PADI Tec Basics Course Overview
The PADI Tec Basics course is a bridge from recreational to technical diving, and a great place to start if you want to learn technical diving. It exposes recreational divers to tec diving and entry level tec diving skills and equips them with the information they need to decide whether or not to accept the additional risk and commitment that PADI Tec courses demand. The PADI Tec Basics course runs within recreational limits, using segments from PADI Tec 40 Dives 1 and 2. The course allows PADI Tec Deep Instructors to have students practice fundamental tec skills before enrolling in the PADI Tec 40 program. The course also recognizes students who choose not to continue their technical training.
The PADI Tec Basics course clearly informs divers that the PADI TecRec program address technical diving apart from mainstream recreational diving. These two general diving modes are defined:
What is Recreational?
Recreational scuba diving is no stop diving with air or enriched air nitrox to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet, and during penetration dives, within the natural light zone and no more than a total linear distance of 40 metres/130 feet from the surface. It is primarily open‐circuit diving, but includes recreational eCCR and eSCR rebreathers (Type R).
What is Technical?
Technical scuba diving is diving other than commercial or research diving that takes divers beyond recreational limits. It is further defined as and includes one or more of the following: diving beyond 40 metres/130 feet, required stage decompression, diving in an overhead environment beyond 40 linear metres/130 linear feet from the surface, accelerated decompression, and the use of variable gas mixtures (other than the automatic variation of a Type R rebreather) during a dive.
Technical diving uses extensive methodologies, technologies and training to manage added risks associated with it. Typically, this means using complex or highly specialized equipment in situations where direct access to the surface is inaccessible due to a ceiling imposed by decompression or by a physical barrier such as found inside cave or wreck diving environments.
Why Learn Technical Diving?
Divers usually tec dive for the challenge and fun rather than as a profession, so it is a recreation (hence the name “TecRec” for these programs). However, to avoid confusion regarding the limits and scopes, tec diving is not called “recreational diving.” The courses in the PADI TecRec program directly address the more demanding and challenging nature of technical diving, which involves more hazards and inherent risks than recreational diving.
All the TecRec CCR courses are built upon mainstream instructional system design principles for which PADI courses are known.
Technical diving is not for everyone. It should not be presented as a goal for all divers to aspire to. Rather, it is for a growing but smaller segment of divers who are looking for challenge, and who are willing to accept the costs, risks, time commitment, training and physical fitness requirements necessary. In the face of these, it may be perfectly appropriate to remind those who may not be suited to TecRec that they can enjoy a lifetime of novel adventures without ever leaving recreational limits.
Minimum Instructor Requirements
PADI Tec Instructor. If the program is conducted in sidemount configuration, the instructor teaching the program must hold a suitable sidemount instructor certification.
A teaching status PADI Tec Instructor can forward a PADI Specialty Instructor Application to the local area office for processing.
1. PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or qualifying certification. PADI Rescue Diver is recommended.
Student Equipment Requirements
1. Twin cylinders with dual manifold and isolator or independent cylinders in a sidemount configuration
2. Primary and secondary regulators – primary regulator must have seven foot/two meter hose for air sharing.
3. SPG. In sidemount configuration both regulators must have SPGs.
4. Harness with shoulder and hip D‐rings (backmount or sidemount).
5. BCD – wings
6. Stage/deco cylinder with attachment hardware, a single second stage regulator, and SPG. Note: It is recommended that each diver have and use individual stage/deco cylinders. However, it is acceptable for students to practice required skills with a shared cylinder. All cylinders must be filled with air only, simulating higher oxygen content as needed for skill development.
7. Dive computer
8. Appropriate exposure suit
9. Weight System, if required to offset buoyancy created by equipment and exposure protection.
10. Reel or spool
11. Knife/cutting device
14. Lift bag or DSMB
Required Student Materials
PADI Tec Deep Diver Manual
Tec 40 Knowledge Reviews 1 and 2
Tec 40 Handouts 1 through to 5
15 years of age
30 metres/100 feet
Confined Water – 2 dives
Open Water – 2 dives
Student must complete Tec 40 Knowledge Development One and Two as outlined in the PADI Tec Diver Course Instructor Guide including Knowledge Reviews for each section. This may be done as prestudy. It is recommended that instructors hold one classroom session to review missed questions on Knowledge Reviews and answer any other questions students have.
Instructors conduct Practical Application One as outlined in the PADI Tec Diver Course Instructor Guide. Practical Application Two must be conducted prior to Training Dive Two in confined water.
Conduct the Tec 40 dive skills outlined in the PADI Tec Diver Course Instructor Guide in two dives as shown below. Have students calculate a turn pressure based on thirds and write it on their slate. Have students use the Equipment Check List slate. It is recommended students also list the skills for each dive on their slate.
Since the PADI Tec Basics Distinctive Specialty is actually a portion of the PADI Tec 40 course, Tec Basics may credit toward this certification. Tec Basics divers should be informed that if they choose to move up to PADI Tec 40, their instructor may request a repeat of some confined water sessions and practical application sessions, depending on the interval between Tec Basics certification and the start of the PADI Tec 40 course. Tec 40 Training Dive One, Practical Applications One and Two and Knowledge Development One and Two may be credited towards the PADI Tec 40 Diver if all performance requirements have been met. Credit towards Tec 40 Diver is valid for 12 months from the completion of the Tec Basics Distinctive Specialty.
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