What is Technical Diving
Technical (tec) diving means going beyond recreational scuba diving limits.
But, tec divers will tell you that it’s really about the challenge and adventure of exploring places that no one else has ever seen. Tec diving is not for everyone, but it does attract experienced divers who want to go beyond their current limits and are willing to accept the added risks, training, investment and commitment it demands. If this is you, then PADI TecRec courses are your ticket to extreme adventure.
Technical scuba diving involves going beyond recreational scuba diving limits and includes one or more of the following:
- Diving beyond 40 meters/130 feet
- Required stage decompression
- Diving in an overhead environment beyond 40 linear meters/130 linear feet of the surface
- Accelerated decompression and/or the use of variable gas mixtures during the dive
- Use of extensive equipment and technologies
In technical diving the surface is often inaccessible in an emergency, so tec divers use extensive procedures, equipment and training to manage the added risks and potential hazards.
Although founded on extensive open-circuit scuba technology, tec diving has been revolutionized by the development, availability and reliability of closed circuit rebreathers (CCRs). CCRs have numerous benefits and provide tec divers with significantly more time underwater.
