Slide 1
DIVE SHOW 2009
What to Expect from your TDI Intro‐to‐Tech™ Course
Nestor Palmero Board of Directors Representative
Since we introduced this entry‐level program into Technical Diving International’s menu of diver courses, the uptake and acceptance has made our heads spin. The growing interest in and popularity of “technical diving” has obviously fuelled much of that interest; but there is more to it than that. And that’s what I want to talk to you about today… What’s in a TDI Intro to Tech course for the average diver…
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Intro‐to‐Tech™ Overview
• Familiarize students with gear, techniques, skills and drills • NO DECOMPRESSION • Nitrox at Cert Level • Advanced Adventure diver with more than 25 logged dives • Three dives and six hours “briefing” minimum
On paper, Intro to Tech is about choosing and configuring dive gear; learning about more detailed dive planning and risk management, developing skills like equipment handling and situational awareness; and learning some drills to make those skills stick!
This is a NO DECOMPRESSION course. Of course, every dive is a decompression dive but what we mean is that depth and time exposures fit into the sport diving paradigm.
Candidates for this course should be nitrox certified, have a minimum of 25 logged dives, and hold at least an Advanced Adventure certification.
The course standards call for three dives and six hours of “briefing” (classroom and surface skills).
But in both cases (prerequisites AND course outline) many TDI facilities and instructors raise the bar. It is not unusual for an intro to tech class to run to five, six dives or more.
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Understanding the Deliverables
• Let’s start with Five Categories – The scope of the course – Who the course is aimed at – How it fits in to other programs – The skillset – How to get in on the fun
Let’s look first at the five categories of “Stuff” that the course is designed to the student.
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Program Scope…
• Try it before you buy it adventure • “Soft” introduction for deco candidates • Skills assessment and modification – Environmental orientation • More detail‐oriented planning – Better risk management • Greater awareness in water – More fun and better buddy
Everyone gets something unique from every program and every instructor is encouraged to add something extra, but at the base level, intro to tech is about the following things.
If you have wondered if tech diving is your next adventure
If you are enrolled in a decompression course and want to “warm up” before the course
If you want to improve your general scuba skills; and even if you already have technical certs but are planning to dive in unfamiliar conditions
If you want to learn more about complex dive planning and execution
If you want to become more aware and a better buddy
All these reasons for taking intro to tech were given to us at Headquarters by divers who have taken the program… feedback
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Of course the real question that many people ask is: Am I ready to take the course? Let’s see
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People who take the course…
• Who is the typical candidate for Intro‐to‐Tech™ – Divers with 25 –50 logged dives = 15% – Divers with 51 –75 logged dives = 31% – Divers with 76 –100 logged dives = 33% – Divers with 100 + logged dives = 21%
Based on data from first 1,000 certs.
As you can see, the range is broad but the mean sits around 75 dives or more… experienced divers by any stretch… and one of the constant messages we get is that the course renews a diver’s interest in diving; regardless of what their next step may be.
Anyone here fit into that “demographic?”
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The fit with other programs…
• Technical diving is hotter than ever – 1994 one in 100 – 2008 one in four • Majority cite “learning about gear” as motivation • The next steps for most graduates are: – Majority move into more advanced courses • Bridge between sport and tech diving
The short explanation of what technical diving is about is “MORE BOTTOM TIME” but it’s also the sexy side of diving right now.
Back in 1994 when TDI was first formed, we used a ratio of 1 tech diver for every 100 open water certs.
In a survey TDI conducted early in 2008, about one quarter of the respondents told us that they held a technical diver rating or would be taking a technical diver rating in the next 12 months.
That being said, it comes as no surprise that most graduates from intro to tech DO move up to other advanced programs such as Decompression, Advanced Wreck, Cave, Trimix and so on.
Be warned, technical diving is addictive and you may have to think about making room in the garage for a scooter, a rebreather and a couple more crates of accessories!
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Well, as you can tell, Intro to Tech does have a pretty broad reach and seems to have appeal for all experience levels… so let’s look at the skills it teaches in an overview.
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Skillset for Intro to Tech™
• Advanced Buoyancy Control • Gas Management • Situational Awareness • Trim • Gear Configuration and Selection • Self‐Assessment / Stress Management
Try this sometime. Descend with your buddy to about 10 feet. Stop and do not move your hands or feet. Wait for four breath cycles and then descend an additional 10 feet. Repeat until you get to 60 feet. If you and your buddy are still together. Well done, now try it going up and if that works, do the same thing only this time, pass a four pound lead weight back and forwards at each stop.
Gas management is about having enough gas, and the right flavor, for ALL aspects of the dive and enough for emergencies. Many buddy teams do not understand the concept of gas planning clearly. How many of you use a bigger cylinder than your usual buddy because they have a lower consumption rate?
Oh, and by the way, gas management also includes doing that buoyancy thing while sharing air!
SA is the chess‐player’s skill. Applied to diving this equates to being aware of issues before they manifest themselves as major show stoppers
Kit selection and deployment is always a fun session. At first glance, tech diving is about gear and lot’s of it. In reality, it’s about having the right tools for the job and knowing how to avoid task loading.
Stress… take a look at the next slide.
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Stress Management
• “Equipment failure is not going to harm you… it’s your reaction to equipment failure that carries the potential to hurt!” Bill Hogarth Main, Cave Diver
• “The key to success is being prepared to think laterally and to act wisely… as the fan spins” Steve Lewis, Wreck Diver
There are all sorts of tricks and drills that technical divers use to overcome stress… and to avoid bad situations… {SLIDE}
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Protocols Driven by Five Rules
• Training – Experience, Comfort Zone • Guideline – Contact with surface • Gas – Rule of Thirds (modified) – Oxygen Loading – Nitrogen Loading
Although technical divers may appear on the outside to be risk‐takers, the truth is usually very different.
Essentially, technical diving is about knowing limits and following some basic guidelines. They are…
Do not exceed Training
Always know exactly where the exit point is
Have sufficient gas for the dive and make sure it delivers no overdoses of nitrogen or oxygen {SLIDE}
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Protocols Driven by Five Rules
• Equipment – Appropriate, Maintained, Serviced, Standard, Streamlined • Depth – Limits of gas – Limits of kit – Common sense
Number four is having the correct gear.
And lastly, staying at a depth that does not push the limits of your gas, gear and sense.
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How to get in on the fun…
• Find an SDI or TDI instructor who teaches the program and ask about it • Remember that tech diving is addictive – Training – Equipment – Service – Travel
If you decide to take an intro to tech class, find someone who does the sort of diving you want to do and speak with them.
Most of our facilities teaching at this level make a big deal out of it because it IS a big deal… it’s challenging, a learning experience and it’s FUN
But be warned. It may change the way you dive. You may find yourself diving more than you do now; you may sign up for additional training; you may buy additional kit; you will be more aggressive about keeping that investment in working order; and you may find yourself spending more time “on the road” travelling to exotic dive sites.
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Recap…
• “Multi‐purpose” program • Strong appeal across diver experience levels • Fits perfectly to bridge sport and tech • Always adds value to exiting dive sites • Makes diving more fun, and more managed • DO IT WITH A BUDDY
OK, let’s just summarize quickly.
Intro to tech is really a flexible solution for a whole raft of divers of every experience level.
Although it is a perfect stop‐gap between sport and tech diving, it’s also more.
The skills apply in any form of diving and at any dive site.
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Questions…