Tech 1

UTD’s Technical Diver program consists of Technical Diver 1 and Technical Diver 2. This building block method introduces the diver to deeper depths and stage decompression in a slow progression by first working on bottom skills, then ascent skills, then mid-water skills. At the completion of these two classes, divers are trained and qualified to a depth of 160’/48m breathing helitrox 25/25 and 21/35 and using a single stage of EAN50 or 100% oxygen for decompression.

In the Technical Diver progression, the Technical Diver 1 (Tech 1) course is taught in double cylinders with backgas of Nitrox 32% (0-100’) or helitrox 25/25 (80-130’) with a single decompression bottle (100% O2) for accelerated decompression. The diver will be entering mandatory decompression obligations in this class. This allows the diver to conduct his own technical dives in the 130’ range with a single decompression bottle before entering the more demanding Technical 2 course where a stage bottle is added, in addition to the deco bottle and deeper depths.

Tech 1 training focuses on the diver’s bottom skills, expanding on the Intro to Tech skills, and is designed to cultivate, integrate and test these skills, which are essential for safe technical diving, while also adding reel and line work to the diver’s toolbox.