Technical Diving

Technical diving is scuba diving's "extreme" sport, taking experienced and qualified divers far deeper than in mainstream recreational diving. Technical diving is marked by significantly more equipment and training requirements to manage the additional hazard this type of diving entails. Tec diving isn't for everyone, but for those who hear its challenge call, the PADI TecRec courses are the answer. I am one of a handful of instructors providing quality Technical Dive Training in Utah. The Sidemount Diver Specialty is a great precursor to this class.

Tec diving not only has more risk, but it requires significantly more effort, discipline and equipment. It’s not for everyone, and you can be an accomplished, avid top-notch diver your entire life without making a tec dive.

That said, there's a cadre of individuals who want to visit places underwater that relatively few people can. Many spectacular, untouched wrecks lie at depths well below 40 meters/130 feet. Deep reefs have organisms you don’t find in the shallows. Some people enjoy the challenge and focus tec diving requires. Still others love being involved with cutting edge technologies. These reasons make tec diving rewarding.

The DSAT Tec 40 course introduces divers to limited decompression diving within accepted recreational depth limits. Although you should take this course in complete Technical diving equipment if you wish to continue on through the Tec 45 and Tec 50, the limits of the Tec 40 qualification allow for more flexibility. Therefore, it is easy to accommodate divers interested in very limited technical diving since the Tec 40 equipment requirements are only a bit beyond the standard recreational kit.

Purpose:

PADI Tec 40 course introduces divers to limited decompression diving within accepted recreational depth limits. Although the student who clearly intends to continue through Tec 50 is encouraged to complete Tec 40 in complete tec diving gear, the limits of the Tec 40 qualification allow more flexibility. Therefore, to accommodate divers interested in very limited tec diving, the Tec 40 equipment requirements are only a bit beyond those of the standard recreational kit.

You'll learn to:

• Use decompression software and dive computers to plan and make decompression dives with no more than 10 minutes of total decompression and not deeper than 40 meters/130 feet.
• Use a single cylinder of decompression gas with up to 50 percent oxygen (EANx50) to add conservatism to the required decompression.

The course will require 3-4 days of diving (including pool and open water sessions), 2-3 academic sessions, and 2 or more equipment configuration sessions.

Prerequisites:

• Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from another organization)
• Minimum age of 18 years old
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from another organization)
• Be a PADI Deep Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from another organization)
• Have a minimum of 30 logged dives, of which at least
  • 10 dives must be on enriched air deeper than 18 meters/60 feet
• Have a medical form signed by your physician

Duration:

The course will require 3-4 days of diving (including pool and open water sessions), 2-3 academic sessions, and 2 or more equipment configuration sessions.

Depth Range:

• Dive 1: 8-30
• Dive 2: 30-60
• Dive 3: 50-90
• Dive 4: 85-130

Limits:

• Use decompression software and dive computers to plan and make decompression dives with not more than 10 minutes of total decompression and not deeper than 40 meters/130 feet.
• Use a single cylinder of decompression gas with up to 50 percent oxygen (EANx50) to add conservatism to the required decompression. The Tec 40 course consists of knowledge development, three practical application sessions, one confined or limited open water dive, two open water no stop dives (simulated decompression) and one open water decompression dive.

Requirements:

Each diver will be required to have a complete set of personal dive equipment, including:

• Diving cylinder with a minimum of 80 cubic feet with a dual-outlet valve on the cylinder ( .Y. or .H. valve) or 2 diving cylinders at least 80 cft back mount or sidemount.
• Primary & secondary regulators for doubles
  • One with a seven foot hose for air sharing
  • One with an SPG
• 1 deco tank with regulator, SPG & staging kit - properly labeled
• Back-up deco gas as required
• BC, back plate & harness (dual bladder or dual wings unless drysuit diving)
• Dive computer (single or multi-gas), and either back-up computer or timer & depth gauge
• Back-up decompression information (computer, dive tables, etc.)
• Exposure protection (dry suit use requires prior dry suit diving experience)
• Weight system (if needed)
• Lights as necessary, including primary and backup
• Jon line (for current diving environments)
• Safety reel
• (2) Slates, (1 wrist-type)
• Compass
• Z-knife and back-up cutting device
• Spare clips, pull-ties, tank wrap bands & other rigging accessories
• Back-up mask (optional)
• Lift bag (100lbs min)

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Equipment provided by SLC Scuba::

• Computer with decompression software
• Oxygen analyzer
• Emergency Oxygen & first aid kit
• Contents labels
• Forms & support materials

Divers will read the appropriate section of their TecRec manual and answer the Knowledge Reviews prior to the practical application portion. A score of at least 80% is required on all exams.