TDI VS PADI as a path to 130 feet plus.

[Quetzal]

I would really appriciate reading a discussion comparing the two. I am trying to decide.

[Pilot_dc]

Does PADI have a course that goes below 130?

[Quetzal]

http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/tec/apprenticetecdiver.asp
http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/tec/tecdeepdiver.asp
http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/tec/trimix.asp

[Laser]

PADI will use air to 165' in the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course. No point these days to do that.

Specifically which courses are you comparing?

[Quetzal]

Also please suggest another agency if you think these two are not the best. I have investigated DIR and I don't think its for me though.

[Laser]

Also please suggest another agency if you think these two are not the best. I have investigated DIR and I don't think its for me though.

Again -- what courses are you looking at?
What is your current experience, and what are your goals?

[wedivebc]

While I agree that there is no need for 165' air dives these days there are other agencies suggesting the use of helium on basically "snorkel dives". I think there is a happy meduim in there. I am not an advocate on recreational triox or whatever it is called but definately there is a place for helium based mixes in entry level tech programs. My personal recommendation would be to look at www.andihq.com and check out the technical trimix diver program. It allows you to get your feet wet (no pun intended) in the technical deco type diving to a depth of 165ft using helium based mixtures.

[Quetzal]

PADI will use air to 165' in the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course. No point these days to do that.

Specifically which courses are you comparing?

TDI

Decompression Procedures
This course examines the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. The objective of this course is to train divers how to plan and conduct a standard staged decompression dive not exceeding a maxium depth of 150fsw/45msw unless taught in conjuction with advanced nitrox, Extended Range or Advanced Wreck Courses. The most common equipment requirments, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and decompression mixtures (including oxygen and nitrox) are presented.

Extended Range
This course provides the training and experience required to competently utilize air for dives up to 180 fsw/55msw that require staged decompression, utilizing nitrox mixtures and oxygen during decompression.

Entry Level Trimix
This course provides the training required to competenly and safely utilize breathing gasses containing helium for dives that require staged decompression, utilizing nitrox and/or oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth of 200fsw/60msw.

Advanced Level Trimix
This course provides the training required to competenly and safely utilize breathing gasses containing helium for dives that require staged decompression, utilizing nitrox and/or oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth of 300fsw/100msw.

PADI

Tec Diver Level One You'll learn to make gas switch, extended no-decompression dives using air and enriched air to 40 metres/130 feet. You'll also prepare for and respond to foreseeable technical diving emergencies. Since it's part of the Tec Deep Diver course, you DSAT Apprentice Tec Dive course training credits toward the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course.

Tec Deep Diver
After successful completion of the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course you'll be able to conduct gas-switch extended no-decompression dives, decompression dives and accelerated decompression dives using air and enriched air to a depth of 50 metres/165 feet. You'll also understand the hazards and risks involved in technical diving, as well as how to prepare for and handle reasonable foreseeable technical diving emergencies.

DSAT Tec Trimix Diver Course
The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course is intended to extend the depth range available to technical divers trained and qualified to use air, enriched air and oxygen for technical decompression dives beyond 50 metres/165 feet in open water. The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course is intended for technical divers certified as DSAT Tec Deep Divers (or qualifying certification from another training organization). The course extends their depth range capabilities by training them in the use of trimix (helium, oxygen and nitrogen).

It appears to me that PADI has 3 courses that equal TDI's 4. I have been talking to a guy who will be an instructor for PADI and he tells me that PADI gets to the meat more quickly. But he is also trying to sell me a course in the long run. I am not ready yet but would like to start "hanging" literally with these guys this spring helping them with some deeper deco dives in the 200-300' range. 300' is a long range goal for me as there is a lodge in the lake here at 300'.

[AZ_Zoner]

PADI will use air to 165' in the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course. No point these days to do that.

Specifically which courses are you comparing?



I’m curious, why do you say, “ No point these days to do that.”?

CB

[JeffG]

I’m curious, why do you say, “ No point these days to do that.”?

CB
Helium

[JeffG]

I have investigated DIR and I don't think its for me though.
Curious....Why?

[H2Andy]

I’m curious, why do you say, “ No point these days to do that.”?


you really shouldn't go beyond recreational limits on air (some say even 100
feet) when there is trimix available.

the main issue is nitrogen narcosis.

why take the risk? sure it can be done, but it's like riding without a seatbelt
when a seatbelt is readily available.

[Laser]

TDI

Decompression Procedures
This course examines the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. The objective of this course is to train divers how to plan and conduct a standard staged decompression dive not exceeding a maxium depth of 150fsw/45msw unless taught in conjuction with advanced nitrox, Extended Range or Advanced Wreck Courses. The most common equipment requirments, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and decompression mixtures (including oxygen and nitrox) are presented.

Extended Range
This course provides the training and experience required to competently utilize air for dives up to 180 fsw/55msw that require staged decompression, utilizing nitrox mixtures and oxygen during decompression.

Entry Level Trimix
This course provides the training required to competenly and safely utilize breathing gasses containing helium for dives that require staged decompression, utilizing nitrox and/or oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth of 200fsw/60msw.

Advanced Level Trimix
This course provides the training required to competenly and safely utilize breathing gasses containing helium for dives that require staged decompression, utilizing nitrox and/or oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth of 300fsw/100msw.

PADI

Tec Diver Level One You'll learn to make gas switch, extended no-decompression dives using air and enriched air to 40 metres/130 feet. You'll also prepare for and respond to foreseeable technical diving emergencies. Since it's part of the Tec Deep Diver course, you DSAT Apprentice Tec Dive course training credits toward the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course.

Tec Deep Diver
After successful completion of the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course you'll be able to conduct gas-switch extended no-decompression dives, decompression dives and accelerated decompression dives using air and enriched air to a depth of 50 metres/165 feet. You'll also understand the hazards and risks involved in technical diving, as well as how to prepare for and handle reasonable foreseeable technical diving emergencies.

DSAT Tec Trimix Diver Course
The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course is intended to extend the depth range available to technical divers trained and qualified to use air, enriched air and oxygen for technical decompression dives beyond 50 metres/165 feet in open water. The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course is intended for technical divers certified as DSAT Tec Deep Divers (or qualifying certification from another training organization). The course extends their depth range capabilities by training them in the use of trimix (helium, oxygen and nitrogen).

It appears to me that PADI has 3 courses that equal TDI's 4. I have been talking to a guy who will be an instructor for PADI and he tells me that PADI gets to the meat more quickly. But he is also trying to sell me a course in the long run. I am not ready yet but would like to start "hanging" literally with these guys this spring helping them with some deeper deco dives in the 200-300' range. 300' is a long range goal for me as there is a lodge in the lake here at 300'.





I think you are looking at it in the wrong way. In order to achieve 300' dives you'll need a boatload of training. That means an instructor that can teach, and assess you. The instructor is way more important than the agency. Start asking around here, maybe on TDS, or elsewhere who has had experiences with instructors that you might want to take instruction from. It's not a race, and it's not a place for half assed training.
Where are you now with your diving? How many dives? Diving bp/wing? doubles?
That's a lofty goal, but serious training is required -- not the fastest way to get the cert. Where do you live? Many people travel many miles for tech training. Are you willing to travel?
Your question, in my mind ,is what's wrong with the industry today.

[Laser]

I’m curious, why do you say, “ No point these days to do that.”?

CB

Why would anyone dive to that depth on air, when they probably will not remember much, make bad decisions and feel aweful after the dive?

[Quetzal]

While I agree that there is no need for 165' air dives these days there are other agencies suggesting the use of helium on basically "snorkel dives". I think there is a happy meduim in there. I am not an advocate on recreational triox or whatever it is called but definately there is a place for helium based mixes in entry level tech programs. My personal recommendation would be to look at www.andihq.com and check out the technical trimix diver program. It allows you to get your feet wet (no pun intended) in the technical deco type diving to a depth of 165ft using helium based mixtures.
I checked out ANDI they look nice but not really available to me here in SC are they?

[Laser]

I checked out ANDI they look nice but not really available to me here in SC are they?

Dude -- you have under a hundred dives in your profile. If that's accurate, you need to chill.

[wedivebc]

I checked out ANDI they look nice but not really available to me here in SC are they?
I would email the head office and ask. While you're at it suggest to them they post an ANDI facility directory. They had one on the old web page.

[jagfish]

I'd have a look at GUE if a training location is convenient for you...

gue.com

[BigBoB]

I make dives routinely to 165. How much is helium where you all live? Sounds like a stupid question probably but a serious one for me. Here it is over two bucks for ONE cubic foot......Think I am gonna wait for rebreather training to enter the realm of trimix. Way more cost effective that way.

[dab]

In our area most of the tech divers and tech instructors who actually log deep dives (150' to 250') are TDI certified. PADI is new in the tech world and I am of the opinion that thier instructor certification process is not rigorous enough. The bottom line is the agency is not as important as the individual qualifications of the instructor. Check with some former students, how frequently does he teach tech classes, how frequently does he dive with trimix, how many dives logged below 150', ect. ect.
Ask lots of questions and make sure HE is going to be able to provide exactly what you need. When I considered taking the TDI extended range class, not only did I interview my instructor, he interviewed me to make sure I was qualified and doing it for the right reasons and he was comfortable with me as a student. This is no place to settle for second best.

[Laser]

I make dives routinely to 165. How much is helium where you all live? Sounds like a stupid question probably but a serious one for me. Here it is over two bucks for ONE cubic foot......Think I am gonna wait for rebreather training to enter the realm of trimix. Way more cost effective that way.

You are a tad more experienced than the subject.

[Tavi]

NAUI has an excellent tec course. It includes Technical Nitrox, Decompression Proceedures, and Helitrox.

Are there any NAUI Tec Instructors in your area??

Check Here (http://www.nauitec.com/)

[Quetzal]

1. I think you are looking at it in the wrong way. In order to achieve 300' dives you'll need a boatload of training. That means an instructor that can teach, and assess you. The instructor is way more important than the agency. Start asking around here, maybe on TDS, or elsewhere who has had experiences with instructors that you might want to take instruction from. It's not a race, and it's not a place for half assed training.
I realize I will need a lot of traing and 300' like I said it's a long range goal but I believe goals are very important ie. the lodge vs a just getting to 300' which I personally don't feel would be a a valid goal in itself.
2. Where are you now with your diving?
TDI AOW and SSI Nitrox
3. How many dives?
67
4. Diving bp/wing? doubles?
Wing no back plate yet or doubles. I do carry a 30 cu ft pony though when I get over 60', for my own reasons.
That's a lofty goal, but serious training is required -- not the fastest way to get the cert.
5. Where do you live?
Greenville SC
Many people travel many miles for tech training.
6. Are you willing to travel?
Definatly, but would like to have traing that fits in w/ the local divers who are mainly TDI & PADI.
Your question, in my mind ,is what's wrong with the industry today.
Please explain? If you assumed that by my being enticed by a course that gets to the meat more quickly you thought I was impatient, well I'm not this is a long term goal and way to spend time with people that I enjoy being with. The getting to the meat issue, to me, is a safety issue. The sooner I learn to or not to do something the sooner I don't make that mistake and in diving the mistake could be my last one.
Thank you all for your comments. And please continue.

[simbrooks]

I have to reask the question - why do you want/need to go deeper than 130ft? At only 67 dives, you might not have explored all there is at much shallower depths, might not have the skills necessary to complete such deep dives or the experience - narcosis can do strange things to you, i still get pretty narc'd at 100ft, and certainly by 120ft on nitrox. All i can say is that i know i dont have this at 132 dives or whatever my tally is now.

So what do you hope to achieve and why?

[dab]

Why would anyone dive to that depth on air, when they probably will not remember much, make bad decisions and feel aweful after the dive?

We frequently dive Great Lakes wrecks between 150' and 175' on air. We don't make bad decisions, have the proper training for what we do, never feel "awful" after a dive and are able to see some of the most spectacular shipwrecks in the world. I will admit our memory afterward would be a little sharper on trimix, but experience makes a difference with your ability to deal with narcosis. Below 180' we would use trimix, but that adds a whloe different dimension to your dive.

[H2Andy]

quetzal, a suggestion.

since you live in South Carolina, within easy reach of many wrecks in recreational
depths, why not start your foray into tech diving by way of wreck diving?

you can get some training in overhead environments, perfect your techniques
shallow, and then move on to learning decompression, trimix, and so on.

67 dives is a bit on the "new" side, and while you're right to think ahead, maybe
you should think short-to-middle range as you venture into the tech world.

there's plenty of time. get your basic skills down pat, get into wreck diving,
get yourself squared away for tech.

[Quetzal]

NAUI has an excellent tec course. It includes Technical Nitrox, Decompression Proceedures, and Helitrox.

Are there any NAUI Tec Instructors in your area??

Check Here (http://www.nauitec.com/)
Yes it looks like there is one in Atlanta thats 3 hours from here.
I see by your profile you just finished Tech classes w/NAUI what did you think of them? Did you choose them because you are a NAUI instructor or for other reasons?

[Quetzal]

quetzal, a suggestion.

since you live in South Carolina, within easy reach of many wrecks in recreational
depths, why not start your foray into tech diving by way of wreck diving?

you can get some training in overhead environments, perfect your techniques
shallow, and then move on to learning decompression, trimix, and so on.

67 dives is a bit on the "new" side, and while you're right to think ahead, maybe
you should think short-to-middle range as you venture into the tech world.

there's plenty of time. get your basic skills down pat, get into wreck diving,
get yourself squared away for tech.
While I do get to the coast as much as possible I live 3 1/2 hours from there and but only 30 mins from a nice lake with 30' plus Viz and 300' plus depth. There is only so much to look at in a lake no matter what the Viz.
But you do have a good argument. I just wish I was right on the water like you.

[Laser]

We frequently dive Great Lakes wrecks between 150' and 175' on air. We don't make bad decisions, have the proper training for what we do, never feel "awful" after a dive and are able to see some of the most spectacular shipwrecks in the world. I will admit our memory afterward would be a little sharper on trimix, but experience makes a difference with your ability to deal with narcosis. Below 180' we would use trimix, but that adds a whloe different dimension to your dive.


What wrecks are you diving?

[Hyper-limits]

I can only talk about the course that I took like the TDI Advanced Nitrox/Deco procedures and the ANDI Tech Trimix diver. Now if I had the chance to start over I would go for the ANDI courses, just because it teach the use of Trimix right from the start. But if you don't have an ANDI facility around where you live, take the TDI one.
It is a good course and a good introduction to tech diving. The course will qualified you to dive to 150fsw, that doesn't mean you have to dive that deep on air.
The GUE recreational Triox qualified you to go 120fsw that not very deep, but I must admit that I have done 120fsw with the use of some trimix when doing wreck penetration and it help. But if you want to go the GUE way I would take the DIR F and then the Tech 1.By the way I'm sure all agencies have good program, of course it all depend on the instructor.

[dab]

What wrecks are you diving?

Off the top of my head some of the more recent deeper ones would be the Florida, Windiate, Barney, Kyle Spangler, Audobon (spelling?), and Typo in Huron, the Vienna in Superior and palnning a Isle Royale trip this summer.

[Laser]

We frequently dive Great Lakes wrecks between 150' and 175' on air. We don't make bad decisions, have the proper training for what we do, never feel "awful" after a dive and are able to see some of the most spectacular shipwrecks in the world. I will admit our memory afterward would be a little sharper on trimix, but experience makes a difference with your ability to deal with narcosis. Below 180' we would use trimix, but that adds a whloe different dimension to your dive.


Ya right.

Pm me.

[Laser]

Off the top of my head some of the more recent deeper ones would be the Florida, Windiate, Barney, Kyle Spangler, Audobon (spelling?), and Typo in Huron, the Vienna in Superior and palnning a Isle Royale trip this summer.

And their depths would be??

[dab]

And their depths would be??

It make no difference weather or not you believe me. I know where the bottom is on the deeper wrecks, and I never said we touched it. In fact we never went below deck level on the Florida or Windiate, with 175' being the max depth. We dive regularly with our instructor who's boat is "Steele's Legacy". If you have any credibility then you will recognize the boat.

[akscubainst]

If you've only taken ADV and Nitrox you need to probably take the Rescue course along with an O2 provider course of some sort. You might even want to go ahead with Divemaster before Tech.

Then,
If you are interested in Technical Diving; go talk to local people in your area. Interview some instructors and find one that you are compatible with. Sitting around comparing PADI vs. TDI vs. Naui vs GUE vs IANTD won't get you anywhere. A good instructor can take any outline and make a good class out of it. Find an instructor who has done and is doing the dives. Then look into an Advanced Nitrox class and take it from there. Do you dive a Drysuit? You'll need one and you'd better be very comfortible in it and with it's use.

There are lots of very good instructors in FL and you aren't that far from NC wreck country. Heck, we've considered flying to NC from Alaska to dive wrecks.

Don't be in a big hurry, 65 dives might feel like alot but when you are talking decompression, mixed gases, double tanks plus deco bottles, drysuits, reels, bags, spare this, spare that, 65 dives ain't nothing.

Most of all are you ready to spend a boatload of cash? cause you're about to. Just gas for a single dive can cost $100 or more.

Typical basic equipment list:
Double Tanks , Manifold, Bands,
2 High Performance Regs,
BP/W
Can Light
Argon Bottle an Reg
Deco Bottles and a reg for each one. plus rigging
Drysuit
Reel
Spool
Lift bags
SMB
etc. etc. so on and so forth, the list is endless. You can spend $10,000 without blinking an eye.

It all sounds really romantic but in reality, it's alot of hard work and very expensive not to mention cold, dark, and easy to screw up and get yourself killed.

Dave

[H2Andy]

If you've only taken ADV and Nitrox you need to probably take the Rescue course along with an O2 provider course of some sort.


hey, there's an idea. Rescue would be a great class for you to round out your
basic skills.

also, how about Advanced Nitrox? that could get you introduced to deco diving,
sort of ease your way into it.

[Quetzal]

If you've only taken ADV and Nitrox you need to probably take the Rescue course along with an O2 provider course of some sort. You might even want to go ahead with Divemaster before Tech.

Then,
If you are interested in Technical Diving; go talk to local people in your area. Interview some instructors and find one that you are compatible with. Sitting around comparing PADI vs. TDI vs. Naui vs GUE vs IANTD won't get you anywhere. A good instructor can take any outline and make a good class out of it. Find an instructor who has done and is doing the dives. Then look into an Advanced Nitrox class and take it from there. Do you dive a Drysuit? You'll need one and you'd better be very comfortible in it and with it's use.

There are lots of very good instructors in FL and you aren't that far from NC wreck country. Heck, we've considered flying to NC from Alaska to dive wrecks.

Don't be in a big hurry, 65 dives might feel like alot but when you are talking decompression, mixed gases, double tanks plus deco bottles, drysuits, reels, bags, spare this, spare that, 65 dives ain't nothing.

Most of all are you ready to spend a boatload of cash? cause you're about to. Just gas for a single dive can cost $100 or more.

Typical basic equipment list:
Double Tanks , Manifold, Bands,
2 High Performance Regs,
BP/W
Can Light
Argon Bottle an Reg
Deco Bottles and a reg for each one. plus rigging
Drysuit
Reel
Spool
Lift bags
SMB
etc. etc. so on and so forth, the list is endless. You can spend $10,000 without blinking an eye.

It all sounds really romantic but in reality, it's alot of hard work and very expensive not to mention cold, dark, and easy to screw up and get yourself killed.

Dave
Thanks for your suggestions.
Allen

[mania]

Allen
As it was written before - I would advise rescue first and then advance nitrox. I'm planning to do the last one with IANTD and honestly - not complaining a bit. But it first of all depends on the instructor. I can understand your goals but I started having them when I crossed magic 100 dives. Till that moment I was simply trying to get really comfortable uw. I mean really comfortable - although when I had 60 dives I thought I'm which was not true.
what's my point? I think you are setting the goals too early. Take one step in time. Get more dives, do rescue, maybe some overhead ones (wreck or at least cavern), advance nitrox and then start moving to normomix trimix and deep dives.....
Mania

[Tavi]

Yes it looks like there is one in Atlanta thats 3 hours from here.
I see by your profile you just finished Tech classes w/NAUI what did you think of them? Did you choose them because you are a NAUI instructor or for other reasons?

I thought the course was excellent. We had 1 whole day of classroom. Then a weekend at the quarry. The first day we did Nitrox with O2 for deco. We demonstrated we could hold our stops, So the next Day was Helitrox for the deeper dive, and then an afternoon dive to do some skills in shallower water. After that we had weekend dives in Lake Erie and the St Lawrence River. AWESOME Wrecks in the River!!
I'm certified to 170' and looking forward to taking Trimix later this year.

I was ready to go the TDI route. The owners at ther shop I work with found a NAUI Tec Instructor that was willing to travel. There were others that wanted the training too. This way we could keep our certs NAUI and eventually some of us could go on to teach it. I'm glad it happened the way it did.

[ppo2_diver]

One thing that wasn't really mentioned here is that you can take a DSAT Discover Tec program. It will introduce you to the equipment and the knowledge needed to become a tec diver. Plus, if you have a good instructor, you can try out the equipment in the pool. After that experience, you can then decide if it is right for you. This can save you a lot of time and $$$ in case tec diving isn't your thing. I am currently starting the DSAT Tec Rec Deep diver course. I didn't chose the training agency, I chose the instructor. I waited till I had around 250 logged dives before I started thinking about tec training. I thought long and hard on it for about a year, and 100 more dives later I decided to do it. So get VERY, VERY, VERY comfortable with your skills and the types of diving you do (i.e. overhead environment, etc.)

One thing that akscubainst didn't mention in his equipment list was that there is an extra cost to maintaining O2 clean equipment. I pay $50 just to have my O2 deco tank cleaned a year. Plus I have to add an additional $75 per regulator to get it O2 cleaned on it's annual service. This can also add up your annual expenses. So keep that in mind as well.

[matt_unique]

I only have experience with the TDI courses. I llike the structure of the TDI courses and how it allows me to incrementally advance. I am building experience in the <160' range on leaned Nitrox for back gas. I wanted this experience under my belt before I moved into a trimix certification. 160' is my absolute limit on leaned Nitrox. Anything deeper will be on trimix.

You don't necessarily need to travel for tech training. You should learn to deco dive in the same environment you will be doing your dives. You will need a pile of gear. You can use your 30CF pony bottle as a deco bottle for entry level deco dives. You should be in doubles but you *can* use a single HP 120 with H or V-valve in the TDI Deco Procedures class for example. You will figure out pretty quickly that this is not a sufficient system though.

I think the min requirements for all courses except OW (with all agencies) are way too low. I think the TDI Deco Procedures courses should require a minimum of 100 dives with a min of 30 dives deeper than 100' in the environment you will be deco diving for example. They only require 25 dives which is just scary. It really comes down to the instructor setting their own minimum requirements and careful evaluation. This is perhaps another thread.

For you I suggest you complete Nitrox (if you have not already), get comfortable drysuit diving, and get comfortable with NDL dives deeper than 100' prior to taking the first step into tech diving.

--Matt

[Hyper-limits]

I think the min requirements for all courses except OW (with all agencies) are way too low. I think the TDI Deco Procedures courses should require a minimum of 100 dives with a min of 30 dives deeper than 100' in the environment you will be deco diving for example. They only require 25 dives which is just scary. It really comes down to the instructor setting their own minimum requirements and careful evaluation. This is perhaps another thread.
--Matt

Totally agree, Some diver show up on a technical course with the minimum of 25 dives and out of that number 10+ are training dives so he may have 15 OW dives on his own and he's doing a deco procedure course. IMO that ridiculous.

[steve2281]

I only have experience with the TDI courses. I llike the structure of the TDI courses and how it allows me to incrementally advance.

--Matt

Matt, can you buy and use 100% O2 with the TDI Adv nitrox cert.???? If not, what does the Adv nitrox qualify you to do?? Does it take Deco Prod in addition to Adv Nitrox to use 100% on dives less than 130'?????? thanks steve

[Hyper-limits]

Matt, can you buy and use 100% O2 with the TDI Adv nitrox cert.???? If not, what does the Adv nitrox qualify you to do?? Does it take Deco Prod in addition to Adv Nitrox to use 100% on dives less than 130'?????? thanks steve

The TDI advance Nitrox course qualified you for the use of 40% nitrox and above including pure O2. You don't need to take the Deco Procedure course to use O2.
But usually the only reason you need O2 is for deco so they kind of go together that why most instructor will teach the ADV Nitrox/Deco Procedures all at once.

[matt_unique]

Matt, can you buy and use 100% O2 with the TDI Adv nitrox cert.???? If not, what does the Adv nitrox qualify you to do?? Does it take Deco Prod in addition to Adv Nitrox to use 100% on dives less than 130'?????? thanks steve

As Hyper said above "yes". A regular Nitrox cert trains you/allows you to buy Nitrox up to 40% and Advanced Nitrox trains you/allows you to buy up to 100% 02. You would not be able to buy 100% 02 without the Advanced Nitrox cert. Deco Procedures is not a prerequisite for Advanced Nitrox but the benefits of Advanced Nitrox go hand in hand with deco diving/deco procedures course.

You can use 100% 02 on any dive (as long as you breath it no deeper than 20') but the real benefit is to shave off required deco time. The difference in required deco time is significantly greater when you are not using a high % of EAN for deco.

--Matt

[steve2281]

As Hyper said above "yes". A regular Nitrox cert trains you/allows you to buy Nitrox up to 40% and Advanced Nitrox trains you/allows you to buy up to 100% 02. You would not be able to buy 100% 02 without the Advanced Nitrox cert. Deco Procedures is not a prerequisite for Advanced Nitrox but the benefits of Advanced Nitrox go hand in hand with deco diving/deco procedures course.

--Matt
Interesting, I think the IANTD Adv Nitrox only trains in the use of up to 50%; quite a difference. Of course, I know the thread was comparing TDI to PADI, but still worth considering if that info is correct.

[O-ring]

If you've only taken ADV and Nitrox you need to probably take the Rescue course along with an O2 provider course of some sort. You might even want to go ahead with Divemaster before Tech.

Then,
If you are interested in Technical Diving; go talk to local people in your area. Interview some instructors and find one that you are compatible with. Sitting around comparing PADI vs. TDI vs. Naui vs GUE vs IANTD won't get you anywhere. A good instructor can take any outline and make a good class out of it. Find an instructor who has done and is doing the dives. Then look into an Advanced Nitrox class and take it from there. Do you dive a Drysuit? You'll need one and you'd better be very comfortible in it and with it's use.

There are lots of very good instructors in FL and you aren't that far from NC wreck country. Heck, we've considered flying to NC from Alaska to dive wrecks.

Don't be in a big hurry, 65 dives might feel like alot but when you are talking decompression, mixed gases, double tanks plus deco bottles, drysuits, reels, bags, spare this, spare that, 65 dives ain't nothing.

Most of all are you ready to spend a boatload of cash? cause you're about to. Just gas for a single dive can cost $100 or more.

Typical basic equipment list:
Double Tanks , Manifold, Bands,
2 High Performance Regs,
BP/W
Can Light
Argon Bottle an Reg
Deco Bottles and a reg for each one. plus rigging
Drysuit
Reel
Spool
Lift bags
SMB
etc. etc. so on and so forth, the list is endless. You can spend $10,000 without blinking an eye.

It all sounds really romantic but in reality, it's alot of hard work and very expensive not to mention cold, dark, and easy to screw up and get yourself killed.

Dave
Dave brings up a lot of good points that are often overlooked when someone considers the road toward this type of diving. It is expensive. Not just like "scuba is expensive", but ridiculously expensive. It's not unheard of to be jumping in the water with $15k worth of gear on, not to mention spending somewhere in the neighborhood of $10k annually if you do it relatively often. The other important point he brings up, IMO, is the need for emergency first responder type of training. Our group made this a requirement this year and our minimum standards are First Aid, CPR, and o2 administration (we did TDI's CPROX class and DAN's o2 provider course as a group). Most of these types of dive sites are well off the beaten path and your dive plan should include appropriately trained individuals, first aid kits, and a healthy supply of o2 with the proper hardware to deal with conscious as well as unconscious divers. When you are 50-100 miles offshore, it may be quite a while before professional medical attention is able to get to you, so your team should be fully capable of dealing with an emergency should one arise.

[Quetzal]

One thing that wasn't really mentioned here is that you can take a DSAT Discover Tec program. It will introduce you to the equipment and the knowledge needed to become a tec diver. Plus, if you have a good instructor, you can try out the equipment in the pool. After that experience, you can then decide if it is right for you. This can save you a lot of time and $$$ in case tec diving isn't your thing. I am currently starting the DSAT Tec Rec Deep diver course. I didn't chose the training agency, I chose the instructor. I waited till I had around 250 logged dives before I started thinking about tec training. I thought long and hard on it for about a year, and 100 more dives later I decided to do it. So get VERY, VERY, VERY comfortable with your skills and the types of diving you do (i.e. overhead environment, etc.)

One thing that akscubainst didn't mention in his equipment list was that there is an extra cost to maintaining O2 clean equipment. I pay $50 just to have my O2 deco tank cleaned a year. Plus I have to add an additional $75 per regulator to get it O2 cleaned on it's annual service. This can also add up your annual expenses. So keep that in mind as well.
One thing that wasn't really mentioned here is that you can take a DSAT Discover Tec program.
Yeah my prospective future instructor told me about this. He also offered for me to just hang out with them while they are diving deep. He said that for example they need someone to be with divers who are in deco above 130' who have no deco requirement so if the divers deco-ing need anything the assistant can get to the surface and get it for them. I am interested and think I can learn alot just from hanging literally and figuratively w/ them.
I had a gut feeling that the instructor was more important than the agency I just wanted some reasurance of this and by and large thats what it looks like I have recieved.
I also think that being around this instructor will let me know whether or not I want to trust him w/ my life. I especially take this more seriously as we are especting our 1st child in June.

[Doubles]

First I will say that I am not an expert on any of this, in fact I am in the middle of my Adv Nitrox/Deco procedures training and loving every minute of it. Agencies are like opinions, there are plenty to choose from. Agencies have there differences, they have to or they wouldnt be a different agency, but at the end of the day they cover the same water! It's an inherently dangerous (but fun) sport.

To me the instructor is everything. It's also nice to get training from more than one instructor. Nothing like getting second set of eyes to help with your dive training. I use 2 instructors ( one for tech and one for non-tech), and have been extremely satisified with both. I trust my tech instructor with my life everytime I get my gear on. I really don't care what agenices name will be on my C card. I want to know that I am going to learn all that I need too, and that my instructor will make me "earn" that card or tell me to find another hobby. I also want to have fun at the same time.

Visit this web site, http://www.genesisdiving.com/, Rick is on the board here, look him up, you might be to far away to have him as an instructor, but he's a great person to ask a few questions.

And yes, start saving your money now. Seems the older we get, the more expensive our toys/hobbies get.

Cheers