If you’re interested in technical diving, but don’t yet qualify for the PADI Tec 50 course or the PADI Tec 45 course, you may want to consider enrolling in the PADI Tec 40 course. The latter is the first subdivision of the entire PADI Tec Deep Diver course and consists of the first four dives. From the moment you have the chance to do one of these confined water dives (such as in a pool), many divers begin Tec 40 courses during the winter months, ready to continue in open water with the arrival of spring.

You will learn how to:

• Use decompression software and dive computer to plan and decompression dives with no more than 10 minutes of total decompression and no deeper than 40 meters/130 feet.
• Use a single cylinder with a decompression gas containing more than 50% oxygen (EANx50) to increase the safety margins required during the decompression dive.

From the moment it is part of the course, your PADI Tec 40 course training is credited to you for PADI Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses.

The Diving Equipment You’ll Use

You will use the diving equipment for recreational diving, with a few small additions to improve your skills in dealing with the conditions required by technical diving.

The Learning Materials You Will Need

You will use the Tec Manual, which introduces you to:
• Technical diving terminology
• Emergency procedures
• Use of the phase tank and the decompression tank
• Gas planning
Prerequisites

You:

• Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Deep Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Have a minimum of 30 certified dives, of which at least:
  o 10 dives must be made with enriched air deeper than 18 meters.
• Possess a medical certificate signed by your doctor

The Tec 45 course picks up where the Tec 40 course ends and takes your training as a technical diver to the next level and even deeper. It is the second sub-course of the entire PADI Tec Diver course.

What you will learn

• The skills and equipment and planning required to dive to a maximum depth of 45 meters.
• The knowledge to plan and execute single, repetitive decompression dives using a phase tank containing EANx, or oxygen, to accelerate or increase safety margins during decompression stops.
• There should be no time limitation regarding the total amount of decompression
• Prepare the diver and know how to respond to the foreseeable emergencies of technical diving
• Master the basic techniques and procedures needed by moving to greater depths during technical dives

The Diving Equipment to Use

You will use basic equipment for technical diving

The Teaching Materials You Need

You will use the Tec Manual, which introduces you to

• Technical diving terminology
• Emergency procedures
• Use of the phase tank and the decompression tank
• Gas planning

Prerequisites

You

• Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Rescue Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Deep Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Tec 40 (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Have a minimum of 50 logged dives, of which at least:
  – 12 dives must have been made with nitrox-enriched air and deeper than 18 meters.
  – 6 dives (with or without EANx) made to a depth greater than 30 meters.
• Be at least 18 years old
• Possess a medical certificate signed by a doctor

The Tec 50 course completes your training as a technical diver at an entry-level level, pushing you through the limitations of recreational diving.

What you’ll learn

During the Tec 50 course, you:

• Carry out technical dives with mandatory decompression up to a depth of 50 meters.
• Use enriched air, nitrox and/or oxygen for decompression.
• Use decompression software to create custom dive plans and plan your dives
• Enables you to perform technical dives with decompression independently

The Diving Equipment You’ll Use

Use of technical diving equipment

The Learning Materials You’ll Need

The Tec Manual, which introduces you to technical diving terminology, emergency procedures, phase and decompression tank usage, and gas planning.

Prerequisites

You:

• Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Rescue Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Tec 45 Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Have a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which at least:
• 20 dives must be enriched air dives
• 25 dives must be deeper than 18 meters
• At least 20 dives must be deeper than 30 meters
• Be at least 18 years old
• Possess a medical certificate signed by your doctor.

This course introduces the diver to the advantages of trimix and divers are qualified to perform multiple leg decompression dives using EANx and oxygen for accelerated decompression, and any trimix contains a percentage of oxygen with a percentage of 18% or more.

They can dive to a maximum depth of 65 meters.

What you’ll learn

The PADI Tec Trimix 65 course aims to increase the depth limit for technical divers who are already trained and qualified to use air, enriched air and oxygen for technical dives over 50 meters deep, with decompression.
This course is for divers who hold the Tec 50 certification (or those who hold an equivalent certification from another diving organization). The course increases your depth limit skills by training you in the use of trimix (a mixture of helium, oxygen and nitrogen).

You will be able to:

• Plan and perform at least five decompression dives using various trimix mixtures
• Use decompression programs to create custom dive charts and programs
• You will make training dives to a depth of 65 meters

The diving equipment you use

• Double cylinders (minimum 12 litres each, preferably larger) with separate taps
• Regulators, main and secondary, one with a hose of about two meters, for sharing the gas, and one with an underwater pressure gauge
• Phase/decompression cylinders, with regulator, pressure gauge, equipped for fastening and appropriately labeled/marked. Two are required per diver
• Spare cylinders for decompression, as appropriate and required by the environment
• BCD and harness – a reserve buoyancy control system (double bag BCD or dry suit, if usable with the ballast and equipment worn) is required.
• Depth gauge/computer and depth gauge/backup computer
• A time-counting tool, and another backup
• TRIMIX decompression information (TRIMIX tables/computers), and another backup system for decompression information
• Wetsuit appropriate to the environment and duration of the dive. (If students will be using drysuits, they must have been trained in or have experience of recreational and technical diving before using them for training or diving in TRIMIX.)
• Inflating the drysuit with argon or other method, as needed (do not inflate the drysuit with trimix)
• Ballast system (if necessary)
• Jon line (required if currents are present)
• Inflatable Signal Tube
• Spool
• Lifting flask (bright yellow or as required by local practices)
• Spear knife/cutting tool and a spare slate, a spare mask (optional)
• Compass, torches (optional)
• Power kit (if you decompress into current)

The learning materials you need

The Tec Trimix Diver manual, table for calculating decompression stops.

Topics covered include:

• Depth Scopes for Diving with Trimix
• Exposure Planning
• Choice of trimix
• Argon inflation systems
• Handle three or four decompression cylinders
• Decompression Models
• Emergency Procedures
• Full-face masks and multi-gas computers.

Prerequisites

You

• Be a PADI Rescue Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization and provide proof that CPR and first aid training has been completed within the last two years).
• Be certified as a Tec 50 diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be at least 18 years old
• Possess at least 100 logged dives
• Possess a medical certificate signed by your doctor.

The PADI Tec Trimix Diver course takes you to the limits of deep technical diving, opening the door to pristine dive sites that few, if any, divers have ever visited.

What you will learn

The PADI Tec Trimix Diver course aims to increase the depth limit of technical divers already trained and qualified to use air, enriched air and oxygen for technical dives over 50 meters, with decompression. Scuba diving with trimix is at the extremes of technical diving – the maximum depth achievable with this technology has yet to be established.
The course is for Tec 50 or Tec Trimix 65 divers (or those who hold an equivalent certification from another diving organization). The course increases depth limit skills by training you in the use of trimix (a mixture of helium, oxygen and nitrogen).

Obtain training credits

You may earn training credits by taking the PADI Tec Trimix Diver course.

You will be able to:

• Plan and perform at least five decompression dives using various trimix mixtures
• Use decompression programs to create custom dive charts and programs
• You will make training dives at a depth of 75 meters

The diving equipment you use

• Double cylinders (minimum 12 litres each, preferably larger) with separate taps
• Regulators, main and secondary, one with a hose of about two meters, for sharing the gas, and one with an underwater pressure gauge
• Phase/decompression cylinders, with regulator, pressure gauge, equipped for fastening and appropriately labeled/marked. Two are required per diver
• Spare cylinders for decompression, as appropriate and required by the environment
• BCD and harness – a reserve buoyancy control system (double bag BCD or dry suit, if usable with the ballast and equipment worn) is required.
• Depth gauge/computer and depth gauge/backup computer
• A time-counting tool, and another backup
• TRIMIX decompression information (TRIMIX tables/computers), and another backup system for decompression information
• Wetsuit appropriate to the environment and duration of the dive. (If students will be using drysuits, they must have been trained in or have experience of recreational and technical diving before using them for training or diving in TRIMIX.)
• Inflating the drysuit with argon or other method, as needed (do not inflate the drysuit with trimix)
• Ballast system (if necessary)
• Jon line (required if currents are present)
• Inflatable Signal Tube
• Spool
• Lifting flask (bright yellow or as required by local practices)
• Underwater knife/cutting tool and a spare slate, a spare mask
• Compass, torches
• Power kit (if you decompress into current)

The learning materials you need

The Tec Trimix Diver crewpak includes all the materials required for the Tec Trimix program: manual, decompression stop calculation chart, Trimix sticker and emergency procedure board.

Topics covered include:

• Depth Scopes for Diving with Trimix
• Exposure Planning
• Choice of trimix
• Argon inflation systems
• Handle three or four decompression cylinders
• Decompression Models
• Emergency Procedures
• Full-face masks and multi-gas computers

Prerequisites

You:

• Be a PADI Rescue Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization and provide proof that CPR and first aid training has been completed within the last two years).
• Be certified as a Tec 50 or Tec Trimix 65 diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another diving organization)
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have at least 150 certified dives
• Possess a medical certificate signed by your doctor

More and more people are diving using enriched air and as a result this means that the demand for enriched air refills is also growing.
Therefore, in order to meet the demand, there is a need for someone who is qualified to handle such refills. This is where the PADI Gas Blender course was born.

The latter can lead to one of these two certifications: PADI Gas Blender or PADI Trimix Blender.

What you’ll learn

The Gas Blender course will train you to become a qualified gas blender, allowing you to provide gas blends to appropriately certified users.
You will learn about the physical properties of oxygen, the risks associated with it, the requirements for its use, and the notions necessary for cleaning equipment. To conclude, you will learn the five methods of obtaining the right enriched air mixture and the various methods used to obtain the correct helium mixtures.

The Learning Materials You’ll Need

What are the four main types of oxygen? What is “clean” when it refers to oxygen? What are the five methods for mixing Enriched Air Nitrox? These questions and many more will be answered in the Gas Blender manual.
In the role of a gas mixer, you must have achieved the necessary confidence regarding the physical properties of oxygen, its various qualities of form and purity, the risks associated with it, and its special requirements for use. The Gas Blender Manual and its CD-ROM, in collaboration with your instructor, will help you familiarize yourself with the procedures and techniques necessary for gas mixing.

Prerequisites

You

• Hold a PADI Enriched Air Diver certification (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be at least 18 years old

The Tec Sidemount Diver Course

The Tec Sidemount offers the same benefits as the PADI Sidemount Diver course, but allows you to dive with 2 or more tanks, thus increasing the duration of your dives.

The Tec Sidemount Diver course is an excellent way to enter the world of technical diving, as the skills you learn will train you to handle different tanks on the same dive. To take advantage of the advantages offered by the “sidemount” configuration, also with regard to the transport of cylinders, you can combine what you learn in the Tec Sidemount Diver course with what you acquire with other “tec” courses with open circuits, or with certifications already achieved.

Prerequisites:

• Be certified PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, or hold qualifying certification from another educational organization
• Have logged at least 30 dives
• Be at least 18 years old
• PADI Enriched Air Diver certification recommended

If you are serious about becoming a technical instructor and joining the PADI Technical Instructor group,

the Tec Diver Instructor course is the best choice.

What you’ll learn

The PADI Tec Instructor course incorporates teaching philosophies and course objectives that directly relate to the demanding and challenging nature of technical diving training.
The PADI Tec Instructor course prepares candidates to conduct the Tec 40 course and directs them towards the philosophy, organization, practical considerations, promotion and all other aspects related to teaching the Tec 40 course.

What You Can Teach

As a Tec Instructor, you will be able to:

• Teach and certify students up to the Tec 40 course
• Assist Tec Deep Instructors during the entire Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses

The Diving Equipment You’ll Use

You will use technical diving equipment, which normally employs two to four/five regulators, a dive computer and some accessories.

The Teaching Material You Will Use

Products available for the Tec-Deep Instructor:

• Tec Deep Lesson Guides on CD-Rom (product no. 70838)
• Tec Deep Instructor Guide (Product No. 70407)
• Tec Deep Instructor Cue Cards (Product No. 60204)

Prerequisites

To enroll in this course, you must

• Be a refurbished PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (or a higher PADI Instructor)
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another dive organization)
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Instructor, or have successfully completed a PADI Enriched Air Instructor Training course.
• Be a PADI Deep Diver Specialty Instructor or have successfully completed a PADI Deep Diver Specialty Instructor Training course.
• Have a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which at least 20 dives must have been made with nitrox-enriched air, 25 dives must be deeper than 18 metres/60 feet, and at least 15 dives must be deeper than 30 metres/100 feet.

Note that the Tec 40 is not required. If you are not certified as a Tec 40 Diver (or hold an equivalent certification from another diving organization), in that case your Tec 40 Instructor training course must include the entire Tec 40 Diver course.

If you are serious about becoming a technical instructor and joining the PADI group of technical instructors, the Tec Deep Diver Instructor course is the best choice.

The Fun Aspect

Teach others how to explore the mysteries of the deep.

What you’ll learn

The PADI Tec Deep Instructor course incorporates instructional philosophies and course objectives that directly relate to the challenging and demanding nature of technical diving training. The Tec Deep Instructor course prepares candidates in conducting the Tec Deep Diver course and directs them towards the philosophy, organization, practical considerations, promotion and all other aspects related to teaching the Tec Deep Diver course.

What You Can Teach

As a Tec Deep Instructor, you will be able to:

– Conduct the Discover Tec experience
– Teach the Tec 40 course
– Teach the Tec 45 course
– Teach the Tec 50 course

The Diving Equipment You’ll Use

You will use technical diving equipment, which normally employs two to four/five regulators, a dive computer and some accessories.

The Learning Materials You’ll Need

Products available for the Tec-Deep Instructor course:

• Tec Deep Lesson Guides on CD-Rom (product no. 70838)
• Tec Deep Instructor Guide (Product No. 70407)
• Tec Deep Instructor Cue Cards (Product No. 60204)

Prerequisites

To enroll in this course, you must:

• Be a refurbished PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (or a higher PADI Instructor)
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Instructor, or have successfully completed a PADI Enriched Air Instructor Training course.
• Be a PADI Deep Diver Specialty Instructor or have successfully completed a PADI Deep Diver Specialty Instructor Training course.
• Have a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which at least 20 dives must have been made with nitrox-enriched air, 25 dives must be deeper than 18 metres/60 feet, and at least 15 dives must be deeper than 30 metres/100 feet.

Please note that the PADI Tec Deep Diver certification is not required. If you are not certified as a Tec Deep Diver (or equivalent), then your Tec Deep Instructor training course will need to include the entire Tec Deep Diver course.

Have you never been certified as a gas mixer but wish to teach others how to do so? If so, the Gas Blender Instructor course is for you.

The Gas Blender Instructor course, among the programs available, is one of the most popular and comprehensive. It incorporates didactic philosophies and goals that derive directly from the specific nature of gas blending.

The fun aspect

Teach others to mix gases such as Nitrox-enriched air.

What you learn

You will learn the principles and procedures of cleaning for oxygen, maintenance for oxygen, and oxygen-compatibility with air. You will also learn how to conduct the PADI Gas Blender course.

What You Can Teach

Teach the PADI Gas Blender Course

The diving equipment you use

Use basic technical diving equipment, which usually uses up to four or five regulators, a dive computer, some accessories and, most likely, an underwater device.

The learning materials you need

The products available for the Gas Blender Instructor course:

• The Gas Blender Instructor Guide CD-Rom (product no. 70850
• The Gas Blender Instructor Guide (product no. 70411)

Prerequisites

• Be at least a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Instructor