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.
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 130 feet
deep
- required stage
decompression
- diving in an overhead
environment beyond 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 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 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.
|
How
do I get Started?
|
1. |
Get your Books |
|
2. |
Sign-up! Call
209-577-3483 |
|
3. |
Prepare to a lifetime of
adventure! |
Tec 40
Course:
Tec 45
Course:
Tec 50
Course:
*Plus tax, books and equipment
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