What is ‘Technical Diving’?
Introduction
Technical diving is a type of recreational diving that exceeds the limits imposed on depth and immersion time for recreational diving. Technical divers must be competent to make decisions and deal with problems independently, as they often work in isolation from other divers. It requires more extensive breath gas supplies, including extra gas cylinders and systems for their storage and transportation, often carried by support divers. A minimum level of fitness is required, including adequate swimming endurance.
A high level of expertise in diving skills and navigation is required in both overhead environments and open water.
Technical diving is a type of recreational diving that exceeds the limits imposed on depth and immersion time for recreational diving
Technical diving is a type of recreational diving that exceeds the limits imposed on depth and immersion time for recreational diving. Technical diving requires more extensive breath gas supplies, including extra gas cylinders and systems for their storage and transportation, often carried by support divers. These support divers are often referred to as “boilers” or “breathing gas blenders”, because they provide re-breathers for the main divers.
Technical diving can be Hazardous
This type of diving is not for everyone. You must be prepared to make decisions and deal with problems independently, have a high level of expertise in diving skills and navigation and have a high level of fitness.
To dive technical routes you will need to have the right equipment, including a suitable mix of gases to allow decompression stops at deeper depths for example.
Technical divers must be competent to make decisions and deal with problems independently, as they often work in isolation from other divers
If you’re planning on doing technical diving, you should be able to make decisions and deal with problems independently. It’s important that you don’t rely on your dive buddy or other divers to help resolve any issues that may arise while diving. It’s also vital that you take into consideration the safety of yourself and others when making decisions in the water.
Technical divers must have a high level of competence in all aspects of their diving so they can work safely without supervision from an instructor or guide.
It requires more extensive breath gas supplies, including extra gas cylinders and systems for their storage and transportation, often carried by support divers
As you might imagine, technical diving requires more extensive breath gas supplies than recreational diving. These include extra gas cylinders and systems for their storage and transportation, often carried by support divers. The additional weight of this equipment needs to be borne by one or more people who are not directly involved in the actual dive itself. Typically, these support divers will already have been trained in first aid and rescue techniques (similar to how scuba instructors are) so that they can effectively help if a situation arises where it is necessary to do so. In addition, many technical divers also carry special gear such as rebreathers (which recycle air breathed out by the diver), closed circuit rebreathers (which filter out contaminants from the breathing loop), or surface-supplied air tanks which allow them greater freedom of movement underwater than other types of equipment used for scuba diving allows
A minimum level of fitness is required, including adequate swimming endurance
When we say that a minimum level of fitness is required for technical diving, this primarily refers to swimming endurance. A good level of swimming endurance is essential for the safety and health of you and your buddy. It also indicates whether or not you can complete long swims in open water, as well as overhead environments such as caves.
The ability to swim at a fast pace is important because it allows you quickly get into position in an emergency situation (e.g., if you were suddenly separated from your buddy). The faster pace would also allow you to catch up with a fast-moving current if necessary.
A high level of expertise in diving skills and navigation is required in both overhead environments and open water
In addition, technical divers must be proficient in the following areas:
- A minimum level of fitness is required, including adequate swimming endurance and strength to carry out a planned dive profile.
- A high level of expertise in diving skills and navigation is required in both overhead environments and open water. This includes an ability to plan dives and manage decompression within limits set by the dive tables for that particular gas mixture. Technical divers must also be competent to make decisions and deal with problems independently when they are working in isolation from other divers.
Technical divers use special equipment and training to dive beyond the limits of recreational diving
Technical divers use special equipment and training to dive beyond the limits of recreational diving. They have a high level of expertise in a range of diving skills, including gas management, decompression theory and procedures, emergency procedures, equipment configuration checks and independent problem solving.
Technical diving requires a higher level of diver training than is necessary for recreational scuba diving or snorkelling as technical divers are expected to be competent in all aspects of their own personal safety at all times.
Conclusion
So, what is technical diving? It’s diving beyond the limits of recreational diving. It requires more extensive training and equipment, but it can be a lot of fun!