Your own definition

[NomadicXplorer]

Hi would like to ask you guys what defines technical diving to you personally?
i have heard getting paid to dive, a certain depth you go to, If you do decompression on ascending.

just would like to see what it means to you guys

thanks!

 

[rongoodman]

One in which you no longer have direct access to the surface, whether because of a real or virtual(required deco) overhead.

 

[boulderjohn]

One in which you no longer have direct access to the surface, whether because of a real or virtual(required deco) overhead.

That's pretty much what I use.

Getting paid makes you a professional diver, which will be a commercial diver, a public service diver, a divemaster, or an instructor. Someone could be all four--it depends upon what is happening on a particular dive.

 

[rhwestfall]

'nuff said here...

 

[Dhboner]

I agree completely with all of the above plus it also reflects the diver's attitude in considering the risks of diving to be real and omnipresent. A technical diver embraces redundancy, planning and risk mitigation. I think it is possible to be a technical diver in a recreational environment based on training, equipment and attitude.

 

[rhwestfall]

oooohhhh, I like that!

But that is what should be considered in all forms/levels of diving.... which opens another whole can of worms..

 

[boulderjohn]

I agree completely with all of the above plus it also reflects the diver's attitude in considering the risks of diving to be real and omnipresent. A technical diver embraces redundancy, planning and risk mitigation. I think it is possible to be a technical diver in a recreational environment based on training, equipment and attitude.

Embracing redundancy, planning, and risk mitigation is a natural consequence of not having direct access to the surface. All problems must be solved at depth. On a recreational dive, a diver experiencing an emergency can go to surface (barring, of course, something like an entanglement).

Then we need to differentiate between a technical diver and a technical dive. Once a person becomes a technical diver, they will almost always take what they learned in their technical training with them on all dives. That does not mean all their dives are technical dives. A technical diver can do a recreational sport dive.

BTW, the harder thing to do is find an accepted word for dives that are not technical. Most people use the term "recreational" for dives that include a direct access to the surface at all times. Others argue that all non-commercial dives are recreational, and they use the term "sport diving" for those dives.

 

[Nemrod]

Commercial diving would be getting paid (to perform some sort of work), a subset of professional diving (which would include instructors). Technical is a subset of sport diving wherein overhead or decompression obligations would prevent direct access to the surface.

I do not like the recreational adjective for non technical sport diving as both are recreational unless you are getting paid.

N

 

[NAM001]

Once the dive exits the minimal training level and boundries for recreational diving certifications. That is depth, time, ndl, overhead, gasses excluding basic nitrox, I would call it technical. I know this will stir the pot and receive comments like are photographers considered technical. I think the majority know what I mean. Exceed 130 ft, exceed NDL, use gasses beyond 40% nitrox, engage in overhead diving, possibly using doubles, divers using stage tanks ect.

 

[Macan]

One in which you no longer have direct access to the surface, whether because of a real or virtual(required deco) overhead.

Nice definition. But to tighten it, Is a swim through a technical dive? Is a Cavern dive a technical dive?

- Cavern Diver Specialty Rating, 130 feet Max Distance from the surface (vertical and horizontal distance included). Penetration only allowed within the light zone of a cave. Light Zone is a part of the cave from which natural light illuminating from the Entrance is visible AT ALL TIMES. Cavern diving is different from Cave diving. Cave diving is a dive conducted beyond the light zone of a cave and is in the realm of technical diving.