Tech diving - definition?

[mickwood]

OK, heard a lot of folks chatting about tech diving so would like to learn more about it? WHAT exactly IS 'tech' diving? what makes a dive 'tech'?

Would be good to hear from those that do it, or maybe pointers to sources of info??

[John_c]

No one simple answer Im afraind but this might help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_diving

[mickwood]

hmmm....not really

'tech diving' just sounds like a labelling exercise to make it sound a bit sexier?

[divingdoc1]

the best definition i have heard is that it is any diving that requires knowledge, abilities and equipment beyond those of the normal recreational diver!!

That is so really not helpful i know!!

[John_c]

(23-11-2008 11:35 PM)mickwood Wrote:  hmmm....not really

'tech diving' just sounds like a labelling exercise to make it sound a bit sexier?

Mick, so you dont see the point that wreck pentration, diving below 40m, entering overhead environments, gas switching, conducting accelerated deco requires a little more than just basic recreational diving.

[Bobco]

Well put John,

Tech is most types of diving outside of recreational Sport diving, it is about training, equipment and a potential for a higher degree of imposed, or associated risk.

[mickwood]

(24-11-2008 07:05 AM)John_c Wrote:   Mick, so you dont see the point that wreck pentration, diving below 40m, entering overhead environments, gas switching, conducting accelerated deco requires a little more than just basic recreational diving.

Hahaha! No mate, I EXACTLY see the point and attraction of that kind of diving!! I can see myself heading that way, been inside a small wreck in jamaica and dived to about 40m and would like to go further along that route but to me that would still be recreational diving? It would be diving that I would do for recreational purposed (and I 'think' a lot of 'tech' divers do it for recreational purposes...ie fun!) but after reading the definition of 'tech' diving on wikipedia it just seemed that people added the term 'tech' to diving that requires more skill or equipment....seems silly to me? It's just diving but you choose different kit and may need different kit techniques?
If I can relate it to rock climbing climbing on a small crag which is a single rope length thats one thing in terms of kit and technique needed and a lot of people do that everyweek but climbing on a 1500m cliff face required a lot more risk, equipment and technique but.....it's still just rock climbing? hence the question on what 'tech' diving is, as I thought it may have been something completely different? but it's not, not really, it's just diving and an extension of your skills? called 'tech' to make people sound cooler

[aquafan]

For me it would be going anywhere where the standard rece kit i.e. single 12L or 15L tank with air or nitrox can't take you. Because takes you past rece training.
How long were you at 40M for? I see going to these depth with good bottom time tech diving.
Doing gas changes and deco stops is where you stop just diving, you are being a lot more proative about your dive.

(24-11-2008 09:36 AM)mickwood Wrote:  

(24-11-2008 07:05 AM)John_c Wrote:   Mick, so you dont see the point that wreck pentration, diving below 40m, entering overhead environments, gas switching, conducting accelerated deco requires a little more than just basic recreational diving.

Hahaha! No mate, I EXACTLY see the point and attraction of that kind of diving!! I can see myself heading that way, been inside a small wreck in jamaica and dived to about 40m and would like to go further along that route but to me that would still be recreational diving? It would be diving that I would do for recreational purposed (and I 'think' a lot of 'tech' divers do it for recreational purposes...ie fun!) but after reading the definition of 'tech' diving on wikipedia it just seemed that people added the term 'tech' to diving that requires more skill or equipment....seems silly to me? It's just diving but you choose different kit and may need different kit techniques?
If I can relate it to rock climbing climbing on a small crag which is a single rope length thats one thing in terms of kit and technique needed and a lot of people do that everyweek but climbing on a 1500m cliff face required a lot more risk, equipment and technique but.....it's still just rock climbing? hence the question on what 'tech' diving is, as I thought it may have been something completely different? but it's not, not really, it's just diving and an extension of your skills? called 'tech' to make people sound cooler

[Ian]

Tech diving is almost best defined by what it isn't...

Recreational diving is generally considered to be no-stop diving to an absolute maximum depth of 40m in a clear overhead environment. This definition gets stretched a little sometimes, but is a good definition of reacreational diving. It also changes from time to time. For example, recreational divers used to be limited to breathing air but now nitrox is accepted.

Technical diving is the term used for any diving beyone this definition. And deeper or longer dives or overhead environments have a big impact on the way safety is approached. Technical diving usually involves more planning, redundant air supplies and equipment, enhanced skill levels, more precise emergency plans, decompression stops including accelerated deco and often the use of multiple different gasses (including trimix) during a dive.

Is it more "technical"? Well it does probably get more "technical" in that you probably use more sophisticated equipment and planning techniques, but it's really just a label... It could just as easily be called "deep" or "advanced" or "deco" diving but these terms are already used elsewhere so "technical" it is.

There are lots of grey areas where rec divers to a short deco stop, carry a pony for redundancy or enter overhead environments, but if you get serious about doing these things tec is the way to go.

Ian

[aquafan]

Well put Ian, that's a good description for me.

(24-11-2008 10:40 AM)Ian Wrote:  Tech diving is almost best defined by what it isn't...

Recreational diving is generally considered to be no-stop diving to an absolute maximum depth of 40m in a clear overhead environment. This definition gets stretched a little sometimes, but is a good definition of reacreational diving. It also changes from time to time. For example, recreational divers used to be limited to breathing air but now trimix is accepted.

Technical diving is the term used for any diving beyone this definition. And deeper or longer dives or overhead environments have a big impact on the way safety is approached. Technical diving usually involves more planning, redundant air supplies and equipment, enhanced skill levels, more precise emergency plans, decompression stops including accelerated deco and often the use of multiple different gasses (including trimix) during a dive.

Is it more "technical"? Well it does probably get more "technical" in that you probably use more sophisticated equipment and planning techniques, but it's really just a label... It could just as easily be called "deep" or "advanced" or "deco" diving but these terms are already used elsewhere so "technical" it is.

There are lots of grey areas where rec divers to a short deco stop, carry a pony for redundancy or enter overhead environments, but if you get serious about doing these things tec is the way to go.

Ian