TecRec Blog

DSAT Technical Diving Division Hosted Conference

Sheraton Meadowlands

New Jersey, 30 March 2009

Synopsis: The DSAT TDD hosted a conference for TecRec Instructors, Instructor Trainers and invited guests at the Sheraton Meadowlands, New Jersey, 30 March 2009. The conference, hosted by Dr. Drew Richardson, DSAT TDD President and PADI President and COO, presented information to and sought opinions and direction from attendees.

Presentation: DSAT Technical Diving Division

Presenter: Dr. Drew Richardson, President DSAT TDD

Richardson opened the conference with a presentation of how tec diving emerged, how it has grown and how it has benefited diving in general. He followed this with an overview of DSAT’s entry into tec diving and where we are today.

Key Points:

• The definition of tec diving is loose – it is sport diving that’s whatever recreational diving is not.
• Tec diving is about diving’s dreamers – the individuals who see what is possible when others can’t.
• Today’s tec diving may be tomorrow’s recreational diving.
• Tec divers are not thrill seekers. They are disciplined individuals who use equipment and methodology to transcend recreational diving limitations. By doing this, they endorse the limits of recreational diving.
• Tec diving consists of mainstream tec divers and core tec. Mainstream tec divers are those who use, apply and refine the principles of tec diving. Core tec are the pioneers who push beyond existing limits; to do this, they must create new technologies and methodologies. Core tec experiences the greatest risk, and you cannot train someone for it.
• As long as there is a passion to explore, there will be tec divers.
• Tec diving thrives on flexibility. Innovation arises from diversity, not uniformity.
• The future of the diving world lies with the tec community. Tec diving puts forth a dream, and it is up to us to handle it carefully. Dreams are fragile.

Presentation: CCRs Tec or Rec?

Presenters: Mark Caney, TDD Director, Rebreather Technologies, and Kurt Sjöblom, Poseidon Diving Systems

Caney explored the issues surrounding CCR use by recreational divers versus technical divers. He presented a “wish list” of technological features that a “recreational” CCR would ideally have. Sjöblom followed this with a presentation on the Poseidon Cis-Lunar Discovery, which was developed specifically as a CCR for recreational divers.

Caney’s key points:

·        CCRs are like 4 wheel drive vehicles in that they let you get into trouble farther away from help.

·        The difference between rec and tec divers is the ability to follow procedures with discipline. So far, the requirements for diving CCRs make them tec diving devices even when using them within the limits of recreational diving.

·        A CCR for recreational diving requires a different way of thinking.

·        CCR uptake by recreational divers requires access to training, technology and travel (resort access to scrubber material, cylinders and fills). So far, the travel aspect is largely missing.

·        It is easier to engineer problems out than it is to train them out.

·        A CCR for recreational divers would ideal have these characteristics:

o       Robust – can’t be put together wrong way.

o       Will not operate w/out scrubber, or warns diver if absent.

o       Uses prepacked carbon dioxide scrubber.

o       Reasonably able to maintain life or not permit diving if predive procedures not followed correctly.

o       Turns self on or warns if not turned on when diver enters water.

o       Simple emergency status indicator.

o       Can switch to bailout without removing mouthpiece.

o       Warns if supply cylinders are not open or will open them automatically.

o       Warns if gas supplies are low.

o       Warns if scrubber gets bypassed or exhausted.

o       Warns if dangerous loop flooding occurs.

o       Warns if electronics fail.

o       Functions to at least 50 m/165 feet.

o       Maintains a near constant PO₂ and warns if PO₂ gets too high or low.

o       Warns if PCO₂ gets too high.

Kurt Sjöblom’s presentation on the Discovery:

• Discovery is intended for recreational divers. It has upgrades that allow it to be used for tec diving.
• Discovery reasonably meets all the items on the “wish list” except CO₂ monitoring.
• A CO₂ sensor useable in CCRs has yet to be invented. Poseidon continues to research this technology.
• Discovery performs almost all predive checks automatically.
• Discovery engineers out many of the problems that have occurred in recreational diving.
• MSRP about $5500.

Summary of Post Presentation Comments:

• Several attendees expressed concerns related to the discipline needed for CCR diving, and that even with a unit like Discovery, CCR use by recreational divers may be problematic.
• Several comments complimented Poseidon for the innovations Discovery represents.
• The group consensus was that you cannot make an “idiot proof” machine and that even after engineering out many problems, training is critical. It was acknowledged this is true for recreational open circuit diving as well.
• One attendee noted that from a business point of view, CCRs are exciting technology but due to relatively low uptake by divers, presently has limited in the potential income.

Presentation: DSAT TecRec Specialties

Presenter: Steve Mortell, TDD Director, Cave Diving

Mortell gave an overview of the present TecRec paradigm, followed by an overview of plans to open up “distinctive specialties” similar to those offered under PADI auspices.

Key points:

• Other than staying alive, the two main “goals” in tec diving have traditionally been going deeper or going in something (cave/wreck penetration).
• Four main reasons people entire tec diving are curiosity, to improve dive skills (a.k.a. a different challenge), work or research, and for fun (reward).
• We can change this paradigm by discovering tec diver interests and offering specialized classes to bring in new blood.
• Distinctive specialty tec classes could include: tec DPV, DSO, safety diver, advanced (technical) wreck diver, sidemount, deepwater aquatic life.
• Tec specialties have potential spinoffs into recreational diving: open water sidemount, cavern in doubles.
• Follow the PADI Distinctive Specialty process to apply for a DSAT Distinctive Specialty.
• Not accepted: commercial diving, cave diving (for now), CCR (for now) and tec diving beyond mainstream tec (extreme depths & distances).

Summary of Post Presentation Comments:

• It would be useful for the Pros’ Site to link DSAT Instructors to those with Distinctive Specialities that they can obtain as templates (buy or other consideration to author).
• Concerns were expressed regarding student prerequisites and instructor qualifications for distinctive specialties. Mortell explained that these would be handled by considering the requirements for each specialty and by requiring documentation of appropriate experience/training.
• A large number of attendees said they want to see a DSAT TecRec cave program soon. It was pointed out that a dive center loses business when it has to refer customers elsewhere for training – not just the training, but related equipment sales. Similar comments were made regarding an “advanced” (technical) wreck diving program.
• Consensus seemed to be that most want a cave program developed by DSAT, not simply accepting an existing program as qualifying for certification.
• Straw poll of the room showed that the vast majority like the distinctive specialty option, assuming prerequisites and instructor qualification requirements are met appropriately.

Presentation: Sliding Up the Upside of Sidemount

Presenters: Karl Shreeves, TDD Director, Decompression Diving, and Jeff Loflin, DSAT Instructor Trainer

Shreeves introduced the growing popularity of sidemount for open water recreational and technical diving and covered the option for teaching the Tec Deep Diver course with sidemount.

Key points:

• Sidemount advantages include not needing to locate doubles, logistically easier to move equipment, better suited to some people with physical limitations, less problematic than doubles on many dive boats.
• To teach Tec Deep Diver in sidemount, instructor must be certified in open water sidemount (a PADI Distinctive Specialty) and follow the Sidemount Instructor Guide addendum for the TecRec program.
• The addendum guides instructors to cover all Tec Deep topics as they apply to sidemount as well as backmount.

Loflin reviewed the hardware and equipment options used for primary and stage/deco cylinders used in open water sidemount.

Key points:

• Manufacturers (notably Dive Rite and OMS) now make off the shelf sidemount rigs suited to open water use.
• Setup needs to account for placement of the long hose regulator, storage of the lift bag/surface marker buoy and options for stacking cylinders.

After orienting attendees to this option, Shreeves & Loflin solicited questions about application and uses of open water sidemount.

Summary of comments:

• Sidemount could benefit photographers with the added gas volume and the second regulator.
• Gas management is an important training issue – make sure students consistently switch cylinders so there’s always something to switch to if there’s a problem.
• A question came up about loss of a regulator at furthest penetration point – how to handle without an isolator. Shreeves explained that you can switch over a regulator underwater if necessary (and have it serviced later).
• Most of group had seen the sidemount CCR shown at the Beneath the Sea show.
• The discussion repeated the desire for a system linking DSAT instructors together for sharing distinctive specialities for those who wish to do so.
• The group consensus was overwhelming support for open water sidemount, with no major issues or problems identified with implementing it.

Presentation: Diving into the Future: Tec Training

Presenters: James Morgan, TDD Director, Advanced Wreck Diving and Mark Caney, TDD Director, Rebreather Technologies

James Morgan reviewed the core philosophies applied to the development of the TecRec programs, followed by a discussion of proposed a EANx Computer Diver course. The nearly unanimous opinion of attendees was to simply revise the PADI Enriched Air Diver course. Morgan’s points are listed in that context:

Key points:

• The underlying philosophies remain the same, but practices, technologies and information have changed, making it appropriate to consider changing training accordingly.
• In most areas, EANx divers use dive computers for planning and executing dives, not tables. Almost all computers on the market are enriched air compatible. Therefore, training should emphasize dive computer use and make using tables optional.
• The PADI Enriched Air Diver course must still cover key concepts such as oxygen exposure, equipment considerations, obtaining fills &analysis, etc. to reflect existing practices.

Caney presented a hypothetical proposed revision to the Tec Deep Diver course (no specifics or timetables set at this time). The primary intent is to allow the course to be taught in three segments, each of which gives the diver a certification with new capabilities.

Key points:

• Everyone likes the Tec Deep Diver end product – the resulting final certification should be largely left alone. Tec Trimix Diver is also popular and needs only minor content revisions.
• Tec Deep Diver could be broken into three blocks, with these working (not necessarily final) titles: Decompression Techniques, Advanced Decompression and Tec Deep Diver.
• Decompression Techniques may be single gas, limited decompression using a single with a Y valve, sidemount or doubles.
• Advanced Decompression could introduce a decompression cylinder, extended no stop and accelerated decompression to 40 metres/130 feet using doubles or sidemount.
• Tec Deep Diver would finish to the existing Tec Deep Diver level (50 m/165 ft, air, EANx, oxygen).

Summary of Post Presentation Comments:

• Several attendees asked about bringing in the use of helium (trimix) for Tec Deep Diver.
• Advantages cited by attendees included better marketability, better transition from rec to tec, less up front investment for students and less attrition.
• A show of hands found the large majority of attendees like the suggested new course flow.

Presentation: What Are the Limits Panel Discussion

Facilitated by Dr. Drew Richardson, President DSAT TDD

The conference closed with attendees asking questions and discussing concepts with a panel that consisted of several of the presenters, manufacturer representatives and experienced DSAT TecRec Instructors/Instructor Trainers. Some of the discussions reinforced points made earlier in the conference.

Summary of key comments/discussions:

• There was a clear request for the option for students and staff to use trimix on Dive 12 of the Tec Deep Diver course. Dr. Richard Vann of the Divers Alert Network expressed the view that this could be beneficial. The consensus seemed to recognize that access to helium is problematic in many international areas, so given the Dive 12 depth range, this would appropriately be optional, not required.
• A discussion centered on offering an open water sidemount Adventure Dive in the Advanced Open Water Diver course. Conference attendees and presenters seemed nearly unanimous that this has a lot of potential benefits and bears further consideration.
• CCRs came up in different contexts and with differing views. The broadest view seemed to be that attendees want to see a DSAT CCR course, but that they want a developed course, not a DSAT card issued for an existing course.
• One experienced CCR trainer on the panel observed that presently, CCR manufacturers and trainers differ on some pivotal procedures, and that there’s a need for standardization.
• It was suggested that it may be time for another CCR forum (DSAT hosted the last one in 1996).
• A lengthy discussion reminded attendees that the development of a tec diver should not be rushed, and that divers don’t expect to automatically pass a course just because they’re enrolled in it. Several comments reinforced the need to enforce the high mastery definitions identified in the TecRec program.