UTD Tec 1 to TDI

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Fellows:It seems like UTD introduces divers to helium much before other agencies. If you are a UTD Tec 1 then you are already trained to use Helium to a depth of 130 feet. If you wanted to continue the rest of your training through TDI then what would be the equivalent certification for UTD Tec 1? Adv nitrox and deco procedures teaches you to do decompression dives but there is no Helium there as it gets introduced much later in the TDI curriculum.

Can anyone please shed some light into this?

Thanks.

 

[tomfcrist]

Utd tech 1 is essentially an Adv nitrox/deco course with a helitrox kicker. If you were to move forward but with TDI, extended range or basic trimix would be the move.

 

[CptTightPants21]

Without checking online because I am tired. I assume UTD is the same as GUE in that you learned about normoxic trimix which is O2 greater than 18%.

The next classes to take on the TDI front would be "advanced trimix or hypoxic trimix" which deals with O2 mixes less than 18% down to 10% (I believe). You could also take and extended range class which is the equivalent of GUE tech 1 + and covers deeper dives using air and the use of a stage bottle.

The thing about UTD and GUE classes is that they are expensive, but you know the training will be top shelf and they cover a lot of TDI courses under one "cert" umbrella.

 

[tomfcrist]

As far as I can tell UTD tech 1 only teaches hyperoxic trimix(helitrox) and certifies for single gas deco dives <130'.
To jump from that to 300' in one shot doesn't sound like a grand plan.

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

As far as I can tell UTD tech 1 only teaches hyperoxic trimix(helitrox) and certifies for single gas deco dives <130'.
To jump from that to 300' in one shot doesn't sound like a grand plan.

That is correct. They teach you helitrox but the max depth for that certification is 130 with a single deco gas. Now how would that translate into an agency that trains you to dive to that depth or even deeper without helium. It just causes a bizarre overlap.

 

[tomfcrist]

Fwiw, NAUI also limits the deco procedures graduates to 130 vice 150 for TDI...however with NAUI, helitrox extends that depth to 150. It's straight to trimix from there.

 

[decompression]

UTD’s Technical Diver program consists of a three step process - Technical Diver 1 (Tech 1), Technical Diver 2 (Tech 2), and Tech Gold. These are building block classes that introduce a diver to deeper depths and staged decompression in a slow progression, first working on bottom skills, then ascent skills and finally mid-water skills.

Upon completion of Tech 1 and Tech 2, divers are trained and qualified to dive to a depth of 160’/48m breathing Helitrox 25/25 and Trimix 21/35 and 18/45 with a single decompression gas of Nitrox 50 or 100% O2. Optionally, divers may train to use a stage bottle to conduct multiple technical dives in the same day. Tech 2 divers may also take Tech Gold, which allows two decompression bottles on a dive (Nitrox 50 and 02). UTD's Tech program limits divers to 30 minutes of decompression.

UTD’s Trimix Diver program, like the Tech diver program, is also a multi-step process, consisting of Trimix 1, Trimix 2, and Trimix Gold. This building block concept adds depth and complexity in small steps, building on a the Technical Diver’s existing skills. A student may take these classes individually, allowing time between to gain experience, or may combine Trimix 1 and 2 into one 6-day class, if prepared.

Trimix 1 takes divers to 200'/60m with a maximum of one hour of decompression, Trimix 2 moves divers to 250'/75m with a 90-minute decompression limit, and Trimix Gold is our unlimited open circuit dive certification.


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[CptTightPants21]

UTD&#8217;s Technical Diver program consists of a three step process - Technical Diver 1 (Tech 1), Technical Diver 2 (Tech 2), and Tech Gold. These are building block classes that introduce a diver to deeper depths and staged decompression in a slow progression, first working on bottom skills, then ascent skills and finally mid-water skills.

Upon completion of Tech 1 and Tech 2, divers are trained and qualified to dive to a depth of 160&#8217;/48m breathing Helitrox 25/25 and Trimix 21/35 and 18/45 with a single decompression gas of Nitrox 50 or 100% O2. Optionally, divers may train to use a stage bottle to conduct multiple technical dives in the same day. Tech 2 divers may also take Tech Gold, which allows two decompression bottles on a dive (Nitrox 50 and 02). UTD's Tech program limits divers to 30 minutes of decompression.

UTD&#8217;s Trimix Diver program, like the Tech diver program, is also a multi-step process, consisting of Trimix 1, Trimix 2, and Trimix Gold. This building block concept adds depth and complexity in small steps, building on a the Technical Diver&#8217;s existing skills. A student may take these classes individually, allowing time between to gain experience, or may combine Trimix 1 and 2 into one 6-day class, if prepared.

Trimix 1 takes divers to 200'/60m with a maximum of one hour of decompression, Trimix 2 moves divers to 250'/75m with a 90-minute decompression limit, and Trimix Gold is our unlimited open circuit dive certification.


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What are the program costs for UTD?

I can't say I am a fan of breaking the classes up like that. I know it is nothing in the long run, but that seems like a crap load of extra helium and classes. One thing that has always attracted me to GUE was the thoroughness of the course and how many certifications are rolled up into one class.

 

[Doppler]

Fellows:It seems like UTD introduces divers to helium much before other agencies. If you are a UTD Tec 1 then you are already trained to use Helium to a depth of 130 feet. If you wanted to continue the rest of your training through TDI then what would be the equivalent certification for UTD Tec 1? Adv nitrox and deco procedures teaches you to do decompression dives but there is no Helium there as it gets introduced much later in the TDI curriculum.

Can anyone please shed some light into this?

Thanks.

Did we not discuss this last year?

TDI offers helitrox deco which is essentially the same as advanced nitrox/decompression procedures with the use of helium in bottom mix to maintain an equivalent air depth of 30 metres even at 45 metres, the maximum depth for the program.

This translates as introduction to helium as one enters "technical diving." There is not a Non-Decompression course (sport diving program) with TDI using helium... in other words, intro-to-tech is done on air or nitrox... but the depth limit on it is usually 18 metres.

I am unfamiliar with the UTD curriculum but if the program you mentioned allows graduates to execute staged decompression dives, I would suggest that helitrox deco is an equivalent. However, someone from TDI HQ should be able to give you a definitive response.

FYI, Helitrox deco has been around for many years, it's an excellent program. I've been teaching this program since its inception, and will be teaching it in the 1,000 islands August 12 - 20.

 

[rivers]

Fellows:It seems like UTD introduces divers to helium much before other agencies. If you are a UTD Tec 1 then you are already trained to use Helium to a depth of 130 feet. If you wanted to continue the rest of your training through TDI then what would be the equivalent certification for UTD Tec 1? Adv nitrox and deco procedures teaches you to do decompression dives but there is no Helium there as it gets introduced much later in the TDI curriculum.

Can anyone please shed some light into this?

Thanks.

There are quite a few agencies that introduce helium early. GUE introduces it at the rec 3 level, IANTD introduces helium at the recreational trimix level (40m, no decompression), which follows onto advanced recreational trimix. TDI at advanced nitrox/helitrox level. BSAC has their sports mixed gas course, which can be taken once a diver has finished sports diver and accelerated deco procedures (35m max depth for sports diver), SMG gives a max depth of 50m. There are plenty of agencies besides UTD and GUE.