All our Tec diving lessons (open circuit or closed circuit rebreather) and technical scuba diving classes are given at our Scotty's dive center headquarters facility, located in the Shangri-la hotel in Mactan, Cebu province. If you are not a guest of the Shangri-la hotel, you can always walk in, or we can pick you up at your hotel.
There are several more agencies that provide technical diver training which are more region specific. In general the recommendation is to find a reputable instructor, look for recommendations from trusted sources and choose your instructor accordingly. Trust and comfort during the course are invaluable and will help you to feel confident and comfortable to push your boundaries and gain the knowledge you need to go beyond your current certification level.
And then there are the rebreathers…a rebreather is a machine that recycles exhaled gas and is the preferred method for ‘very’ deep dives in order to use the gas carried more efficiently. In this case the exhaled gas is going thru a canister filled with a chemical which is called Sofnolime or scrubber to remove CO2 from the breathing loop and the remaining gas will be inhaled again by the diver. Metabolised oxygen is replaced into the loop to keep the oxygen content in the divers’ body at the desired pressure.
The sidemount rig was originally invented for cave diving as it allows the diver to pass thru cracks and restrictions (tiny holes) easier than the classic back mount rig.
Sidemount has many benefits, but it is particularly well-suited for cave diving. (It was cave divers who invent sidemount. These benefits include:
While most Sidemount divers use two tanks as a standard, you can also just use one tank (I was told it’s called ‘monkey’) or more than two tanks for deco dives.
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Octopus
PADI Training App is available on both Android(tm), as well as Apple(r) iOS. To ensure the best experience, your device should not exceed three years of age and be running the most recent OS (operating system).
Whatever configuration a diver chooses there is benefits for each and in different situations each configuration has its up or downside.
If you plan to go sidemount, particularly if you are a tec diver already, you will need to learn about your new rig. How to adjust it, how it can be used to enter the water, and more.
You might consider continuing to Tec Sidemount Diver, where you will learn additional skills that are specific to tec diving in sidemount like switching deco cylinders and staging.
Gear - Although the gear is the same, divers who are enrolled in an introductory tech class (Intro Tech, Sidemount, or CCR Air Diluent) will notice fundamental differences in the configuration. Instead of having 2 second stages per cylinder, they are split into two with each stage having a separate first. The gas planning process becomes more detailed and the harnesses have more chrome.
Nowadays diving sidemount became popular even in open water as you get more streamlined than having a tank on your back, it is not hurting your back, and you can get a lot of fun as it is extremely comfortable to dive sidemount.
Technical diving is on the rise and Girls That Scuba HQ was quick to notice it! There were many questions to be answered and nerves to overcome so we decided to seek out Theresia, an Asian tech instructor. She is currently working at Blue Marlin Gili T, Lombok. She provided an introduction course in twin sets, and allowed us to dive into technical diving. Here's her lesson:
Sidemount diving has become very popular in open water. It is more comfortable than having a tank on the back and allows you to have more fun.
To begin a technical diving course, you must have completed the following prerequisites: a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certificate or equivalent, a PADI Enriched Air Diver certificate or equivalent, and a PADI Deep Diver certificate or proof of at least 10 dives to 30 metres/100 feet.
According to experts, approximately 40% of technical divers enroll in additional education and training programs. This yields a reasonable estimate of approximately 160,000 active technical divers worldwide.
- Increased Bottom Time A Closed Circuit diver is not concerned with running out of gas because they are only limited by decompression. This can also be reduced by selecting an oxygen partial pressure that provides the diver with virtually limitless bottom times in 60 feet or less of water.