Description

Thinking of going technical? Then this is the class for you!

The TDI Intro to Tech Course is an introductory course that expands on recreational training by improving dive planning methods, in-water skills, and streamlining existing gear configurations in a controlled environment. By the time you finish this course the diver will be able to use multiple finning techniques designed to avoid silting; deploy a DSMB/lift bag either alone, or as part of a dive buddy team; perform air share and buddy breathing techniques, with and without a mask; and much, much more.

The skills obtained in this course will provide a solid foundation as you move deeper into the available technical training, going to 150 feet and beyond.

This course is best performed over a two day period, however it can be managed in one, depending on the skill level of the candidate diver.

Who this course is for:

• Certified open water scuba diver who wants to expand diver knowledge
• Certified open water scuba diver who is considering technical training
• Certified technical diver who is seeking a refresher course

Course prerequisites:

• Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
• Minimum certification: SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent
• Proof of 25 logged open water dives

What you can expect to learn:

• In-depth dive planning, advanced buoyancy control, gas management, situational awareness, proper trim, gear configuration and selection, deployment of SMB/lift bag, advanced finning techniques for movement forward, backward, and turning, and much more.

TDI Intro to Tech minimum requirements:

• Execute proper gear selection and preparation as well as buddy gas matching
• Minimum of six (6) dives to complete this course (3 training and practice – 3 testing and certification)
• Mastery of S.T.A.R.T, trim, finning techniques, body positioning, and diver skills
• Overall demonstration of mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution

Required Skill Performance and Graduation Requirements

Students are required to successfully complete the following skills:

Land drills:

1. Selection and preparation of equipment.
2. Conduct team-oriented skills (buddy checks) for lift bag deployment.
3. Gas matching among buddy teams.
4. Demonstrate familiarity with basic hand signals.
5. Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning with limits based on the team and personal gas consumption.

Pre-dive drills:

1. Use S.T.A.R.T. before every dive.
2. Stress analysis and mitigation. * START is S-drill (OOA drill and Bubble Check), Team (buddy equipment checks), Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater),  Tables (depth, duration, waypoints, and schedule).

In-water drills:

1. Weight check.
2. Demonstrate adequate buoyancy control (ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or Feet).
3. Demonstrate adequate trim (ability to maintain horizontal during the descent, bottom and ascent portion of the dive).
4. Demonstrate no-silting propulsion techniques: frog kick, modified frog kick, modified flutter kick, backwards kick.
5. Demonstrate the ability to perform the following exercises while maintaining trim and buoyancy in the water column:
   1. Regulator exchange.
   2. Regulator recovery.
   3. Mask partial flood and clear with minimal air loss.
   4. Mask removal and clear with minimal air loss
6. Demonstrate the ability to perform a safety drill (S-drill) while maintaining trim and buoyancy in the water column.
7. Demonstrate the ability to perform a valve drill while maintaining trim and buoyancy in the water column (if double cylinders are being used).
8. Demonstrate the ability to deploy a surface marker buoy or lift bag while maintaining trim and buoyancy in the water column.
9. Show good situational awareness