What Defines a "Tech" Diver

[boulderjohn]

Let's throw another extreme out there. After I finished my instructor I was interviewing at a shop. I mentioned bpw and was told "that's tech gear". So by default that means I became a tech diver within a few months of OW cert with something like 20 dives. Thar persons definition of tech diving.

No, the person said you were wearing tech gear. According to what you said in this post, he did not say you were a tech diver. Wearing a dress would not make you a woman.

 

[formernuke]

No, the person said you were wearing tech gear. According to what you said in this post, he did not say you were a tech diver. Wearing a dress would not make you a woman.

But using tech gear makes me a tech diver by his standards. Completely screwed up standard but that is his.

 

[boulderjohn]

But using tech gear makes me a tech diver by his standards. Completely screwed up standard but that is his.

This is what you wrote:

"I mentioned bpw and was told "that's tech gear". "​

​

Perhaps he said something in addition about wearing tech gear making you a tech diver, but if so, you did not report it.

 

[formernuke]

This is what you wrote:

"I mentioned bpw and was told "that's tech gear". "​

​

Perhaps he said something in addition about wearing tech gear making you a tech diver, but if so, you did not report it.

Didn't think I needed to. I'm not sure how to describe that. Not unsafe so not idiot status but definitely needs something.

 

[lermontov]

The liminal period between recreational and technical is not so much about equipment (although equipment is a measure of sorts) than it is about a growing adeptness of diving skills and of an understanding of consequences of poor choice or decisions. Any diver that continues to grow and develop can look back over their shoulder and recognise that at a point where they thought they were 'experienced' they now realise they knew a lot less than they thought, the transition zone from rec to tech is a lot wider for an ADV trimix diver looking back then it is for a rec diver just completing an EAN course looking forward

 

[PfcAJ]

No, the person said you were wearing tech gear. According to what you said in this post, he did not say you were a tech diver. Wearing a dress would not make you a woman.

Modern politics says otherwise.

 

[Kay Dee]

WOB you can't breath air at 62m its like soup, RUBBISH. Narcosis your off your head chasing mermaids and can't remember the dive. RUBBISH. Oxygen toxicity you start frothing from the mouth and pass out without any notice and never again be seen RUBBISH and that how rec and tech tec or anything else you'd like to call it got started. DRAMA.

Although I would rather be using helium, I do agree - from personal experience - on your first two 'rubbish' points, (later edit / revision; more so on your first than the second though, and there are variables to both that could change the 'equation') you are very wrong on the third. Now while I would not expect a hit on air @ 62m (but depending how long one stayed there, it may be setting the stage for a hit shallow if decoing on o2 - as happened to some of the early deep air divers), oxtox can appear without warning, you will almost certainly pass out with very little if any notice and if there is no one there to assist (and even if there is sometimes) you will drown. Seen it with my own eyes and know of too many instances to state otherwise.

So as for safety and being an all-round better experience at 62m, would it be 'better' using helium in the mix? You bet!

 

[Kay Dee]

Never is the short answer, not been smart. But I'll bet your going to be told you should start using helium at 100 feet and then you're told you need a rebreather and helium bailout or another rebreather. Its about selling gear. Like I said I love the simplicity of scuba. And i can make the dive i described for 50 euro.I'm not going to jump up on a pedestal and preach about the scarcity of helium to sell you the rebreather.

I dont see how you can be crticising usefull techniques if you've never tried them. That is, while I certainly dont believe 99% of divers need helium a 100ft, I also dont know one single person (well, maybe one, and that only because of the expense) who has - that is, is trained to - dive helium and then says they'd rather be diving air on a deep (say sub 50m-60m) dive.

And while I would also agree with the simplicity of scuba (i.e. besides your depth just one crucial gauge to monitor - the cylinder pressure gauge) I disagree with the 'reasoning' behind your anti CCR stance. If you have never used one you have no baseline from which to critique them, save for what appear to be you own prejudices against, it seems, all things that might be loosely labeled as 'tech'. And you don't need helium to dive a rebreather anyway, so helium is only an issue - and a very pertinent issue- if deep diving on one. So not a sales point for the average Joe Scuba I would think.

 

[Kay Dee]

A recreational diver is one doing a recreational dive, whether that diver has done technical dives or not.
A technical diver is one who is doing a technical dive and is trained, equipped, and following established procedures for that dive, including pre-planning. A technical diver who is doing a recreational dive may plan the dive, but as there are no special needs in that dive for gasses, equipment, or deco, then it is not a technical dive...it is still a recreational dive.

And there the question is answered in a nutshell. A very good analogy!

 

[Kay Dee]

At 131 it's a technical dive. I just started tech my plan for the next several years is staying in the 130 maybe 140 range. Just doing deco dives for the 90 and below stuff so I get a decent bottom time.

Simply exceeding 130ft is not a technical dive. It may be (very very loosely) venturing into a tech range, but just exceeding 130ft does not make it a technical dive. No need to reinvent the wheel here.