Transitioning from recreational to technical diving can be daunting, and it’s not always easy to know where to start. A course named Intro to Tech sounds like a logical way to start, right? But do you even need a TDI Intro to Tech, or could you just start with a combination like Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures or Helitrox? Here is a closer look.
What is the TDI Intro to Tech?
The TDI Intro to Tech more or less does what it says on the tin. The course introduces certified divers to technical diving equipment, advanced buoyancy control techniques, propulsion techniques and gas management. You’ll also learn more about concepts like situational awareness and team diving while being self-sufficient.
Think of it as a taste of tech diving over the course of three or more dives. The course is a great way to help you decide if taking your diving in this direction is right for you.
Who Should Consider an Intro to Tech?
Have you ever dived a twinset/doubles before?
If not, but you’re considering taking the Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures/Helitrox courses, then the Intro to Tech gives you the time and space to get your head around the configuration.
During the Intro, there is no pressure to reach a certain depth. Instead, there is a depth limit of 23 metres so that we can spend plenty of time building foundational skills.
There is no pressure to introduce a stage or deco tank just yet. Instead, we spend the whole time improving your stability and control underwater.
The Intro to Tech lets you focus on getting comfortable in twinsets/doubles before taking the next step.
How Could You Benefit from Taking an Intro to Tech Course?
There are plenty of benefits any diver could take from an Intro to Tech course, even if you’re not (yet) planning to become a technical diver.
Here are five reasons to take an Intro to Tech:
- Become a better diver: working on foundational skills improves your overall diving skills, grows your confidence underwater and helps you enjoy your dives more. You’ll spend less time thinking about how to manage your equipment or buoyancy and more time enjoying the things you see.
Even if you never dive a twinset again or never take your tech diving journey any further, you’ll benefit from this course.
- Learn to stop underwater: this may sound strange, but very few divers learn how to stop and hold a position underwater. Stopping may sound basic but try it, and you might just find that you’re moving forward without really wanting to. On an Intro to Tech, we spend a lot of time working on positioning, balance and control to get you ready for more complex skills.
After all, if you can’t hold your position to watch your instructor demonstrate some of the more complex skills, how can you expect to perform them? And even if you’re not planning to move on to more complex skills, consider photography. Your pictures will turn out better if your hands are steadier. And your hands will be steadier if you’re more stable in the water.
- Develop a repertoire of propulsion techniques: think of different propulsion techniques as tools in a toolbox. You wouldn’t use an Allen key to tighten a hose, would you? So why use a standard frog kick when you want to approach a marine creature slowly? Why use your hands to push yourself away from a rock when you could fin backwards or do a helicopter turn?
Assuming you continue your tech diving journey, precision propulsion becomes critical in smaller spaces or around fragile elements like cave decorations. In deep ocean diving, effective finning can make the difference between dealing with a current easily or getting thrown off-plan.
Even if you already started working on some of those kicks, spending a few days with a professional can help you finetune your skills.
- Discover a type of diving beyond basic training: when you first learn to dive, the progression seems to be pretty straightforward. You become an open water diver then do your advanced course and rescue training. Maybe you complete a couple of speciality courses as well as fun dives. What’s next? A divemaster course is a good choice if you’re keen to move into the professional ranks.
But if a career in diving isn’t what you’re looking for, technical diving offers endless options for development and discovery.
- Learn about different gear options: at its most basic, an Intro to Tech is a great course to learn about diving twinsets/doubles. Which first stage connects to what, and what will closing one valve do? How is managing your buoyancy different with two tanks or more? What does redundancy mean, and when is your gear becoming cluttered?
Discussing these options is part of the Intro to Tech and even the run-up to your course. Understanding them allows you to assemble your tech diving gear from a point of knowledge rather than just browsing websites and purchasing something that looks good. I can’t guarantee that your needs won’t change over time, but knowing more about gear will help you make better choices right from the start.
Why Not Jump This Stage and Start With Advanced Nitrox?
How Will You Start Your Tech Diving Journey?
There is no right or wrong way to start tech diving. Completing an Intro to Tech in twinsets is one way. You could also start with a Sidemount course which covers many similar concepts. You could even become a rebreather diver before taking foundational tech diving training.
The point is there are plenty of paths into this type of diving. An Intro to Tech is one of the better ones. If you’d like to find out more about this or other TDI courses, just drop us a line.