What TDI Intro to Tech is
TDI Intro to Tech is an introductory technical diving course for divers who want to try technical equipment and learn to dive more precisely, but have not yet started decompression diving. The course is strictly no-decompression: all dives stay within your current certification and no deeper than 23 metres.
It is a good way to find out whether technical diving is for you. The course prepares you directly for the TDI Advanced Nitrox and TDI Decompression Procedures courses.
What you learn
- Choose and prepare technical equipment: one or two cylinders, regulators, wing and harness, reel and surface marker buoy (SMB). Bring only what you need and stow everything neatly.
- Hold neutral buoyancy without moving your hands or feet, and stay horizontal (in trim) on the descent, at the bottom and on the ascent.
- Swim without stirring up silt: frog kick, modified frog kick, modified flutter kick and back kick.
- Work out your gas consumption (SAC) and minimum gas reserve, and match gas with your buddy.
- Run the START check before every dive and assess stress in yourself and your buddy.
How the course runs
TDI sets at least 6 hours of theory and briefings: pressure, ascent and descent rates, overheating and hypothermia, psychological factors, dive planning with tables and computers, and what to do if you lose your gas.
Then come at least three open-water dives. In them you practise the skills while holding trim and buoyancy: regulator exchange and recovery, mask clearing and removal, the S-drill (air-sharing drill and bubble check), a valve drill if you dive with double cylinders, and deploying a surface marker buoy.
What comes next
After the course you can dive in a technical configuration in conditions similar to your training. The next steps are TDI Advanced Nitrox, where you learn to use mixes up to 100% oxygen, and TDI Decompression Procedures, where you start planned decompression dives.
Frequently asked questions
Are there decompression dives in this course?
No. TDI Intro to Tech is a no-decompression course. Dives stay within your current certification and no deeper than 23 m.
Can I dive on nitrox?
Yes, if you are a certified nitrox diver and the mix is within your certification.
Is the course right for me if I am not sure I want to be a tec diver?
Yes, that is what it is for. You get to know technical equipment and procedures without decompression dives and can then decide whether to continue technical training.
How long does the course take?
At least 6 hours of theory and at least three open-water dives. We agree the exact schedule with you.