Two questions from an aspiring Tech diver

[Uncle Pug]

Yooper's right.... it is better to get the right stuff first than have to sell it at a loss.... A lot of us have done just that and it is no fund (typo intentional)

Hey...

Somebody was going to start a thread asking how many had sold a Ranger after getting a BP/Wing...

I think Zeagles stiffest competition comes from Tech divers selling Rangers on Ebay...

 

[patmandu]

I think you're right on UP I sold my Zeagle Tech for BP and wings, and have never looked back!

Glad to see it wasn't just me in that boat. :anon:

 

[Darian Dunn]

Yep, I am still interested.
I will convert to tech as finances become available.

 

[jetblast00]

Originally posted by Uncle Pug

Somebody was going to start a thread asking how many had sold a Ranger after getting a BP/Wing...

Just for you UP!
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7209

 

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Darian Dunn
Yep, I am still interested.
I will convert to tech as finances become available.

OK, you're past the first test

 

[Darian Dunn]

I just reread this entire thread. I missed something that was said the first time through.

You are suggesting that I DON’T pick up any more classes from PADI.

I was thinking about picking up Wreck and Rescue certs from PADI this year.

Are you sure I should not pick up the extra classes?

 

[jetblast00]

Originally posted by Darian Dunn
I just reread this entire thread. I missed something that was said the first time through.
You are suggesting that I DON’T pick up any more classes from PADI.
I was thinking about picking up Wreck and Rescue certs from PADI this year.
Are you sure I should not pick up the extra classes?

You will find that a large part of the diving community has a very great deal of distain towards PADI. right or wrong, this attitude is often times amplified serveral times in the tech diving community (think playschool's plastic bubble suds lawn mower next to a John Deere. Guess which mower represents PADI, ok, you're getting into the tech mindset)

PADI is only now coming out with tech programs, the foundations of which are still in question by many. Rescue, however, is a good class to take IMO from any agency for any diver, but... it's open water rescue, not tech oriented in any way. I'd say, take the classes if you want to have a better foundation to form an opinion on later, but realize that, in the long run, that's pretty much all you money is buying you... you will later learn many different, and probably better and safer ways to do things you were taught in a recreational course.

 

[AquaTec]

I got into it by accident and have never counted the cost.

however.....

My wife told me that if I buy one more piece of dive gear or book one more dive trip she was going to divorce me......

I move out two weeks ago.........

I booked three weeks in Palau and Truuk Lagoon with all my tech buddies.......

I am looking for someone to do my laundry though. the pile is getting stiff in the corner........

My new apartment has in it.
one bed, one couch, a dresser......

Three sets of doubles, a bucket full of regs, 10 tanks, two dry suits, several wet suits, three rubermaid buckets full of reels, masks, lights, lift bags, O2 analyzers, etc, etc, etc......

oh yeh and 2 k bottles of Helium, and three of O2 plus all the crap to blend it.......

7 boxes of books on diving.....

a microwave and fridge


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

"Hello Doug!"

 

[Lost Yooper]

Originally posted by Darian Dunn
I just reread this entire thread. I missed something that was said the first time through.

You are suggesting that I DON’T pick up any more classes from PADI.

I was thinking about picking up Wreck and Rescue certs from PADI this year.

Are you sure I should not pick up the extra classes?

Darian,

Yup, that's what I'm saying and others may well disagree with me. Certainly skip the wreck course -- the underlying principle in that class is using common sense. If you're heading to tech, you'll find out later that you currently have a bunch of bad habits (and mentality) that you're going to have to unlearn. Being involved with PADI, or any other rec agency, is not going to help you. Save that money you'd spend on the two PADI classes ($300?) and apply it to the DIRF course in July. You'll be doing yourself a HUGE favor. I've been down that road, but went even further by going the TDI route -- an utter waste of time and money . Take the DIRF class, then accumulate 60 dives, and take the Tech 1 course. Work on getting the Halcyon wing/harness, good regs, a drysuit, and the other stuff mentioned.

How you go about paying for all of this is up to you. For me, it was a sustained process over several years. Some people take the plunge and borrow the $7K for their basic equipment and training. Maybe that would be a good idea, I don't know. I probably would have done this if I could've. Regardless, it is critical that you do this tech stuff right, or don't do it. There isn't much room for error or short cuts or a cheap attitude.

Mike

 

[Wood]

Darian,

Take the aforementioned advice and get into a GUE fundamentals course. It is not a technical course, it is a recreation course that will open your eyes. Most GUE instructors do not require any special gear for this course.

If you don't have $4000-$10,000 to drop into this then stop where you are. There are no short cuts in technical diving and there is nothing cheap about it.