TDI INTRO TO TECH DIVER COURSE
QUICK OVERVIEW
The TDI Intro to Tech Diver course is designed for sport divers who wish to perfect basic diving skills and learn how to use redundant cylinder configuration. The techniques and knowledge learned during this class prepare students for more advanced and technical training programs.
IN A NUTSHELL
Back-mount configuration, aka twinset or simply “twins”, is the more straightforward configuration for technical diving, used since practically the beginnings of modern technical diving.
The TDI Intro to Tech Diver Course with CDT Mexico focuses on getting students ready for any type of technical deep or cave diving. We will have a deep look into this classic equipment configuration and how to adapt in different environments.
Students will learn how to configure their kits themselves with CDT Mexico and will understand it closely, and not merely dive it.
After exiting our course, divers also are proficient with the fundamental techniques of technical and cave diving, such a close to perfect buoyancy and trim control, breathing control, advanced propulsion techniques including modified frog-kick, reverse kick and helicopter turns.
Gas planning on land and gas management under water are also a new areas of discovery for sport divers as they enter technical diving. We will look at the rule of thirds and the concepts of conservatism as well as awareness of the gas supply and maintaining gas redundancy while underwater.
Finally, you’ll learn sequences and how to be efficient in all areas, such as do/doff sequences and water entry/exit protocols.
SUBJECT AREAS (non exhaustive)
During our TDI Intro to Tech Diver Course, we will focus on the following aspect (on top of reviewing everything else from previous levels) Underwater: - gas management (awareness, reading and keeping reserve gas) - valve drills (opening/closing/switching regulators and valves) - gas donation - hand and light communication - basic fundamental techniques : breathing, buoyancy, trim, propulsion, and positioning - advanced propulsion techniques : mod frog kick, mod flutter kick, reverse kick and helicopter-turn - problem solving : mask replacement, light failure, etc. - leakage and haemorrhages : valves, regulator first and second stage, free-flow, LPI hose, etc. - lift bag deployment On land: Land-drills and simulations of procedures - configuration and set-up - pre-dive checks and team’s dynamic - do/doff sequences - communication - gas donation simulations - valve-drills simulations Briefings and de-briefings - pretty much everything… White board presentations and discussions - awareness and mind-set - rule of 1/3 and conservatism - keeping gas redundancy - dive planning - potential failures and counter-measures - emergency and safety procedures - psychological and physiological considerations - mind-control and stress recognition and management
MEET NEW CHALLENGES
Diving a twinset is more complex than the usual single cylinder of course, and also heavier in the water. Wings and backplates are new equipment for most sport divers, and a higher level of awareness is required, as the complexity of the equipment configuration increases. Intro to Tech divers also need a deeper understanding in gas planning, as they carry redundant cylinders and apply new rules and new concepts such as conservative thirds, rock-bottom reserves, gas matching and eventually cylinders matching. It is obviously extremely interesting to learn, and if you’re curious enough, you’ll find addicted to the theory side as well as the diving part! Well, ok, almost as much!
PRE-REQUISITES
Students must be 18 years old, and - certified as an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver (or equivalent) - have a minimum of 20 logged dives
COURSE DURATION
The TDI Intro to Tech Diver Course has a duration of 3 days with CDT Mexico. TDI Intro to Tech diver = 3 days