Transition into technical diving :
So, you're interested in technical diving? Whether you are seriously considering technical training or are just curious about this type of diving, I encourage you to read this article in its entirety.
1) What is "technical" diving?
The *term* "technical diving" is often disputed as much as things like configuration, techniques, and philosophy. Technical diving means different things to different people. One could say that technical diving is decompression diving, but isn't EVERY dive a decompression dive? One could also say that technical diving is deep diving, but not all tec dives are deep. I routinely engage in mandatory decompression dives in waters well within the recreational depth range. I generally define "technical diving" as "overhead diving". There are two types of "overhead diving", a virtual overhead and a physical overhead. A "virtual" overhead means that you are required to complete a decompression schedule to exit the water safely. The only barrier to you exiting the water is your decompression obligation. The second type of overhead diving is a "physical" overhead. This type of diving involves a physical barrier to you exiting the water such as inside a wreck, ice or cave. Overhead divers must be able to solve problems “in water" because a direct ascent is not possible. The ability to mange problems "in water" is where the training (you are paying for) comes into play and justifies the amount/type of gear required for the dive. Because regulators do fail, computers die, and bc's can leak, Overhead divers use redundancy to increase their margin of safety. Typically an overhead diver will use redundant first stage regulators (an H-valve on single tanks, and a manifold on doubles) with a single second stage connected to each. If one of the first or second stages fails, it can be turned off via the tank valve/manifold to both preserve the diver’s gas and provide access to that gas supply. The same redundancy applies to bc's as well. An overhead diver will typically utilize a back inflating "wing" style buoyancy compensator (wing style bc's tend to keep your body horizontally "trimmed" in the water and reduce drag). Often that "wing" will actually have redundant bladders inside the nylon cover (you can tell be seeing either 1 or 2 corrugated inflator hoses coming from it). Another type of redundant buoyancy that I use is a lift bag. You can hold onto it or clip it off to you (not using a reel) and manage it in a similar fashion as a BC (exhale into it to increase it's buoyancy, use the dump valve to decrease it's buoyancy on your ascent). Virtual and physical overhead diving utilize very similar gear, but please understand that the skills and techniques are somewhat different. A technical diver course will not prepare you for cave diving, but a cave diving course will cover most of the curriculum of a tec course plus the additional skills, knowledge, and techniques needed for cave diving. Cave diving requires the most finite skill sets in all of diving, and cave divers are largely considered to be the best divers in the world. Most of the "evolution" in modern recreational and technical diving comes from the cave diver community. We push the limits and figure out how to do it safely......
2) Your motivations:
Are you trying to "prove" something to yourself or others? Do you have "superman" syndrome? or worse "Napoleon" syndrome? If so, technical diving is NOT for you. If you'd like to learn more and become a better diver, you're welcome in my classes. If you'd like to go places that are unspoiled by "cattle boat" dive operators, you're welcome in my classes. Do you have an unquenchable thirst for discovery and adventure, you're welcome in my classes (plus a front row seat). Do you see where this rant is going? Technical divers don't do this type of diving because it's dangerous, quite the opposite, we do everything possible to mitigate the additional dangers. I can teach you the knowledge and skills you'll need for this type of diving, but you need to be mature and utilize good judgment. I don't really care if you have 25 dives or 2000 dives, open water diving is largely irrelevant to overhead diving. It actually makes my job easier if you have fewer dives (fewer bad habits to break); open water instructors are often the most challenging to teach. Along side your commitment to learning, you need to be prepared to invest in high quality equipment (more about gear in the training options section). Overhead diving is no place to scrimp on gear. A poor performing regulator may be cheaper, but can lead to excessive co2 build up, which can increase oxtox susceptibility and cause co2 headaches. Don't buy into the slick marketing on gear either. Why spend $1200 on a titanium regulator when a $600 brass one will perform just as well.
3) Prerequisites:
First and foremost you must have a good attitude; I'll work around the rest......
The technical and cave training courses have a logical progression where each level of training builds on the previous level. In the TDI (technical diving international) world you start with advanced nitrox (assuming that you already have a nitrox certification) and decompression theory. All you need to do is have an advanced open water certification, 25 dives, and a nitrox certification. The Cave training progression through the NSS-CDS (national speleological society- cave diving section) builds on the Cavern certification. To begin a cavern class you need to have 25 dives and an advanced open water certification. If you have trouble meeting the prerequisites let me know and I'll work with you until you meet them. There's nothing wrong with building your experience level fun diving with me, and depending on your comfort level and skills I can (at my discretion) take you on dives that are one certification level above your current level. I decide this on a case by case basis.
4) Training options:
I prefer the TDI (technical diving international) approach to technical diving. It follows a very logical progression and you don't have to spend 4 grand to get into the first course. You start with advanced nitrox and decompression theory. If you take those classes at the same time, it takes 6 dives and about 12 hours of classroom discussion. If you take the classes separately, it takes 8 dives. Enrolling in this first level of technical training requires very little in the way of gear investment. Your recreational setup will do with a few modifications. You'll need to install a long hose on your regulator (5ft is recommended for single tanks) and I strongly recommend using a DIN connection. You'll also need to purchase a deco/bailout bottle (40ft3 is recommended) with a regulator and spg. Multiple diving computers are not necessary, nor are multiple gas computers. Any moron can dive a computer. You will learn how to dive a "schedule" using nothing more than a timing device and depth gauge in the training environment. After certification you'll probably want to dive a computer, but being able run a schedule on a bottom timer can save your life if your computer fails and you'll have a better understanding of decompression theory. You will also need a lift bag (50lb min) to serve as redundant buoyancy and as surface communication and signaling. You'll also need a reel to deploy your lift bag (similar to the Diverite safety reel is recommended). That's about it...You should be able to purchase these items for under $750 depending on the regulator you choose. This certification allows you to dive to 150fsw and to use up to 100% oxygen for decompression. If you chose to proceed with the PADI technical training program, you will be expected to purchase about $4000 worth of gear before you know if you even like technical diving. Ask me privately for my opinion about the PADI technical training program; There are reasons that I will not teach it.
After successful completion of the Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Theory, you can proceed to Extended Range diver. This Course trains you on deep air diving up to 180fsw and uses your Advanced Nitrox certification to decompress efficiently. After successful completion of the extended range course you can enroll into the advanced trimix class. If you complete the extended range course, you don't have to take a normoxic (normal oxygen content) trimix class. Trimix, a helium blended breathing gas, is used to reduce oxygen content and reduce nitrogen narcosis during deep dives. The TDI advanced trimix class is good to 330fsw, (PADI/DSAT course is 240fsw). The extended range and trimix courses do require a significant investment in gear, but you can purchase the required equipment as your training progresses. If you have any questions about training philosophies and progressions, just email me and I'll answer all concerns.
5) Informed consent:
