DevonDiver
N/A
PADI Tec40 - 10min (max) non-accelerated deco to 40m, using 50% (for conservatism only)
PADI Tec45 - unlimited, accelerated deco to 45, using >100% (single deco gas only)The first step (40) is easy...gets you in the gear, gets you planning dives properly, teaches you mindset, gets you precise and introduces you to tech-level performance standards; especially with fundamental skills (buoyancy, trim, awareness etc). 10 minutes of non-accelerated deco, off-set by using 50% on ascent keeps you very safe if you messed up (N2 on surfacing is likely to be much less than an aggressively planned no-stop dive).
Using nitrox as a bottom gas, with that 10 minutes of deco extra, on a dive computer, with doubles... gives you substantial increases in bottom time compared with recreational deep divers. But gives you much more safety (redundancy, known emergency protocols, planned diving, increased off-gassing) when diving at those depths.
Compare the Tec40 to the Deep Diver course: PADI Deep Diver Course Versus Tec40 - A comparison in training
The next step (45) ups the challenge... this is 'real' technical diving, even restricted to 45m (recommended limit post-training) you can obligate a lot of accelerated deco and get yourself in significant trouble...
Rec TRIMIX - is going to primarily be recommended by divers with experience in the western (1st/developed) world. USA divers in particular... who have ample access to relatively cheap helium. It's also more beneficial to them, due to demanding diving conditions... and potential impact on narcosis. Living in a tropical, warm-water environment, where helium costs a fortune and is often unavailable completely... I simply find little argument for normoxic trimix on open water (non-overhead) dives.
I fail to see how 'shorter is better'. 6 dives to provide 45m accelerated deco with 2 deco mix seems a very, very bare minimum.
Tec40 & Tec45 give the same (but one deco gas)...and is 8 dives minimum. Even then, I find a lot of students require supplementary dives to make the grade. I just suppose it depends on where the individual instructor makes the grade.... hmmmm
Too many people focus on how much a given course qualifies you to do.... rather than what is important; how much training and experience it gives you, relative to the diving level certified.
In technical diving, where the risk levels rise dramatically compared with recreational diving, hunting for the most 'bang for the bucks' certification card can be a foolish strategy. Less is NOT more.
Card collecting, zero-to-hero and instant gratification are the antithesis of the technical diving mindset.
Stating, as a positive point, how little technical training you can do, to get the card that allows you to do the most, most unforgiving, diving.... is absurd.
I personally like the PADI technical system because it offers a logical progression in risk versus training/experience. Tec40 gets you in the gear, with the knowledge and protocols and mindset... but keeps you insulated from punishment if you mess up. It lets you practice 'technical approach' diving, but with little more risk that a recreational diver should something go wrong that you're not yet sufficiently skilled or experienced to cope with. That is very wise.
Tec45 raises the stakes somewhat... but you've been given chance to raise your game to meet those risks.
Tec50 does little more than introduce the use of more (2+) deco gasses... mistakes in multi-gas mix deco being the single biggest killer of tech divers... so it is a logical thing to withhold until greater experience is gain...and consequently reduced stress/task-loading on dives.
I always felt the best thing about the technical courses I did was that they were enormously challenging... even humbling. That's the feedback I get from my student's too...and other competent technical divers.
PADI Tec45 - unlimited, accelerated deco to 45, using >100% (single deco gas only)The first step (40) is easy...gets you in the gear, gets you planning dives properly, teaches you mindset, gets you precise and introduces you to tech-level performance standards; especially with fundamental skills (buoyancy, trim, awareness etc). 10 minutes of non-accelerated deco, off-set by using 50% on ascent keeps you very safe if you messed up (N2 on surfacing is likely to be much less than an aggressively planned no-stop dive).
Using nitrox as a bottom gas, with that 10 minutes of deco extra, on a dive computer, with doubles... gives you substantial increases in bottom time compared with recreational deep divers. But gives you much more safety (redundancy, known emergency protocols, planned diving, increased off-gassing) when diving at those depths.
Compare the Tec40 to the Deep Diver course: PADI Deep Diver Course Versus Tec40 - A comparison in training
The next step (45) ups the challenge... this is 'real' technical diving, even restricted to 45m (recommended limit post-training) you can obligate a lot of accelerated deco and get yourself in significant trouble...
Rec TRIMIX - is going to primarily be recommended by divers with experience in the western (1st/developed) world. USA divers in particular... who have ample access to relatively cheap helium. It's also more beneficial to them, due to demanding diving conditions... and potential impact on narcosis. Living in a tropical, warm-water environment, where helium costs a fortune and is often unavailable completely... I simply find little argument for normoxic trimix on open water (non-overhead) dives.
The combination AN/DP course from TDI only requires 6 dives, only two of which must be deeper than 100 feet, can be done in 2 (long) days (but three is better), and qualifies you to 45m. It is kind of the sweet-spot in technical training.
I fail to see how 'shorter is better'. 6 dives to provide 45m accelerated deco with 2 deco mix seems a very, very bare minimum.
Tec40 & Tec45 give the same (but one deco gas)...and is 8 dives minimum. Even then, I find a lot of students require supplementary dives to make the grade. I just suppose it depends on where the individual instructor makes the grade.... hmmmm
Too many people focus on how much a given course qualifies you to do.... rather than what is important; how much training and experience it gives you, relative to the diving level certified.
In technical diving, where the risk levels rise dramatically compared with recreational diving, hunting for the most 'bang for the bucks' certification card can be a foolish strategy. Less is NOT more.
Card collecting, zero-to-hero and instant gratification are the antithesis of the technical diving mindset.
Stating, as a positive point, how little technical training you can do, to get the card that allows you to do the most, most unforgiving, diving.... is absurd.
I personally like the PADI technical system because it offers a logical progression in risk versus training/experience. Tec40 gets you in the gear, with the knowledge and protocols and mindset... but keeps you insulated from punishment if you mess up. It lets you practice 'technical approach' diving, but with little more risk that a recreational diver should something go wrong that you're not yet sufficiently skilled or experienced to cope with. That is very wise.
Tec45 raises the stakes somewhat... but you've been given chance to raise your game to meet those risks.
Tec50 does little more than introduce the use of more (2+) deco gasses... mistakes in multi-gas mix deco being the single biggest killer of tech divers... so it is a logical thing to withhold until greater experience is gain...and consequently reduced stress/task-loading on dives.
I did my adv rec trimix and it was a peice of cake....Toughest skill was changing the computer over....
I always felt the best thing about the technical courses I did was that they were enormously challenging... even humbling. That's the feedback I get from my student's too...and other competent technical divers.
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