What is a technical diver?
Did you know there are 2 main types of diver? Diving is split into two categories, recreational dives and technical dives. Recreational/ fun diving is the most common however if you are looking to excel in your diving career then perhaps becoming a technical diver is the right path for you. Technical diving allows you to dive deeper than 40m and gives you the chance to explore caves and stay longer under the water.
What is the difference between recreational (fun) and technical diving?
Recreational diving, although it is fantastic, has its limits, with fun dives you are limited to 40m and you can’t explore any area with an overhead environment. This limits recreational divers as they can’t enter shipwrecks either. This means a great part of the Red Sea is left unexplored!
Is it for you?
You must already be a qualified diver with PADI to be able to study technical diving and you must have completed at least 25 dives before signing up to a PADI technical dive course. Becoming a technical diver is great for people that want to expand their knowledge and experience. However although it is also fun it is not a decision to take lightly as it requires more focus and extensive planning. With greater adventure comes great responsibility - keep this in mind if you consider technical diving. That being said, it is still an extremely rewarding experience.
What does it consist of?
There are a number of technical diving courses offered by PADI; here is a list of them;
- Discover technical diving – experience technical diving in confined water
- Tec 40 – designed for a recreational diver to start their journey into Tec diving
- Tec 45 – part 2 of the PADI Tec deep diver course.
- Tec 50 – learn to use 2 gasses and dive to 50m
- Tec Sidemount – dive with more than 1 tank
- Tec Sidemount Instructor – teach others how to dive with more than 1 tank
- Tec Trimix Diver – Turn yourself from a Tec diver into an extreme diver. Handle up to 4 stage cylinders and dive dow to 90m.
- Tec Trimix 60 – Use a blend of helium, oxygen and nitrogen at 65m.
- Tec trimix Instructor – Teach Tec diving courses.
- Tec Trimix Gas Blended – learn how to mix enriched air nitrox and helium.
- Discover Rebreather Program – breathe without exhaling bubbles and learn to reuse the gas you exhale.
- Rebreather Diver – Get longer, no stop limits and reduce gas consumption.
- Rebreather Advanced Diver – Dive in complete silence and get the best wildlife encounters.
- Tec 40 CCR – Learn the setup, planning and failure and problem management of Tec diving.
- Tec Instructor – PADI TEC dive professional!
- Tec 40 CCR Instructor – Teach Rebreather programs.
- Tec 60 CCR Instructor – Teach more Tec divers and greater depth
- Tec 100 CCR Instructor – Teach to 100meters and guide others on dive planning. Configure and use 4 different of board bailout systems and practice emergency scenarios.
Technical diving is still geared towards divers that want to improve their wildlife encounters, these courses are not for people who just want to go deeper, just because. There are more risks associated with cave and decompression diving – for these reasons technical divers are held to a higher standard and training focuses on through dive planning and strategies. Technical diving courses teach divers to be able to solve problems 1500ft under the sea or inside a flooded cave that they must know how to exit safely. Technical diving is a challenge but it still remains fun as it allows you to see a new part of the world that is closed off to most people!
Where can you do it?
Technical diving courses can be completed at any PADI dive center that has a technical diving Instructor. Check with your dive center first to make sure they have the staff and equipment to assist you.