Technical Courses
Technical Courses
Technical diving is scuba diving’s “extreme” sport, taking experienced and qualified divers far deeper than in mainstream recreational diving.
Technical Diving
Underwater Sports PADI TecRec 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 Underwater Sports PADI TecRec courses are the answer.
What is technical diving?
Technical scuba diving is defined as diving other than conventional commercial or research diving that takes divers beyond recreational scuba diving limits. It is further defined as and includes one or more of the following:
- diving beyond 40 metres/130 feet deep
- required stage decompression
- diving in an overhead environment beyond 40 linear metres/130 linear feet of the surface
- accelerated decompression and or the use of variable gas mixtures during the dive
Because in technical diving the surface is effectively inaccessible in an emergency, tec divers use extensive methodologies and technologies and training to manage the added risks. Even with these, however, tec diving admittedly has more risk, potential hazard and shorter critical error chains than does recreational scuba diving.
How long has technical diving been around?
Most people would agree that cave diving is a form of technical diving. Cave diving developed in the late 1960s and 1970s, developing into a discipline largely like it is today by the mid 1980s. In the early 1990s, several groups of divers around the world began experimenting with technologies for deep diving (beyond recreational limits) to explore both caves and wrecks. These communities united and emerged as “technical diving” or “tec diving” with the publication of aquaCorps (no longer in print), which dedicated itself to this type of diving. Since then, tec diving continues to develop both in scope and in its technologies.
Why would I want to be a tec diver?
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 metres/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 PADI TecRec Difference
The TecRec program debuted in 2000. Although TecRec is not the first tec diving program (cave diver training has been around for decades), it repeatedly receives accolades for its merits.
- TecRec courses are integrated into an instructionally valid, seamless course flow that takes you from beginning tec diver to
one qualified to the outer reaches of sport diving using different gas mixes. - Each level introduces you to new gear, planning and procedures appropriate to extend your diving limits.
- The Tec Diver course is an integrated sequence of three subcourses:
Tec40, Tec45 and Tec50.
You can complete them continuously, or you can complete each level separately with a time span between them. This gives you learning efficiency, instructional integrity and schedule flexibility.
The Scuba Gear You’ll Use
Tec diving uses much more equipment than recreational diving. The technical scuba gear typically uses two to four or five regulators, a dive computer, and some accessories
Prerequisites
TecRec prerequisites vary (see individual course descriptions), but the following applies to anyone interested in technical diving, You must be:
• 18 years or older
• A mature, responsible person who will follow the required procedures and requirements strictly and faithfully
• Medically fit for tec diving (physician’s signature required)
• Willing to accept the added risks that tec diving presents
• An experienced diver with at least 100 logged dives
• Certified as a PADI Enriched Air Diver and PADI Deep Diver or equivalent (for this program equivalency is proof of training in recreational deep diving 18 meters/60 feet to 40 meters/130 feet consisting of at least four dives and training in nitrogen narcosis considerations, contingency/emergency decompression, making safety stops and air supply management OR, have a minimum of 20 logged
dives deeper than 30 meters/100 feet.)
The Fun Part
The fun part of TecRec is rising to the challenges as you dive deeper and longer than most divers ever do.
Tec 40 Course
If you’re interested in technical diving, but haven’t yet met the prerequisites for the PADI Tec 50 Diver course or PADI Tec
45 course, you can consider enrolling in the PADI Tec40 course. It is the first subdivision of the full PADI Tec Deep Diver course and consists of the first four dives. Because you can do one of these dives in confined water (such as a swimming pool), many divers start the Tec 40 courses in the winter months, ready to continue in open water when spring arrives.
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 metres/130 feet. - Use a single cylinder of decompression gas with up to 50 percent oxygen (EANx50) to add conservatism to the
required decompression.
Since it’s part of the course, your PADI Tec40 course training credits toward the PADI Tec45 and Tec50 courses.
The Scuba Gear You’ll Use
You use recreational scuba equipment, with some minor additions to enhance your ability to deal with tec diving
conditions.
The Learning Materials You’ll Need
You’ll use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak, which introduces you to
- tec diving lingo
- emergency procedures
- decompression and stage cylinder handling
- gas planning
The pak includes a manual, dive planning checklist and dive planning slate. The optional Equipment Set-up
and Key Skills video on DVD is a great tool to help you practice at home in between your tec diving adventures. You’ll continue to use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak through
Tec 50.
Prerequisites
You must:
• Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from another organization)
• 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 were made with enriched air nitrox deeper than 18 metres / 60 feet.
• Have a medical form signed by your physician
Tec 45 Course 
The Tec 45 course picks up where
Tec 40 leaves off and takes your training as a tec diver further
and deeper. It is the second sub course in the full PADI Tec Diver
course.
What You Learn
- The skills and
equipment and planning need to dive to a maximum of 145 feet.
- The knowledge to plan
and execute single and repetitive decompression dives using a
single stage cylinder of EANx or oxygen to accelerate or add
conservatism to the decompression stops.
- There would be no time
limit to amount of decompression. - Prepare for and respond to
foreseeable technical diving emergencies. - Master the basic skills
and procedures you’ll need as you move into deeper technical
diving.
The Scuba Gear You Use
You use
basic tec diving equipment
The Learning Materials You Need
You’ll use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak, which
introduces you to
- Tec diving terminology.
- Decompression and stage
cylinder handling. - Emergency procedures.
- Gas planning.
The pak includes a manual, dive planning
checklist and dive planning slate. The optional Equipment Set-up
and Key Skills video on DVD is a great tool to help you
practice at home in between your tec diving adventures. You’ll
continue to use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak through the
Tec 50 course.
Prerequisites
- PADI
Advanced Open Water Diver
(or hold a qualifying certification from another organization).
- PADI
Rescue Diver (or hold a
qualifying certification from another organization). - PADI
Enriched Air Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from
another organization). - PADI
Deep Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from another
organization). - PADI
Tec 40 (or hold a qualifying certification from another
organization). - Have a minimum of 50
logged dives, of which at least:– 12 dives were made with enriched air nitrox deeper than 60
feet- 6 (with or without EANx) dives were deeper than 100 feet. - At least 18 years old.
- Have a
medical statement signed by a physician.
Tec 50 Course
The Tec 50 course completes your training as an
entry-level. tec diver, taking you past the limits of recreational
diving.
What You Learn
• Make actual decompression dives as deep as 50
meters/165 feet.
• Use enriched air nitrox and/or oxygen for decompression.
• Use desk top decompression software to create custom dive tables
and plan your dives.
• Qualify to make technical decompression dives independently.
The Scuba Gear You’ll Use
You use
technical scuba diving equipment
The Learning Materials
You’ll Need
The Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak, which introduces you
to tec diving lingo, emergency procedures, decompression and stage
cylinder handling and gas planning. The pak includes a manual, dive
planning checklist and dive planning slate. The optional
Equipment Set-up and Key Skills video on DVD is a great tool to
help you practice at home in between your tec diving adventures.
To purchase this product, contact your local PADI
Instructor,
dive shop or resort.
Prerequisites
- PADI
Advanced Open Water Diver
(or hold a qualifying certification from another organization).
- PADI
Rescue Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from
another organization). - PADI
Enriched Air Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from
another organization). - DSAT
Tec 45 Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from
another organization) - Have a minimum of 100
logged dives, of which:· 20 dives must be enriched air dives· 25 dives must be deeper than 60 feet· at least 20 dives must be deeper than 100 feet - Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a
medical statement signed by your physician.
Tec Trimix 65 Course
This course opens up the advantages of trimix to
the diver, and divers are qualified to make multi-stop decompression
dives that employ EANx and oxygen for accelerated decompression, and
any trimix with an oxygen content of 18% or more.
They can dive to a maximum depth of 210 feet.
What You’ll Learn
The PADI Tec Trimix 65 course is intended to
extend the depth range of technical divers already trained and
qualified to use air,
enriched air and oxygen for technical decompression dives beyond
165 feet.
This course is for
Tec 50 divers (or those holding a qualifying certification from
another training organization). The course extends your depth range
capabilities by training you to use trimix (a blend of helium,
oxygen and nitrogen).
You will:
• Plan and execute at least five dives using EANx and trimix blends.
• Use decompression software to create custom dive tables and dive
plans.
• Make training dives as deep as 210 feet.
Scuba Gear You’ll Use
- Double
cylinders (minimum 70 cubic feet each, with larger
preferred) with isolator manifold. - Primary and secondary
regulators, one with two metre/seven foot hose.
(approximately) for gas sharing, and one with SPG. - Stage/decompression
cylinders with
regulator, SPG, mounting hardware and proper
labeling/markings. Two per diver will be required. - Backup decompression
cylinders as appropriate and required for the environment.
BCD and harness – redundant buoyancy control is required
(double bladder BCD or
dry suit if suitable for weight of equipment worn).
Depth gauge/computer and backup depth gauge/computer.
Timing device and backup timing device.- Trimix decompression
information (tables/trimix computer) and backup decompression
information.
Exposure suit appropriate for environment and dive duration.
(If you use a
dry suit, you should be trained/experienced with its use in
recreational and technical diving prior to using it for trimix
training or diving).- Argon
dry suit inflation or other inflation system as needed.
Weight system (if needed).- Jon line (if needed for
current diving environments). - Inflatable signal tube.
- Reel.
- Lift bag (bright yellow or
per local community practice preferred).
Dive knife / cutting device and backup slate, backup
mask (optional).- Compass, lights
(optional). - Drift kit (if drift
decompressing).
Learning Materials You’ll
Need
Tec Trimix Diver Crew-Pak.
The Tec Trimix Diver Crew-Pak includes all
required materials, including: manual, deep stop calculation table,
trimix decal and emergency procedures slate.
Topics covered include:
* Trimix diving depth ranges.
* Exposure planning.
* Selecting a mix.
* Argon inflation systems.
* Handling three or four decompression cylinders.
* Decompression models.
* Emergency procedures.
* Face masks and multi-gas computers.
To purchase this product, contact your local PADI
Instructor,
dive shop or resort.
Prerequisites
PADI Rescue Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from
another organization and having proof of CPR and first aid
training with the previous two years).- Be certified as a
Tec 50 (or hold a qualifying certification from another
organization). - Be at least 18 years old.
- Have logged at least 100
dives. - Have a
medical form signed by your physician.
Tec Trimix Diver Course
For the extreme diver ready to further explore
the world of technical deep diving, the gas of choice is trimix – a
blend of oxygen, helium and nitrogen.
The PADI Tec Trimix Diver course takes you to the
outer edges of technical deep diving, opening the door to pristine
dive sites few divers – if any – ever see.
What You Learn
The PADI Tec Trimix Diver course is intended to
extend the depth range of technical divers already trained and
qualified to use air,
enriched air and oxygen for technical decompression dives beyond
50 metres/165 feet. Diving with trimix is the outer edge of tec
diving – the maximum depth for using this technology has yet to be
defined.
This course is for
Tec 50 or
Tec Trimix 65 (or those holding a qualifying certification from
another training organization). The course extends your depth range
capabilities by training you to use trimix (a blend of helium,
oxygen and nitrogen).
You will
• Plan and execute between three to eight dives (depending upon
whether you enter the course as a Tec 50 diver or Tec Trimix 65
diver) using EANX and trimix blends
• Use decompression software to create custom dive tables and dive
plans.
• Make training dives as deep as 300feet.
The Scuba Gear you’ll Use
- Double
cylinders (70 cubic feet each, with larger preferred) with
isolator manifold. - Primary and secondary
regulators, one with two metre/seven foot hose
(approximately) for gas sharing, and one with SPG. - Stage/decompression
cylinders with
regulator, SPG, mounting hardware and proper
labeling/markings. Two per diver will be required. - Backup decompression
cylinders as appropriate and required for the environment.
BCD and harness – redundant buoyancy control is required
(double bladder BCD or
dry suit if suitable for weight of equipment worn).
Depth gauge/computer and backup depth gauge/computer.
Timing device and backup timing device.- Trimix decompression
information (tables/trimix computer) and backup decompression
information.
Exposure suit appropriate for environment and dive duration.
(If you use a
dry suit, you should be trained/experienced with its use in
recreational and technical diving prior to using it for trimix
training or diving.)- Argon
dry suit inflation or other inflation system as needed.
Weight system (if needed).- Jon line (if needed for
current diving environments). - Inflatable signal tube.
- Reel.
- Lift bag (bright yellow or
per local community practice preferred).
Dive knife / cutting device and backup slate, backup
mask (optional).- Compass, lights
(optional). - Drift kit (if drift
decompressing).
The Learning Materials You’ll Need
Tec Trimix Diver Crew- Pak
The Tec Trimix Diver Crew-Pak includes all
required materials, including: manual, deep stop calculation table,
trimix decal and emergency procedures slate.
Topics covered include:
* Trimix diving depth ranges.
* Exposure planning.
* Selecting a mix.
* Argon inflation systems.
* Handling three or four decompression cylinders.
* Decompression models.
* Emergency procedures.
* Face masks and multi-gas computers.
To purchase this product, contact Underwater
Sports, Inc.
Prerequisites
PADI Rescue Diver (or hold a qualifying certification from
another organization and having proof of CPR and first aid
training with the previous two years).- Be certified as a
Tec 50 or
Tec Trimix 65 (or those holding a qualifying certification
from another training organization). - 18 years of age.
- Have logged at least 150
dives. - Have a
medical form signed by your physician.
Tec Gas Blender Course
More people are diving with
enriched air and this means the demand for
enriched air fills is also increasing.
However, there needs to be someone qualified to
administer these fills to meet this demand. This is where the PADI
Gas Blender course comes in.
It can result in one of two certifications: PADI
Gas Blender or PADI Trimix Blender.
What You Learn
The Gas Blender course will train you as a
qualified gas blender, allowing you to provide gas mixes to
appropriately certified consumers.
You’ll learn the physical properties of oxygen,
its associated hazards, handling requirements and what cleaning
equipment is necessary. Finally, you will learn the five methods of
obtaining the desired
enriched air nitrox mix and the various methods used to obtain
proper helium mixes.
The Learning Materials you’ll need
What are the four main types of oxygen? What is
oxygen clean? What are the five methods for blending Enriched Air?
These questions and more are covered in the Gas Blender manual.
As a gas blender you must be familiar with the
physical properties of oxygen, its various forms and purities,
hazards and special handling requirements. The Gas Blender Manual
and CD-ROM, in conjunction with your instructor, will familiarize
you with the procedures and techniques needed for gas blending.
To purchase this product, contact your local PADI
Instructor,
dive shop or resort.
Prerequisites
PADI Enriched Air Diver certification (or qualifying
certification from another organization).
