Two questions

[Rick Inman]

Maybe, some students have some idea before taking the entry tech class by taking DIR-F in advance.

Which is what I did, and my tech instructor said it was the best move I could have made.

Of course, he will make a couple of dives with a potential student before doing any class with them, assess their skills, and then only teach the level of class to them that they qualify for.

In other words, if you don't have the basic buoyancy, trim, kick skills, you ain't taking any deco class from him. He might sign you up for advanced nitrox and focus on the basics, but you won't be doing a true tech class until you have that nailed.

To kind of answer the question, for me the most difficult part of the class, academically, was the math skills that I had to do in my head. Of course, I had the kind of instructor who would call me up in the middle of my busy day, or on my cell when I was driving down the freeway, and start firing math questions at me (he still does this!). When he finally let me use a pencil and paper, it felt like cheating.

In water, I guess it was (and still is) getting my trim nailed down with all the different bottles clipped to me.

 

[Meng_Tze]

.. by taking DIR-F in advance.....

The best 'course' to take (pun intended)

 

[Hoosier]

Jbd and Rick,

Thanks. That’s the reply that I expected.

Sure, I understand his point, too. I totally agree that Adv/Deco isn’t for the basic skill, but to master (get used to) the basic skill in advance isn’t feasible in reality.

Please tell and guide me where I can learn the basic stuff except DIR-F or recent NAUI tech classes. I am not a religious DIR diver and don’t take any GUE class at all. But, I accept their technique and skill part, NOT all. If any other tech agencies think that the basic skill is frequently issue on conducting their entry level tech class. They should set up the course only for the basic skill like DIR-F and recent NAUI Tech classes and should not issue the C-card automatically after the class as long as that skill isn't a rec. diving coverage.

We can learn and practice any basic skill and double tank by ourselves through the internet and buddy, but I am not sure if it is a reasonable recommendation because it is much easier to get the bad habit. In this context, it is the most common comment, “Do Nothing” before taking the DIR-F in our board.

Of course, I am not talking about OW basic skill here. Even though somebody dives more than 4 years and has more than 200 logs, the basic skill in the tech area is a totally different story. I have dived with many rec. instructors, but sometimes, some instructors' skill is way off in terms of the basic skill in the tech area.

 

[daniel f aleman]

The diving part is always more difficult...

Look, the best thing to do is get your NAUI Master certification. Then you'll have taken the instruction (Ad. Deep, Ad. Navigation, Night, Peak Buoyancy, Ad. Rescue, etc) and have made the dives needed to then take a NAUI Intro to Tech class, DIR-F, or some class similar.

The other thing to do is take a Gas Blender course with your Intro class...

 

[TSandM]

Well, I guess I'd ask what the problem is in taking DIR-F? If you're going to do technical diving, you're going to be in a backplate/wing and long hose configuration, almost certainly. You're going to need horizontal trim and non-silting propulsion, and be able to do valve drills and shoot a bag without losing buoyancy control. Those things are taught in DIR-F. They also teach basic gas management and one approach to ascents within recreational limits, but you are free to ignore that information and dive as you like after the class.

Rick didn't go on to further GUE training, but his non-GUE instructor thought his DIR-F class readied him nicely for the training he did.

 

[JeffG]

Rick didn't go on to further GUE training, but his non-GUE instructor thought his DIR-F class readied him nicely for the training he did.

Neither did I (continue with Gue, I might for cave 1), but DIR-f (or the NAUI Intro class) is a great into class to tech.

The hardest and most important thing about tech diving is buoyancy control while being task loaded. All the other stuff you can fake. (i.e. you don't have to have a full understanding of decompression to follow a plan spit out by v-planner)

 

[Scuba_Steve]

.......... All the other stuff you can fake. (i.e. you don't have to have a full understanding of decompression to follow a plan spit out by v-planner)

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

[JeffG]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Oops.....too late

 

[fire_diver]

Well, I guess I'd ask what the problem is in taking DIR-F?

Maybe there are no instructors nearby? I don't know his situation, but that's stopping me from taking it right now.

FD

 

[Hoosier]

I think you missed my point.

I am talking about the system, not an individual situation.

Yes, to take DIR-F in advance is another alternative way as I mentioned first, but DIR-F isn't a prerequsite for other agencies' entry tech class.

There are two feasible options at this moment.

1. Other agencies set DIR-F as a prerequiste for their entry tech class
2. Other agencies set up their own basic skill class like NAUI tech did.

Before then, don't blame the tech newbies in other agencies class.