PADI TecRec
Technical Diving
Technical diving is scuba diving’s “extreme” sport, taking experienced and qualified divers far deeper
than in mainstream recreational diving. Technical diving is marked by significantly more equipment and
training requirements to manage the additional hazard this type of diving entails. Tec diving isn’t for
everyone, but for those who hear its challenge call, the PADI TecRec courses are the answer.
What is technical diving?
Technical scuba diving is defined as diving other than conventional commercial or research diving that
takes divers beyond recreational scuba diving limits. It is further defined as and includes one or more of
the following:
· diving beyond 40 metres deep
· required stage decompression
· diving in an overhead environment beyond 40 linear metres of the surface
· accelerated decompression and or the use of variable gas mixtures during the dive
Because in technical diving the surface is effectively inaccessible in an emergency, tec divers use
extensive methodologies and technologies and training to manage the added risks. Even with these,
however, tec diving admittedly has more risk, potential hazard and shorter critical error chains than
does recreational scuba diving.
How long has technical diving been around?
Most people would agree that cave diving is a form of technical diving. Cave diving developed in the
late 1960s and 1970s, developing into a discipline largely like it is today by the mid 1980s. In the early
1990s, several groups of divers around the world began experimenting with technologies for deep diving
(beyond recreational limits) to explore both caves and wrecks. These communities united and emerged
as “technical diving” or “tec diving” with the publication of aquaCorps (no longer in print), which
dedicated itself to this type of diving. Since then, tec diving continues to develop both in scope and in its
technologies.
Why would I want to be a tec diver?
Tec diving not only has more risk, but it requires significantly more effort, discipline and equipment. It’s
not for everyone, and you can be an accomplished, avid top-notch diver your entire life without making
a tec dive.
That said, there’s a cadre of individuals who want to visit places underwater that relatively few people
can. Many spectacular, untouched wrecks lie at depths well below 40 metres. Deep reefs have
organisms you don’t find in the shallows. Some people enjoy the challenge and focus tec diving requires.
Still others love being involved with cutting edge technologies. These reasons make tec diving
rewarding.
The PADI TecRec Difference
The TecRec program debuted in 2000. Although TecRec is not the first tec diving program (cave diver
training has been around for decades), it repeatedly receives accolades for its merits.
TecRec courses are integrated into an instructionally valid, seamless course flow that takes you from
beginning tec diver to one qualified to the outer reaches of sport diving using different gas mixes.
Each level introduces you to new gear, planning and procedures appropriate to extend your diving
limits.
The Tec Diver course is an integrated sequence of three subcourses: Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50. You can
complete them continuously, or you can complete each level separately with a time span between
them. This gives you learning efficiency, instructional integrity and schedule flexibility.
The Scuba Gear You’ll Use
Tec diving uses much more equipment than recreational diving. The technical scuba gear typically uses
two to four or five regulators, a dive computer, and some accessories. Check with dive shop about the gear you need for this course. You can find everything you need to go Tec diving at Ocean Divers.
Prerequisites
TecRec prerequisites vary (see individual course descriptions), but the following applies to anyone
interested in technical diving:
You must be
• 18 years or older;
• A mature, responsible person who will follow the required procedures and requirements strictly and
faithfully;
• Medically fit for tec diving (physician’s signature required);
• Willing to accept the added risks that tec diving presents;
• An experienced diver with at least 100 logged dives;
• Certified as a PADI Enriched Air Diver and PADI Deep Diver or equivalent (for this program
equivalency is proof of training in recreational deep diving 18 meters to 40 meters consisting of at
least four dives and training in nitrogen narcosis considerations, contingency/emergency
decompression, making safety stops and air supply management OR, have a minimum of 20 logged
dives deeper than 30 meters).
The Fun Part
The fun part of TecRec is rising to the challenges as you dive deeper and longer than most divers ever do.
