r/techdiving

I did a tech liveaboard in the remote past. It was my first tech trip after completing advanced nitrox and deco procedures. I was by myself this trip and paired up with a couple people who could dive to the same depth I could with 1 deco gas. A couple other folks on the trip could use 2 deco gases and just finished their normoxic trimix course at the resort near where we departed.

We went to a shallow reef for a check dive, and immediately I know my gear is fucked; I hadn't made adjustments from my cold water diving at home to the warm we were in. I felt clumsy in the water and that my stuff would fall off me and make me tip over at any moment. I explain to my buddies in wetnotes that I need to make some changes, and thumb the dive, feeling defeated. The crew was a bit surprised we exited the water so quickly, confirming that I was a fuck up.

To my surprise as soon as they got on the boat, both of my buddies said they needed to make some adjustments too. Moreover while I was still adjusting my gear before going back in the water, the more advanced divers came onboard, and said they had to make some adjustments too. These guys had just spent a week learning to dive normoxic trimix in the same conditions that we were currently in, and even they needed to mess with their weights and straps, the same way I needed to.

The crew was quite surprised, and even had to delay lunch because basically all the divers needed to hop back in, after messing with their gear.

After I made my changes, and went back in for a second check dive my gear felt like it was a part of me, it was honestly excellent, and I think every other diver felt the same way. I was embarrassed to call the dive at first, I didn't wanna mess up the entire liveaboard's schedule but basically everyone benefitted from ending the dive early, even the most advanced guys on the boat (who I think actually chose to exit the water independent of us).

Take your check dive seriously. Make the adjustments then, it'll be a lot easier than making the adjustments later, or worse having a problem later. Don't be afraid to end the dive early, if you know something is wrong, you might not be the only one. Don't worry about messing up the boat's schedule. You can have lunch later.

Many tech liveabords don't even offer helium for OC divers because it's so hard to source, and expensive. This leaves OC divers with only deep air for 40-55 meter dives.

When I took ANDP I didn't know that it's considered a legacy course, and that TDI guidelines actually don't allow/recommend deep air just on gas density basis.

For myself, I'll do deep air for warm water dives, but for cold I really think you need trimix of you're going deep.

Edit: this has actually been a really great discussion, with most people writing respectful, insightful comments. I think we can all agree deep trimix is safer than deep air, a lot of the discussion may be around at what point do you draw the line e.g. someone said 40 meters, which is still a point where you would do a technical dive, but I know there are people that would only dive past 33 meter with trimix, and above it with nitrox. I personally feel some narcosis at 25 meters. I'm curious if people would argue that I need helium below 25 m on that basis. My concern is mostly around density.

Hi there,

as per r/techdiving rules I tried to refer to the wiki- it seems inacessible for the moment (already let the mods know)

I'm first a freediver, second scuba diver for UW photography and my fiance already has a drysuit and is beginning to go into techdiving, albeit he has no techdiving equipment yet but is already making lists for the bigger things (KISS rebreather ?) and likely looking to start buying that next year.

his birthday is coming up and we mostly gift practical things, I was hoping to see if there is price-wise and/or size-wise smaller equipment that I could gift him?

we both do UW photography, he's even specialised in macro videography, has an underwater scooter and is icediving certified

Maybe some of you have recommendations for UW photo/video or equipment that made you feel like "aww yiss, best money ever spent" in the range of max 400-500 USD? Lower pricetags are absolutely welcome :D

We are located in Europe/Switzerland, birthday is in 1 1/2 months so I'm trying to get ahead of possible shipping delays

Technical diver about to turn 40. Due to some unique but also tragic events I have the opportunity to move and live anywhere in the US. I’m evaluating multiple locations in Florida. Current not cave certified but I would like to be eventually but up to this point I’ve been and ocean diver. Most of my diving has been out of NC. I love the diving but I’m tired of getting blown out every other weekend. If you were having a midlife crisis and had the means to move anywhere in Florida what location would you pick to optimize accessibility to the most technical dive sites?