PADI TecRec – PADI Tec 45 – Indepth Dive Centre Phuket

PADI TecRec: Are you ready for PADI Tec 45?

As mentioned the PADI Tec 45 course is the second of a 3 part full PADI TecRec Deep Diver program. The first being the PADI Tec 40 course and the final being Tec 50.

During this part of the program you will move from 40-45m. This may sound like "but it's only 5m difference why do I need to take another course for?" However you will now be learning and understanding how to make repetitive decompression dives using 1 stage / decompression gas. Consequently you will be learning quite a lot of new stuff and dealing with a new set of variables to plan for and skill sets to go with it.

What will you learn?

As with the Tec 40 course, the PADI Tec 45 has 3 Knowledge Development or classroom sessions. Along with 3 Practical Applications and 4 Open Water Training Dives. As you would expect, you are building on the fundamentals you learnt in Tec 40, however with focus on gas planning and calculating accelerated decompression stops. This is done by introducing a gas with a higher percentage of oxygen (O2) than air which as the name suggests, speeds up, or accelerates, decompression. This results in less decompression time.

Additionally you will also be learning more about how to think like a technical diver. This is important as with Technical Diving it is not always possible to make a direct to the surface as with "normal"recreational diving. As such there are more factors you to need to plan for and have a contingency plan for.

Some of the topics covered include:

• The correct use Technical diving equipment
• Skills and equipment and Dive Planning needed to dive safely to a max depth of 45m
• Gain the knowledge to plan and execute both single and repetitive decompression dives. And using a single stage cylinder of Enriched Air Nitrox or Oxygen to accelerate or add conservatism to decompression stops.
• Understand how to prepare for and respond correctly to foreseeable Technical Diving Emergencies
• Master the skills and procedures necessary in order for you to move into deeper technical diving

How can you start your PADI Tec 45 Course?

Starting your PADI Tec 45 course is actually very simple. The first thing you need to is to contact us and check that we have course dates that fit your schedule. We say this as we keep our ratios low and as such we can have very busy schedules. The second thing you will need to do is pay your deposit so we can send you your Tec Deep crewpack. The crewpack has your Tec Deep Diver Manual, which you can start reading at once. Incidentally the manual is structured the same as most PADI courses: you have Quick Quizzes, Knowledge Reviews and so on. For those you have not taken a PADI Tec Rec Course or PADI Rebreather Course before you will notice a small difference.

This that the Knowledge Reviews are mostly not multiple choice. Yes that's right, you will need to write out proper answers in detail like when you were at school.

Remember Knowledge Reviews are not a "closed book exam" however do try to complete without copying the answers straight out of the manual. After all we are interested in what you know and understand not what it says in the manual. We know that bit already, it is you we want to know about.

The third thing you should do is watch the Equipment Set-up and Key Skills DVD which comes in your Tec Diver pack. This will help you understand the skills involved in not only your PADI Tec 45 course, but also the PADI Tec 50 course. Consequently, you will find you all the materials and information for your Tec Diving journey up to PADI Tec 50.

What dive equipment will I be using on my Course?

You will be using a mixture of the usual basic scuba diving equipment you are already familiar with. However, we will obviously be adding some technical diving equipment. For example, during your Tec 45 course you will be using 2 main tanks which could be back-mount or sidemount cylinders. This is something which is very much up to you and your Tec 40 Instructor. Both configurations have their advantages and disadvantages.

As you will be "in decompression" and thus cannot simply abort a dive and head to the surface, you will be carrying redundant (or spare) equipment. You will be carrying a spare mask, a spare dive computer in case your primary failed etc. Additionally, your PADI Tec Instructor will have use an off-board cylinder with Enriched Air Nitrox or 100% Oxygen to speed up your decompression.

Time to go to 45m ...