Explore new limits!
Technical (tec) diving means going beyond recreational scuba diving limits. But, tec divers will tell you that it’s really about the challenge and adventure of exploring places that no one else has ever 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. If this is you, then SCUBA Nashville TecRec courses are your ticket to extreme adventure.
TecRec Course Offerings:
Becoming a dry suit diver allows you to expand your boundaries and dive more places, more often. This suit seals you off from the water and keeps you comfortable, even in surprisingly cold water.
Description
Want to stay warm? Want to extend your scuba diving season? Then dive dry. A dry suit seals you off from the water and keeps you comfortable, even in surprisingly cold water. There is incredible diving in the world’s cooler regions and in some areas, conditions are even better in colder months. Becoming a dry suit diver allows you to expand your boundaries and dive more places, more often.
Prerequisites
If you’re at least 10 years old and certified as a (Junior) Open Water Diver or higher, you can enroll in the Dry Suit Diver course.
Academic
The first thing you’ll discover is which dry suit style and accompanying undergarments are right for you and the diving you’ll do. Then you’ll learn how to take care of your dry suit. During two dives, in addition to a confined water dive, you’ll practice:
- Putting on and taking off your dry suit with minimal assistance.
- Mastering buoyancy control using your dry suit.
- Dive safety procedures when using a dry suit.
Also, the first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Equipment
Clearly a dry suit is necessary along with your basic scuba equipment. Your Instructor or Scuba Nashville staff will explain other gear or equipment options you may need to dive comfortably with your dry suit. For example, because you’re more buoyant in a dry suit than in a wetsuit, you may want a different weight system setup.
Getting Started
You may sign up online or in person. Contact Scuba Nashville to enroll in the course and pick up a Dry Suit Diver Manual and Dry Suit Diving video. By reading the manual and watching the video before class, you’ll be ready to get into the water with your instructor and start practicing with your dry suit.
Explore deeper dive sites with confidence at depths down to 40 metres/130 ft. Learn to manage your gas supply, go over buddy contact procedures, and buoyancy control.
Prerequisite
If you’ve earned the Adventure Diver rating or higher, and you’re at least 15 years old, you can enroll in the Deep Diver course.
Description
The lure of the deep. There’s something exciting and mysterious about exploring deeper dive sites while scuba diving. Sometimes it’s a wreck that attracts you below 18 metres/60 feet, and on wall dives it may be a giant fan or sponge. Whatever it is, to scuba dive with confidence at depths down to 40 metres/130 feet, you should take the PADI Deep Diver Specialty course.
Academic
Your training starts by reviewing reasons for deep diving and how important it is to know your personal limits. During four deep dives with your instructor, you’ll go over:
- Specialized deep diving equipment.
- Deep dive planning, buddy contact procedures and buoyancy control.
- Managing your gas supply, dealing with gas narcosis and safety considerations.
Also, the first dive of this Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification ask your instructor about earning credit.
Equipment
You’ll need a dive computer along with the rest of your basic scuba equipment. A dive light and slate are also recommended. Your Instructor or Scuba Nashville staff may suggest other gear appropriate for local deep diving.
Getting Started
You may sign up online or in person. Click Buy-Now button, or call Scuba Nashville to enroll and get your Deep Diver Crew-Pak that includes your manual and video by visiting Scuba Nashville to enroll in the course. Read the manual and watch the video before meeting with your PADI Instructor to plan your deep diving adventures.
A sidemount configuration (scuba tanks alongside of the diver) offers more flexibility and better streamlining options. Learn about the many benefits of diving with a sidemount configuration.
Description
Having scuba tanks on your back isn’t a requirement for exploring the underwater world. Many scuba divers have discovered the joy of mounting cylinders on their sides. Sidemount diving gives you flexibility and streamlining options. Plus, you don’t have to walk with heavy cylinders on your back – just enter the water, clip them on and go. Sound interesting?
Prerequisites
If you’re an Open Water Diver who is at least 15 years old, you can enroll in a Sidemount Diver course.
Academic
Along with learning about the many benefits of diving with a sidemount configuration, during one confined water and three open water scuba dives you’ll learn how to:
- Properly assemble and configure sidemount scuba diving equipment.
- Trim your weight system and sidemount gear so you’re perfectly balanced in the water.
- Manage gas by switching second stages as planned, if wearing two cylinders.
- Respond correctly to potential problems when sidemount diving.
Get credit! The first dive of this PADI Specialty Diver course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.
Equipment
You’ll want to use your own mask, fins, snorkel and exposure suit. Your PADI Instructor or Scuba Nashville staff will explain the sidemount equipment you’ll need, such as a BCD and harness configured for sidemount diving along with cylinders, each with a regulator and SPG. Rental equipment is available, but limited.
Getting Started
You may sign up online or in person. Click Buy-Now button, or call Scuba Nashville to enroll in the course and get your Sidemount Diver and Tec Sidemount Diver Manual. You can read chapter one before meeting with your instructor to review key points. By studying ahead, you’ll be better prepared to start using your Sidemount gear.
Who this course is for:
- The certified diver who has interest in moving forward with overhead environment diving and expanding their diving techniques, capabilities, and more!
Course prerequisites
(these requirements must be met prior to commencement of training):
- Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
- Provide proof of an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent
- Proof of 25 logged dives
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in cavern diving activities without direct supervision so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level
- Penetration is limited to the “rule of thirds,” OR 1/6th if using doubles to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet
- Penetration is limited to 61 linear metres/200 linear feet from the surface
- Proper cavern diving equipment must be used
- Maintain a continuous guideline
- No restrictions or areas that are too small for 2 divers to swim side by side
- Safety stops as appropriate or necessary
Who this course is for:
- The certified TDI Cavern Diver or equivalent who has interest in moving forward with overhead environment diving and expanding their diving techniques, capabilities, and more!
Course prerequisites
(these requirements must be met prior to commencement of training):
- Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
- Provide proof of TDI Cavern Diver certification or equivalent
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in single guideline cave diving activities without direct supervision provided the graduates adhere to the following requirements:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level
- Penetration is limited to the “rule of thirds,” OR 1/6th if using doubles to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet.
- Proper cave diving equipment must be used
- Maintain a continuous guideline
- Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are qualified to progress on to the next level of overhead environment training: the TDI Full Cave Diver course!
Who this course is for:
The certified SDI Advanced Diver (or equivalent) who is interested in learning how to dive independent of a dive buddy, or looking to strengthen your buddy team diving skills.
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 21
- Certified SDI Advanced Diver or equivalent
- Provide proof of 100 logged dives
What you can expect to learn:
The SDI Solo Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
- Why solo dive?
- History of buddy diving
- Pros and cons of buddy diving and solo diving
- Legal liability assumed by buddy diving
- How to use the SDI Solo Diving waiver and release
- Who must solo dive?
- The solo diving mentality
- When not to solo dive
- Equipment for solo diving
- Planning and conducting a solo dive
- Navigation
- Management of solo diving emergencies
- Review the SDI Solo Diver Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk Agreement Form
Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include all of the following and more:
- 200 metres/600 feet surface swim in full scuba equipment, configured for local diving conditions; must be non-stop and performed in an open water environment
- Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
- Plan dive limits based on personal air consumption rate
- Plan exact dive
- Properly execute the planned dive within all predetermined limits
- Equipment configuration appropriate for solo diving
- Proper descent/ascent rates
- Proper safety stop procedures
- Monitoring of decompression status equipment; tables, computers, equipment, etc.
- Navigation skills – demonstrate proficiency of navigation with compass
- Demonstrate emergency change over to redundant air supply (not to exceed 30 metres/100 feet)
- Deploy surface marker buoy (SMB)
- Use of audible signaling device
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in solo diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor as long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
The SDI Solo Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to complete the SDI Advanced Diver Development program or SDI Master Scuba Diver Development program.
SDI Solo Diver minimum requirements:
- Satisfactorily complete the SDI Solo Diver Knowledge Quests with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor.
- Complete all open water requirements efficiently
- Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Who this course is for:
- Certified open water scuba diver who wants to expand diver knowledge
- Certified open water scuba diver who is considering technical training
- Certified technical diver who is seeking a refresher course
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
- Minimum certification: SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent
- Proof of 25 logged open water dives
What you can expect to learn:
- In-depth dive planning, advanced buoyancy control, gas management, situational awareness, proper trim, gear configuration and selection
What’s in it for you:
- Exposure to in-depth dive planning, introduction to more advanced technical diving and equipment
- Opportunity to become a more proficient diver and expand on diver skills and knowledge
TDI Intro to Tech minimum requirements:
- Execute proper gear selection and preparation as well as buddy gas matching
- Mastery of S.T.A.R.T, trim, finning techniques, body positioning, and diver skills
- Overall demonstration of mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Who this course is for:
- The certified nitrox diver looking to expand their understanding of nitrox mixtures containing more than 40% oxygen
- The certified nitrox diver looking to expand their in-water skills
- The certified diver who has interest in moving forward with technical diving education
Course prerequisites
(these requirements must be met prior to the start of the course):
- Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
- Minimum certification of TDI Nitrox Diver or equivalent
- Proof of 25 logged open water dives
What you can expect to learn:
Advanced Nitrox picks up where TDI Nitrox leaves off and offers a more in-depth look at diving with nitrox including:
- Physics and physiology relating to diving with gas mixes containing more than 40% oxygen
- Gas planning, dive tables, dive computers, oxygen limitations, nitrogen limitations
- Equipment considerations, cylinder labeling, analyzing nitrox mixtures, gas blending procedures, and oxygen service ratings for using gases with more than 40% oxygen
Some of the skills you will complete in this course include:
- Demonstrate buoyancy control; ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet
- Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communication, proximity, and team oriented dive practices
- Demonstrate the ability to manage free flow from primary regulator in controlled fashion, shut down cycle, and switch to back up regulator
- Conduct appropriate safety stop while maintaining neutral buoyancy
- Demonstrate the ability to share air with buddy as both recipient and donor in a controlled manner while maintaining position in the water column
- Demonstrate correct body position; appropriate trim, such as horizontal/streamlined when moving forward
- Demonstrate proper stress analysis with self and dive buddy
What’s in it for you?
- Ability to dive using EAN 21 through 100 percent oxygen provided:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- Ability to enroll in TDI Decompression Procedures, TDI Semi-closed Rebreather courses, TDI Closed Circuit rebreather courses
TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver minimum certification requirements:
- Satisfactorily complete the TDI Advanced Nitrox course and written examination
- Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently
- Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Who this course is for:
- The certified Advanced Diver looking to expand their knowledge of decompression theory and diving techniques
- The certified Advanced Diver who is interested in extending their bottom time
- The certified Advanced Diver who has interest in moving forward with technical diving education
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18
- Minimum certification of SDI Advanced Adventure Diver, Advanced Diver, or equivalent
- Proof of 25 logged open water dives
What you can expect to learn:
- Decompression dive planning including:
- Decompression gas choices
- Tables vs. personal dive computers
- Emergency and contingency planning (equipment failure, omitted decompression, etc.)
- Decompression diving procedures
- Equipment selection
- Pre-dive checks and drills
- Stress analysis and mitigation
- Following a decompression schedule
- Gas switching
- Team awareness and communication
- SMB/lift bag deployment
- Proper trim, buoyancy and finning techniques
- Emergency procedures (equipment failures, catastrophic gas loss, omitted decompression, navigational errors, etc.)
- Equipment considerations, cylinder labeling, analyzing nitrox mixtures, and gas blending procedures
What’s in it for you?
- Ability to conduct decompression diving activities without direct supervision provided:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- Ability to enroll in TDI Advanced Nitrox, TDI Extended Range, TDI Advanced Wreck, TDI Trimix courses
TDI Decompression Diver minimum certification requirements:
- Satisfactorily complete the TDI Decompression Procedures course written examination
- Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently
- Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Who this course is for:
- The certified TDI Advanced Nitrox/Decompression Procedures diver looking for the next step in technical dive training. Whether you’re looking to expand upon your skills, experience, or just go a little deeper to see an area of interest, this course is for you!
Course prerequisites:
(these requirements must be met prior to commencement of training):
- Minimum age 18
- Certified as a TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and TDI Decompression Procedures Diver, or equivalent
- Proof of a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which 25 must be deeper than 30 metres/100 feet
What you can expect to learn?
The TDI Extended Range Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
- History of deep air diving
- Physics
- Pressure review
- Formulas for solving dive planning problems, maximum operating depth (MOD), best mix, and more
- Physiology
- Hypoxia
- Oxygen toxicity
- Nitrogen narcosis
- Nitrogen absorption and elimination
- Carbon dioxide toxicity
- Carbon monoxide
- Hyperthermia
- Hypothermia
- Decompression Options
- Air
- Nitrox
- Oxygen
- Equipment considerations
- Dive tables
- Dive planning
- Operation planning
- Team planning
- Emergency planning
- Diving procedures
- Descent considerations
- Ascent considerations
- Technical dive support
- Navigation
Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:
- Use START before every dive
- Stress analysis and mitigation
- Gas matching procedures
- Demonstrate buoyancy control; ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet
- Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices
- Demonstrate competence managing 2 stage cylinders, either 2 deco gas or 1 deco and extra bottom gas, including drop and recovery while maintaining position in the water column
- Demonstrate ability to confirm gas switches at depth with buddy/team members
- Demonstrate lift bag deployment from depth and use of bag as back-up buoyancy device
- Demonstrate air-sharing ascent from depth while one member of buddy team is without mask, both as a donor and recipient
- Create contingency decompression schedule after simulated loss of decompression gas
- Remove and replace mask, deploy back up mask
- Demonstrate tired diver tow at depth and on surface; 30 metres/100 feet lateral
- Complete a horizontal breath-hold swim at depth for 15 metres/50 feet with mask off or blacked out
- Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits
- Demonstrate the proper procedures for switching and isolating a malfunctioning regulator, this skill is to be performed at a depth no deeper than 40 metres/130 feet
- Demonstrate the proper navigational techniques for the specific dive
- During 2 dives, demonstrate an ascent with ascent reel and lift bag and perform staged decompression
- During one of the dives, tow a simulated unconscious diver, while at depth, 9 metres/30 feet to ascent line and simulate an emergency rescue ascent technique
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision so long as the following limits are adhered to
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are qualified to enroll in the TDI Advanced Wreck ,TDI Trimix, and TDI Advanced Trimix courses
TDI Extended Range Diver minimum requirements:
- Satisfactorily complete the TDI Extended Range Course written examination with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the instructor
- Complete all open water requirements efficiently
- Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Who should take this course?
PADI Self-Reliant Diver is designed for experienced divers, as the minimum requirement is an Advanced Open Water certification and 100 logged dives. The philosophy of this course is twofold. Divers will learn the skills to dive solo should circumstances warrant it, and/or to sharpen their dive skills to make them a stronger dive buddy.
Experienced divers or dive professionals may face several circumstances where self-reliance is necessary. Professional as well as amateur underwater photographers or videographers often spend much of their dives alone, following behind other divers and wildlife to shoot images. They cannot always rely on other divers in the group to help in case of an emergency; they may not even have an officially designated buddy. If you’re not a professional, you may still prefer to dive alone occasionally. Or, you may have been paired with a buddy you don’t know.
The course emphasizes self-reliance in both situations with and without a dive buddy. Even if you’re not planning to dive solo, this course will improve your diving skills and make you more self-confident in a variety of situations.
What does the PADI Self-Reliant Diver course cover?
The course goes over the theory of self-reliance and self-rescue in diving, and what skills to work on to improve in those areas. Other topics include redundancy equipment, solo-dive planning, gas management and problem management.
As for equipment, the idea is to work on redundancy and self-reliance. You will need to use equipment such as a redundant gas source — a pony bottle, for example — as well as a redundant dive computer or time and depth devices, redundant signaling devices, and a back-up mask.
The training dives require mastery of skills including using a redundant gas source, buoyancy skills, DSMB deployment and out-of-air scenarios. The course also emphasizes navigation skills. Each of the three training dives has specific requirements.
Description
Curious about technical (tec) diving, but not sure about jumping into a course? Discover Tec is a short confined water experience that allows you to give technical diving a try. You get to wear all the extra tec gear and take it for a test dive. Your PADI Tec Instructor may introduce a few basic skills, such as primary to secondary regulator switch and gas shutdown procedures.
If you’re interested in tec diving and are a Open Water Diver at least 18 years old, and have a minimum of 10 logged dives, you qualify for Discover Tec.
Academic
Your PADI Tec Instructor will explain the equipment you’ll use and go over basic tec diving procedures, such as the importance of diving in teams. You’ll get in the water, make gear adjustments, then simply explore and get a feel for the equipment.
Discover Tec may credit toward the Tec 40 Course if you successfully complete the Tec 40 Training Dive One required skills. Ask your instructor about this option if you’re interested.
Equipment
You’ll want to have your mask, fins and exposure suit. Your PADI Tec Instructor will have the technical diving, equipment, including but not limited to – two tanks, primary and backup regulators, and technical diving BCD and harness or sidemount harness.
Description
The PADI Tec 40 course is where you transition from recreational scuba diving to technical diving. It’s a great place to start because it’s the first subdivision of the full PADI Tec Diver course and bridges the gap between no stop diving and full technical deep decompression diving. You gain experience and begin building the knowledge and skills you need to continue your tec diver training. You will qualify to make limited decompression dives to 40 metres/130 feet.
To enroll in the Tec 40 course, you must be:
- A PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
- A PADI Enriched Air Diver with at least 10 dives using enriched air deeper than 18 metres/60 feet
- A PADI Deep Diver or proof of at least 10 dives to 30 metres/100 feet
- At least 18 years old and have a minimum of 30 logged dives
You also need to have a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months.
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your PADI Tec Deep Instructor.
Academic
The Tec 40 course consists of three knowledge development sections, three practical application sessions and four training dives. You’ll learn about:
- Technical diving’s risks and responsibilities
- Technical diving equipment, proper rigging and set up
- Gas planning, oxygen limits and decompression planning
- Team diving techniques and emergency procedures, such as dealing with free flows, manifold leaks and out of gas situations
Equipment
You’ll start with your basic scuba diving equipment and add technical equipment, which essentially means you’ll begin to double up on gear. You may dive with backmounted or sidemounted cylinders.
Description
The PADI Tec 45 course is the second part of the full PADI Tec Deep Diver program. You’ll extend your depth limit to 45 metres/145 feet and learn to plan and execute repetitive decompression dives using a single stage/decompression cylinder. It puts you in a complete tec diving rig, which can be either backmount or sidemount. You’ll also make accelerated decompression dives using EANx or pure oxygen. This is a course where you’ll rise to the challenge and make the commitment to become a technical diver.
To enroll in the Tec 45 course, you must:
- Be a PADI Tec 40 diver
- Be a PADI Rescue Diver
- Have a minimum of 50 logged dives, with at least 12 dives on enriched air nitrox deeper than 18 metres/60 feet and 6 dives deeper than 30 metres/100 feet
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your Tec Deep Instructor.
Academic
Your Tec 45 training consists of three knowledge development sections, three practical application sessions and four open water dives. Building on what you learned in the Tec 40 course, you focus on the function and maintenance of tec diving equipment and associated issues. You continue fine-tuning gas planning and calculating accelerated decompression stops. Plus, you learn to think like a technical diver.
Equipment
You’ll use full technical equipment, which includes wings and doubles plus an additional deco cylinder, or you may use a technical sidemount configuration. Your PADI Tec Deep Instructor will explain the gear required for your tec diving adventures.
Description
The third part of the full PADI Tec Deep Diver program is Tec 50. As a Tec 50 diver, you show that you’ve developed competency as a tec diver and have the skills to dive to a maximum of 50 metres/165 feet. You know how to make extended, accelerated decompression stops using up to two gases. It’s not easy to reach this level and earning your Tec 50 certification opens the door to deeper diving expeditions.
To enroll in the Tec 50 course, you must:
- Be a PADI Tec 45 diver
- Have a minimum of 100 logged dives, with at least 20 dives on enriched air nitrox deeper than 18 metres/60 feet and 15 dives deeper than 30 metres/100 feet
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your Tec Deep Instructor.
Academic
The Tec 50 course includes two knowledge development sections, three practical application sessions and four open water dives. A primary focus of this course is mission planning and execution. You also learn more about handling emergencies and how to think like a technical diver.
Equipment
You’ll use full technical equipment and you may use a technical sidemount configuration, plus two stage/decompression cylinders. Your Tec Deep Instructor may also introduce you to using trimix on the last open water dive.
Trimix Diving
Description
If you’re into technical diving then you know that to extend your depth range you need to use trimix – a blend of helium, oxygen and nitrogen. The Tec Trimix 65 course introduces you to using trimix down to a maximum depth of 65 metres/210 feet. There are advantages to using three gases, but you need to know how to do it right. Earning the Tec Trimix 65 certification makes deeper exploration a reality.
You’re qualified to enroll in the Tec Trimix 65 course, if you:
- Are a PADI Tec 50 diver
- Have a minimum of 100 logged dives
- Are at least 18 years old
- Have a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your Tec Trimix Instructor.
Academic
Tec Trimix 65 course topics include:
- Trimix diving depth ranges
- Exposure planning
- Selecting a mix
- Argon inflation systems
- Handling three or four decompression cylinders
- Decompression models
- Emergency procedures
- Decompression software and multi-gas computers
Equipment
You’ll use full technical equipment and you may use a technical sidemount configuration, plus two stage/decompression cylinders. Your Tec Trimix Instructor may suggest other equipment.
Description
Ready for the outer edge of technical diving? The Tec Trimix Diver course takes experienced tec divers and turns them into extreme divers who go deeper and visit pristine sites where few others will ever go. During the course, you’ll make dives as deep as 90 metres/300 feet, but once you earn this tough certification, there are few limits. Your training teaches you to build experience gradually and you do it because you’ve made it this far and have more exploring to do.
To enroll in the Tec Trimix Diver course, you must:
- Be a PADI Tec 50 diver or Tec Trimix 65 diver
- Have a minimum of 150 logged dives
- Are at least 18 years old
- Have a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your Tec Trimix Instructor.
Academic
The Tec Trimix Diver course emphasizes mission application:
- Gas selection options, especially deco gases
- Bubble models and deep stops
- Using multigas trimix computers
- Handling up to four stage/deco cylinders
The TDI Helitrox Diver Course examines the theory, methods, and procedures for planning staged decompression dives utilizing helium in the breathing mixture to reduce the effects of inert gas narcosis.
The TDI Helitrox Diver Course trains divers how to plan and conduct staged decompression dives to a maximum depth of 45 metres/150 feet. The most common equipment requirements, gear set-up, and decompression techniques are also presented during this course. Students are permitted to utilize enriched air nitrox and helium mixes with no greater than 20% helium content, and up to 100% oxygen for decompression diving.
This program is designed as a stand-alone course, or it may be taught in conjunction with TDI Advanced Nitrox at the discretion of the instructor.
Who this course is for:
- The certified Advanced Diver or Intro to Tech Diver looking to expand their knowledge of decompression theory and diving techniques using helitrox
- The certified Advanced Diver or Intro to Tech Diver who is interested in extending their bottom time
- The certified Advanced Diver or Intro to Tech Diver who has interest in moving forward with technical diving education
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18
- Minimum certification of SDI Advanced Diver (with Deep specialty) or TDI Intro to Tech Diver, or equivalent
- Certified as TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver (unless being taught concurrently)
- Proof of 50 logged dives
What’s in it for you?
- Ability to conduct decompression diving activities without direct supervision utilizing helium and/or nitrox mixtures provided:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- Breathing mixtures do not contain more than 20% helium or less than 21% oxygen
- Ability to enroll in TDI Extended Range, TDI Advanced Wreck, TDI Trimix courses
- Ability to conduct decompression diving activities without direct supervision utilizing helium and/or nitrox mixtures provided:
Who this course is for:
- The certified Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures diver looking to:
- Extend their depth range
- Reduce narcosis for all deep dives
- Advance their technical diving education
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18
- Minimum certification of TDI Advanced Nitrox AND Decompression Procedures Diver, or equivalent
- Proof of 100 logged dives
What’s in it for you?
- Ability to conduct technical diving activities using custom trimix mixtures without direct supervision provided:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- Ability to enroll in TDI Advanced Wreck and TDI Advanced Trimix courses
- Ability to conduct technical diving activities using custom trimix mixtures without direct supervision provided:
The TDI Advanced Trimix Diver Course is the top level of training for open circuit divers wishing to dive to depths as deep as 100 metres/330 feet utilizing hypoxic levels of oxygen (below 17 percent). This course is perhaps one of the most informative and challenging of all of the TDI open circuit courses. Upon completion, you will be among some of the most elite divers, capable of doing and seeing more while diving than any other divers out there.
Who this course is for:
- The TDI Extended Range or Trimix Diver looking to:
- Extend their depth range
- Advance their technical diving education
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18
- Minimum certification of TDI Extended Range or Trimix Diver or equivalent
- Show proof of 100 logged dives, 25 must be deeper than 30metres/100feet
What’s in it for you?
- Ability to conduct technical diving activities using custom trimix mixtures without direct supervision, so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- Ability to conduct technical diving activities using custom trimix mixtures without direct supervision, so long as the following limits are adhered to:
O2ptima Rebreather Courses
Description
The future of deep tec diving belongs to the CCR (closed circuit rebreather) and the Tec 40 CCR course is where it all starts. If you’re interested in technical diving and want to dive a rebreather, the Tec 40 CCR course is your entry into the tec diving realm. This first level of training introduces you to Type T CCRs, which can be electronic CCRs (eCCRs) and manual CCRs (mCCRs). During the course, you focus on developing the discipline it takes to be a technical diver while learning the details of proper setup, predive checks, dive planning, failure and problem management and teamwork for CCR diving.
To take a Tec 40 CCR Diver course, you must:
- Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
- Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver
- Be a PADI Deep Diver or show proof of 10 dives to 30 metres/100 feet
- Have a minimum of 30 logged dives, with at least 10 dives using EANx deeper than 18 metres/60 feet
- Be at least 18 years old
- Before Training Dive 5, be certified as a PADI Rescue Diver
- Before certification, have at least 50 logged dives.
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your Tec 40 CCR Instructor.
Academic
You’ll learn to make no stop or limited decompression dives using a Type T CCR to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet during eight training dives. You’ll also cover:
- Basic CCR function
- Tec equipment and CCR setup and checklists
- Diving CCRs and handling potential problems
- Decompression software and open-circuit bailout requirements
- Post-dive procedures and disassembly
- Thinking like a Tec CCR diver
Equipment
You’ll use standard tec diving equipment appropriate for the local environment, including your exposure suit, mask, fins and weight system. Snorkels are optional, but a collapsible snorkel can be carried in your pocket. You’ll also need a Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB) and reel, an audible surface signaling device, slate and a compass. Your PADI Tec 40 CCR Instructor will advise you about the Type T CCR you’ll learn to use and suggest a CCR dive computer with open-circuit bailout capability (if not integrated into the CCR), offboard life support system, and oxygen analyzer along with other beneficial gear.
After certification as a PADI Tec 40 CCR Diver, you’ll need to qualify if you want to use a different Type T CCR model because procedures vary with each model. However, you don’t need to repeat the entire course. Just take a PADI Tec CCR Qualifier program that focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to use a different Type T CCR model.
Your instructor will make sure that all Type T CCRs used in PADI courses meet requirements, such as being third party tested and that manufacturers ensure their CCRs meet a comprehensive list of requirements.
Description
Tec 60 CCR Diver is the second level of technical diving training with Type T CCRs. By completing the Tec 60 CCR course, you extend your CCR diving adventures down to a maximum depth of 60 metres/200 feet. You learn to complete multiple decompression stops, manage life-support problems and dive with trimix/heliox as a diluent. It’s a considerable challenge, but if you’re serious about being a tec CCR diver, then this course is your next step.
To enroll in the Tec 60 CCR Diver course, you must:
- Be a Tec 40 CCR Diver qualified on the specific Type T CCR to be used in the course.
- Have logged a minimum of 150 dives, with at least 25 dives and 50 hours experience diving the Type T CCR used in the course with an offboard bailout system following Tec 40 CCR Diver principles.
- Have at least 10 logged CCR dives deeper than 30 metres/100 feet.
Note that manufacturer requirements also may apply and qualifying certifications from other diver training organization may be acceptable – ask your Tec 60 CCR Instructor.
Academic
In the Tec 60 CCR Diver course, you complete one confined water and six open water dives. Building on the technical diving knowledge and skills you acquired in the Tec 40 CCR course, you’ll cover new topics such as:
- Different bailout strategies
- Offboard gas supply capability
- Planning tec CCR decompression dives including deep deco stops
- Offsetting narcosis with helium gas mixes
- Dealing with CCR problems and dive emergencies
Equipment
You’ll use standard tec diving equipment along with the gear you used for your PADI Tec 40 CCR Diver course, with the addition of a spare mask and a primary and backup CCR dive computer with open-circuit bailout capability. You’ll definitely want CCR and bailout decompression software or your PC, tablet or smartphone.
After certification as a PADI Tec 60 CCR Diver, you’ll need to qualify if you want to use a different Type T CCR model because procedures vary with each model. However, you don’t need to repeat the entire course. Just take a PADI Tec CCR Qualifier program that focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to use a different Type T CCR model.
Your instructor will make sure that all Type T CCRs used in PADI courses meet requirements, such as being third party tested and that manufacturers ensure their CCRs meet a comprehensive list of requirements.
The TDI Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) Air Diluent Diver Course is your first step into closed circuit rebreather diving and your first truly quiet dive experience!Using the latest technology in CCRs can maximize your gas supply and provide an optimum breathing gas for any depth by maintaining a constant partial pressure of oxygen. It’s like having a nitrox blending machine on your back!
During this course, your TDI Instructor will teach you all of the necessary skills to conduct no decompression CCR dives to a maximum depth of 30 metres/100 feet using air diluent.
Who this rebreather course is for:
The certified diver looking to advance their diver level training and equipment configurations by learning to dive a rebreather. Whether you are an avid photographer, want to experience the silence of diving a rebreather, or looking to get closer to the marine life – rebreather diving is for you.
Rebreather Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18
- Provide proof of 20 logged open water dives
- Provide proof as a TDI Nitrox Diver or equivalent from agencies recognized by TDI
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities utilizing the CCR they were trained to dive without direct supervision of the TDI Instructor so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- To a maximum depth of 30 metres/100 feet
- No decompression dives are permitted
Are you an open circuit technical diver looking to cross over to the “silent” side? Or maybe you are a CCR Air Diluent Diver looking to progress to the next level? Either way, TDI’s CCR Air Diluent Decompression Course is the next step.Using the latest technology in CCR’s can maximize your gas supply and provide an optimum breathing gas for any depth by maintaining a constant partial pressure of oxygen. Like having a blending station on your back, a CCR is the ultimate tool for technical divers.
During this course, your TDI Instructor will teach you all of the necessary skills to conduct decompression CCR dives to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet using air diluent.
Who this course is for:
- The open circuit technical diver, or entry level CCR diver, looking to utilize CCR technology to extend their depth limits and bottom times.
Course prerequisites:
Minimum age 18
- Provide proof of 50 logged dives
- Provide proof of TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and Deco Procedures Diver or equivalent from agencies recognized by TDI
- If the rebreather is a TDI approved sidemount rebreather, the student must hold the TDI Sidemount Diver certification or equivalent and provide proof of 10 logged sidemount dives
OR
- Minimum age 18
- TDI Air Diluent CCR Diver certified or equivalent
- 30 hours on the CCR unit
- Six months CCR diving experience
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in decompression diving activities utilizing the CCR they were trained to dive with, without direct supervision of the TDI Instructor so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- To a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet
- Utilizing air diluent
As a TDI CCR Air Diluent Decompression or Helitrox Diluent Decompression Diver, the TDI Mixed Gas CCR Diver course is your next step into closed circuit rebreather diving, it is your opportunity to explore a little deeper. Using the latest in technology CCR’s maximize your gas supply and provide the optimum breathing gas for any depth by maintaining a constant partial pressure of oxygen (PPO2). During the dives your TDI Instructor will teach you all the necessary skills to conduct CCR dives utilizing helium as a diluent gas and oxygen levels as low as 16 percent to a maximum depth of 60 metres/200 feet.
Who this course is for:
- The certified TDI Air Diluent Decompression or Helitrox Diluent Decompression Diver (or equivalent) looking to extend their depth limitations.
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18
- Provide a verified log of a minimum of 50 rebreather hours distributed over a minimum of 50 dives on the specific rebreather. If the diver has 50 hours on another CCR unit recognized by TDI, only 25 hours are required to be on the specific unit
- Have completed and qualified the TDI Air Diluent Decompression Procedures Rebreather/TDI CCR Helitrox Diluent Decompression Procedures Diver course or equivalent from agencies recognized by TDI
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in technical diving activities utilizing the unit specific CCR to a maximum of 60 metres / 200 feet, utilizing a mixed gas diluent containing 16 percent or greater oxygen provided:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
- Ability to enroll in TDI Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver course
*All listed prices are the course fees only. Training materials, Equipment Rental, Local Diving fees, and specialty gas is not included.