What's Next...

[helios]

8 months into my DM course, I'm eyeing other areas to move in to, for a better skills profile. I'm not sure if I want to go the instructor route, but I'm definitely interested in Tec and sidemount.

Between the two, is there a logical progression? I'm with a big LDS that can provide both, so is it just a matter of deciding between them or does it make sense to do one before the other?

 

[Woolfie19]

Advanced Nitrox/Deco procedures.
Also a GUE fundies or IANTD esentials...

 

[Oldbear]

Ditto above...

 

[OMANDIVER]

8 months into my DM course, I'm eyeing other areas to move in to, for a better skills profile. I'm not sure if I want to go the instructor route, but I'm definitely interested in Tec and sidemount.

Between the two, is there a logical progression? I'm with a big LDS that can provide both, so is it just a matter of deciding between them or does it make sense to do one before the other?

I was in a similar position to you. I did DM and then decided not to go the instructor route at least for the time being. I did AN/DP with specialist tec diving outfit, Team Blue Immersion in Dahab.(highly recommended) After a while i went back to them and did Extended Range and Normoxic Trimix combo (you will get people on this site with no experience of it telling you not to do this but it keeps the helium costs down while you learn to dive 2 stages) all in back mount. Unless I had been a proficient sidemount diver previously i would not have attempted these courses in that configuration. I then went the cave diving route and that is where I am now, considering learning sidemount to facilitate that specialisation. I have no regrets in following this route and it has been a solid progressive journey with good people. The folk I learnt with didnt count the dives or the time in the water so learning to dive doubles initially (5m bootcamp)was not something i had to do a special course for. Hope this helps.

 

[kensuf]

How about just diving and having some fun and see what moves and inspires you? Maybe take an intro to tec class that the instructor will work with you and let you try both doubles and sidemount so you can play with both configurations.

 

[Patoux01]

If your technical diving objectives would require you to be in sidemount, I'd start with sidemount and then adding the deco/stages part (with an instructor that knows how to teach the stages handling in sidemount).
Else, it doesn't really matter and I would probably start with some AN/DP class (assuming your skills are okay), as I believe there's more fun into going have a longer look at the deeper things than to just move your tanks from your back to your side (though there's quite a bit of fun in that too).

 

[helios]

Advanced Nitrox/Deco procedures.
Also a GUE fundies or IANTD esentials...

What's the advantage of AN/DP over the PADI Tec courses. From my understanding, they are more or less equivalent, though I could be wrong.

 

[OMANDIVER]

What's the advantage of AN/DP over the PADI Tec courses. From my understanding, they are more or less equivalent, though I could be wrong.

Same but different....

 

[helios]

Same but different....

Can you elaborate a little bit? I've done all my training with PADI, so to me it seems logical to keep going with them.

 

[OMANDIVER]

Ok just my opinion but i know the padi machine will weigh in here but wtf. An/ dp is a tdi course. Tdi like iantd is a technical diving agency. Does what it says on the packet. An and dp will basically get you to 45m with a a single deco tank. TDI instructors have a rigorous training programme and have more onerous student qualifying criteria than padi ..oh yes they do. Get a TDI or IANTD instructor and you will probably get someone dedicated to teaching technical diving. Padi tec 50 is a longer course and gets you 2 deco cylinders on air to 50m so is not equivalent to an/dp. Its all about agency marketing i'm afraid so the idea with TDI is that you come back and do normoxic trimix to 60m/ extended range to 55m courses afterwards - 2 deco tanks if you want that.