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Beginning Technical Courses

Also check the descriptions for Cavern Diver and Intro to Cave.

Prerequisites

If you are considering these courses you need to take, at a minimum, Advanced and Nitrox. You should also make sure you are proficient in all of the skills and concepts presented in these classes.

Who should take these classes?

Technical courses require a more disciplined approach to diving than recreational courses. You need to have the right attitude about the serious level of risk that technical diving entails. These beginning courses are relatively safe, but with each additional course it becomes more complex and dangerous.

That said, you don't have to be a gung-ho technical diver to benefit from these classes.

What if you cannot find the anchor line on a deep boat dive and you are approaching your no-decompression limit? Do you go into decompression to keep looking, or make a free ascent?
For most divers either choice would entail great peril. In these courses you will learn the planning and techniques to deal with both options safely.

In your Nitrox course you were taught that Nitrox is not a "deep gas"—its benefits as a bottom gas diminish quickly as depth increases. The Navy NDL for air at 130 feet is 10 minutes. EAN 28 is the highest nitrox mix usable at 130 ft, but it will raise your NDL by only 5 minutes (and air is a lot cheaper). However, with training in decompression you can start to extend your bottom times at greater depths; your time will be limited only by how much gas you carry (though you will need some reserve) and how much "deco" you want to do. 130 feet for 20 minutes becomes rather simple with doubles and oxygen, and 130 for 25 is also within reach. You may also save money on fills since you can use air on the bottom and save your nitrox for decompression, where you will use less of it.

Just remember, technical diving is not for everyone!

TDI Advanced Nitrox

This course examines the use of EAN 21 through 100% (oxygen) for optimal mixes to a depth of 130fsw/40msw. This course covers:

  • Making gas switches
  • Performing extended no-decompression dives on air and enriched air
  • Technical dive gear configuration, including carrying stage bottles
  • Travel gas concepts

TDI advanced Nitrox requires a minimum of 4 dives.

Splash usually teaches this course in combination with TDI Decompression Procedures, requiring 2 additional dives.

TDI Decompression Procedures

This course examines the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. This course trains divers to plan and conduct standard staged decompression dives not exceeding a maximum depth of 150fsw/45msw unless taught in conjunction with Advanced Nitrox, Extended Range or Advanced Wreck Courses. Included concepts:

  • Theory, methods and procedures for conducting stage decompression dives
  • Advanced decompression theory
  • Creating custom tables for decompression diving using computer software
  • Equipment requirements and configurations
  • Common decompression mixtures

Splash Dive Center, Inc. generally teaches this course in combination with advanced Nitrox. When taught together these courses require 6 dives.

PADI (DSAT) Apprentice Tec Diver

Splash has traditionally taught technical diving classes through TDI. PADI has introduced a number of "Tec" based classes recently. Basically DSAT apprentice Tec is similar to TDI Advanced Nitrox with Decompression procedures. Dual certification can be arranged for both agencies at minimal cost, however there might be additional testing and administrative requirements.

Check Splash's training schedule.