Technical (tec) diving means going beyond recreational scuba diving limits.
Technical divers will tell you that it's really about the challenge and adventure of exploring places that no one else has seen. Tec diving is not for everyone, but it does attract experienced divers who want to go beyond their current limits and are willing to accept the added risks, training, investment and commitment it demands.
What is Technical Diving Really?
Technical scuba diving involves going beyond recreational scuba diving limits and includes one or more of the following:
In technical diving the surface is often inaccessible in an emergency, so tec divers use extensive procedure, equipment and training to manage the added risks and potential hazards. Although founded on extensive open-circuit scuba technology, tec diving has been revolutionised by the development, availability and reliability of closed circuit rebreathers (CCRs). CCRs have numerous benefits and provide tec divers with significantly more time underwater.
Technical scuba diving involves going beyond recreational scuba diving limits and includes one or more of the following:
- Diving beyond 40 metres
- Required stage decompression
- Diving in an overhead environment beyond 40 linear metres of the surface
- Accelerated decompression and / or the use of variable gas mixtures during the dive
- Use of extensive equipment and technologies
In technical diving the surface is often inaccessible in an emergency, so tec divers use extensive procedure, equipment and training to manage the added risks and potential hazards. Although founded on extensive open-circuit scuba technology, tec diving has been revolutionised by the development, availability and reliability of closed circuit rebreathers (CCRs). CCRs have numerous benefits and provide tec divers with significantly more time underwater.
Do I choose Agency or Instructor First?
Some say its is not about the agency but about the instructor, we believe it is a combination of both with the instructor being a very important part of your choice.
How to choose?
When making your choice ask the following questions about your instructor / instructional team:-
- Do they do the kind of diving you are interested in?
- Do they dive for fun?
- Will you get along?
- How do they teach the course?
- Does the instructor fail people?
- Is the instructor well known?
- Are these the cheapest courses?
Do they do the kind of diving you are interested in?
It sounds obvious, but if you know what kind of diving you want to do, then complete your training with someone who specialises in it. Many tech instructors cave dive every day, but the caves may be shallow and the instructor may never go into deco. Everything gets rusty without regular practice.
This also applies to foundation courses. Some instructors may be able to teach a sidemount course on paper, but it won’t be anywhere near as thorough as a course taught by someone who dives on sidemount every day. The same applies to diving in a twinset. Sidemount instructors will inevitably get rusty in a twinset if they rarely dive with one.
Do they dive for fun?
If your potential instructor dives on their day off, it usually means they’re passionate about the sport. It’s also likelier that they practice diving skills and procedures to remain competent. There is no endpoint in diving where you suddenly achieve a Zen-like state of total understanding. There is always more to learn. Avoid anyone that only teaches, and especially avoid anyone who claims to know everything.
Will you get along?
You will be spending a few days, a week, or maybe a month with this person. You needn’t become best friends, but you do need to get along and exhibit mutual respect. It makes sense to chat with your potential instructor before committing to the course. This may be a phone call, a Skype chat, emails, or an in-person meeting. It’s also a good way to discuss some of the other considerations outlined here.
How do they teach the course?
Everyone has a different teaching style. They’ll also emphasise different elements of the course. But a few things are crucial to getting the most out of your training. Each dive should be as long as is practicable to leave plenty of time to practice skills like buoyancy or back-finning. Land drills should also be an integral part of the course. The more you’ve practiced something before the dive, the more prepared you’ll be when you try it underwater. Your instructor should actively encourage questions as well. Asking what, why, when, where and how will ensure that you understand the reasons behind the instruction and that you can handle once out of the class.
Finally, run away from anyone who says that they will test you by turning off your gas and ripping off your mask without your knowledge. These practices are outdated, unsafe, and useless as a learning tool.
Does this instructor fail people?
Starting a technical diving course should be no guarantee of passing it. A good instructor will sit you down before the course starts to outline both their and the agency’s expectations. Solid foundational knowledge is vital to your safety as a technical diver, and it would be a grave disservice to give you a certification card if you have not attained the required competency. If your potential instructor says they will fail you and send you on your way is NOT a good thing... you need to appreciate that you might need remediation time until you successfully demonstrate the required mastery. This might cost you a little more but its time well spent after all you want to succeed and be competent do you not?
Is this instructor well known?
Many instructors in the tech industry have become well known because they have decades of experience or helped pioneer the sport — or possibly both. They undoubtedly have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. However, for every well-known instructor, there are a hundred unknowns who quietly teach dedication and passion. Don’t assume that you’ll get some kind of “super-course” with a known face or sub-standard course with a newer instructor. Many newer instructors are brimming with passion and go above and beyond to teach a better course.
Conversely, be wary of an instructor that learned how to dive less than five years ago, but now teaches numerous complicated courses. Watch out for any instructor as well who implies that they’re some kind of diving guru. Remember, everyone always has more to learn. Reputation is everything, and reputations are built from teaching good courses without any fanfare.
It sounds obvious, but if you know what kind of diving you want to do, then complete your training with someone who specialises in it. Many tech instructors cave dive every day, but the caves may be shallow and the instructor may never go into deco. Everything gets rusty without regular practice.
This also applies to foundation courses. Some instructors may be able to teach a sidemount course on paper, but it won’t be anywhere near as thorough as a course taught by someone who dives on sidemount every day. The same applies to diving in a twinset. Sidemount instructors will inevitably get rusty in a twinset if they rarely dive with one.
Do they dive for fun?
If your potential instructor dives on their day off, it usually means they’re passionate about the sport. It’s also likelier that they practice diving skills and procedures to remain competent. There is no endpoint in diving where you suddenly achieve a Zen-like state of total understanding. There is always more to learn. Avoid anyone that only teaches, and especially avoid anyone who claims to know everything.
Will you get along?
You will be spending a few days, a week, or maybe a month with this person. You needn’t become best friends, but you do need to get along and exhibit mutual respect. It makes sense to chat with your potential instructor before committing to the course. This may be a phone call, a Skype chat, emails, or an in-person meeting. It’s also a good way to discuss some of the other considerations outlined here.
How do they teach the course?
Everyone has a different teaching style. They’ll also emphasise different elements of the course. But a few things are crucial to getting the most out of your training. Each dive should be as long as is practicable to leave plenty of time to practice skills like buoyancy or back-finning. Land drills should also be an integral part of the course. The more you’ve practiced something before the dive, the more prepared you’ll be when you try it underwater. Your instructor should actively encourage questions as well. Asking what, why, when, where and how will ensure that you understand the reasons behind the instruction and that you can handle once out of the class.
Finally, run away from anyone who says that they will test you by turning off your gas and ripping off your mask without your knowledge. These practices are outdated, unsafe, and useless as a learning tool.
Does this instructor fail people?
Starting a technical diving course should be no guarantee of passing it. A good instructor will sit you down before the course starts to outline both their and the agency’s expectations. Solid foundational knowledge is vital to your safety as a technical diver, and it would be a grave disservice to give you a certification card if you have not attained the required competency. If your potential instructor says they will fail you and send you on your way is NOT a good thing... you need to appreciate that you might need remediation time until you successfully demonstrate the required mastery. This might cost you a little more but its time well spent after all you want to succeed and be competent do you not?
Is this instructor well known?
Many instructors in the tech industry have become well known because they have decades of experience or helped pioneer the sport — or possibly both. They undoubtedly have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. However, for every well-known instructor, there are a hundred unknowns who quietly teach dedication and passion. Don’t assume that you’ll get some kind of “super-course” with a known face or sub-standard course with a newer instructor. Many newer instructors are brimming with passion and go above and beyond to teach a better course.
Conversely, be wary of an instructor that learned how to dive less than five years ago, but now teaches numerous complicated courses. Watch out for any instructor as well who implies that they’re some kind of diving guru. Remember, everyone always has more to learn. Reputation is everything, and reputations are built from teaching good courses without any fanfare.
Is this course the cheapest?
Cheaper is always better, right? Not usually. If you want a high-quality, thorough course, then you’ll understand that you need time to learn and practice under supervision. Paying correctly for a course is part of the deal. If a course is very cheap, ask yourself what is being left out.
Cheaper is always better, right? Not usually. If you want a high-quality, thorough course, then you’ll understand that you need time to learn and practice under supervision. Paying correctly for a course is part of the deal. If a course is very cheap, ask yourself what is being left out.
Undertaking a tech course can be humbling, challenging, frustrating and rewarding. And choosing the right technical diving instructor can make all the difference. Ultimately, if the course improves both your diving and your safety, you’ve chosen well.
Which Training Agency is best?
If you are wanting to take your your first steps into technical diving, one of the first questions often asked is 'which technical diving agency is right for me?. The answer really comes down to personal preference as IANTD, PADI Tec Rec, RAID and TDI all over a similar range of technical diving courses from beginner to pro.
Just because all your previous training is done with say, PADI, does not necessarily mean you have to carry on with that agency. For various reasons, many people choose to mix it up and follow a different training route when starting technical diving.
Just because all your previous training is done with say, PADI, does not necessarily mean you have to carry on with that agency. For various reasons, many people choose to mix it up and follow a different training route when starting technical diving.
Here at Dive Rutland we offer BOTH PADI Tec Rec and RAID courses
PADI Tec Rec Courses
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RAID Courses
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Updated 11th July 2018