave/wreck experience. Then there are some 'toys': scooters, RB's, sidemount rigs, etc.

But the basic training, and this is my personal opinion, is taught in a 'fundamentals' class. Here you learn buoyancy, trim, task loading, planning, etc, etc. It truly forms a basis for things to come.

Equipment wise you will probably end up with several sets of doubles, many stages/deco bottles and just as many regulators. Start practicing diving in doubles. AL80's are very nice tanks to start learning. But whatever you do, do it in safe manner where you always can 'see a way out'. This means buddy, contingency planning etc. This is where the mindset starts.

True tech diving is training/equipment intensive and expensive.

Many dives start at 06:00 am to drive a few hours, do one dive and drive back home again... yes it is also crazy in some peoples eyes. But what you get back is excitement, challenges and seeing things not many people have a chance to see.

 

[Jimmer]

Very nicely put Meng Tze.

 

[texdiveguy]

Many dives start at 06:00 am to drive a few hours, do one dive and drive back home again... yes it is also crazy in some peoples eyes. But what you get back is excitement, challenges and seeing things not many people have a chance to see.

6am...HECK your lucky!!!

OP---just check out a NAUI or TDI Intro to Tech program.....will be an introduction to world of technical diving. PS---have FUN!