If you’ve looked into technical diving, you realize that tec divers always wear more than one tank. Sidemount is an increasingly popular way to configure multiple cylinders for technical diving. You can enter the world of tec diving with the Tec Sidemount Diver course and apply what you learn to other TecRec courses. Your instructor may offer to integrate this course with the Tec 40, Tec 45 or Tec 50 courses.

If you’re a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, at least 18 years old and have a minimum of 30 logged dives, you qualify to enroll in a Tec Sidemount Diver course. It’s recommended that you also have a PADI Enriched Air Diver certification.

Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your Tec Sidemount Instructor.
 

What will you learn?

You’ll learn about the advantages of diving with a sidemount configuration and how to set up a tec sidemount harness. You’ll get hands-on training during one confined water session and four open water dives where you’ll start with two tanks and add at least two more, maybe even getting to six sidemounted cylinders.
 

How can you start learning now?

Get the PADI Sidemount Diver and Tec Sidemount Diver Manual from the Breakwater Scuba PADI Dive Shop and start studying immediately. If you have a recreational sidemount diver certification, you’ll focus on Chapters Two and Three, if not, you'll read the entire manual.

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The PADI Enriched Air Diver course is the most popular diver specialty course and the number of technical divers is on the rise, which means that lots of scuba divers want enriched air and gas blends. The Tec Gas Blender course teaches you to blend enriched air nitrox and helium-blend gases using one or more blending methods. Being the blender is a key job at a busy PADI Dive Center or Resort and your work allows other divers to do what they love to do – scuba dive.

If you’re a PADI Enriched Air Diver and are at least 18 years old, you can enroll in a Tec Gas Blender course.

Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organizations may apply – ask your Tec Gas Blender Instructor.
 

What will you learn?

The Tec Gas Blender course includes three practical application sessions, but no dives. During independent study and instructor-led review, you learn:

• –  About the advantages and disadvantages of different blending methodologies.
• –  To blend enriched air and trimix blends to within one percent of the target mix.
• –  About the potential hazards related to handling oxygen, and how to manage those risks.
• –  To demonstrate the steps for oxygen cleaning equipment, along with the requirements for oxygen service.
   

How can you start learning now?

You can get your PADI Gas Blender Manual to start your independent study by visiting your local PADI Dive Shop. You also receive a Gas Mix Calculator CD-ROM that you’ll use during and after class.

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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.
 

What will you learn?

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.
 

How can you start learning now?

Visit your PADI Dive Center or Resort to make sure you have the most current PADI Tec Deep Diver Manual, which you’ll study independently before meeting with your PADI Tec Deep Instructor.
You may be able to get college credit for the PADI Tec 50 course.
 

What scuba gear will you use?

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.

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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 10 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.
 

What will you learn?

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.
 

How can you start learning now?

Contact your PADI Dive Center or Resort, and if you don’t already have one, pick up a Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak that includes a PADI Tec Deep Diver Manual, which you’ll use for self-study. The Equipment Set-up and Key Skills video is an optional tool to help you practice skills between your tec diving adventures. You'll continue to use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak through your Tec 50 course.

You may be able to get college credit for the PADI Tec 45 course.
 

What scuba gear will you use?

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.

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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.
 

What will you learn?

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
   

How can you start learning now?

Contact a PADI Dive Shop and get your Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak that includes a PADI Tec Deep Diver Manual, which you can start reading right away. You can also get an Equipment Set-up and Key Skills video, which is a great tool to help you practice skills between your tec diving adventures. You'll continue to use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak through your Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses.

You may be able to get college credit for the PADI Tec 40 course.
 

What scuba gear will you use?

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. Your PADI Tec Instructor may have you dive with EANx for additional conservatism.

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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 diving gear and take it for a test dive. Our PADI Tec Instructors 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 PADI Open Water Diver, at least 18 years old, and have a minimum of 10 logged dives, you qualify for Discover Tec.
 

What will you learn?

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.
 

How can you start learning now?

Contact us to ask about PADI TecRec courses. 

What scuba gear will you use?

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.

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