The road from rec to tec

[dirdiversrule]

DIR is the way to go. Look at what GUE has accomplished. They hold all the world records and produce the best divers by far. I have taken DIR-F and it was a great course. I can wait to take it again. Look into the PADI program as well. They have awesome materials and I saw that two of their Deep Tec instructors just did a few dives on the Doria!

 

[texdiveguy]

Look into the PADI program as well. They have awesome materials and I saw that two of their Deep Tec instructors just did a few dives on the Doria!

As I recall the DSAT programing has a DSAT Discover Tech class also.

 

[Jimmer]

DIR is the way to go. Look at what GUE has accomplished. They hold all the world records and produce the best divers by far. I have taken DIR-F and it was a great course. I can wait to take it again. Look into the PADI program as well. They have awesome materials and I saw that two of their Deep Tec instructors just did a few dives on the Doria!

I don't entirely agree with that. Find an instructor you are comfortable with and that has a good reputation as an instructor and obviously lots of tech diving experience himself, then take his class regardless of what agency he teaches. I came to that conclusion after trying to find differences between Naui Intro to Tech and GUE-F, and realized the courses were so damn close in curriculum, that the instructor was going to make the difference. As for 2 of the Padi Deep Tec instructors diving the Doria....well lots of people have dove the Doria, I don't think that automatically means Padi's tech program is better than anyone's else either. Like I said, after going through my own time trying to find an instructor and agency, I realized it was the instructors experience and teaching ability that are going to make the difference.

 

[texdiveguy]

Find an instructor you are comfortable with and that has a good reputation as an instructor (and obviously lots of tech diving experience himself).........

BINGO!!!!!!

I know of a few DSAT Tec instructors that went threw the DSAT program,,,and then almost non stop and a few bounce dives later right into the DSAT instructor training class...did the min. reqd.---then hung a shingle as Technical diving instructors.
I persl. don't follow this line of thinking.
*And this is in know way a slam against the DSAT Tec Program*.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

DIR is the way to go. Look at what GUE has accomplished. They hold all the world records and produce the best divers by far. I have taken DIR-F and it was a great course. I can wait to take it again. Look into the PADI program as well. They have awesome materials and I saw that two of their Deep Tec instructors just did a few dives on the Doria!

OMG! Now I'm convinced. You've so got to be a troll!!!

 

[Jimmer]

dirdiversrule, I gotta know, are you serious? According to your profile you have 50 - 99 dives, been certified for a year, and you're a PADI instructor?

 

[Divin'Papaw]

dirdiversrule, I gotta know, are you serious? According to your profile you have 50 - 99 dives, been certified for a year, and you're a PADI instructor?

He's a troll. He's the same guy that wanted to know where to find a 3 foot by 5 foot GUE sticker for the rear window of his car ... and that was his FIRST ScubaBoard post!

 

[Jimmer]

He's a troll. He's the same guy that wanted to know where to find a 3 foot by 5 foot GUE sticker for the rear window of his car!

Well now let's be fair, that's by far the coolest idea I've ever heard of. :14:

 

[Meister481]

Do you know any tech divers?

I got lucky and had an instructor to mentor me about tech diving, giving me some insight on how it all goes together and letting me decide for myself what I liked best. He let me borrow reading material as well as videos on gear configuration. I read the fundies book and practiced many of the skills that make you a proficient tech diver. Your learning will go much quicker and you will get more enjoyment if there's someone there to help you when you struggle with something. He's been an invaluable resource to me and many others.

Your buoyancy must be spot on, no exceptions. Task loading will tell the tale if it's not mastered.

Your mindset has to change, my regular dive buddy has been struggling with this one. Self sufficiency is of the utmost importance, you should be prepared to handle any emergency under water and never consider a buoyant ascent as a way to extricate yourself from a bad situation. When the defecation meets the oscillation you should be trained up to the point that solving the problem is second nature to you.

No piece of equipment should take the place of good technique. Learn the skills, master them, regularly practice them.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no magical number of dives that will ensure you are prepared for a tech class. I started diving doubles with about 50 or so dives, started a tech class just after that and did well with the transition to doubles. I know my regular buddy did a cavern class with about 20 dives and did well enough to learn what was needed to keep going in cave/tech classes. It's totally dependent upon your personal comfort and skill level. I've seen divers with 10 times more dives than me that wouldn't have a chance passing an adv. nitrox/deco class.

Having people you trust give you advice will help a great deal. No chat board will be able to take the place of practice and/or a competent instructor. Don't just learn how to do your skills, learn why you need to know how to do them.

Become an ambassador of tech diving to your OW classes. I usually bring my tech gear to the quarry and dive it after class is over, the students generally get really excited about new things, this is a great way to educate the rec crowd.

Good luck, and pm me if you have a specific question about my journey.

Jason

 

[Hoosier]

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.

Yes, it is still crazy... But, I am still doing this practice.