Packeteer....very noble and wise to have something to aim for. The question to ask yourself is what is it really you are after??? technical diving is a very broad term after all.
Just as an example, a good diving friend of mine got into scuba diving because he has a very inquisitive mind and enjoys reading about history. Therefore, it was normal that he tailored all his specialies toward what he really wanted to do...diving on wrecks (AOW, Deep, Nitrox, Dry, Search and Recovery, Wreck). To that he added rescue Diver and then applied for his Master scuba diver. I am quite convinced that he would probably have taken some technical courses to support his goal but this would have meant more time away from home and he is.....a married man
With close to 200 dives under my belt (Cold/tropical water, crystal clear to very limited vis, shorty/wetsuits/drysuits, single/doubles, air/nitrox, shore/boat, nature/submerged structures/wrecks, calm/current, day/night, swim/drift) and having just completed my Rescue Diver/DM courses, I am signing up for..........Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procs.
Others have expressed their personal/professional opinion on the usefullness of the Deep Specialty and I respect them. Personally, I do not have it nor do I intend to take it...I have been very fortunate to have very sharp and keen instructors that have gone beyond the minimum standards of the advanced courses that I have taken to ensure that I was not only thoroughly familiar with all the factors inherent to deep dives but also ensured that those were also part of my dive planning process.
I prefer spending time and energy (and resources) toward a course that will maximize my bottom time in order to allow me to look at or do whatever I want a do at certain depth than take a course that will only re-iterate what I have learned in terms of dive planning and allow (???) me to dive 30 ft deeper but with only a residual NDL of 8 mins (10 mins - 2 min descent)or so using air once I reach 130 ft or 11 mins (13 - 2 min descent) if using EAN 28 (1.4).
Keep in mind it is very personal and my aim or goal could very well be very different from yours. Having said that...perhaps the next course after this one might very well be cave oriented not only because I know a very good instructor but also because it would allow me to go ice diving locally with folks around here who do so using those principles and consequently do not dive on a tether thus enjoying greater freedom of movement.
Just as an example, a good diving friend of mine got into scuba diving because he has a very inquisitive mind and enjoys reading about history. Therefore, it was normal that he tailored all his specialies toward what he really wanted to do...diving on wrecks (AOW, Deep, Nitrox, Dry, Search and Recovery, Wreck). To that he added rescue Diver and then applied for his Master scuba diver. I am quite convinced that he would probably have taken some technical courses to support his goal but this would have meant more time away from home and he is.....a married man
With close to 200 dives under my belt (Cold/tropical water, crystal clear to very limited vis, shorty/wetsuits/drysuits, single/doubles, air/nitrox, shore/boat, nature/submerged structures/wrecks, calm/current, day/night, swim/drift) and having just completed my Rescue Diver/DM courses, I am signing up for..........Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procs.
Others have expressed their personal/professional opinion on the usefullness of the Deep Specialty and I respect them. Personally, I do not have it nor do I intend to take it...I have been very fortunate to have very sharp and keen instructors that have gone beyond the minimum standards of the advanced courses that I have taken to ensure that I was not only thoroughly familiar with all the factors inherent to deep dives but also ensured that those were also part of my dive planning process.
I prefer spending time and energy (and resources) toward a course that will maximize my bottom time in order to allow me to look at or do whatever I want a do at certain depth than take a course that will only re-iterate what I have learned in terms of dive planning and allow (???) me to dive 30 ft deeper but with only a residual NDL of 8 mins (10 mins - 2 min descent)or so using air once I reach 130 ft or 11 mins (13 - 2 min descent) if using EAN 28 (1.4).
Keep in mind it is very personal and my aim or goal could very well be very different from yours. Having said that...perhaps the next course after this one might very well be cave oriented not only because I know a very good instructor but also because it would allow me to go ice diving locally with folks around here who do so using those principles and consequently do not dive on a tether thus enjoying greater freedom of movement.
You have a timeframe or deadline, slow down man, enjoy the boat.
