Two questions from an aspiring Tech diver

[bradymsu]

First, practice the skills you've learned over and over. Perfect your trim, bouyancy and position in the water. Learn new kicks and learn how to move about in the water without stiring up the bottom and to turn yourself easily without using your hands.

Second, improve your health if it isn't in tip-top shape. Don't smoke or use drugs. Limit caffeine and alcohol. Do aerobic exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes. Eat a healthy diet. Technical diving is more than a hobby, it's a lifestyle choice.

Third, don't let anyone tell you that one agency is best or that there is only one way to go about it. Prior to getting training, do lots of research. Research training agencies, (IANTD, TDI, GUE) research instructors, research gear, etc. It's much harder for a technical diver to escape the politics than a recreational diver. It pays to be informed. Regardless of whether you go DIR or proudly adopt the label of "stroke", read training materials from a variety of sources. Keep an open mind and continue to evolve.

Finally, always remind yourself why you are diving. Don't do bad dives and don't do dives you don't enjoy. It's never wrong to call a dive.

 

[Campana]

1. Frequent this section and start asking questions. No question is too elementary.
2. Get a copy of "Doing it Right--the Fundamentals of Better Diving" by Jarrod Jablonski, to get one idea about a good method of increasing your proficiency.
3. Start gradually improving your gear, start with whatever you can afford, but build it around a backplate and wing setup. My personal preference is for a FredT backplate and a Halcyon wing. Let us know if you don't know where to get one-Fred is a private individual and you have to contact him directly and he'll sell you a plate and rigging. To get an idea about the rig type, see #2, above.
4. Don't call yourself a stroke if you are on a path to better diving, are willing to learn, and don't do stupid stuff on purpose.
5. Dive a lot with divers that are better than you. Ask stupid questions.
6. Practice with each new piece of gear until you can descend, stop your descent within one foot of the bottom without touching, and hover motionlessly there for as long as you want, in a nearly horizontal in a slightly head down position.

Just a few ideas to get you started. And by the way, it's expensive to really get into it, but you can start cheap and move up from there.

 

[100days-a-year]

Darian,plan on $5000 for gear to start for 4xregs,4x1st stages,3xspg,doubles(tanks,manifold and bands)stage bottles,doodads geegaws and thingamabobbies.Time expense must also be considered.Classes ain't cheap .Up to $5000 for them too.That gets you FN status....new guy,which means only a few open minded souls will do any difficult dives with you until you pay some time equity.Do not be discouraged ,the rewards are good,just not financial.Don't try to do this on the cheap(altho comparison shopping and haggling are OK)People DIE trying to do thisa stuff without training and gear appropriate to the situation....Here comes the good news,lotsa software,experience and (shudder) advice are free on the net.Try the following reading list Tech diving encylopedia,Fund of DIR mentioned,Intrnationaltextbook of Mixed Gas Diving,Technical Diving Handbook.Good Luck

 

[Lost Yooper]

The reason technical diving has been expensive for me is due to all the stupid and costly mistakes I've made along the way. By making sound and efficient gear and training purchases, you can save yourself a LOT of money in the long run.

It is critically important that you think way ahead of where you are when you make a purchase. For example, you're in Ohio, which means colder diving, right? That means a drysuit, which means double steel tanks. If you buy a BC, make it a BC that is adaptable to doubles and free of convolution and gimmicks (Halcyon wing with Fred T plate/harness is a good start).

Equipment purchases for "basic" tech diving DO NOT necessarily have to be more expensive than recreational equipment. You can get setup with a Halcyon wing, Fred T plate and harness for under $400 (that’s less than many rec BCs and so called “tech” BC’s). Double PST LP104's, Highland Mills bands, and a Sea Elite 300DIN manifold can be had for about $900 or so. Two Apeks back gas regs (DIN) with SPG will cost you $600 or so (that’s for two top quality regs!). Turtle fins can be had for under $80 (cheaper than most fins out there). You'll need at least one (count on two) Al. deco bottles (300DIN) for about $500 each (including the bottle, SPG, and Apeks reg). You DON’T NEED a computer for tech diving, so that's not an issue. You can get an OMS bottom timer for under $100 and use a Timex watch as a backup. You can download GAP or V-Planner for free off the net to compute deco profiles. You need an argon bottle (DIN) and reg for $200 total or so. You'll need a few accessories like a Halcyon 80lb lift bag ($80), a spool or two, and a primary reel. You’ll need a dive light, or three, so you’re looking at $700 in lights (for good EE lights) . To top all of that off, you'll need a shell drysuit (under $2000). You’ll notice that I put DIN after all the tanks and regs. From now on, think down the road and use/buy the better DIN connection for all of your future purchases. Do this as you go rather buy all the conversions and valves at $50ea later on.

So, that's what you're looking at to get started in the game. It seems like a lot, but you could spend a ton more money on needlessly expensive and less than optimal gear. You see, there's a lot divers and instructors that believe tech diving equates to gizmos and gadgets and fancy this that and the other stuff. You don't need a $1000 computer, an $800 BC, $1500 regulators, and whatever else. However, there are pieces of equipment that are worth spending extra on (drysuit, dive lights, PST tanks). If you learn from the right people and spend your money wisely on equipment, you'll have more money for the best classes -- GUE's .

OK, so let's say you have saved yourself $2000, over the course of a few years, by making the right gear purchases. GUE can get you trimix trained in two courses! Granted, these two courses may cost you $1500 (maybe less?) for the both of them, but that is cheap! Other agencies may have a half dozen prerequisite courses required just to get to trimix, with each course costing $400+ each (not to mention the time involved). Remember this, poor training can be as bad or worse than no training at all and a good GUE instructor will make sure you are ready for tech diving. Like I said, think ahead before you jump. Do yourself a favor and get into a DIRF class, and then take the Tech 1 course when you meet the prerequisites (60 dives?). If your goal is tech diving, forget about all the PADI stuff/classes and spend your money wisely. I hear there is going to be a DIRF class down your way in July.

So, there’s my advice that I wish I had been given when I went down this road. I spent a fortune on worthless gear and sub optimal training, but be prepared for an expensive hobby. The helium, oxygen, and argon gasses aren’t cheap, and charters can cost extra. You have to want to be disciplined in everything and want to be a team player. Being in Ohio, I assume you intend to do the wrecks up here. Well, the deeper you go the better the wrecks get, and the more enjoyable the diving can be. It’s a commitment that isn’t for the faint hearted or economically challenged, but a very rewarding hobby nonetheless.

Good luck.

Mike

 

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Lost Yooper

So, that's what you're looking at to get started in the game.

So that would be $5560 for the gear ( you were low Tony )

 

[Divesherpa]

Having the gear is a very small part of the cost. Chartering boats to hit the "new" sites, having a house in Florida to hit the caves, and giving up the 9 to 5 and switching to contracting so you can pound the water to get the EXPERIENCE is where the real costs come in. Add to that the costs of transporting gear (not to mention yourself) to places far away (often hostile) and you are looking at the real picture.
You could always be a mostly single tank recreational tech diver (like most) who takes the classes, gets the gear and dives once or twice a month, spending the majority of your dive remembering what you learned before instead of diving 5+ times a week and keeping the learning curve steep.

Don't forget that the spouse has to be understanding enough to not mind you being gone for weeks or months at a time accomplishing goals that are only important to you.

Technical diving is a lifestyle, not a hobby.

Turn back now, or prepare to reap the whirlwind.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Looking back over this thread I almost feel sorry for poor Darian!
He's looking for encouragement and we pull out the calculators.

But then I realize that it is the truth and the truth needs to be told up front.

I have several friends that started out with us down this path who hadn't completely counted the cost. They had the smarts to pull up before they augered in and we still get to dive with them at times but not on anything that involves deco or scooters.

It would really have been a shame if they had bought into part of the package and been left holding unusable gear.... hmmm....

And Sherp's right... the extra costs beyond the equipment are where it really can get expensive.

So Darian if you are still with us... look hard and long and count the cost... and if you still want to go down this road then go for it!

 

[jetblast00]

I live in Manhattan...
No one in Manhattan needs a car (and very few actualy have them)...
I'm seriously considering buying a car this spring and classifing it as 'dive gear'...

Definatly, look before you leap... by the time you realize you're addicted, it might be too late...
(it's worth it though )

 

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by jetblast00
by the time you realize you're addicted, it might be too late...

"Hello... my name is Pug and I'm a Tech diver."

"Hello Pug!"

 

[Lost Yooper]

I'd like to re-emphasize the SPOUSE FACTOR!

BTW, the $5500 or so in gear is only a good starting point. It's not that unusual for recreational divers to have that much in their gear. Misguided tech divers could easily double that on expensive, yet less-than-optimal, gear. However, if you do it right the first time, you won't spend $5500 on junk, then wind up putting it on Ebay for a huge loss. Of course, then you'd turn around and spend thousands again on (hopefully) the right stuff. Been there, done that .

Mike