Rec to Tek, best transition???

[Wildcard]

What would be your recomendation on the best route to move into tek diving?

[roturner]

A good start is to follow an Advanced Nitrox course. IANTD has one that I'm familiar with and would recommend. Other agencies probably have something similar.

Why are you interested?

R..

[OneBrightGator]

Advanced Nitrox would do just fine, the first thing I would do is find a good instructor and make sure you're ready for the class, diving in doubles and such.

[Wildcard]

That sounds like a good start. Im just ready to move on to another level I guess.

[Ben_ca]

That sounds like a good start. Im just ready to move on to another level I guess.

As far as raising the bar may I suggest DIR-F There's plenty of write ups on the board and lots of missinformation. Find some one who's done the class or better yet an instructor and ask them what it's all about.

[theskull]

That sounds like a good start. Im just ready to move on to another level I guess.

Why? For what purpose?

I'm not suggesting that you should not move into tech. Just that if you are going to increase your level of risk and and your need for a higher level of skills and commitment to stay current in your required abilities you should have a definite reason to move into this arena. What will be your payback for the increased expense, gear needs, training, and risk?

Unless you have a specific desire to dive caves or deep wrecks you can move on to the next level of proficiency as an OW diver by improving your buoyancy control, navigation, fish ID skills, photography, or any number of other worthwhile pursuits without increasing your risks.

Just think about it. And then if tech is the way to go, by all means do it, and put safety first.

theskull

[Wildcard]

Well, Ive shot thousands of pics it seems and while I still have a way to go, they are pretty good. I know most of the fish here. I can find my way around just fine and my BC is also just fine.....I don't have any one specific goal by going to the next level, it's just something I do. I do have some vague ideas for the future though. It's just something I want to do...I was going to start my flight lessons but decided to wait untill I make it back home where it's 1/3rd the price, so Im looking for something else to work on.....So back to the original question, what route would y'all recomend? Thanks for the input.

[theskull]

In that case I would add to the votes for moving on to Advanced Nitrox and diving in doubles. Also a course in Cavern or Wreck if you have not already done this to get some experience in using a reel.

In the mean time, refine your skills and amuse yourself by playing skill "games" such as:
*Swimming as close to the bottom as you can without touching - while frog kicking, of course.
*Making very controlled ascents at 30 ft./min. and practicing stopping on a dime at exact depths.
*Practice hovering in all attitudes - horizontal, head down, on your back, etc.
*Expand your awareness so that post-dive you will remember max depth, how many minutes into the dive you reached that depth, how many minutes into the dive you started your ascent, your air pressure at each of those points and your buddy's air pressure at those points -- all while still enjoying the dive and being aware of your buddy and your surroundings.

And remember to have FUN while doing these games as well as when taking your advanced courses.

Good luck on achieving your goals,
theskull

[Wildcard]

Thanks for the tips. I seem to spend a lot of time looking after those Im with. I do try to pay pretty close attention to details but not to that level.

I think maybe I need to rephrase my question. Lets try this. Where do I go to learn these things? OK, Not nitrox but further?

[Atticus]

I think maybe I need to rephrase my question. Lets try this. Where do I go to learn these things? OK, Not nitrox but further?

One option is to go to http://www.nauitec.com/ and click on the Technical Centers or Technical Instructors links on the left hand side. ANDI and GUE also offer good programs.

[chrisch]

At this point it is important to note that the instructor makes the difference not the agency.

If you are interested in mixed gas there is an intermediate stage with the IANTD Advanced Rec Trimix course. This is a 45m (err.. 150 ft I think in imperial?) qual. Gue have a similar triox thing as do Naui I believe.

Most people go Adv. EAN and Normoxic Tx.

The advanced EAN courses are a valuable way to stretch your skills IMO whether or not you are going deeeper.

Chris

[Boogie711]

I find it really sad that people continually stress "it's the instructor, not the agency."

How sad is the dive industry that all the 'major' training partners have their own customers continuing to harp a line about "well, their standards aren't good enough, so remember, the individual working on their own is going to be a far more important barometer of competency than whatever agency happened to give them a license to teach other people."

In short, this is why GUE was created. Because there needed to be an agency with high standards. I know there's a lot of DIR and antiDIR crap around here... but the simple fact is that I have yet to meet a GUE instructor I would hesitate to take training from.

That's not Koolaid speaking. It's honest fact. And it's proof that sometimes, yes, it is the agency.

[chrisch]

I find it really sad that people continually stress "it's the instructor, not the agency."
........<snip>
In short, this is why GUE was created. Because there needed to be an agency with high standards. I know there's a lot of DIR and antiDIR crap around here...

To be honest a lot of us say this to avoid the usual BS that tends to follow the noise created by the DIR/GUE thing.

I don't think its because we want to dis' the agency we trained with.

Chris
(PADI Rescue & IANTD Trimix should you wish to know)

[BigJetDriver]

What would be your recomendation on the best route to move into tek diving?

I am somewhat amused by the challenges to your decision to move on to the next level in your diving. If YOU want to, why the heck not, for Heaven's sake???

My suggestion would be for you to go to IANTD's website, pull up the list of instructors in your area, and have a chat with one or two.

Go here: www.iantd.com

Have fun, and by the way, didn't you get eaten by sharks??? :eyebrow:

Rob Davie

[matt_unique]

Well, Ive shot thousands of pics it seems and while I still have a way to go, they are pretty good. I know most of the fish here. I can find my way around just fine and my BC is also just fine.....I don't have any one specific goal by going to the next level, it's just something I do. I do have some vague ideas for the future though. It's just something I want to do...I was going to start my flight lessons but decided to wait untill I make it back home where it's 1/3rd the price, so Im looking for something else to work on.....So back to the original question, what route would y'all recomend? Thanks for the input.

TDI has a good set of courses as well. As with every agency, it's all instructor. Do that research first then make your choice. You don't need to be on doubles to begin the tech journey. You can also start out on a single 120 with H valve for example. Eventually you would need to move into doubles. You would find the cost pretty close in terms of gear believe it or not. A few hundred bucks more gets you into doubles.

--Matt

[roturner]

That's not Koolaid speaking.

Sigh.....There you go walking into the light again..... And just when I thought the therapy was starting to help too.... :) :crafty:

R..

[Boogie711]

Go ahead and ridicule, Roturner. You have that right.

But I also have the right to explain that it ISN'T just the instructor, and sometimes it IS the Agency. Look, I'm not trying to be a GUEvangelist. I'm just relaying my personal experience.

[JS1scuba]

What would be your recomendation on the best route to move into tek diving?

First decide if tek is really what you want.

You need to ask yourself the following questions.

1. Are you getting into tek too soon?
Do you have at least 75-100 really good practical dives completed.

2. Are you getting sufficient information?
Talk to the pros who do this all the time and find out what's involved.

3. What is your real motivation for tech?
Is it just to look cool or is there something you really want to see?
Have you exhausted the recreatonal path ?

4. Are you physically strong enough?
Are you in shape and able to manage the gear both in and out of the water ?

5. Are you disciplined ?
Are you prepared to stay in shape and stay up on all the developments ?

6. How big is your bank balance ?
Expect you will spend $3500-5000 on equipment and another $2000 on initial training, Then you have to go out and do the dives beyond training.

7. Do you understand your pysiological limitations?
Can you work well under stress and time limitations?

8. Do you understand your emotional limitations?
Do you understand that this is the most dangerous type of diving and that small mistakes can have large disaterous results ?

9. Is it deep that you want or is it long ?
Some folks just want to do deep spikes to be cool. Others have
a need/desire to explore which takes both time and depth.

10. In what environment were you trained ?
If you started out in warm clear water the transition to colder, darker, more challenging enviroments does not get better with tech. Where you train will be critical to the ultimate sucess of your diving.

If you can answer those questions honestly and with your family understanding and accepting the risks and then you really want to get into tech diving seek out the absolute best people from each training agency and have a nice discussion. Get all the particulars up front. Pathway, costs, equipment required etc. Oh a few more question you need to ask. Ask the guy you are talking to who trained him/her, how many tech dives they do when not training, and this is the best one. "If I was to pick a trainer other than you who would it be?"

Regards,

[roturner]

Go ahead and ridicule, Roturner. You have that right.

But I also have the right to explain that it ISN'T just the instructor, and sometimes it IS the Agency. Look, I'm not trying to be a GUEvangelist. I'm just relaying my personal experience.

I don't want to let the thread get derailed but I'll explain what I meant behind what I hoped you would take for what it was.......

Standards are process and I just don't see how simply following process -- even GUE process -- can automatically lead to quality.

I will accept your claim that your chances of getting a good GUE instructor are pretty good (I won't contest the quality) but in my mind, process is like a machine and I just can't accept that a machine knows what's good for every student all of the time. It takes human judgement for that..... IN other words, it still comes down to the individual instructor.... If that weren't the case you could make any bozo into a GUE instructor by simply giving him a copy of the standards and taking away his snorkel.

Now with that said I hope we can let the point rest.

R..

[BigJetDriver]

What would be your recomendation on the best route to move into tek diving?

Joel Silverstein of Tech Diving Limited: http://www.techdivinglimited.com

has some very good points to consider. This is not to dicourage you, or to chase you away from tech diving. It is just that these are reality check points. Technical diving is still fun, and challenging. Just in a somewhat different way from recreational scuba. If you want to raise the level of your diving knowledge, "Como no?!?" as we say here in the Republic of Tejas!

Rob

[BigJetDriver]

What would be your recomendation on the best route to move into tek diving?

P.S.---I THOUGHT YOU WERE EATEN BY SHARKS!! :11:

[novadiver]

The real learning comes after training, the class won't make you a technical diver , it will give you an oppertunity to become a technical diver. and don't get caught in the agency crap slinging, If a GUE rigged deco bottle works for you, then use it. If you like the way TDI teaches you to shoot a lift bag, well do it that way. If you learn from all the agencies, you'll have a good knowledge base to move your diving into what has come to be known as "technical" diving

[matt_unique]

.....

6. How big is your bank balance ?
Expect you will spend $3500-5000 on equipment and another $2000 on initial training, Then you have to go out and do the dives beyond training.

7. Do you understand your pysiological limitations?
Can you work well under stress and time limitations?

8. Do you understand your emotional limitations?
Do you understand that this is the most dangerous type of diving and that small mistakes can have large disaterous results ?

9. Is it deep that you want or is it long ?
Some folks just want to do deep spikes to be cool. Others have
a need/desire to explore which takes both time and depth.

10. In what environment were you trained ?
If you started out in warm clear water the transition to colder, darker, more challenging enviroments does not get better with tech. Where you train will be critical to the ultimate sucess of your diving.

If you can answer those questions honestly and with your family understanding and accepting the risks and then you really want to get into tech diving seek out the absolute best people from each training agency and have a nice discussion. Get all the particulars up front. Pathway, costs, equipment required etc. Oh a few more question you need to ask. Ask the guy you are talking to who trained him/her, how many tech dives they do when not training, and this is the best one. "If I was to pick a trainer other than you who would it be?"

Regards,

I respect Joel's bio (never been diving with him) but I think some points are a bit exaggerated. I will say too I agree with many of the points.

The cost for equipment will largely depend on what you have already. Top of the line regs work great in the deep as they do in the shallows. Reels work the same at 60' as they do at 160'. ;) So the cost will depend on what you currently have. Most recreational divers, as was the case with me, have mostly recreational gear which would not cut the needs of tech dives. So if you are starting from scratch you are looking at a good chunk of change. The initial training is not as expensive as listed above either. If we're talking Deco Procedures through Adv. Trimix then definitely. You would most likely start with a Deco Procedures and Advanced Nitrox course and this is about $600 total plus a few hundred for the boat charter fees. (Using TDI as an example). I think people are crazy to blast through all the tech courses without building experience between courses. That's just me.

Only you know your motivations. If you want to dive deep for short periods of time to see a wreck I think that is OK too. Maybe you just want to experience the deep. Don't do a deep dive just to say you hit a depth of course.

I agree with most everything else posted. Be weary of tech instructors who do not do tech dives for fun. Definitely ask them about their recent tech experiences. Do research to gauge what an experienced tech resume should look like.

--Matt

[JS1scuba]

I respect Joel's bio (never been diving with him) but I think some points are a bit exaggerated. I will say too I agree with many of the points.


Thanks -- while some may think it's exaggerated it's really not.



The cost for equipment will largely depend on what you have already. Top of the line regs work great in the deep as they do in the shallows. Reels work the same at 60' as they do at 160'. ;) So the cost will depend on what you currently have. Most recreational divers, as was the case with me, have mostly recreational gear which would not cut the needs of tech dives. So if you are starting from scratch you are looking at a good chunk of change.



If you consider that a tech set up complete with regs, BCs, gauges, cylinders, suits, computers etc will cost about $5k to get in we are on target.



The initial training is not as expensive as listed above either. If we're talking Deco Procedures through Adv. Trimix then definitely. You would most likely start with a Deco Procedures and Advanced Nitrox course and this is about $600 total plus a few hundred for the boat charter fees. (Using TDI as an example). I think people are crazy to blast through all the tech courses without building experience between courses. That's just me.


That's right the training fees are about $600-800 for base nitrox based training but you seem to have left out the cost of gas, tank rentals (if you dont have any) boat fees, travel, hotels, meals misc etc .... now you can rack it up FAST. I know what my clients spend on training so my numbers are pretty accurate



Only you know your motivations. If you want to dive deep for short periods of time to see a wreck I think that is OK too. Maybe you just want to experience the deep. Don't do a deep dive just to say you hit a depth of course.


This is a problem area with way too many tek-divers-to-be they want to hit a depth for no other reason than to put it in the log book.



I agree with most everything else posted. Be weary of tech instructors who do not do tech dives for fun. Definitely ask them about their recent tech experiences. Do research to gauge what an experienced tech resume should look like.


Ideally you want a tech instructor who has done his/her training and active diving in a variety of environments, is well versed in all of the details of tech and rec and one who was trained by some of the best out there --- While we train new tech instructors all the time and many are good at thier new craft, you want one who has a good appreciation for what is involved. your tech instructor needs to really have his act together with all of the staff, support, back up equipment and good sense to make this work. Some may think this approach is "too much" but then when you are about to pony up for this dont you want the team who can deliver the most for you ?

Ask a LOT of questions. Do a LOT of research.

Regards,

[matt_unique]

Thanks -- while some may think it's exaggerated it's really not.

If you consider that a tech set up complete with regs, BCs, gauges, cylinders, suits, computers etc will cost about $5k to get in we are on target.

Definitely....but if you already have two tanks, at least one good reg, reels, 40cf deco bottle, etc. you would not need to spend as much to get equipped.


That's right the training fees are about $600-800 for base nitrox based training but you seem to have left out the cost of gas, tank rentals (if you dont have any) boat fees, travel, hotels, meals misc etc .... now you can rack it up FAST. I know what my clients spend on training so my numbers are pretty accurate


I mentioned the boat fees but certainly if you are talking about people traveling to a location to receive training then of course you need to add travel costs and such. I'm sure your numbers are accurate but not everyone travels to another location to receive training. If you want to dive where you live you should get training in that area to get familiar with the challenges. If you plan to tech dive in NE don't travel to Cozumel to get your training ;)



This is a problem area with way too many tek-divers-to-be they want to hit a depth for no other reason than to put it in the log book.

That is a scary reason to go deep. We have all read stories about the consequences of this thinking.




Ideally you want a tech instructor who has done his/her training and active diving in a variety of environments, is well versed in all of the details of tech and rec and one who was trained by some of the best out there --- While we train new tech instructors all the time and many are good at thier new craft, you want one who has a good appreciation for what is involved. your tech instructor needs to really have his act together with all of the staff, support, back up equipment and good sense to make this work. Some may think this approach is "too much" but then when you are about to pony up for this dont you want the team who can deliver the most for you ?

Ask a LOT of questions. Do a LOT of research.

Regards,

I dive in NE so I wanted a tech instructor with experience primarily in NE. I assume you meant experience in many conditions as opposed to geographic experience. If you dive in the Great Lakes you don't want an instructor with tech experience primarily in warm/clear water for example. The minimum requirements for any dive certification beyond OW (including instructor) are scary in my opinion.

--Matt

[Wildcard]

First decide if tek is really what you want.

You need to ask yourself the following questions.

1. Are you getting into tek too soon?
Do you have at least 75-100 really good practical dives completed.

2. Are you getting sufficient information?
Talk to the pros who do this all the time and find out what's involved.

3. What is your real motivation for tech?
Is it just to look cool or is there something you really want to see?
Have you exhausted the recreatonal path ?

4. Are you physically strong enough?
Are you in shape and able to manage the gear both in and out of the water ?

5. Are you disciplined ?
Are you prepared to stay in shape and stay up on all the developments ?

6. How big is your bank balance ?
Expect you will spend $3500-5000 on equipment and another $2000 on initial training, Then you have to go out and do the dives beyond training.

7. Do you understand your pysiological limitations?
Can you work well under stress and time limitations?

8. Do you understand your emotional limitations?
Do you understand that this is the most dangerous type of diving and that small mistakes can have large disaterous results ?

9. Is it deep that you want or is it long ?
Some folks just want to do deep spikes to be cool. Others have
a need/desire to explore which takes both time and depth.

10. In what environment were you trained ?
If you started out in warm clear water the transition to colder, darker, more challenging enviroments does not get better with tech. Where you train will be critical to the ultimate sucess of your diving.

If you can answer those questions honestly and with your family understanding and accepting the risks and then you really want to get into tech diving seek out the absolute best people from each training agency and have a nice discussion. Get all the particulars up front. Pathway, costs, equipment required etc. Oh a few more question you need to ask. Ask the guy you are talking to who trained him/her, how many tech dives they do when not training, and this is the best one. "If I was to pick a trainer other than you who would it be?"

Regards,

1. Plenty of dives, not too soon IMHO
2. Im asking for more info and getting lots of it.
3. I don't do things to look cool ( like many of the nitrox divers I see) Im working twards a vague goal at this point, mostly it's to further my skills, and Im getting boored with the diving Im doing.
4. I m 40 Y/O 6 foot and 185. I stay id decent shape.
5. Yes
6. Im emabrased at how much I get paid for the little real work I do, money is not a problem.
7. I split my time between being a paramedic and dearming bombs. I can handle stress.
8. see number 7
9. Im thinking more deep than long
10. Trained in warm and clear but home is dark, cold , and murky.
I like the last question. I will rember that.
Did I pass? ;)

Some great info here guys, thanks.

[Wildcard]

"That's right the training fees are about $600-800 for base nitrox based training but you seem to have left out the cost of gas, tank rentals (if you dont have any) boat fees, travel, hotels, meals misc etc .... now you can rack it up FAST. I know what my clients spend on training so my numbers are pretty accurate "

Part of the reason I want to do this now is cost. I live in Hawaii, for now, but don't expect to be here a whole lot longer. I have my own boat plus one I run as back up capt. on occasion. I have most of the gear I need. So doing it now is a good thing money wise.

Now another part of this question. I am intrigued by rebreathers. Is this a seperate route or part of tek training?

[chrisch]

Now another part of this question. I am intrigued by rebreathers. Is this a seperate route or part of tek training?

Moving to a rebreather is pretty much starting over.....

If I had the money.....

IMHO they make a lot of sense when the depth/BT get to a point where carrying gas is a problem. Prior to that its "nice but not essential". Most who have them seem to like them.

Chris

[Bobby F]

"That's right the training fees are about $600-800 for base nitrox based training but you seem to have left out the cost of gas, tank rentals (if you dont have any) boat fees, travel, hotels, meals misc etc .... now you can rack it up FAST. I know what my clients spend on training so my numbers are pretty accurate "

Part of the reason I want to do this now is cost. I live in Hawaii, for now, but don't expect to be here a whole lot longer. I have my own boat plus one I run as back up capt. on occasion. I have most of the gear I need. So doing it now is a good thing money wise.

Now another part of this question. I am intrigued by rebreathers. Is this a seperate route or part of tek training?

IMHO if I were you at your stage of diving I would get the tec training and practice those skills while learning about rebreathers from books, people, and forums. Then when you have your tech gear fairly sorted in a year or two move into the rebreathers.
For recreational diving and to get your feet wet you could look into an SCR such as the Dolphin or Azimuth. The only concern is that there will be a lot of new things to learn and dial in with the tech and the same goes for the RB. Going two different directions with dive training at the same time can be like standing in the middle of a road. Going down one side or the other at a time is a lot safer then walking down the middle and easier to keep it straight.
One last suggestion is that no matter what you do please consider going SCR before CCR. Yes many have gone directly CCR but there is a learning curve with RB's and the SCR will be much easier to manage in CF situations. It is not the amount of dives that make up experience but the CF dives and how you manage and learn from them that really give you solid skills to manage things in the H2O.
Good luck, have fun with it, and keep it safe.

Bobby

[P_Abercrombie]

NAUI, IANTD and GUE all offer courses in recreational helium (often combined with Advanced Nitrox) where you can gain experience diving in doubles, etc. All done in depths between 100 and 150 feet. Not alot of deco involved but you get a chance to use the gear, learn how to develop dive plans, etc.

[Wildcard]

Define CCR and SCR please? I thnk I know but am not sure.
I like the last suggestion, I shall look into this.

Edit, I was right just wanted to make sure. Thanks.

[teknitroxdiver]

SCR= Semi-Closed circuit Rebreather. This is your basic deal, which doesn't conserve a whole lot of gas. An example would be the Draeger rebreathers that you see in all the ads.

CCR= Closed-Circuit Rebreather. Good stuff here. These things are completely closed, so the only gas you actually use is what your body metabolizes. Other than that, it's all recycled. These are quite a bit more complicated and expensive, and require unit-specific training. CCRs usually have multiple computers running them. An example of this would be the YBOD, aka the Buddy Inspiration, (http://www.silentdiving.com/inspiration.htm), and the Megalodon (http://www.customrebreathers.com/products.html.

The CCRs are the king of kings here, and although complicated are veeeery nice, seeing as instead of blowing through 260+ CF of mix on a deep dive, you would only use a teeny tiny bit of it. One thing you will learn in your training, though, is that just because you don't USE very much on a normal dive, you must carry enough in reserve to complete your dive on open-circuit gear.

[Wildcard]

So just how much bubble action is there with a SCR?...Im kind of thinking this is more the route I want to go.

[teknitroxdiver]

Not much. Just a gurgle now and then. That's definitley what you want to start out with, then later on after you have OC (open circuit) experience doing tech dives, then you do the tech dives on CCR.

[Wildcard]

So should I rush out and buy a SCR? I wonder how much they are to rent, if available here at all?

[Atticus]

Locally a Drager rents for about $35/day. If you want to go the SCR route then I would take a Drager class first and learn how they work before plunking down the money.

SCR's are not ideal for tech diving, with the exception of the RB80. CCR's are pretty much the only sane answer for deep (300'+) diving (IMHO).

[wedivebc]

So should I rush out and buy a SCR? I wonder how much they are to rent, if available here at all?
Taking a class and renting a SCR such as the Dolphin would be a good idea to get an idea what rebreather diving is like and it is different than OC, but as has been mentioned the real benefits come from CCRs. I would not recommend the RB80 since it cost more than many very capable CCRs and at the end of the say it is still SCR.

[kennethw]

So should I rush out and buy a SCR? I wonder how much they are to rent, if available here at all?


I have a few Rays and Dolphins for sale, but I guess you are a little too far away....I'm in the East, as in the Far East...

[Albion]

Go ahead and ridicule, Roturner. You have that right.

But I also have the right to explain that it ISN'T just the instructor, and sometimes it IS the Agency. Look, I'm not trying to be a GUEvangelist. I'm just relaying my personal experience.
All 2 years of it LOL.

[WaterDawg]

WildCard,

There was no need to explain you desires for going tech to any on this board. I you say you want to do it thats between you and your insturctor. Folks keep talking about having NEED to go deep or long or go tech but Ill tell you right now that the majority of folks here dont really have a NEED to go tech OR even to start diving, we do it cause its what we like.

Get the info you need but dont feel like you have to explain yourself to us.

[teknitroxdiver]

Actually, unless it's your job, nobody at all NEEDS to go deep or long. It's a WANT. DESIRE. etc etc.

[theskull]

Noone needs to explain anything to us. The choices are theirs to make. But it is wise to ask and answer these type questions of yourself before increasing the level of risk in your diving.

Increasing risk for the sake of risk, to dive deeper in the same green lake or blue ocean is a decision that might need to be re-thought. Now, if one has a strong desire to dive some specific wrecks or caves then the additional training and risk become a necessity to fulfill that desire. And still, it is wise to weigh the additional risks against the strength of the desire and its motivations.

Dive safe and have fun everyone,
theskull

[WaterDawg]

I agree w/ you guys. One has to ask these questions ones self. BUt making it sound like there has to be a need is incorrect. AS TND said unless its your work or something its all a desire.

[matt_unique]

Noone needs to explain anything to us. The choices are theirs to make. But it is wise to ask and answer these type questions of yourself before increasing the level of risk in your diving.

Increasing risk for the sake of risk, to dive deeper in the same green lake or blue ocean is a decision that might need to be re-thought. Now, if one has a strong desire to dive some specific wrecks or caves then the additional training and risk become a necessity to fulfill that desire. And still, it is wise to weigh the additional risks against the strength of the desire and its motivations.

Dive safe and have fun everyone,
theskull

Diving deep for the sake of exploration is as valid as any other reason. There are some that want to go deep so they can come back and say "I went deep" for no other purpose. Other divers perpetuate that with the "wow" reaction too.