Technical diving is defined as diving that takes divers beyond recreational diving limits (other than commercial or research diving). It is further defined as including one or more of the following:
- diving beyond 40 metres
- required decompression
- diving in overhead environments beyond 40 linear metres of the surgace
- accelerated decompression
- use of variable gas mixtures during the dive.
Technical scuba diving uses extensive methodologies, technologies and training to manage the additional risks.
Technical Diving Courses
At Purple Turtle Diving, we offer tec courses from two well-established agencies:
- TDI – Technical Diving International, is the largest technical diving agency in the world and is a pioneer in the technical diving realm
- PADI TecRec- this is the technical arm of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), which is the largest diving training agency in the world.
The technical (tec or tech) diving courses we offer at Purple Turtle Diving are shown below. Please click on the link in the course name below for full information.
- PADI Discover Tec – This is an introductory pool session allowing you to try technical diving equipment in a relaxed environment
- TDI Intro To Tec – This course expands on your recreational training by improving dive planning methods, in-water skills, and streamlining existing gear configurations in a controlled and fun learning environment.
- PADI Tec 40 – This course builds your foundations as a technical diver in terms of equipment, thinking like a tec diver, understanding the risks and responsibilities, planning, team diving, techniques and procedures, as well as key skills required for tec diving
- TDI Advanced Nitrox – This course follows on from the Nitrox course, enabling divers to dive with enriched air mixes up to 100% oxygen
- TDI Decompression Procedures – This course prepares divers for staged decompression diving to a maximum depth of 45m. Combined with the TDI Advanced Nitrox course, this builds a strong and solid foundation for technical diving.
- PADI Tec 45 – This course further expands your knowledge and skills from the Tec 40 course and introduces accelerated decompression with one decompression gas
- PADI Tec 50 – This course continues to build on your knowledge and skills from the Tec 45 course and teaches you to dive with up to two decompression gases
- PADI Tec Trimix 65 – This course builds on the PADI Tec 50 and introduces diving with helium to enable divers to extend their depth beyond 50m to a maxiumum of 65m.
- PADI Tec Trimix – This course further builds on the PADI Tec Trimix 65 course to introduce hypoxic trimix mixes, extending the divers depth to beyond 65m.
Fitness to dive
Please note that for all in water training, you will need to complete the PADI Medical Form. If you answer “Yes” to any question on page 1 of this form, you will need to obtain and bring a copy of a physician’s approval to dive, which is found on page 2 of the form. Further information for the physician is found from page 3 onwards.
If you have any questions contact your local dive centre or your General Practitioner, who should be able to provide some advice or guidance. Should you wish to see a diving specialist doctor, your dive centre should be able to recommend one. We recommend Mark Downs, whose details can be found at http://www.scuba4fun.org.uk/index.html
Course costs
Unless otherwise stated on the course page, course costs include all materials required for the course, tank and weight hire, gas fills, pool entrance fees and certification fees. Not included (where applicable) are any open water dive site entrance fees, overnight accommodation or boat fees.
Booking courses
Please note that these courses can all be organised to your requirements, or you can book on to scheduled courses, details of which are on our calendar page. Please email us at info@purpleturtlediving.com if you would like us to organise a course or if you require any further information.
A non-refundable deposit of at least 50% of the course fee is required to secure your place on a course, with the full course cost payable 7 days prior to commencement of the course. If adequate notice is provided, participants may be able to change to another date if required at no or minimal cost.
