Why such a big step to technical diving?

[60plus]

My longest dive to date is 60 minutes under water and I don't in the foreseeable future expect to dive much longer than that. If I did want to do longer or deeper dives (with decent bottom time) I would have to log 100 dives and do technical diving or do CCR. CCR is expensive and I don't know what you would have to achieve before starting the course. Long decompression stops do not appeal to me either.
What would be so difficult or risky about switchable twin tank diving using either air or trimix from say 35m to 55m and nitrox for the shallower parts of the dive?
Not considering a large gain, just really a possibility of spending say 30 minutes at 40m then ending with shallower dive (upper parts of wreck or nearer shore) on nitrox.

 

[CuzzA]

My longest dive to date is 60 minutes under water and I don't in the foreseeable future expect to dive much longer than that. If I did want to do longer or deeper dives (with decent bottom time) I would have to log 100 dives and do technical diving or do CCR. CCR is expensive and I don't know what you would have to achieve before starting the course. Long decompression stops do not appeal to me either.
What would be so difficult or risky about switchable twin tank diving using either air or trimix from say 35m to 55m and nitrox for the shallower parts of the dive?
Not considering a large gain, just really a possibility of spending say 30 minutes at 40m then ending with shallower dive (upper parts of wreck or nearer shore) on nitrox.

I would want Nitrox during all levels, especially on the deep half of the dive. If you dive sites that are multi level, like shore diving or wall diving you could do your deco in the shallow part of the dive and still have something to look at. You need to take advanced nitrox and decompression procedures to start. You don't need to be a full blown tech diver or use a CCR. Just get the training to manage some light deco and I think your needs will be met.

With less than 24 dives per your profile I'd argue you really need more experience, and 100 dives will get you there, IMO.

 

[Superlyte27]

Not sure of the exact questions here, but who says you have to log 100 dives to start tech diving. You need a skill set. I know people with 40 dives who are ready and people with 400 that are not ready.

You can start diving doubles tomorrow. Doesn't mean you'll be good at it. But it's not THAT expensive to start making some longer deeper dives. Maybe $1000 more in gear and $1000 more in class. What do you gain? Well...

Imagine you're going to Key Largo to dive the world famous Spiegel Grove...

Do you want to do two 30 minute dives for your $85 charter fee or one 3 hour dive for the same $85 bucks. That's what technical diving opens you up to. It's well worth it. And with well planned multilevel dives, your deco can be minimal.

 

[northernone]

Carry a little more gas and having a little more bottom time is great and provided you don't need to do staged decompression there's not much more to it than strapping on another tank or buying a bigger tank.

Everything changes when you can't safely surface directly.

A decompression obligation means you have a mandatory stop between you and a healthy return to the surface. That's new.

Problems must be solved underwater prior to surfacing. That's a substantial shift in mindset and training for some divers which is one of the reasons I tend to think makes "technical diving" more technical.

Another problem you mentioned is switching gasses... If you get the wrong one or confuse the two or run out things can go bad quickly. I think training to avoid those mix ups is important.

Cameron

 

[Superlyte27]

Training is a must for sure.

Any of us can show you a dozen fatalities where omitted training was the cause of death in technical diving.

 

[broncobowsher]

You are talking about transitioning to trimix to do a 55M dive. If this is going to be anything more then a bounce dive you are going to be doing a decompression dive. Welcome to the world of the technical diver. What you think of as Nitrox is now a staged decompression gas, with a lot more Oxygen in it then the typical Nitrox fill.

 

[Ghost Diver #]

For me technical diving opens up a whole new mind set! I enjoy rec diving, strapping on a al80 and seeing the sights is very enjoyable and I've had the chance to see some amazing things. With that said, I love what goes into a well planed and thought out tech dive. Spending the time to plan each step, choosing the proper gases and deco mixes, using software then double checking with the formulas, sitting down with a team and reviewing the entire dive plan and creating a mission! I enjoy the skills it takes and the challenge it takes to learn them. I enjoy the gear and equipment needed to safely complete this type of diving. There is absolutely nothing wrong with never exceeding the limits of recreational diving and many amazing things to be seen within those limits. Its the science and what I consider to be another level of skill, both in the water and in the mind, that I get out of tech diving.

 

[runsongas]

join a bsac club, meet some more experienced divers, take sports diver and start running a twinset, get some more experience. a week or two in the red sea will get you time underwater fairly cheaply

leave the 55m dive with a gas switch till later

 

[Edward3c]

My longest dive to date is 60 minutes under water and I don't in the foreseeable future expect to dive much longer than that. If I did want to do longer or deeper dives (with decent bottom time) I would have to log 100 dives and do technical diving or do CCR. CCR is expensive and I don't know what you would have to achieve before starting the course. Long decompression stops do not appeal to me either.
What would be so difficult or risky about switchable twin tank diving using either air or trimix from say 35m to 55m and nitrox for the shallower parts of the dive?
Not considering a large gain, just really a possibility of spending say 30 minutes at 40m then ending with shallower dive (upper parts of wreck or nearer shore) on nitrox.

Your location is U.K. therefore, join your local BSAC club, complete the Sports Diver course (or do another agency’s rescue), then the Buoyancy &Trim, Accelerated Decompression and the Sports Mixed Gas (50). That’s it your qualified. If the club doesn’t have the instructors courses are available via the Regional Team, see here.

 

[BlueTrin]

Not sure of the exact questions here, but who says you have to log 100 dives to start tech diving. You need a skill set. I know people with 40 dives who are ready and people with 400 that are not ready.

You can start diving doubles tomorrow. Doesn't mean you'll be good at it. But it's not THAT expensive to start making some longer deeper dives. Maybe $1000 more in gear and $1000 more in class. What do you gain? Well...

Imagine you're going to Key Largo to dive the world famous Spiegel Grove...

Do you want to do two 30 minute dives for your $85 charter fee or one 3 hour dive for the same $85 bucks. That's what technical diving opens you up to. It's well worth it. And with well planned multilevel dives, your deco can be minimal.

Can I ask you a few questions:

1. What did you include for 1k in class and 1k in equipment ?
2. If I dive a twin-set, can I just buy a manifold and rent cylinders or is it hard to get matching cylinders ? I live in a flat so not keen on having cylinders at home as they take a lot of space
3. I saw a Halcyon evolve 60lb wing second hand at a good price (roughly half the price of a new one), should I just snatch it if I know I’ll dive with a twin-set at some point ? I’ll be probably diving dry most of the year and when going on holidays I’ll be more likely to take my single cylinder wing. I saw a lot of threads about 40lbs vs 60lbs wings ...