Instructor Guide Section four: Tec40

Four: Tec 40 Standards and

Course Content
The Tec 40 subcourse of the DSAT Tec Diver course is a limited, entry-level technical
diving program that bridges the gap between recreational diving and full technical deep decom-
pression diving. Certified Tec 40 divers are qualified to make limited decompression dives
using equipment that is marginally more extensive than that used in mainstream recreational
diving.

Program Sequence
The Tec 40 course consists of three knowledge development sections, three practical
applications sessions and four training dives. You will find these in the Knowledge
Development, Practical Application and Training Dive subsections, each with content/presenta-
tion outlines and related standards.

The fully integrated instructional sequence for the Tec 40 course is:
Tec 40 Knowledge Development One
Tec 40 Practical Application One
Tec 40 Training Dive One
Tec 40 Knowledge Development Two
Tec 40 Practical Application Two
Tec 40 Training Dive Two
Tec 40 Knowledge Development Three
Tec 40 Practical Application Three
Tec 40 Exam
Tec 40 Training Dive Three
Tec 40 Training Dive Four

The Tec 40 course provides flexibility in scheduling knowledge development, practical

applications and training dives. You may rearrange the sequence and combine knowledge
development and practical applications sessions, provided that you maintain the required
instructional sequencing. The requirements are:
• Any knowledge development sections, practical applications or training
dives that precede a training dive in the integrated sequence must be suc-
cessfully completed before that training dive.
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•
Any knowledge development sections or practical applications that
precede a practical application in the integrated sequence must be suc-
cessfully completed before that practical application.
• Any knowledge development section that precedes another knowledge
development section must be successfully completed before that
knowledge development section.
For example, the following sequences would be acceptable:
Tec 40 Knowledge Development One
Tec 40 Knowledge Development Two
Tec 40 Practical Application One
Tec 40 Practical Application Two
Tec 40 Training Dive One
Tec 40 Training Dive Two
Tec 40 Knowledge Development Three
Tec 40 Practical Application Three
Tec 40 Exam
Tec 40 Training Dive Three
Tec 40 Training Dive Four

Tec 40 Knowledge Development One

Tec 40 Knowledge Development Two
Tec 40 Knowledge Development Three
Tec 40 Practical Application One
Tec 40 Training Dive One
Tec 40 Practical Application Two
Tec 40 Training Dive Two
Tec 40 Exam
Tec 40 Practical Application Three
Tec 40 Training Dive Three
Tec 40 Training Dive Four

Special sequence exception for the Tec 40 course: To allow student divers to
start the Tec Diver course immediately (Dive Today), Tec 40 Training Dive One may
precede Tec 40 Knowledge Development One and Tec 40 Practical Application One.
Follow the Dive Today Considerations that accompany Tec 40 Training Dive One.

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 Instructor Guide Section four: Tec40

Tec 40 Key Standards

Participant prerequisites: Certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or a
qualifying certification from another training organization, PADI Enriched Air Diver
or a qualifying certification from another training organization, PADI Deep Diver
or proof of 10 dives to 30 metres/100 feet, 18 years old, 30 logged dives (10 with
EANx, 7 deeper than 30 metres/100 feet).
Instructor qualification: Teaching status, insured (where required) Tec Instructor
Assistant qualification: renewed PADI Divemaster or higher certified as a Tec 40 or
higher level TecRec diver.

Training Dive One

Environment: Confined water or limited open water with ready access to water
shallow enough in which to stand
Depths: Minimum: 2.5 metres/8 feet
Maximum 10 metres/30 feet
Decompression: No stop only
Gases: Air, EANx up to EANx50
Ratios: 6:1, 8:1 with one or more certified assistants
Training Dive Two
Environment: Open water
Depths: Minimum: 10 metres/30 feet
Maximum: 18 metres/60 feet
Decompression: No stop only
Gases: Air or EANx up to EANx50.
Ratios: 6:1, 8:1 with one or more certified assistants

Training Dive Three

Environment: Open Water
Depths: Minimum: 15 metres/50 feet
Maximum: 27 metres/90 feet
Decompression: No stop only
Gases: Air, EANx up to EANx50
Ratios: 4:1, 6:1 with one or more certified assistants

Training Dive Four

Environment: Open Water
Depths: Minimum: 26 metres/85 feet
Maximum: 40 metres/130 feet
Decompression: Up to 10 minutes total decompression time based on
breathing bottom gas throughout the dive (no accelerated decompression)
Gases: Air, EANx up to EANx50
Ratios: 3:1, 4:1 with one or more certified assistants

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Tec 40 Knowledge Development

The following knowledge development outlines provide the course content in
presentation form. If the Tec Deep Diver Manual is not available in a language the
student understands, you may use the outline to present all course content.
Otherwise, it is recommended that you cover knowledge development through stu-
dent independent study with the manual and handouts, with presentations that
review/remediate what they studied.
The content outlines note manual supported content and other delivery
content. The manual supported content includes a list of reading, exercise and
Knowledge Review assignments (repeated in list form in the Appendix for your con-
venience) based upon the Tec Deep Diver Manual. The other delivery content covers
material that is not in the Tec Deep Diver Manual. You may simply deliver this
material in verbal presentations using the Tec Diver Lesson Guides on PowerPointTM,
or (recommended) you can copy those outline sections for students to study inde-
pendently along with their assignments in the manual. These sections are in the
Appendix ready for copy and handout. Presentations that involve staff introductions,
paperwork, logistics, scheduling etc., do not have independent study materials.
Tec 40 students do not use the Knowledge Reviews in the Tec Deep Diver
Manual. Instead, copy the blank Tec 40 Knowledge Reviews in the Appendix for
their use. You will also find the answer keys there. Students have not completed a
Knowledge Development session until they have completed the corresponding
Knowledge Review correctly, accurately and completely.
The final step in completing Tec 40 Knowledge Development is the Tec 40
Exam. Tec 40 students complete the exam after successfully completing
Knowledge Development Three. To be successful, the student diver must score
80% or higher and review each question missed with the instructor until mas-
tery on all questions is achieved. Students who score less than 80% must repeat
the exam (version B) after ample time to remediate. It is recommended that you
administer the exam after Tec 40 Practical Application Three.
All material in the Knowledge Development content outline is required
and must be covered, studied and otherwise remediated until the student dem-
onstrates mastery.

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Tec 40 Knowledge Development One

[The voice in these presentations addresses students. Notes to the instructor appear in
brackets.]

I. Introductory Session
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What are the goals of the Tec 40 course?
2. What are your obligations and responsibilities in taking this course?
3. What are consequences of failing to meet these obligations and responsibilities?

A. Introductions [Encourage a relaxed atmosphere that promotes teamwork.]

1. [Introduce yourself, staff and anyone else involved in the course. Provide
a little bit of background and personal information about everyone so stu-
dents become acquainted.]
2. [Have students introduce themselves and tell something about themselves,
diving interests, etc.]
3. [Collect and review Tec 40 Knowledge Review One.]
a. [Review answers to assess mastery so you can tailor your presenta-
tions accordingly.]
B. Course Goals
1. The goals of the Tec 40 course are
a. To qualify you to make limited decompression dives at a level that
bridges recreational diving and technical diving.
b. To train you in the knowledge, procedures and motorskills required
for decompression diving within the limitations of the Tec 40 certi-
fication.
c. To assure you understand and acknowledge the hazards and risks
associated with this level of tec diving, and tec diving in general.
d. To train you to prepare for and respond to reasonably foreseeable
emergencies that may occur within Tec 40 limits.
e. To lay the foundation for continuing your training as a full techni-
cal diver in the Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses.

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C. Your Obligations and Responsibilities

1. During the Tec 40 course, you have these obligations and responsibilities:
a. To follow the instructor’s directions and dive plans strictly, and to
not separate from the instructor or your dive team.
b. To take all aspects of what you’re learning seriously, and display
an attitude and conduct that is consistent with that expected of a
team-oriented technical diver.
c. To refrain from tec diving outside this course until you’re fully
qualified and certified.
d. To maintain adequate physical and mental health, and to alert the
instructor to any problems you have with them.
e. To accept the risk for this type of diving, and for specific risks
unique to each dive environment, and to immediately notify the
instructor if this risk becomes intolerable for you.
2. Failing to meet these obligations and responsibilities can have these con-
sequences:
a. In the worst case, you could be injured, disabled or killed.
b. You will have failed to demonstrate the attitude and maturity
required for tec diving, and will not qualify for certification.
D. Course Overview, Schedule & Logistics, Administration, Assignments and Study
1. Schedule and logistics [Explain anything that you have yet to cover: the
course schedule, required reading and assignment due dates, sessions,
and training dives. It’s recommended that you have this printed out and
go over it with students when they enroll in the course.]
2. Administration
a. Course costs [Explain and collect, as appropriate, all costs associ-
ated with the course.]
b. Equipment and material requirements [Explain what’s required
for the course, and of that, what students must provide and what
you will provide.]
c. Confirm course prerequisites:
• Students may confirm these with certification cards, log
entries, signed affidavits, etc.
d. Students sign the Tec Diver Statement of Understanding and
Learning Agreement [Discuss what the agreement does not cover,
such as how you will handle missed sessions/dives, assignments
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e. Have student divers read, complete and sign the Liability Release
and Express Assumption of Risk for Technical Diving (or the
technical diving release specified by your PADI Office for your
local area). The release must be signed before any inwater train-
ing. Tec 40 Training Dive One is the exception if participants sign
the standard release used for Discover Tec.
f. Have student divers read, complete and sign the PADI Medical
Statement. Prior to Training Dive Two, the student must have a
physician’s approval and signature on the Medical Statement. If
the student received a physician’s approval and signature on a
Medical Statement for another course within the last year and
has had no medical condition change, and if you have that
Medical Statement on file, then the student does not need to see a
physician again.
g. If students answer “no” to all the medical history questions on
the Medical Statement, they may participate in Tec 40 Training
Dive One. Note that this applies only to Tec 40 Training Dive
One. In some areas, local law requires all scuba participants to
obtain a physician’s approval before any diving.
h. Diver insurance – It’s recommended that you require students in the
DSAT Tec 40 course to have dive accident insurance such as offered
by the Divers Alert Network, if available in your area.]
3. Assignments and Study
[Brief the class on the following points as appropriate for how you will han-
dle knowledge development.]
a. You will study independently with the Tec Deep Diver Manual and
provided handouts.
• The manual supports the entire Tec Diver course – Tec 40
through Tec 50 -- so you’re not required to read all of it at
this level. You also won’t be reading it in order. Much of the
manual pertains to the next, higher levels of technical diving.
• Read the assigned handouts, sections and exercises.
b. You will use the manual to complete knowledge reviews provided to
you. Do not use the knowledge reviews in the manual.

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c. We will review the material and help with anything you

don’t understand [state where/when: class sessions, practi-
cal applications, predive sessions, etc.]
d. You will complete the Tec 40 Exam before the last two
training dives of the course.

II. Technical Diving’s Risks and Responsibilities

Manual Supported Content
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs xi, pg xiii Your
Obligations and Responsibilities, pg xiv Diver Accident Insurance, pg 1-9
including Tec Exercise 1.1. Disregard Tec Deep and Apprentice Tec Diver
Certification Limits discussions. You may skip question 6 in the exercise.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. How do you define recreational scuba diving and technical scuba diving?
2. What is not technical diving?
3. What six general risks and hazards does technical diving present that either
don’t exist, or aren’t as severe, in recreational diving?
4. Why does technical diving, even done “by the book,” pose more risk to you
than recreational diving?
5. With respect to risk, what single statement sums up the difference between rec-
reational diving and technical diving?
6. What risks do you face if you exceed the limits of your training and experience?
7. How could a lack of physical fitness affect you as a technical diver?
8. What are six characteristics of a responsible technical diver?
9. What should you do if you can’t or won’t accept the risks and responsibilities
demanded by technical diving?

A. Recreational diving and technical diving are both for pleasure, but the
terms “recreational diving” and “technical diving” denote important differ-
ences in their limits.
1. Recreational scuba diving is defined as no stop diving with air or
enriched air to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet, and during
penetration dives, within the natural light zone and no more than a
total linear distance of 40 metres/130 feet from the surface.
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2. Technical scuba diving is diving other than conventional commer-

cial or research diving that takes divers beyond recreational diving
limits. It is further defined as and includes one or more of the fol-
lowing: diving beyond 40 metres/130 feet, required stage decom-
pression, diving in an overhead environment beyond 40 linear
metres/130 linear feet of the surface, accelerated decompression,
and/or the use of variable gas mixtures during the dive. Technical
scuba diving uses extensive methodologies, technologies and train-
ing to manage added risk. Typically this means using complex
equipment in situations where direct access to the surface is inac-
cessible due to a ceiling imposed by decompression, or physical
barrier such as that found in cave or a wreck diving environments.
3. Technical diving is not simply exceeding the limits of recreational
diving. Exceeding recreational limits without the appropriate train-
ing, equipment and procedures in place is not technical diving. It is
being stupid and irresponsible.
B. Technical diving poses risks and hazards that are either not present or not
as severe or as likely in recreational diving. These include, but are not
limited to:
1. No direct or immediate access to the surface in an emergency due
to decompression requirements and/or distance.
2. Hypoxia or hyperoxia leading to unresponsiveness and drowning
due to switching to the wrong gas, improper gas choice, or failing
to properly analyze the gas.
3. Narcosis leading to poor judgment, bad decisions or slowed
responses to emergencies.
4. DCS with severe permanent injury, or death. This can result from
higher nitrogen/inert gas loading, improper gas analysis, loss of
decompression gas, being forced to surface without completing
decompression, improper decompression calculation, personal pre-
disposing factors, diving outside the envelope of well documented
decompression theory, and other causes.
5. Omitted procedures and errors caused by extensive equipment task
overloading, leading to accidents from DCS, gas loss, runaway
ascents leading to arterial gas embolism, or barotrauma or oxygen
toxicity caused by runaway descents, etc. The need for redundant
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6. Drowning due to equipment weight and inability to reach the sur-

face due to failed BCD.
C. Although you’ll learn procedures and equipment application to manage the
risks, even when you do everything properly, technical diving poses more
risk than recreational diving, because there are more variables, more
potential hazards, the error chain leading to an accident is short, and sur-
facing in an emergency is (usually) not an option.
1. In recreational diving, if you and your team mate follow all safety
rules and procedures as you’ve been taught, the prob-
ability of a serious accident is very remote.
2. To sum up the difference between recreational and
technical diving risk in a single statement: In techni-
cal diving, even if you do everything right, there is
still a higher inherent potential for an accident lead-
ing to permanent injury and death. You have to
accept this risk if you venture into technical diving.
3. However, the vast majority of accidents in technical
diving, as in recreational diving, result from failing to
apply the proper procedures, failing to have the
required equipment and/or failing to have the
required prerequisite and/or qualifications for the div-
ing being done.
4. Exceeding the limits of your training and experience
poses the risks of severe permanent injury, or death,
due to an accident. Accidents caused by diving beyond limits usu-
ally result from:
a. Diver fails to recognize a hazard.
b. Diver doesn’t know the procedure that prevents or handles
a hazard or emergency.
c. Diver has not practiced a procedure and cannot perform it.
d. Diver executes a procedure improperly.
e. Diver is improperly/inadequately equipped to deal with an
emergency.

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5. Most divers who had accidents when diving beyond the limits of their
training and experience believed, incorrectly, that they could handle
the situation.
D. Physical fitness and tec diving
1. Technical diving places higher physical demands on you than recre-
ational diving. These include, but are not limited to:
a. You must wear and transport heavier equipment - predive,
climbing a boat ladder, etc.
b. You must swim against greater drag, often for extended peri-
ods.
c. Your body systems must deal with higher nitrogen or other
inert gas loads.
d. Heavy exposure suits needed for a dive depth/duration may
pose predive thermal stress due to overheating, particularly in
hot or warm climates.
e. Even with exposure protection, dive duration may pose ther-
mal stress due to chilling.
2. Physical fitness affects whether you will have the performance and
ability needed for technical diving. Like any physical activity, you
must be sure a dive is within your physical capability, with sufficient
physical reserve to deal with emergencies. Most technical dives call
for higher fitness requirements than recreational dives.
a. Your cardiovascular system needs to be able to stand thermal
stresses, carrying heavy equipment, decompression and have
sufficient endurance for high pace swimming against high
drag.
b. You need sufficient skeletal muscle and bone strength to carry
any equipment you need to wear out of the water due to dive
logistics (this can vary with the dive).
c. Lack of the physical fitness required can affect your safety by
limiting your ability to respond to an emergency, or by directly
leading to injuries such as a heart attack, heat exhaustion or
stroke, broken bones or muscle tears due to falling or strain.
d. Only you and your physician can determine your fitness and
assess its suitability for different types of diving. It’s your
responsibility to dive within the limits of your fitness.
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E. Six characteristics denote the responsible technical diver:

1. Self-sufficient. The diver plans and executes each dive as though
having to handle all emergencies alone, and doesn’t rely on any
other diver for safety or knowledge.
2. Team player. The diver is part of the dive team (not just a buddy –
more about this shortly), and contributes as a team player on a
team effort.
3. Disciplined. The diver doesn’t cut corners, bend rules, disregard
dive plans, omit safety equipment or exceed training or equipment
limits.
4. Wary. The diver assumes that everything can and will go wrong on
a dive, and plans contingencies for when it happens.
5. Physically fit. The diver exercises regularly, eats properly and con-
sults a physician regularly to maintain the fitness level required for
the specific dives the diver makes.
6. Accepts responsibility. The diver accepts responsibility for person-
al safety and accepts and acknowledges the risks and demands of
technical diving.
F. You can enjoy a lifetime of exciting, adventurous diving without technical
diving.
1. Technical diving is not for everyone. It is not a goal for all divers
to aspire to.
2. If you cannot or will not accept the responsibilities, risks and
demands required by technical diving, then don’t do it. You will
only endanger yourself and your fellow divers.

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Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-1

Study assignment: Tec 40 Handout 1

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. How do the Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses fit together as the overall DSAT Tec Diver
course?
2. What are the general goals of the Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses?
3. What are the limits of your training as a Tec 40 diver?
G. The DSAT Tec Diver course
1. The Tec 40 course is the first of three subcourses that together make up the
DSAT Tec Diver course.
a. The DSAT Tec Diver course was originally called the Tec Deep Diver
course (hence the Tec Deep Diver Manual).
b. The three subcourses, in order are the Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50
courses. The names reflect the maximum qualification depth in metres
for the respective levels.
c. Completing all three qualifies you as a Tec 50 diver (formerly Tec
Deep Diver), which is a fully qualified, open circuit entry level EANx
deep decompression technical diver.
2. Tec 45 general goals are to train certified Tec 40 divers
a. to use full technical equipment.
b. to make decompression dives to 45 metres/145 feet using air or
enriched air, with accelerated decompression techniques.
c. to dive with one decompression gas with up to and including 100 per-
cent oxygen.
3. Tec 50 general goals are to train certified Tec 45 divers
a. to make decompression dives to 50 metres/165 feet using air or
enriched air, with accelerated decompression techniques.
b. to dive with two decompression gases with up to 100 percent oxygen.

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H. Certification as a Tec 40 diver qualifies you to dive within the following

limits, applying the appropriate procedures and equipment as you’ve been
trained:
1. Dive to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet using air or
enriched air.
2. Make dives with up to 10 minutes required decompression.
3. Use enriched air nitrox with up to 50 percent oxygen (EANx50)
during decompression to make it more conservative.
4. Although your certification qualifies you to these limits, you must
also consider other limitations, such as the environment, conditions
and other factors, and apply more conservative limits when plan-
ning dives.
5. These limits apply, even if you complete the Tec 40 using double
cylinders and other equipment required for Tec 45 and above.

Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-1

1. The Tec Diver course (choose all that apply)
o a. consists of three subcourses.
o b. begins with the Tec 40 subcourse.
o c. no longer exists.
2. The Tec 50 course qualifies a diver to make dives
o a. with up to 50 minutes decompression.
o b. with deco stops as deep as 50 feet/12 metres
o c. to a depth of 50 metres/165 feet
o d. to a depth of 50 fathoms (300 feet).
3. As a Tec 40 diver, applying appropriate procedures and equipment as you’ve
been trained, you’re qualified to (choose all that apply)
o a. to dive as deep as 40 metres/130 feet.
o b. have up to 10 minutes required decompression.
o c. use a single gas with up to 50 percent oxygen during decompression.
How did you do?
1. a, b. 2. c. 3. a, b, c.

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II. Tec 40 Equipment Requirements

Note to instructor: This section addresses Tec 40 students who will be taking the
course according to the minimum equipment requirements. Students who will
take the course in the full technical rig (Tec 45 requirements) should com-
plete the Equipment study assignments in Tec 45 Knowledge Development
One.

Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-2

Study assignment: Tec 40 Handout 2

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. Why can the equipment requirements for Tec 40 be less stringent than the stan-
dardized technical rig?
2. What are the guidelines for selecting masks, fins and snorkels for the Tec 40
level?
3. What characteristics do you look for cylinders and cylinder valves for the Tec
40 kit?
4. What is the minimum number of fully independent regulators, per diver, and
how do you configure each?
5. What type of BCDs can you use for Tec 40 level diving? Why is a tec diving
harness recommended?
6. How do you choose an appropriate exposure suit for technical diving?
7. What are your options regarding weight systems, and what are the advantages
and disadvantages of each?
8. What types of dive computers and other instruments do you need for Tec 40
level diving?
9. What types of cutting tools are appropriate for deep technical diving, and how
many should you have?
10. What are six general guidelines regarding pockets, accessories and clips you
might need when technical diving?
11. What is a “stage/deco cylinder”?
12. How do you set up a stage/deco cylinder?
13. Why might you need a lift bag/DSMB and reel on a technical dive?

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14. What are suitable lift bags/DSMBs and reels, and how do you secure them on your
rig?
15. What are four recommendations regarding equipment maintenance?
You should also be able to:
16. Describe the layout, arrangement and configuration of the basic Tec 40 rig, with
options, from head to toe as worn by a Tec 40 diver.

A. Tec 40 equipment requirements and the standardized technical rig

1. The technical diving community has a generally accepted open circuit
equipment configuration as worn on a technical deep dive. This standard-
ized technical rig employs all required equipment in a streamlined config-
uration based on a philosophy that minimizes confusion and procedural
error. The standard technical rig (backmount or sidemount) is required at
the Tec 45 level and beyond.
2. You can dive with a less stringent equipment configuration (i.e. the Tec 40
kit or rig) within Tec 40 limits because the depth and decompression time
limits are very restricted compared to broader technical deep diving.
a. Exceeding Tec 40 limits (40 metres/130 feet and up to 10 minutes
total required decompression) is not acceptable or reasonable with
the Tec 40 rig.
B. Mask, fins and snorkel
1. Generally, the mask and fins you use for recreational scuba diving in a
given environment are acceptable for the Tec 40 rig.
a. Full sized fins (appropriate to your size) are generally recommend-
ed.
b. Secure/tape loose straps so they don’t dangle and can’t slip.
c. Spring heel fins (in place of straps) are good options because
they’re very strong, nothing dangles and they don’t need adjust-
ment and are easy to don and remove.
2. Snorkels are optional, but generally recommended for the Tec 40 rig.
a. They allow you to breathe at the surface without using gas from
your cylinder.
b. They can be slightly cumbersome in an air sharing situation, so
you may want to carry a folding/collapsible model in your pocket.

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C. Cylinders and valves

1. You generally want a high capacity cylinder as your primary cylin-
der with the Tec 40 kit. This is because you use more gas on a
deeper dive, and you need to keep a larger reserve.
2. 11-12 litre/71.2-80 cubic foot cylinders are generally considered
the minimum size – larger (18 litre/100 cubic foot+ ) cylinders are
preferred, but not readily available in some locations.
a. If you opt for double cylinders, you should wear the stan-
dardized technical rig, not the Tec 40 kit.
3. The cylinder should have an H or Y valve, which allows you to
have two entirely separate regulators. In case of a failure, you can
shut down the gas to either one and still access the remaining gas
with the other.
a. With Tec 40 limits, it is alternatively acceptable to have a
large, main cylinder with a pony bottle in place of an H/Y
valve.
b. If you use a pony instead of an H/Y valve, it should have a
capacity of 850 litres free gas/30 cf or larger.
c. The pony usually has the same gas (EANx blend or air) as
the main cylinder. If it has a higher oxygen content, the
gas must still be breathable at the deepest planned
depth (max 1.4 ata/bar), with a margin for error.
4. The DIN (Deutche Industrie Norm) threaded system for valve
apertures is generally preferred to the yoke system in tec diving.
5. Valve caps should not be tied to valves as they commonly are in
recreational diving. Remove completely when diving.
D. Regulators
1. Because you cannot immediately surface, tec diving always
requires a minimum of two fully independent regulators per diver
(does not count those on stage or decompression cylinders).
2. Choose top of the line, balanced regulators for maximum reliabili-
ty and performance at depth.
3. Configure the regulator that goes on the right valve post with a
low pressure inflator hose and second stage with a two metre/seven
foot hose.

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4. Configure the regulator that goes on the left valve post with the SPG
and a second stage on a standard length hose (about 80 cm/32 inches). If
using a dry suit or a double bladder BCD system, this regulator also has
a low pressure inflator hose.
a. If using a pony bottle instead of an H valve, both regulators have
SPGs. In this case, the SPGs must be clearly marked or secured
to avoid any confusion.
5. Neither regulator has two second stages.
6. The DIN connection system is preferred (most DIN regulators accept
adapters for yoke use).
E. BCD and harness
1. Most BCDs with shoulder and hip D-rings (other suitable attachment
hardware in those locations) can be used for a Tec 40 rig. The D-rings
are necessary for your decompression cylinder.
2. A tec diving harness configured for a single cylinder is generally recom-
mended, though not essential, for the Tec 40 kit.
a. Tec harnesses are harnesses that mount on top of an interchange-
able BCD bladder. There are rigid plate (steel, aluminum or plas-
tic) and all fabric versions.
b. Tec harnesses have crotch straps, adjustable shoulder and waist
D-rings and other features suited to higher level tec diving.
c. The tec harness is recommended because you will use it when
you move on to the Tec 45 course, and because you can use a
double bladder BCD (BCD with two independent bladders and
inflation/deflation systems) so you have backup buoyancy con-
trol.
• In a decompression situation, simply dropping weights to
restore buoyancy may not be an option because you
would have too much buoyancy to maintain a decom-
pression stop.
• Planning for BCD failure must be part of planning
any technical dive. The double bladder BCD is the
simplest, most reliable option.
• The Tec 40 rig (single cylinder) is not as negatively
buoyant as higher level tec rigs, so redundant buoyancy
is not mandatory at this level.
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F. Exposure suits
1. Choose your exposure suit based on the water temperature at depth
and the dive duration.
2. Tec dives tend to be longer than recreational dives, calling for
more exposure protection. You also don’t exert and generate much
heat while decompressing.
3. Dry suits offer the longest durations and coldest water protection.
a. They may provide ample backup buoyancy.
b. You should master dry suit diving as a recreational diver
before using a dry suit for technical dives.
• 20 dry suit dives is a conservative minimum before
tec diving dry.
• In recreational diving, you only use your dry suit
for buoyancy control while underwater.
• In tec diving, you typically add gas to the suit to
avoid a suit squeeze and use your BCD. This means
controlling the gas in both your suit and BCD – a
more complex skill to master.
4. Wet suits are adequate in warmer waters and well suited to dives
within Tec 40 limits.
a. A full 6 mm/.25 in wet suit with hood will generally handle
dives up to two or three hours (far longer than a Tec 40
dive) in water 24ºC/75ºF or warmer.
b. In a heavy rig, you need a double bladder BCD or other
means for reliably handling a BCD failure.
c. The advantage of a wet suit over a dry suit is operational
simplicity – you only need to adjust your BCD.
G. Weight systems
1. Except in very warm water requiring minimal exposure protection,
you will usually need weights even in a technical rig. A weight
belt, integrated weights or a weight harness are acceptable.
a. Some tec divers choose a metal plate harness to reduce the
amount of lead they need to wear.

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2. Weight belt
a. Advantages: simple, readily available when needed
b. Disadvantages: with crotch strap, must don after putting on
rig so it’s not trapped.
3. Integrated weights
a. Advantages: no need to put on last, positioned amid rig
b. Disadvantages: must have BCD/harness system with weight
system build in; makes overall scuba rig heavier
4. Weight harness
a. Advantages: put on before scuba rig, doesn’t add to rig’s
weight.
b. Disadvantages: may be awkward to adjust rig so it doesn’t
interfere with quick release weight ditching.
5. Loss of weights can be significant hazard on a decompression dive
because it can make it difficult or impossible to stay at stop depth.
a. Some tec divers put two quick release buckles on weight
belts to avoid accidental loss.
b. Another option is to wear a crotch strap over a weight belt
to avoid accidental loss. With this approach, it’s recom-
mended that the crotch strap have a quick release so the
weights can be discarded if necessary.
H. Instrumentation
1. You need two ways of determining your decompression require-
ments.
a. The simplest option is to wear two dive computers.
b. The second option is to wear a computer with depth gauge,
timer and decompression tables.
2. For Tec 40, you only need a standard air dive computer or comput-
ers.
a. An EANx compatible computer is recommended – allows
you to benefit from more bottom time with enriched air,
and calculates your oxygen exposure.
b. If you have yet to invest in your dive computers, choose
models that run multiple gases and trimix so you’ll be set
for Tec 45 and beyond.

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3. Arm mounted instruments (other than SPG) are generally preferred

(required at the Tec 45 level and up).
4. Mechanical SPGs are generally preferred because they’re simple and reli-
able.
5. Compass – You need a high quality, liquid filled model if using a standard
compass. Many newer dive computers have electronic compasses. The
compass is commonly carried in a pouch or pocket until needed.
I. Cutting tools
1. You should have a cutting tool, and ideally two (two required at Tec 45
level up). Mount at least one where you can reach it with either hand
(generally waist/chest area).
2. Typical dive knife, dive shears, Z-knife (hook with blade), stainless fold-
ing knives and dive tools are all acceptable.
3. Large, calf-mounted knives/tools are generally avoided in tec diving, espe-
cially cave diving and wreck penetration, because they entangle easily.
J. Guidelines for pockets, accessories and clips
1. Avoid large pocket pouches on harnesses – they cause too much bulk and
clutter.
2. Most useful pockets in tec diving are thigh pockets on your exposure suit.
3. Mount stainless steel or brass clips on accessories to clip to your BCD or
harness. Don’t mount the clips on the BCD or harness.
4. Sliding gate clips (a.k.a. dog clips) are preferred to marine snaps (swing-
ing gate clips), because they won’t accidentally clip to things by them-
selves.
5. Choose clips based on the environment – you need larger clips when
wearing thick gloves.
6. Using and mounting clips
a. When possible, keep accessories in pockets until needed.
b. Clip accessories well out of the way, secured so they don’t dangle.
c. Attach clips so they can break away so you can release in an emer-
gency. The simplest approach is to mount the clip via a small

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o-ring or thin pull tie that breaks with a sharp tug.

K. Stage/deco cylinders
1. A stage cylinder is used to extend the deep portion of the dive. A
deco (decompression) cylinder provides gas (usually with higher
oxygen content) during decompression. They are rigged the same,
so it’s common to call deco cylinders “stages” or “stage cylinders.”
The general term for both is “stage/deco cylinder.” In context, the
terms are seldom confusing.
2. Stage/deco cylinders are worn on the side under the arm, clipped at
the waist and on the chest.
3. A stage/deco cylinder never replaces one of the two regulators/
valves you need from your primary gas supply.
4. As a Tec 40 diver, you will often use a deco cylinder.
a. Some dives at this level do not need a deco cylinder,
because you have enough gas, plus your required reserve,
for the entire dive including decompression.
b. But, a deco cylinder is recommended nonetheless because it
provides extra gas capacity, plus gives you the option of
switching to EANx with a higher oxygen content for added
decompression conservatism. (More about this later).
5. Typical stage/deco cylinder setup
a. The cylinder is typically a 4 litre/30 cf size or larger. The
popular aluminum 11 litre/80 cf has more capacity than you
usually need at the Tec 40 level, but it is commonly avail-
able and easy to handle. It is perfectly acceptable to use –
having too much gas is seldom an issue.
b. The cylinder has a nylon rope/strap approximately 46
cm/18 in, approximately under the valve opening, running
down to a band around the cylinder with a clip at each end.
This serves as a handling strap; the clips attach the cylinder
on your BCD D-rings at the waist and chest/shoulder.
c. The regulator has a single second stage and SPG. Hoses
tuck under inner tubing, bungee or stretch nylon straps
around cylinder.
d. The second stage has break-away clip usually attached to

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the hose close to where it meets the second stage.

e. The SPG may have a very short hose, or a standard length
hose that is tucked along the cylinder length.
f. It’s recommended that the clips be attached via rope or
nylon so you can cut the cylinder free if a clip jams.
g. For safety, stage/deco cylinders are always clearly
marked with the gas blend they contain, the maximum
depth you can breathe the gas (based on the oxygen
partial pressure) and the diver’s name. These markings
are always large and positioned so a team mate can
read them while the cylinder is worn.
L. Lift bags/DSMBs (Delayed Surface Marker Buoys) and reels
1. You may find yourself accidentally away from your planned ascent
line (anchor/mooring line).
2. In this case, your team uses a reel to deploy a lift bag or DSMB.
This gives you an ascent reference, allows surface support person-
nel to track your position, and helps you maintain your decompres-
sion stop in midwater.
3. Suitable lift bags are brightly colored, with large capacities (45
kg/100 lbs lift) preferred. DSMBs are taller and more compact;
they don’t have to have the same lift capacities. Preferred DSMBs
have one-way valves for filling, with overpressure valves. These
keep the buoy inflated even if it topples at the surface momentari-
ly. It is recommended that you write your name on your lift bag/
DSMB for surface support identification.
4. Lift bags are carried rolled up and tucked into special carrying
pockets or put in bungees that stow them horizontally in the small
of the back. DSMBs roll up more compactly, generally, and fit in
harness/BCD pockets or thigh pockets.
5. A suitable reel is compact with ample line to reach the surface.

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6. The reel is clipped to a D-ring on the right hip.

M. Maintenance
1. You rely on your gear for life support. Therefore, maintain it
according to manufacturer recommendations.
2. Have regulators, valves, BCDs and gauges inspected and over-
hauled at least annually, or more frequently for heavy use or as
manufacturer specified.
3. Have anything that doesn’t appear to work normally serviced
before using it.
4. Never tec dive with gear in anything but top shape and within its
design parameters. To do otherwise needlessly raises your risk of
injury or death by starting the dive with a potential problem.
N. Putting it together: basic Tec 40 rig, head to toe
1. Use a cylinder with H or Y valve in a BCD/tec harness.
2. The left side regulator has a short hose second stage. This is the
secondary regulator. It routes to the right and hangs below the chin
on a bungee. The SPG hose goes down along the cylinder; the SPG
has a clip to secure it to waist or chest D-ring (as preferred). Low
pressure hose(s) feeds the dry suit and/or backup BCD (if used).
The valve is open all the way (do not close it back a quarter turn).
3. The right side regulator has a long hose second stage. This is the
primary regulator. It is the last thing you put in place when kitting
up. The hose routes straight down along the cylinder to the hip,
then up across the chest and around the left side of the neck into
the mouth. At the hip, the safety reel lies on top of it to help keep it
in place. The low pressure hose feeds the primary BCD inflator.
There is no SPG. The valve is open all the way (do not close it
back a quarter turn).
4. If using a pony instead of an H/Y valve, the pony goes on the left
side of the main cylinder and takes the left side (secondary) regula-
tor. In this case, the right (primary) regulator has the primary SPG,
which is clipped as described above. The pony/secondary SPG is
clipped low and behind the diver, where it is retrievable but not
easily confused with the primary. It is also clearly marked (label,

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color, etc.) to easily distinguish it from the primary SPG.

5. With double bladder BCDs, the backup inflator is secured behind
the diver so that it is easy to deploy, but not easily confused with
the primary (you only use one BCD bladder at a time).
a. Some divers leave the LP hose disconnected from, but bun-
geed to the backup inflator. This avoids accidental inflation
(leaking inflator valve), but is easily connected for use.
6. Instruments are ideally arm mounted (except SPG), though com-
pact consoles are acceptable in the Tec 40 rig.
7. The weight system is secure, free for ditching. The backup buckle
is secured if used.
8. Mask and fins are preadjusted and inspected, secured so they can’t
slip out of adjustment.

Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-2

1. Tec 40 has less stringent equipment requirements than the standardized techni-
cal rig, because the limits of Tec 40 diving keep you within recreational depth
limits and a relatively short decompression time.
o True
o False
2. You cannot use the same fins you use in recreational diving for Tec 40 diving.
o True
o False
3. The recommended valve type for the Tec 40 kit is
o a. the standard yoke valve.
o b. a J reserve valve.
o c. an H or Y valve, DIN system.
o d. a J or K valve, yoke system.
4. The minimum number of fully independent regulators, per diver, is
o a. 1
o b. 2
o c. 3
o d. 6

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5. You can use any BCD with D-rings or attachment hardware at the shoulder/
waist for the Tec 40 kit.
o True
o False
6. Choose an exposure suit for a tec dive based on __________. (choose all that
apply)
o a. depth
o b. duration
o c. temperature
o d. activity level
7. You never use a weight belt while tec diving.
o True
o False
8. For the Tec 40 level, a single computer is all the instrumentation you need.
o True
o False
9. At the Tec 40 level, you should have at least one cutting tool, but it’s recom-
mended you have two.
o True
o False
10. General guidelines regarding pockets, accessories and clips include (check all
that apply):
o a. mount clips to the accessories.
o b. attach clips so they can break away.
o c. thigh pockets on your exposure suit are a good option.
o d. marine (swing gate) clips are the best choice.
11. At the Tec 40 level, a stage/deco cylinder will be used to
o a. carry a decompression gas.
o b. carry gas to extend the deepest portion of the dive.
o c. both a or b.
o d. None of the above.

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12. A stage/deco cylinder is always marked with the gas it has in it, the maximum depth
and the diver’s name.
o True
o False
13. You may need a lift bag/DSMB and reel
o a. as a backup BCD.
o b. in case you lose track of your ascent point.
o c. to open a shipwreck hatch
14. A suitable lift bag or DSMB should have ample lift and be blue or gray.
o True
o False
15. Never, ever tec dive with gear that’s in anything less than top shape.
o True
o False
16. The primary regulator (choose all that apply)
o a. goes on the right.
o b. has a long hose second stage.
o c. has the primary BCD low pressure hose.
o d. goes on the left.

How did you do?

1. True. 2. False. The same fins you use recreational diving are usually suitable for the
Tec 40 level. 3. c. 4. b. 5. True. 6. a, b, c, d. 7. False. A weight belt is a common option
in tec diving. 8. False. You need at least two computers, or one computer and a depth
gauge, timer and decompression tables. You should also have SPGs and a compass. 9.
True. 10. a, b, c. 11. a. 12. True. 13. b. 14. False. It should be red, yellow or some other
bright color. 15. True. 16. a, b, c.

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Manual Supported Content

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 84-87, Oxygen Compatibility
Review, Manufacturer Warranties and Hyperoxic Gases

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What are the guidelines regarding material and equipment compatibility using enriched
air with more than 40 percent oxygen?
O. Oxygen compatibility review
1. As you recall from your Enriched Air Diver course, using gas blends with
more than 21 percent oxygen calls for special equipment considerations to
avoid fire and/or explosion hazards.
a. As a Tec 40 diver, you will be qualified to use EANx up to and
including 50 percent oxygen – the higher the oxygen content, the
more important this issue is.
2. Any equipment (regulator, valve, cylinder) that will be exposed to a gas
with more than 40 percent oxygen, or pure oxygen, at any time (including
during blending) must be rated for oxygen service.
a. It must be oxygen clean – free of contaminants.
b. It must be oxygen compatible – made from materials that don’t
combust easily in oxygen.
3. Follow manufacturer recommendations regarding use with air, enriched air
or oxygen. Some manufacturers require oxygen service for any enriched
air, and some limit the oxygen percentage. However, you may have to
make some compromises. [Provide updated information on the oxygen
compatibility issue as available.] [See Note to Students.]
4. If you expose oxygen service equipment to nonoxygen clean gases or other
contaminants, the equipment is no longer oxygen clean or oxygen service
rated.
a. Example: Using an oxygen service regulator on a standard air cylin-
der – the regulator is considered contaminated.
b. Example: Filling an oxygen service cylinder from a standard scuba
air source – standard scuba air (Grade E) is not oxygen clean, and
the cylinder must then be re oxygen cleaned. (In the U.S. you must

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use Grade E Modified or Grade J).

5. Leave enriched air cylinder tags in place for removal by blender – this allows
blender to confirm that the cylinder was not refilled by nonoxygen clean air
source.
6. To minimize the heat of compression, open cylinder valves slowly and allow
equipment to pressurize slowly when using enriched air and oxygen.
7. Protect oxygen service equipment from contamination by keeping it bagged and
sealed from the environment until needed. Rinse and stow oxygen service equip-
ment as soon as possible after use, and keep it away from areas or exhaust that
may have oil or other contamination.
8. The general guideline is to have oxygen service equipment recleaned annually.
9. Violating guidelines regarding oxygen compatibility carries a severe risk of injury
and/or property damage caused by fire and/or explosion.

Note to Students:
[Read this to student divers if the DSAT Tec Deep Diver Manual is not in a language
they can understand.[
You’re learning to use enriched air nitrox with more than 40 percent oxygen and/or pure
oxygen to extend no stop time and benefit decompression. Their use verges on the essential for
decompression after long, deep dives. The use of higher oxygen probably lessens the risk of de-
compression sickness, because it is generally believed that for a given a decompression model, a
schedule requiring shorter stops is more reliable than a schedule requiring longer stops. Without
the high oxygen, you’d face impractically long decompression stops. Therefore, when a diver can
get out of the water quicker (accelerated decompression), it reduces the exposure to others risks as
diverse as marine predators, hypothermia, getting separated from the boat in strong currents, and
so on.
Technical diving is undoubtedly safer with the use of high oxygen gases than it would be
without them, which is why it is a standard practice in the tec diving community. Using hyperoxic
gases, however, is not without some risk and controversy. Outside of issues you’ve learned related
to central nervous system and pulmonary oxygen toxicity, the greatest hazard comes from the risk
of fire. That’s why, as you’ve learned, any high pressure device coming in contact with a gas with
more than 40 percent oxygen (or less than 40 percent if specified by the manufacturer) must be
cleaned and dedicated for use with pure oxygen.
That’s easy to say, but not as easily done.
At this writing, relatively few equipment manufacturers in the dive industry warrant the use of any
of their equipment with pure oxygen. A few do, but others specifically warn against using their
equipment with enriched air nitrox mixtures containing greater than 40 percent oxygen. Yet, you
will still learn in this course to use proper oxygen service equipment with hyperoxic gases includ-
ing pure oxygen.

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Basically it comes down to balancing the risks: the risk of getting seriously hurt or
killed due to decompression sickness against the risk of getting seriously hurt or
killed due to fire or explosion. Most tec divers believe – and accident data sup-
port – that provided you’re using properly cleaned and compatible equipment, not
using oxygen is a far greater risk than using it. In fact, while plenty of divers have
been bent over the years, as of this writing only a handful – perhaps only one or
two -- has been seriously injured as a result of an oxygen fire using a hyperoxic
gas in a technical scuba diving context. And, that is in the context of tens of thou-
sands of dives (at least) made with such mixtures over the past decade.
In the end the choice will be yours. If you decide to stick with the strict manufac-
turer’s guidelines for your regulators, tanks, valves, and SPGs, you may have to
choose decompression gases with no more than 40 percent oxygen. But if so, you
must then be willing to accept the risks attendant to the lengthier decompression
times involved.
Most of the technical diving community believes that, the manufacturers’
warnings notwithstanding, you are better off in technical diving to use oxygen and
other hyperoxic mixes than not. The risk of fire and explosion is real and is, yet
again, another risk you must personally assume before getting involved in techni-
cal diving. To manage and minimize that risk, be certain that any equipment you
will use with a gas with more than 40 percent oxygen has been serviced for that
use by a qualified professional.

III. Gas Planning – EAD review, oxygen limits, SAC and gas
supply requirements, oxygen toxicity and exposure

Manual Supported Content

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 35-50, Gas Planning I,
Tec Exercise 1.3

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What is an Equivalent Air Depth (EAD) and how do you find it?
2. What are the maximum recommended oxygen partial pressures for deep techni-
cal diving?
3. What determines the maximum depth to which you can use an enriched air
blend during the working (bottom) phase of the dive?
4. What determines the maximum depth to which you can use an enriched air
blend during the decompression/safety stop phase of a dive?

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5. How do you find your Surface Air Consumption (SAC) rate?

6. How do you use your SAC rate to estimate your gas supply requirements
for a given depth and time?
7. How do you determine your reserve gas supply ?
8. How do you determine how much gas a cylinder has?
9. What are CNS oxygen toxicity and pulmonary oxygen toxicity, and what causes each?
10. What are the signs and symptoms of CNS oxygen toxicity?
11. What are the signs and symptoms of pulmonary oxygen toxicity?
12. What is the so-called “CNS clock”?
13. What are Oxygen Tolerance Units (OTUs)?
14. What methods do you use for managing oxygen exposure?
15. What is the primary way you avoid CNS oxygen toxicity while diving
with air, enriched air or pure oxygen?

A. Equivalent Air Depth (EAD)

1. As you recall, the EAD is an adjusted depth on air tables when diving with
EANx.
2. EANx has less nitrogen than air; therefore the EAD is less than the actual
depth.
3. You find the EAD by:
a. using formulas [write out for students]

b. Looking it up on tables such as the DSAT Equivalent Air Depth Table

or the Equivalent Air Depth and Oxygen Management Table found in
the Tec Deep Diver Manual Appendix. Remember to express the frac-
tion of oxygen as a decimal; e.g. 32% oxygen, use .32.

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c. Using desk top decompression software like you’ll be applying in this

course. [Intro this only – software will be covered in more detail later.]
[With the class, use tables or formulas to find several EADs for depths to
40 metres/130 feet using various blends. This is primarily a review/update
from recreational enriched air training.]
4. Enriched air dive computers automatically determine EADs in their calculations.
B. Maximum depth
1. As you recall, in recreational enriched air diving, the maximum oxygen partial
pressure (PO2) is 1.4 ata/bar.
2. Technical diving uses the same limit for the bottom or working part of dive.
a. The maximum depth to which you can use an EANx blend or oxygen added
during the decompression phase comes from the depth at which you reach a
PO2 of 1.6 ata/bar (contingency maximum in recreational enriched air div-
ing).
b. Limiting your PO2 to a more conservative limit is a good idea when possi-
ble, especially if you may have to exert yourself during decompression (due
to current, etc.)
c. Note to imperial system divers: The PO2 of pure oxygen at 20 feet of sea-
water is 1.61 – the .01 difference is ignored because it’s physiologically
insignificant, and the depth difference is less than 3 inches. Although you
won’t use pure oxygen at the Tec 40 level, higher level tec divers routinely
use oxygen at 20 feet.
3. As with the EADs, you find your PO2s and maximum depths by:
a. Using formulas.

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b. Looking them up on tables such as the DSAT Equivalent Air Depth Table or
the Maximum Depths Table found in the Appendix of the Tec Deep Diver
Manual (formulas are in the Appendix, too.)
c. Using desk top decompression software like you’ll be applying in this course.
[Go through one or two problems to find PO2s at different depths and maxi-
mum working phase and decompression phase depths, for different blends for-
mulas. Then use the tables, which is the simplest and most practical method.]
C. Gas consumption
1. In this course, you’ll learn to plan gas use based on how fast you consume it.
a. Your Surface Air Consumption (SAC) rate is the rate you use gas (in litres or
cubic feet per minute) if swimming at a moderate speed in all your equipment
at the surface.
b. SAC changes with equipment and anything else affecting drag.
c. SAC changes as you gain skill and fitness, and with physical variables such as
temperature.
d. SAC can be expressed in bar/psi per minute, or gas volume per minute.
e. You’ll also hear references to Respiratory Minute Volume (RMV), and it is
often the term used in decompression software. The medical community
defines RMV as:

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RMV = Vt -Vd x respiratory rate

where Vt = tidal volume, Vd = respiratory dead air space and respi-
ratory rate = breaths per minute.

• Tec divers sometimes use RMV to mean SAC rate based on

volume – this is not technically accurate, but close enough.
• You’ll hear SAC rate and RMV used interchangeably; this is
fine, but do not confuse SAC rate based on bar/psi with
SAC rate based on volume. They’re not the same thing.

2. Finding your SAC rate – use this formula:

[Make up other examples and work through them until you’re confident students
understand and can apply the formula.]
Emphasis Note to Students Sometimes SAC is determined as bar or psi in-
stead of volume per minute. This isn’t useful in technical diving because bar/
psi per minute depends upon the specific cylinder type.

3. You may want to determine your SAC rate at rest for decompression/safety
stop planning, so you will know both your working SAC rate and your decompres-
sion SAC rate.
4. You need to adjust your SAC rate up or down based on your expected exer-
tion during the dive. When in doubt, estimate upward.
5. As you gain experience, your SAC rate tends to get smaller; check periodi-
cally and when making substantial equipment changes.
6. Estimating your gas requirements for a given depth:
a. You’ll use your SAC rate to estimate gas supply requirements. At
the Tec 40 level you will do this by entering your SAC rate into
decompression software, which calculates your gas supplies for
you. But, you should know how it is calculated so you can recog-
nize should your software be off (usually due to entry errors).
b. To determine your estimated gas supply requirement for a given
depth:

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[Go through several examples until you’re confident students

understand and can apply the concept.]
7. Reserve
a. Since gas supplies are estimates, to allow for the unforeseen, you
always plan a reserve. The most common reserve for technical div-
ing is 33 percent (“thirds” or “rule of thirds”). This means 33 percent
of your supply is purely for contingency use. The higher the percent,
the more reserve.
b. To determine your gas requirements with reserve, use this formula:

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or

gas required ÷ .66 = total gas

D. Actual gas supply

1. Once you know how much gas you need, you also need to know how much
gas you have when you start the dive. Note that while software will calcu-
late how much gas you need, there are not many programs that calculate
how much you have – you have to do it. To do so, you calculate the vol-
ume based on the pressure. How you do this varies slightly with the metric
and imperial systems.
2. Metric system: Cylinders are designated by their nonpressurized internal
volume in litres. Simply multiply the designated volume by the pressure in
bar; for doubles, multiply that by two:
Example: An 11 litre cylinder has 185 bar in it. What is the available gas
supply?
Answer: 2035 litres. (11 x 185 = 2035 litres).
3. Imperial system: Cylinders are designated by their capacity in cubic feet at
their working pressure.
a. One way to find gas supply is to divide the actual pressure by the
working pressure and multiply that by the designated capacity.
(A/W x C = cubic feet)

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Example: An 80 cubic foot cylinder, working pressure 3000

psi, has 2500 psi in it. What is the available gas supply?
Answer: 66.6 cubic feet. (2500 ÷ 3000 = .83, .83 x 80 =
66.6 cubic feet)
b. Another, more popular way is the baseline method. A base-
line is how many cubic feet cylinders hold per psi, which
you multiply by the actual psi.
• To get the baseline, divide the designated capacity
by the working pressure. Then multiply the result
by the actual pressure.
Example: An 80 cubic foot cylinder, working pressure 3000
psi, has 2500 psi in it. What is the available gas supply?
Answer: 66.8 cubic feet. (To get the baseline: 80 ÷ 3000 =
.0267; .0267 x 2500 = 66.8) Note the slight difference with
the previous example due to rounding.
Example: A set of double 80 cubic foot cylinders, working
pressure 3000 psi, have 1850 psi in them. What is the avail-
able gas supply? Answer: 132.5 cubic feet. (To get the
baseline: 80 x 2 ÷ 3000 = .053; .053 x 1850 = 98.05)
• The advantage of the baseline method is that you
can determine the baselines for the cylinders you
use frequently and record them in your log book.
Then you only have to multiply the cylinder base-
line by your SPG reading to determine the gas vol-
ume you have.
4. Keep in mind that the popular designation may be rounded.
(Example, some types of the imperial system aluminum “80” actu-
ally hold 78.2 cubic feet at the working pressure). This normally
isn’t a huge issue, but may be if your required gas supply and sup-
ply available are very close.
5. If you find your gas supply available isn’t adequate for the dive
you’ve planned, you need to recalculate a shorter dive, or get more
gas to cover the dive.

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E. Oxygen toxicity
1. You recall that exposure to high oxygen partial pressures can cause Central
Nervous System (CNS) oxygen toxicity and pulmonary oxygen toxicity.
2. Unacceptable risk of CNS toxicity results from an exposure to a PO2 above
1.4 ata/bar during the working phase of the dive and 1.6 ata/bar during the
resting/decompression phase.
a. The primary symptom/sign is a convulsion, which can cause drown-
ing underwater.
b. Warning signs/symptoms usually do not precede a convulsion, but if
they do, include visual disturbances, ear ringing or sounds, nausea,
twitching in facial muscles, irritability and restlessness, and dizzi-
ness. (Remember VENTID - vision, ears, nausea, twitching, irritabil-
ity, dizziness)
c. You must accept the risk that, under rare circumstances, CNS oxygen
toxicity can occur at lower PO2s than 1.4/1.6.
d. Although your risk diminishes when you drop your PO2, you can
still have a convulsion after ascending or switching to a gas with less
oxygen.
3. Pulmonary toxicity results from long term exposure to PO2s above .5 ata. It
is not immediately life threatening.
a. Signs/symptoms include lung irritation, a burning sensation in the
chest, coughing and reduced vital capacity.
b. Although highly unlikely in recreational enriched air diving, pulmo-
nary toxicity is possible in technical diving, especially after using
oxygen for decompression.
F. Managing oxygen exposure
1. You manage oxygen exposure to avoid both forms of oxygen toxicity.
2. The DSAT Oxygen Exposure Table and other variations on the “CNS clock”
are one way to manage pulmonary toxicity.
a. It is based on allocating exposure as a percentage of the maximum
allowed by NOAA oxygen limits. (See the Oxygen Limits Table in
the Appendix of the Tec Deep Diver Manual.)
b. It is misnamed the “CNS clock” because the methodology was
thought (somewhat inaccurately) to manage CNS exposure. Actually,
it primarily manages pulmonary oxygen toxicity.
c. You’ll learn more about using the CNS “clock” in the Tec 45 and Tec
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50 courses. Provided you keep your PO2 above 1.4 bot-

tom/1.6 deco, oxygen toxicity is highly unlikely within Tec
40 dive limits.
3. Oxygen Tolerance Units (OTUs) also manage pulmonary toxicity.
a. OTUs are dose units of oxygen assigned based on daily
exposures and cumulative exposures.
b. You’ll learn more about OTUs and using them in the Tec
45 and Tec 50 courses.
4. Whether using air, enriched air or oxygen, the primary methods for
tracking pulmonary toxicity-related oxygen exposure are:
a. OTUs/CNS clock by using tables and formulas (more about
these in the Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses).
b. OTUs/CNS clock automatically tracked by a dive computer
(far more practical – one way you will track oxygen expo-
sure as a Tec 40 diver).
c. OTUs/CNS clock automatically calculated by decompres-
sion software (more practical, and useful for planning dives
with dive computers – you will also do this as a Tec 40
diver).
5. Whether using air, enriched air or oxygen, the primary method for
managing CNS toxicity related oxygen exposure is to keep your
PO2 at or less than 1.4 ata/bar (working or bottom phase) or 1.6
ata/bar (decompression/safety stop phase).
a. CNS toxicity is very unpredictable when a diver exceeds 1.4
- 1.6 ata/bar PO2. Because there are too many strong phys-
iological variables, there is not a useful relationship
between exposure and partial pressure. The same diver can
have no problems at high PO2 for hours one dive, and con-
vulse in minutes at a lower PO2 in another.
b. Stay well within limits – there’s generally no real dive time
benefit or decompression advantage of pushing them.

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G. The Equivalent Air Depth and Oxygen Management Tables in the Appendix of the
Tec Deep Diver Manual list EADs, PO2s, “CNS clock” percent per minute and
OTU per minute for 21 percent oxygen through pure oxygen. You will not need to
use these as a Tec 40 diver, but you should be beginning to understand why these
concepts are increasingly important as you dive deeper and make longer decom-
pressions using gases with up to 100 percent oxygen.

Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-3

Study assignment: Tec 40 Handout 3

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What is the maximum oxygen blend you would use as the bottom gas for a dive to 40
metres/130 feet?
2. What is the maximum percentage of oxygen you will use as a Tec 40 diver?

H. As a Tec 40 diver, your maximum allowable depth is 40 metres/130 feet.

1. Using the maximum depth tables on pages 266 and 267, you find that
EANx28 is the highest oxygen content gas blend you can use at 40
metres/130 feet (PO2 = 1.4 ata/bar).
2. You may use blends with more oxygen, but at increasingly shallower maxi-
mum depths.
3. With blends that have 36 percent or more oxygen, your maximum depth is
so shallow and your no decompression time is so long that you probably
won’t have to make decompression dives at all.
I. The maximum oxygen percentage you’re qualified to use as a Tec 40 diver is 50
percent (EANx50). You will normally use this as a decompression gas (you can use
it as a bottom gas, but the maximum depth is 18 metres/59 feet – you will probably
not need to decompress on such a dive).
1. The maximum depth for using EANx50 as a decompression gas (PO2 = 1.6)
is 21m/70 ft (See the Equivalent Air Depth and Oxygen Management Tables
for 50% on pgs 274 & 288).

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2. You may be carrying EANx50 (or other deco gas) to a depth deeper than
you can safely breathe it. It is critical to follow all gas handling proce-
dures to avoid accidentally switching to it at too deep a depth. You
will learn and practice these procedures beginning with Tec 40 Training
Dive One.

Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-3

1. The maximum oxygen enriched air you would use as bottom gas for a dive to 40
metres/130 feet is
o a. EANx28.
o b. EANx32.
o c. EANx36.
o d. EANx50.
2. The maximum oxygen content enriched air that you’re qualified to use as a Tec 40
diver is
o a. EANx28.
o b. EANx32.
o c. EANx36.
o d. EANx50.
How did you do?
1. a. 2. d.

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IV. Team Diving

Manual Supported Content
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 51-54, Team Diving I, Tec Exercise
1.4

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What is meant by “team diving”?
2. What are four benefits of team diving?
3. What are your responsibilities as a team member when technical diving?
4. What is the rule regarding aborting a technical dive?

A. The team concept

1. Technical diving employs the team diving concept. Team diving is the
buddy system taken to the next emphasis level.
2. The team diving philosophy is that technical divers work as a team with
focus on integrating team members’ needs and efforts during predive checks,
meeting equipment requirements, planning and executing the dive, and other
details. Team diving treats the dive as a mission with a specific purpose the
team pursues together with a common goal, rather than as just an underwa-
ter visit.
B. Team benefits include:
1. higher likelihood of mission success based on detailed dive planning.
2. preparedness and resources for handling complex emergencies.
3. accident reduction by being each other’s “back up brains” during predive
checks and throughout the dive.
4. the camaraderie that comes from facing a challenge together.
C. As a team diver, you have responsibilities:
1. Be self sufficient, even in an emergency. You plan your dives so you can
respond to emergencies independently; your team mates may make it easier
and provide a Plan B if necessary, but not as your primary responses to an
emergency.
2. Don’t let the team carry you beyond your limits. Otherwise, you can’t stay
self sufficient.

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3. Watch your team mates as closely as you watch yourself. After you
check your gear, check their gear. After confirming what gas
you’re breathing, confirm what gas they’re breathing, etc.
4. When necessary, surrender your individual preferences to the team
needs. As you’ll learn, for example, generally all team members
dive with the same gases. You may prefer a different blend for a
specific dive, but team unity may be more important. If you ever
feel such a team choice compromises safety, it’s your responsibili-
ty to decline the dive.
5. Do not exert peer pressure, and do not succumb to peer pressure.
All team members need to be confident about their ability to suc-
cessfully perform the dive.
D. Team size– what is the “right” size for a team?
1. Preferred size varies with the divers, dive objective and other vari-
ables, but is typically two to four divers, not counting support div-
ers (when present).
2. Many tec divers think of three divers as an optimum number in
many circumstances, because in the event a team member has a
problem, it provides two divers to assist the one.
3. However, this is not a “rule” or “standard.” Two divers and more
than three are also common team sizes, and work effectively.
4. On some projects, the “team” may be very large – 10 to 15 divers
working toward a common goal – though this is usually composed
of smaller subteams of two or three to make things manageable.
E. To negate peer pressure effects, all responsible technical divers adhere to
and honor a rule that originated with cave diving: Any diver can abort
any dive at any time for any reason.

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V. Techniques and Procedures

Manual Supported Content
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 54-59, Techniques and Procedures
I, Tec Exercise 1.5, pgs 107-109, Team Diving Gas Handling Considerations, Tec
Exercise 2.4 questions 4-8, pgs 115-122, Techniques and Procedures III, Tec
Exercise 2.5
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What general elements does a technical diving predive check cover?
2. How do you determine the minimum weight you need for a technical dive?
3. What is the primary hazard of diving negatively buoyant, and how do you manage this
hazard?
4. What is the primary hazard of excessive positive buoyancy, and how do you manage this
hazard?
5. How do you determine the minimum buoyancy you need on a technical dive?
6. What are the techniques for using a dry suit and BCD?
7. What is the technique for using a redundant (double bladder) BCD?
8. What is a descent check and when do you do it?
9. Why do all team members on a technical dive usually use the same gases?
10. What four markings should on every cylinder used in a technical dive?
11. What cylinder markings should be easily read by your team mates while wearing the
cylinder?
12. Why must the cylinders be marked as described?
13. Who must check the pressure and oxygen analysis of every cylinder used in a technical
dive?
14. What is the most important skill you need for decompressing and why?
15. When decompressing, what is the ideal body position and where should you put your
stop depth in relation to your body?
16. What is the proper ascent rate on a decompression dive?
17. What is the procedure for putting on a stage/deco cylinder?
18. In what order should you stack stage/deco cylinders?
19. What is the procedure for removing and leaving a stage/deco cylinder?
20. What is one of the most preventable causes of death in technical diving?
21. What are five guidelines that reduce the chance of accidentally switching to an unsafe
gas blend at depth?

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23. What is the procedure for switching gases underwater?

23. What is the recall acronym for gas switching, and what does it stand for?

[Note to instructor: To avoid confusion, the objectives and outline below follow the sequence
of the content as found in the Tec Deep Diver Manual.]

A. As in recreational diving, you begin a technical dive with a predive check. It’s simi-
lar to the one you perform in recreational diving, only more extensive. (Get in the
habit of using a preprinted checklist, such as on the TecRec Dive Planning
Checklist.) You’ll learn and practice it in detail later, but in general the team covers
these elements:
1. All equipment and back up equipment set up and functioning.
2. Gas supplies – contents, quantities and proper marking.
3. Decompression status monitoring– computers/tables and back ups, and their
compatibility.
4. Equipment rigging and configuration – all secure, properly located and rout-
ed, all team members know where to find each other’s gear.
B. Buoyancy and weighting for technical diving
1. You weight yourself so you can stay at 5 metres/15 feet with a near empty
cylinder (for Tec 40) or doubles and no stage/deco cylinders. This would be
the worst-case during a decompression dive.
2. You find your weight by wearing all your gear and doing a conventional
buoyancy check with 35 bar/500 psi or less in your cylinder(s). Weight your-
self so you float at eye level, or slightly sink. This is the minimum for that
gear configuration.
3. With the heavy cylinders and in warm water that requires minimal thermal
protection, you may be negatively buoyant even with no weight on. This is
acceptable; you don’t need any more weight.
4. With full cylinders, you may be substantially heavier. A single will be as
much as 3.5 kg/7.5 lbs heavier, and doubles than 7 kg/15 lbs. Full stage/
decompression cylinder(s) add even more weight.
a. The primary hazard of diving negatively buoyant is having a BCD
failure that makes it effectively impossible to ascend.

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b. This is not usually an issue in a Tec 40 rig unless you’re wearing

very little buoyant thermal protection. It is, however, commonly a
concern with heavy double cylinders.
c. You manage this by having more than one way of regaining buoyan-
cy control:
• Redundant BCD (two bladders)
• BCD and dry suit.
• For the heaviest diving, a dry suit may not supply sufficient
buoyancy, and you may need a redundant BCD even with the
dry suit.
5. The primary hazard of positive buoyancy is the inability to make required
decompression stops, and/or a rapid ascent, leading to a high risk of decom-
pression illness. You manage this risk by:
a. checking your weight with near-empty cylinders so that you’re ade-
quately weighted at maximum buoyancy.
b. using two weight belt buckles or other methods of reducing risk of
accidental loss of weight.
c. some divers use heavy backplates and/or thread weight onto their
upper harness – this may eliminate the need for a weight system
entirely.
6. The minimum buoyancy you need for a technical dive is sufficient buoyancy
to float your head comfortably above the surface while wearing the entire
kit you need for the dive, including all cylinders, full.
7. Choose your BCD lift capacity with this in mind. Check its buoyancy in
water shallow enough in which to stand. You use double BCDs one at a time
– they don’t double your lift.
8. Buoyancy control underwater
a. With a wet suit, you add and release air from your BCD to control
your buoyancy, just as you do recreational diving.
b. With a dry suit, a heavier rig may require too much buoyancy to off-
set with suit inflation. In that case, you use both your BCD and
inflate your dry suit. This differs from the recreational diving prac-
tice of dry suit only underwater. You inflate your dry suit just enough
to offset squeeze.
c. During descents hold your BCD inflator over your dry suit inflator
so you can inflate both one-handed.
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d. During ascents, set the dry suit dump valve to release expanding gas
automatically. Raise the shoulder with the valve, while dumping gas
from your BCD manually.
e. With redundant BCDs, you do not use the back up unless your pri-
mary BCD fails. Inflating both simultaneously can cause the entire
BCD system to fail. If your primary fails, switch to the backup, and
use it just as you would the primary as you end the dive.
C. Descent checks
1. Technical divers check each other again after entering the water. Depending
on the dive, this may be just under the surface or by pausing in the 5
metres/15 foot to 6 metre/20 foot range, or at the depth where you stage
your first deco cylinder.
2. The team uses the descent check to look for gas leaks (bubble check), con-
firm gear operation and double check rigging.
3. You’ll learn the details of descent checks and practice them later in this
course.
D. Team Diving Gas Handling Considerations
1. Dive team members usually plan to dive using the same gases throughout
the dive, for several reasons:
a. In a gas supply emergency, team mates can use each other’s without
compromising the deco schedule.
b. It reduces confusion about what gas a team mate should be breathing
at a given depth.
c. It allows team mates to share deco schedule in case of lost tables/
computer failure, etc.
d. It keeps the team together, because all will have similar limits and
decompression stop schedules.
2. On a technical dive, all cylinders (singles, doubles, stage bottles, decom-
pression bottles, etc.) require the four following markings:
a. Color coding/marks to identify gas as appropriate in local dive com-
munity or according to local regulations. Include:
• Enriched air nitrox normally has a wide green band with yel-
low borders, and is labeled “nitrox” or “enriched air nitrox,”
or other markings as required by local law/regulations.

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• Oxygen normally is all white or all green with large label

“oxygen”.
• Trimix (oxygen, helium & nitrogen) is varied – commonly
black, blue and green.
• Argon for dry suits usually has a large “ARGON – DO
NOT BREATHE” label.
b. The analyzed content is large enough and placed so team mates
can read it easily while worn (5 - 8 cm/ 2 - 3 in characters is typi-
cal size). For example: “EANx60” or “100% OXYGEN”
c. Near the content, the maximum depth the gas can be breathed safe-
ly (based on PO2 1.4 ata for cylinders used on “working” part of
dive and 1.6 ata for cylinders used only for decompression/safety
stops), is large enough and placed so team mates can read it easily
while worn(5 - 8 cm/ 2 - 3 in characters is typical size).
For Example: “6 METRES” or “50 FEET”
d. The diver’s name.
3. As you learned during the PADI Enriched Air Diver course, cylinder
markings are important for your safety so you don’t breathe the wrong gas
by accident. In technical diving, cylinder markings are important for safe-
ty, because they:
a. identify whose cylinder is whose so you dive the cylinders you
checked.
b. clearly identify what is in each cylinder and the maximum depth
you can breathe from it, reducing oxygen toxicity or decompres-
sion sickness risk.
c. make it possible for team mates to easily check what each other is
breathing.
d. reduce confusion during task loading by being easy to read, even
at a distance.
e. are an additional check/confirmation of cylinder contents.

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4. Additional markings may include

a. Fill date
b. Blender’s name and analysis
c. In areas where recreational divers might recover “lost” cylinders, a
label reading “Decompression Gas – Do Not Remove” may alert
divers that the cylinders are not abandoned and should be left in
place.
5. Commercially made labels for markings are preferred, but duct tape and a
permanent black marker work in a pinch.
6. All divers must personally check the pressure and analyze the contents of
every cylinder they will use. There are no exceptions.
a. In tec diving, you analyze the gas right before the dive as you set
up, even if you’ve analyzed it earlier.
E. Decompression stops
[Note to student: The following sections include decompression stop related dis-
cussions. It’s important to understand the concepts involved, although some of
what you learn will apply primarily after you move to the Tec 45 level and
beyond. Also, they may apply to other divers you’re with.]
1. The most important skill when it comes to making decompression stops is
precise buoyancy control and the ability to maintain depth for extended
periods. This is important because:
a. decompression stops are more critical than safety stops – signifi-
cant variation can affect the quality of decompression.
b. descending while breathing a high oxygen gas can raise the PO2
above 1.6, risking oxygen toxicity and drowning.
c. Although you can often use a line or the bottom to help maintain
stop depth, you’ll practice making stops using primarily buoyancy
control.
2. When decompressing, keep the stop depth at about mid-chest level. The
ideal deco position is horizontal in the water as if swimming (not always
possible, nor essential, but this position theoretically maximizes the avail-
able lung surface area for gas exchange).
3. Your deco software or dive computer dictates the maximum ascent rate.
Note that on decompression dives using air/enriched air, the most common
rate is 10 m/30 ft per minute.

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4. Pay close attention to decompression technique as you practice and

learn. Although not typical at the Tec 40 level, as you move to the Tec
45 level and beyond, decompression can be two or three times longer
than your time on the bottom.
F. Donning and removing stage/deco cylinders
1. Normally you put on your main cylinder(s) and other gear and enter the
water, then put on stage or deco cylinders in the water. If you stage
(remove and place somewhere for later retrieval) your stage/deco cylin-
ders, you remove them underwater on the way out, then replace them
underwater when you return to them.
a. It is not always possible to put on your stage or deco cylinders
in the water; you may have to don them before entering the
water.
[Note to student: At the Tec 40 level, you will usually wear your decompres-
sion cylinder the entire time, though you may don and remove it in the water
before and after the dive. You may also need to remove it underwater to pass
to a team mate in a gas sharing emergency. Although you don’t use multiple
deco cylinders as a Tec 40 diver, in a gas sharing emergency you may end up
wearing a second deco cylinder passed to you by a teammate.]
2. Follow these steps for donning a cylinder.
a. Confirm all hoses are still secured by bands to avoid entangle-
ment.
b. Hold the bottom clip with your left hand and clip it to the left
hip D-ring. (When you wear only one stage/deco cylinder as at
the Tec 40 and Tec 45 levels, it is typically on the left.).
c. Swing the bottle up and secure the upper clip to the chest
D-ring. (A few divers choose to reverse this sequence).
d. Confirm that the cylinder hasn’t trapped any gear you need to
access.
e. Confirm that the valve is closed, though the regulator may be
pressurized.
3. For multiple cylinders
a. A second cylinder may go on the right, though if scootering (not
part of the Tec Diver course), it is common to wear all stage/
deco cylinders on the left. Some divers prefer to wear them all
on the left (aluminum) regardless.
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b. If wearing a second cylinder on the right, be sure the long hose

ends up outside the clips and D-rings so the cylinder does not trap
it.
c. When stacking cylinders (a second chest/shoulder D-ring on the
same side may help)
• The cylinder you will stage (leave) first or use first (while
worn) goes on top.
• The cylinder you’re breathing from goes on top.
d. If carrying right and left, always put the same cylinders in the
same place. The tec community standard is to wear the higher oxy-
gen cylinder on the right (right – rich, left – lean).
4. Removing a stage/deco cylinder
a. You typically do this before exiting the water onto a boat, or when
staging a cylinder at the beginning of a dive for later retrieval and
use.
b. Confirm that the valve is closed and that all hoses are tucked and
secure. The valve must be closed to assure no gas loss while the
cylinder is unattended.
c. Unclip the cylinder from the upper chest D-ring. (Some divers pre-
fer to release the hip D-ring first.)
d. Hold the cylinder by the strap/lower clip and release it from the
hip D-ring.
e. If staging (leaving cylinders on the bottom), the entire team stages
together. Place the cylinder where it will not roll or slide, etc., with
the second stage up and out of the mud/sand. Reconfirm that the
valve is closed and the hoses are pressurized before leaving it, and
reconfirm that you’re leaving the cylinder you intend to. You and
your team mates check each other’s cylinder labels.
f. Stage in order, so that when you switch gases, the cylinder you
need is on top (if you stack them).

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5. Staging and retrieving on the fly (while swimming)

a. After you’re comfortable removing and replacing a cylinder station-
ary, you learn to do so while swimming. This saves time, and may
also be important in a gas sharing emergency situation.
b. Begin by removing the cylinder while swimming as you approach
the stage point. Stop and stage it quickly, remembering you’ll need
to reduce your buoyancy slightly when you let it go.
c. When retrieving cylinder, pick it up and continue swimming (if it’s
not your stop depth) as you put the cylinder on.
d. When ascending to a deco stop, if you’re close to your bottom time
and your first stop is shallower than where you staged your deco cyl-
inder, don’t waste time donning it at the staged depth. Simply grab it,
clip the upper clip to your chest D-ring and continue. Don it com-
pletely after reaching your decompression stop depth.
e. You’ll start learning to do this on Tec 40 Training Dive Two.
G. Gas switches underwater
1. Switching from one gas blend to another is the primary tool for efficient
decompression.
2. However, one of the most common preventable causes of technical diver
deaths is switching to the wrong gas (too high oxygen) for the depth. As a
result, the diver convulses and drowns.
3. To prevent this, apply the following guidelines (not all are possible on all
dives, but all dives allow you to apply some of these):
a. The most effective guideline: When feasible, never take a cylinder
deeper than you can safely breathe it.
• But, for deco, you must be certain that your return/ascent will
return you to where you can retrieve it.
• Do not leave cylinders if getting disoriented and being unable
to find them, or having them swept into current, etc. are
realistic possibilities – open ocean, wreck dives, etc.
• However, this is very feasible at many sites, such as small,
controlled deep sites like springs, quarries, etc. This is also
the procedure used for decompression cave dives.
• Sometimes it’s feasible to run a line from your staged cylin-
ders to where you’re diving.

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b. Personally analyze your gas, and mark your cylinders.

c. Block the regulator mouthpiece on cylinders that you can not
breathe from safely, so that you must remove the block before use.
d. Always follow the complete gas switch procedure (discussed
shortly), step by step, without cutting corners.
e. Never get complacent about staging and gas switches – pay close
attention to what you’re doing.
4. If switching to a staged cylinder, you usually replace it before switching to
it.
5. Remember NO TOX so that you don’t miss any of the steps of a proper
gas switch. You apply this even when switching to a single decompression
cylinder that you’ve been wearing the entire dive.
a. N -- Note your name and the maximum depth on the cylinder
labels (if picking up a staged cylinder, you may do this as you
retrieve the cylinder).
b. O – Observe the actual depth and compare it to the maximum
depth on the label.
c. T - Turn open the valve. Check the cylinder pressure.
d. O - Orient the second stage by pulling it from the retaining bands,
and tracing the hose from the first stage to the second so there’s no
doubt you have the right one. Unblock the mouthpiece (if using a
block), test purge the regulator and then switch to the new gas.
e.
6. When switching from back gas, clip your long hose second stage to your
right chest D-ring. This keeps it from unwinding and getting tangled, and
assures you know where it is. Note that the clip should be breakaway
mounted for hand off without unclipping in an emergency.
7. If switching from another stage cylinder (emergency situation as a Tec 40
diver):
a. Switch to back gas momentarily, close the first cylinder valve and
retuck the second stage hose into bands before going to the next
cylinder. Go through NO TOX at every switch.

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b. For stacked cylinders, you breathe from the cylinder on top.

If switching to the cylinder underneath, secure the first cyl-
inder, unclip it, and then hook it to your hip D-ring by the
top clip. The cylinder dangles out of the way along your
leg.
c. Retrieving cylinders staged correctly places the gas you’re
breathing on top.

VI. Emergency Procedures

Manual Supported Content
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 60-64, Emergency
Procedures I, Tec Exercise 1.6, pgs 123-129, Emergency Procedures II,
Tec Exercise 2.6

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What are the emergency procedures for using the long hose second stage to
handle an out of gas emergency?
2. What are the emergency procedures for a massive regulator free flow at depth?
3. What are the emergency procedures for a damaged doubles manifold at depth?
4. What are “S-drills,” and when do you do them?
5. What are the emergency procedures if your BCD fails?
6. What should you do if you experience symptoms of CNS oxygen toxicity?
7. What should you do if you see a team mate breathing an unsafe (too high oxy-
gen) gas for the depth?
8. What should do if your team mate convulses underwater?
9. What should do if you experience difficulty maintaining your depth?
10. What is the general procedure to follow if you’re unable to return to your
planned ascent line?
11. How do you deploy your lift bag or DSMB and reel for use as an emergency
decompression line?
12. What do you do in an emergency decompression situation if your lift bag or
DSMB fails?

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A. Technical diving requires mastering many emergency procedures.

1. These are similar to, but not always identical to, recreational meth-
ods.
2. Technical diving emergency procedures arise from the fact that
ascending directly to the surface is usually not an option.
3. You’ll begin learning these skills in the first training dive and mas-
ter them during subsequent dives.
B. No gas emergency – long hose gas sharing
1. Possible common causes: Poor gas planning, failure to execute gas
management plan, runaway free flow regulator, valve/manifold
failure, unplanned delay in ending a dive.
2. In a no-gas emergency, the most immediate option is to share gas
with the long hose.
a. The receiver signals out of gas.
b. The donor passes the regulator from the mouth to receiver,
unlooping the hose from around the neck in doing so, and
switches to the secondary around the neck. Note: If wear-
ing a snorkel, you must reach high and out to the left to
clear it as the hose unwinds. This is one reason snorkels are
commonly not worn at the Tec 45 level and beyond.
c. The team aborts the dive, staying together, usually side by
side. The long hose gives maximum versatility to handle
the specifics of the situation. Note: If using a Tec 40 rig
with a pony bottle, the gas supply is limited, so it is impor-
tant to begin the ascent immediately to reach a depth at
which the donor can switch to the decompression cylinder.
d. If still in a no-deco situation, the team ascends to the sur-
face. Otherwise, the team ascends with the receiver using
the long hose until reaching a depth shallow enough to
begin breathing from a decompression cylinder.
C. Regulator free flow, gas shut down.
1. As you recall, modern regulators usually free flow if they fail. The
most common cause is poor maintenance. A dislodged first stage
can also cause a runaway gas leak. The most common cause is
impact. In cold water it may be caused by freezing.

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2. Regardless of cause, breathe from the unaffected regulator, then reach back
and close the valve to the free flowing one. (In sidemount configuration, it
will be in front of you, of course.)
3. Abort the dive.
4. Practice this until you can do it independently. (It may help to loosen you
waist band and/or release a crotch strap and lift the cylinder(s) with one
hand while closing the valve with the other.
5. One reason for diving with your valves all the way open (not closed a par-
tial turn) is so they only turn one way – closed.
6. Team mates may assist each other. You’ll practice assisting each other.
This is one reason all divers wear the same basic kit – you don’t have to
figure out which regulator is which.
D. Cylinder isolation
[Note to student: If you’re using doubles for your Tec 40 training, your instructor
may have you practice this skill. If not, you will learn it in your training as a Tec
45 diver.]
1. If you’re wearing doubles and the manifold fails, you have a leak that you
cannot shut down. Common possible causes: Severe impact, improper
assembly, overfilling, poor maintenance.
2. Reach back and close the isolator valve in the center of the manifold. This
will conserve half your remaining gas (in the unaffected side). Abort the
dive.
3. This is similar to closing one of your regulator valves. As with the other
valves, keep the isolator valve all the way open so it only closes one way –
closed – in an emergency.
4. Try to determine which side has the leak. Lean back and see which side the
bubbles are coming from. With the isolator closed, look at SPG – if it’s
dropping rapidly, the leak is on the left. If not, it’s on the right. Breathe
from the regulator on the leaking side until the gas is gone, then switch.
5. Single cylinders do not have any isolator mechanism.
6. If you have an unidentified gas leak behind your head while wearing dou-
bles that you cannot immediately solve, close the isolator immediately
until you sort out the problem. If it is not a failed manifold, reopen the iso-
lator after correcting the problem.

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7. Your team mate may assist, of course. You’ll practice closing the isolator
independently and assisting each other.
E. S-drills
1. Technical divers periodically practice “S-drills” to stay prepared for emer-
gencies. (“S” for safety, or “signal,” “share” and “swim” when sharing
gas).
2. An “S-drill” is a safety drill during which you and your team mates prac-
tice gas sharing with a long hose while swimming, valve shut downs and
in other emergency procedures.
3. S-drills generally take place in shallow water before starting a dive,
though you may practice them during safety stops if they won’t cause
depth control problems. Another option is to make a separate shallow
dive.
4. You perform an S-drill when:
a. Diving with new team mates for the first time.
b. You want to practice and refresh your skills.
c. Your team needs to modify any emergency procedures to address
specific dive requirements.
d. You and your team mates need to confirm that you’re following
the same procedures.
F. BCD failure – how you handle it depends on how you’re equipped, but you
should be always be able to switch to your back up BCD and/or use your dry suit.
You may also be able to:
1. use an ascent line or sloping bottom to control your depth.
2. drop weights and/or no-longer needed stage/deco cylinders, or other
equipment.
3. continue to use the BCD (but not if you’ve switched to your back up
BCD) – most will hold a good bit of air even with a leaking deflator or
puncture (provided it’s not at the top of the bladder). Disconnect a leaking
inflator and orally inflate the BCD.
4. Again, the most reliable overall option is to have a backup (double blad-
der) BCD.

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[! icon]

G. Oxygen toxicity
1. If you experience CNS symptoms (remember VENTID), immediately
switch to your back gas (lowest oxygen). If using back gas, immediately
ascend.
2. Check your depth and reconfirm the gas you’re breathing (you may have
unknowingly descended below the maximum depth for the blend).
3. Breath back gas for 15 minutes after all CNS symptoms subside before
returning to higher oxygen gas at its maximum depth. If possible, do not
switch back until shallower than maximum depth, such as when using high
oxygen gas for conservatism. Do not count the time on back gas as decom-
pression time if you’re on an accelerated decompression schedule (Tec 45
and above). On no stop dives, stay on back gas, ascend immediately and
abort the dive (again, the inherent risk reduction advantage of staying with-
in the no stop envelope).
4. When in doubt, ascend and get your PO2 below 1.3 ata/bar, or lower if fea-
sible. (Many EANx computers display your PO2). Better to increase your
risk of DCS (which is usually treatable) than to have a substantial risk of
convulsing and drowning (which is usually fatal). If you must skip stops to
ascend, extending the shallower stops may reduce your DCS risk.

H. Team mate breathing wrong gas

1. If you note a team mate breathing gas while deeper than its maximum (like
during the X step of NO TOX), immediately pull the second stage from
your team mate’s mouth and provide your long hose.
2. This may seem extreme, but oxygen convulsions can come quickly, sud-
denly and without warning – seconds count. The higher the oxygen partial
pressure above 1.6, the faster they can occur. Don’t waste time trying to
signal – your team mate will know exactly what happened if you do this.
3. Your team mate stays on back gas (own or yours) until sorting out the
problem and finding the correct cylinder.

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4. Again, following NO TOX avoids this problem.

[! icon]

I. Team mate convulses underwater

1. If a team mate convulses underwater, the concern is drowning. If possible,
hold the second stage in the diver’s mouth to minimize the risk of drown-
ing. As you recall from the PADI Enriched Air Diver course, the priority
is getting the diver to the surface. (Note that a full face mask greatly
reduces drowning risk in the event of an underwater convulsion.)
2. If team mate begins to sink, switch to back gas before assisting so you
don’t risk CNS oxygen toxicity if you must descend in the process.
3. How you best help your team mate has many variables depending on your
decompression status – you may risk getting bent if you take the victim to
the surface yourself. You’ll have to quickly consider these options:
a. If you have support divers at your decompression stops, they can
take your team mate to the surface – this is the best option.
b. It’s worth noting that when taking a convulsing diver to the surface
(you or the support divers), the general recommendation is if the
regulator is in the victim’s mouth, to hold it in place and wait for
the convulsion to cease, then bring the victim up, maintaining a
neutral head position that allows air to escape from the airway.
c. It’s generally recommended that rescuers don’t drop the victim’s
weights before reaching the surface, because they may lose control
of the victim and put themselves at risk.
d. If you’re decompressing with high oxygen EANx or pure oxygen
for conservatism with a single gas table or computer, your risk of
getting DCS may be minimal even with deco time remaining. The
higher the oxygen above what the table/computer thinks you’re
using, and the longer you’ve deco’d, the less the risk.
e. If risk is high, and you have a long deco ahead and have not start-
ed, and there’s assistance at surface, you may just need to let the
victim surface for topside personnel help. If there’s no help at the
surface, this may still be the best you can do.

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f. If risk is moderate, you may choose to risk getting DCS,

which is usually treatable, in exchange for a chance to save
or restore your team mate’s life. This is your decision – and
it’s not always an easy one.
4. Note that without support divers, or at least surface support, han-
dling this becomes more complicated as decompression gets lon-
ger. Consider planning your dives so that your team never exceeds
1.4, even during deco.
J. Difficulty maintaining depth
1. You may have trouble maintaining depth due to sudden BCD fail-
ure, down/up currents, unexpected weight (if someone were to
hand you something, for example), etc.
2. If possible, immediately grab a line to steady your depth.
3. If descending, switch to back gas to avoid oxygen toxicity.
4. If you have a runaway BCD inflator, disconnect it and switch to
your back up BCD, use dry suit, get team mates to give you weight
(used stage/deco cylinders), etc. to stabilize depth control.
5. If in decompression, do not count “sink” time as stop time. If you
momentarily (less than a minute) ascend above decompression
depth and quickly return, resume decompression and add a minute
to the stop. As a precaution, it’s a good idea extend your last stop
five to ten minutes (safety stop within a decompression stop). A
dive computer will adjust deco time for time below stop depth.
6. Remember that it’s critical to maintain depth while decompressing
– do not take this problem lightly.
K. Unable to return to ascent line
1. If unable to return to planned ascent line (lost, current, insufficient
gas), team stays together, retrieves any staged deco cylinders and
deploys lift bag or DSMB and reel.
a. The team ascends on lift bag/DSMB line and completes
decompression adrift.
b. The dive boat follows the lift bag and picks up divers at the
end of deco.

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c. In environments where this can happen, dive planning includes

making sure the boat is prepared for this contingency, and that dive
teams will have deco gas without returning to the planned ascent
line.
d. Note that because a boat may have to leave its mooring or anchor
line for any number of reasons, in tec diving it is seldom appropri-
ate to stage deco tanks by hanging them on lines under the boat.
2. To deploy lift bag/DSMB (you’ll practice this several times):
a. Retrieve the bag/DSMB and reel. Put a puff of air in it so it floats
a bit for easy handling and secure the reel line to the bag clip with
a double loop.
b. If it is an open bottomed DSMB or a lift bag, hold the reel in your
extended right hand, apply tension from a finger on the spool, in
sight with a tight line to the bag in your left hand; bring the
DSMB/bag to your mouth and inflate as full as possible by “puff-
ing” from the second stage in your mouth. This technique keeps
the line under control and in sight, and away from your gear so it
doesn’t tangle.
c. If it is a closed DSMB, hold the reel with the line wound in as far
as possible, maintain tension with a finger (do not lock the reel)
and inflate the DSMB through the oral inflation tube or LP inflator
(as appropriate). Keep the reel and line away from your gear to
avoid entanglement.
d. Hold on to something with your legs, have team mates hold you
down, etc. so you can fill the bag/DSMB as much as possible
without it carrying you upward. The more you fill it, the better.
e. Release the bag and allow it to ascend. With many DSMBs and
bags, you must maintain continuous tension as it rises and during
your ascent or the bag will spill and sink at the surface. Some
models have one- way valves that prevent this, but you should still
maintain tension to keep the bag/DSMB under control.
f. After it reaches surface, pull in the line and take up slack to make
as vertical as possible. Your bubbles tend to push it, so don’t
expect it to maintain your depth – you have to do that with buoy-
ancy control.

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3. If your lift bag or DSMB fails

a. Use a team mate’s – if the environment calls for having a lift bag/
DSMB, every diver should have a lift bag/DSMB and reel.
b. If your bag/DSMB went up but doesn’t have enough buoyancy, you
can clip a team mate’s to your line with a carabineer or large bolt snap
and send it up. This combines their buoyancy and eliminates the need
for a second line.
c. If your team mate’s bag/DSMB is unavailable (due to team separation
or loss), reel in your bag and try again – it may have simply spilled.
d. If that doesn’t work, ascend and deco midwater by hovering and
watching your depth closely. Upon surfacing, deploy a inflatable sig-
nal tube, and signal the boat.

Tec 40 Knowledge Development Two

I. Thinking Like a Technical Diver
Manual Supported Content
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 64-64, Thinking
Like a Technical Diver I, Tec Exercise 1.7

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What does Hick’s Law tell us about reaction times in an emergency?
2. What is the KISS principle, and how does it relate to technical diving?
3. Why does “cutting corners” lead to technical diving accidents?

A. Becoming a technical diver includes learning to think like one. In

this section, you begin learning principles that will influence how
you plan, execute and learn from every dive you make.
B. Establishing emergency procedures – is it better to have many ways to handle an
emergency, or just one or two?

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1. Hick’s Law (1952) states RT = K log2 (N + 1), where RT = reaction time, K

= a constant and N = the number of possible choices.
a. Hick’s Law explains how people make decisions among multiple
choices in different types of situations
2. Without going into the details, with respect to situations such as tec diving
emergencies, Hick’s Law states that the more ways you have to respond to
an emergency, the longer it takes to react, with the response time increasing
substantially for each added choice.
3. Therefore you want the fewest procedure choices possible – only as many as
you need to cover all reasonably likely contingencies.
4. Aviation, spaceflight, anesthesia, emergency medicine and the nuclear
power industry, among others, have all proven this; they have found the
most effective emergency responses arise from relatively few, standardized
and practiced procedures.
C. KISS principle – Keep It Super Simple.
1. The KISS principle says that the simplest way to accomplish anything is
usually the best way.
2. Technical diving creates high mental and physical demands; complex tasks
to accomplish particular missions have a high likelihood of failure.
3. Eliminate complexities and simplify:
a. Break complex tasks into several simple tasks to handle over two or
three dives.
b. Break complex tasks into simple tasks, each handled by a different
diver or dive team.
c. Question the complex – does it really have to be that difficult?
d. Accept the complex to make things simple; e.g., a double bladder
BCD is more complex than a single bladder, but tremendously sim-
plifies handling primary BCD failure.

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D. The Mission
1. No matter what you plan to accomplish on a technical dive, every technical
dive has one overriding mission that you never compromise: To return with
all your team mates unharmed.
2. Never compromise safety.
a. As you learned, compared to recreational diving, technical diving acci-
dents arise from relatively short error chains.
b. Therefore, you cannot cut corners in equipment preparation, planning
or executing your dive. Doing so greatly increases the chances of an
accident.
c. E.g. In recreational diving, despite recommendations otherwise, a
diver might computer dive even after forgetting to bring back up tables
and gauges. The risk is not that high because if the computer fails, the
recreational diver is within no decompression limits and simply sur-
faces.
d. A technical diver who dives without back-up tables and gauges could
end up paralyzed for life, because computer failure would leave no
means for determining the required decompression.
e. The most common preventable cause of tec diving accidents is cutting
corners. It’s easy to rationalize “just this once,” but “just once” is the
number of failures required, without a contingency, to get hurt or
killed.
f. Technical divers follow all safety guidelines to the best of their abili-
ties every time. They never compromise safety for convenience, cost
or peer pressure, even if it means missing what would otherwise be a
great dive.

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II. Gas and Decompression Planning

Manual Supported Content
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 88-93 Introduction to
Decompression Stop and Gas Switch, Extended No Stop Diving, Equivalent Air
Depths (Continued) and Equivalent Narcotic Depths, Ideal Enriched Air for a
Particular Depth, Determining Gas Supply and Reserve Requirements for
Multiple Depths and Decompression stops (first page only); pgs 97-99 Desk Top
Decompression Software Tec Exercise 2.2, Questions 1-8 & 10. Pg 157 down to
“Example” on pg 158, Planning a Decompression Dive Using a Single Gas
Computer.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. How do you determine required decompression stops using a single gas computer or
tables?
2. How do you use switches to enriched air or oxygen to make decompression stops or
safety stops more conservative when using a single gas computer or single gas tables?
3. What is accelerated decompression?
4. What is a gas-switch, extended no stop dive?
5. What is your EAD when breathing pure oxygen?
6. What is an END, and what are the two different assumptions based on it?
7. Why do you assume your END does not change when using enriched air as compared
to normal air?
8. How do you normally determine the “ideal” enriched air for a particular depth?
9. How do you determine your gas requirements for the deepest portion of your dive?
10. What is “desk top decompression software,” and what are the risks and benefits of
using it?
11. What are six advantages of decompressing based on a single gas computer or tables
and using enriched air and/or oxygen for conservatism?

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A. Introduction to decompression stop and gas switch, extended no stop diving.

1. As you recall on a decompression dive, you make decompression stops
to allow excess nitrogen (or other inert gas) to dissolve out of your
body tissues. Failure to make these stops risks decompression sickness.
2. Single gas (air or enriched air) dive computers suitable for technical
diving automatically show you the decompression requirements during
the dive (check the manufacturer literature for specifics).
a. This is the simplest form of planning a decompression dive.
b. This is the type of decompression diving you will be qualified
for as a Tec 40 diver.
3. Common published dive tables, such as the US Navy Standard Air
Tables or Canada’s DCIEM air tables, specify the depths and durations
for stops for a given depth and time dive. These are not commonly
used in technical diving, however.
4. You will be using desk top decompression software to generate tables
for dive planning and/or backup purposes with your dive computer
(more about this shortly and in Tec 40 Practical Application Two).
5. For the maximum reliability, you want to plan your dives using gener-
ated tables and dive computers based on decompression models that
are within the limits of established test data. Practically speaking, this
means:
a. use widely used, accepted decompression models (virtually all
commercially available software and dive computers employ
such models)
b. stay well within table/dive computer limits
6. Single gas computers assume you decompress using the same gas you
breathed on the bottom. You can set decompression software to do the
same.
a. Switching to EANx with more oxygen than the gas you used on
the bottom, or to pure oxygen, allows nitrogen to defuse from
your body more rapidly.

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b. Switching to EANx/oxygen (after ascending shallow enough to

avoid oxygen toxicity with the new gas), but decompressing
according to your single gas computer/table, yields the most con-
servative decompression. This is one of the most common and eas-
iest ways to execute a decompression dive (more about this short-
ly).
c. On a no stop dive, you can switch to EANx/oxygen during a safety
stop to make it extra conservative.

Example: You dive to 40 metres/130 feet using EANx24 with an enriched air
computer. Upon ascent, your computer shows you have stops at 6 m/20 ft and 3
m/10 ft. You ascend to 6 m/20 ft and switch to EANx50 and finish decompression
according to your computer.

7. Because switching to higher oxygen EANx and/or pure oxygen speeds

nitrogen release, gas switches can also be used to shorten your required
stop times by using special multiple gas computers or custom dive tables.
a. This is called accelerated decompression. This is less conservative,
but gets you out of the water sooner. You qualify to use accelerated
decompression at the Tec 45 level.
b. By using multiple gas computers/custom dive tables, you can make
gas-switch, extended no stop dives. You switch to higher oxygen
EANx as you ascend to maximize your no decompression dive
time, making very long no stop dives possible. You also qualify to
make gas switch, extended no stop dives at the Tec 45 level.
• Switching gases to extend your no stop time is a very use-
ful, but sometimes overlooked, technique.
• Avoiding the need for decompression stops keeps your
logistics simpler, expands your options and makes it easier
to deal with many types of emergencies.

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B. Equivalent Air Depths (continued) and Intro to Equivalent Narcotic Depths

(ENDs)
1. According to the EAD formula, your EAD when using pure oxygen
(something you qualify to do at the Tec 45 level) is always -10
metres/-33 feet because the PN2 is 0, lower than air at the surface (even
at altitude). The mathematical result is a constant negative depth.
a. Your EAD with any EANx is less than your actual depth. The
more oxygen, the greater the difference.
b. The reason EANx/oxygen speeds nitrogen elimination is that
there is a greater difference between the pressure of the nitrogen
dissolved in your body and the nitrogen in the gas you’re breath-
ing.
2. However, it is your actual depth that matters with respect to bubble for-
mation at a decompression stop.
a. Your decompression stop depth should never be shallower than is
indicated on your computer or backup dive table.
b. It can be deeper; your computer will make your decompression
longer, however.
c. When decompressing on pure oxygen (as a Tec 45 diver), it can
be deeper without affecting your decompression time (but you
can’t be deeper than 6 m/20 ft, where the PO2 = 1.6).
3. Equivalent Narcotic Depth (END) calculates the expected narcosis for a
gas mix, compared to an equivalent depth as if breathing air.
a. At one time, END was sometimes calculated based on the
assumption that oxygen is not narcotic.
b. Today, the thinking is that oxygen is as narcotic as nitrogen.
Therefore, you assume your END doesn’t change when using
EANx.
c. ENDs are commonly used, however, with helium mixes, because
helium is not narcotic. You will learn more about using ENDs as
a Tec Trimix 65 diver and a Tec Trimix Diver.

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C. “Ideal” EANx for a particular depth

1. The “ideal” gas is the one that gives the most no stop time/ least deco time
within oxygen exposure limits.
2. For the vast majority of dives, this is the EANx with its 1.4 maximum
depth that is equal to, or just exceeds the dive depth.
3. Use the Maximum Depth Table in the Appendix of the Tec Deep Diver
Manual to find the appropriate blend.

Example: What is the “ideal” EANx for a dive to 40 metres/130 feet?

Answer: EANx28. In the 1.4 column find 40 (metric) or 132 (imperial)
opposite 28%, indicating enriched air with 28 percent oxygen.

D. Gas requirements for the deepest portion of your dive

1. To determine the gas you need for a given depth, you multiply your SAC
(Surface Air Consumption) rate by the number of minutes at that depth and
by the conversion factor for that depth. Use the SAC Conversion Factors
tables in the Appendix of the Tec Deep Diver Manual (round up to the next
greater depth if the exact depth isn’t on the table).
2. The formula is

gas required = SAC X min X conversion factor

3. Note: The conversion factor is simply the absolute pressure in

atmospheres:
Metric: (D in metres + 10) / 10 Imperial: (D in feet + 33) / 33

4. Example, metric
If your SAC is 24 l/min, how much gas would you consume in 15 minutes
at 30 metres?
Answer: 24l/min X 15 min X 4.0 = 1440 litres

Example, imperial
If your SAC is .7 cf/min, how much gas would you consume in 15 minutes
at 100 feet?
Answer: .7 cf/min X 15 min X 4.0 = 42 cubic feet

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E. Desk top decompression software

1. The standard practice in technical diving is to plan dives using desk top
decompression software (“deco software” or “deco program” for short).
These are personal computer programs that calculate your gas require-
ments as part of generating custom decompression tables.
a. Although called “desk top,” deco software is available for PDAs,
iPhones and other portable devices, as well as for personal comput-
ers.
b. Some desk top decompression software links to special dive com-
puters that calculate your dive within a calculated range. This com-
bines advantages of deco software with dive computer.
2. Benefits of using deco software include:
a. Generates dive tables (for planning and for dive computer back up)
for exact time/depth range and gas blends you’ll be using, as well
as for contingency situations (exceeding planned time or depth).
b. Calculates gas supply requirements based on your SAC rates.
c. Calculates oxygen exposure (OTU, CNS clock and PO2).
d. Reduces potential for human error in several aspects of dive plan.
e. Most programs allow you to alter the decompression model to be
more or less conservative based on numerous factors (personal
physiology, water temperature, etc.)
f. Makes it feasible to quickly compare the variables of several possi-
ble dive profiles; by hand this takes hours.
3. Using any decompression software, dive computer or dive table carries
risks that you must accept. Because people vary in their physiology, no
software, dive computer or table can guarantee that DCS or oxygen toxici-
ty will never occur, even within the limits they provide. Extremely long
dives, dives involving gases other than oxygen and nitrogen, and dives
with reverse profiles carry the further risks of being somewhat experimen-
tal because they may take you outside the body of well established test
data.

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Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-4

Study assignment: Tec 40 Handout 4

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What is a “bounce” dive?
2. Why is it recommended that you switch to a higher oxygen EANx for decompression
without accelerating your decompression, and/or set your dive computer for an EANx
with less gas than actual, if making a “bounce” technical dive?

E. “Bounce” dives
1. A short dive to any depth is called a “bounce” dive.
a. The definition is imprecise – what one person calls a bounce dive
another may not.
b. It is possible to make dives within the scope of Tec 40 qualifica-
tions that some would be consider bounce dives.
2. There are some anecdotal concerns about bounce decompression dives
a. Some people think DCS data indicate that short, deep dives with
short decompression requirements have a higher DCS risk than
would be expected based on decompression models
b. Again, definitions of “short” and “deep” and “risk” are subjective in
this context.
c. The concerns are hypothetical and not quantified, but they exist
nonetheless.
3. To minimize bounce dive concerns (at all levels):
a. Plan your dive with your computer set for air or an EANx with less
oxygen than you actually use.
b. Use a single gas computer, or if
using a multigas computer,
leave it set for your bottom gas,
but decompress with an EANx
blend with more oxygen.

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c. Either of these (or both) will make your decompression more conser-
vative.
• The required decompression time for a short, deep dives is
correspondingly short. Deco is so short there is no meaning-
ful benefit to accelerating decompression. Instead, you use
EANx to make your decompression more conservative
instead of shorter.
It is common to extend the last deco stop two or three minutes as well.
Example: You dive to 40 metres/130 feet. You leave your dive com-
puter set for air, but you actually dive using EANx25 as your bottom
gas. You decompress with EANx40, but you leave your dive comput-
er (if it is a multigas model) set for air during decompression.
d. You will plan your dives as a Tec 40 diver based on decompressing
as if using your bottom gas, but using EANx to make your decom-
pression more conservative.

Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-4

1. A “bounce” dive isn’t defined precisely, but means a short dive to any depth.
o True
o False
2. To minimize bounce dive concerns (choose all that apply):
o a. set your dive computer for air or EANx with less oxygen than the gas you actual-
ly use.
o b. accelerate your decompression.
o c. decompress with a gas that has more oxygen than you set your computer for.
o d. ascend rapidly to minimize your time at depth.

How did you do?

1. True. 2. a, c.

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III. Putting it together – Tec 40 Gas and

Decompression Planning

Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-5

Study assignment: Tec 40 Handout 5

Learning Objectives
1. How do you use desk top decompression software to plan a decompression dive based
on a single gas, with no more than 10 minutes of decompression and a maximum depth
of 40 metres/130 feet?
2. How do you use decompression software to determine your gas supply requirements?
3. What is the minimum reserve gas you should have on a technical dive?
4. How do you set your dive computer to follow the plan you made with your decompres-
sion software?
5. How does your team stay together when using dive computers to provide decompres-
sion information?
6. What limits tell you it is time to end your dive?
7. How do you calculate turn pressure?
8. How do you account for your oxygen exposure when using a gas with a higher oxygen
content than you set your dive computer for?
9. What do you do if your desk top decompression software and dive computer differ sig-
nificantly in their decompression information, or if your gas requirement calculations
appear to be off?

A. Starting with Tec 40 Practical Application Two, you’ll begin planning decompres-
sion dives using desk top decompression software.
1. Your dive planning will continue throughout the course and be the basis
for simulated and actual decompression dives you make.
2. The methods you learn also form the foundation for all your subsequent
technical dive planning. However, gas and decompression planning
becomes more complex as you go deeper and have longer decompression.
B. You will follow these basic steps:
[Note: Your instructor will take you through this, step by step, during Tec 40
Practical Application Two, followed by you and your team mates planning a
dive.]
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1. Launch the desk top decompression program (may be iPhone or PDA based
as long as it provides decompression and gas supply calculations, as well as
the ability to choose different gases).
2. Set the dive characteristics and presets.
a. Select metric or imperial, open circuit (not closed circuit rebreather).
b. Working and decompression SAC rates
• You will determine your working (bottom) SAC rate during
Tec 40 Practical Application Two based on the data you gath-
ered during Tec 40 Training Dive One.
• You will gather decompression SAC rate data during Tec 40
Training Dive Two. In the meantime, use 2/3 thirds your
working rate.
• Your program may refer to SAC as RMV.
c. Select the single gas you want to use for decompression calculations
• You will probably use an EANx blend for bottom gas.
• Use the Maximum Depths tables in the Tec Deep Diver
Manual to find the highest oxygen percentage for the EANx
to your planned depth (PO2 1.4)
• Set the program for the EANx blend you will use, or for one
with lower oxygen. At the Tec 40 level, it is simplest to set
for air most of the time (21%).
• You will probably use another EANx with higher oxygen for
decompression. Do not set the program for this gas at this
time.
3. Enter your planned depth and time into the program.
a. Have the computer calculate your decompression. If it is longer than
10 minutes, enter a shorter time, a shallower depth or both.
• Remember, as a Tec 40 diver, your limits are 10 minutes total
decompression time and 40 metres/130 feet maximum depth.
• For simplicity, your dives will be planned as though the
entire dive will be made at the deepest depth. At higher train-
ing levels, however, you will learn to add planned depth
changes.
b. Enter depths/times until the total decompression time required is 10
minutes or less.

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4. Use the program to determine your gas requirements based on your SAC
rates, for the planned dives.
a. Some programs do this each time they calculate decompression.
b. Most programs will show you the gas requirements before and
after calculating your reserve.
c. In technical diving, the standard minimum reserve is 33 percent
(rule of thirds), meaning that one third of all your gas is for emer-
gencies only. That is, the minimum amount of gas you should have
on a dive 1.5 times the amount predicted for the dive and the
decompression, based on your bottom and decompression SAC
rates.
d. If your program doesn’t determine reserve, simply multiply the
predicted gas requirements by 1.5 to get the minimum gas volume
you should have with you on your dive.
• If you need a pony bottle or a decompression cylinder to
meet the required minimum volume, it should be at least
1/3 of your total gas supply.
• Note: At higher tec levels (Tec 45 and up), you will calcu-
late individual gas blends independently and have to have
1.5 times the predicted requirements for each individual
gas. Planning your decompression based on a single gas at
the Tec 40 level simplifies this.
e. If the minimum gas volume is greater than the capacity of the
cylinder(s) you have will available, then plan a shorter/shallower
dive until the gas requirements (including reserve) are within the
available capacity.
f. Because divers have differing SAC rates, each diver on the team
calculates gas requirements for the team’s planned dive.
• The team works together with the program until arriving at
a depth and time that meets the gas supply requirements for
everyone.

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• A common strategy is to plan the dive based on the highest

SAC rates (bottom and deco), with all divers carrying the
predicted amount of gas (including reserve). This is accept-
able, because it simply adds reserve for divers with lower
SAC rates.
g. After you have a final decompression schedule with gas require-
ments that work for the team, print out the decompression schedule
and gas requirements for use at the dive site.
• If using only a single computer, print out backup tables to
laminate (or list them on a slate) and use with a timing
device and depth gauge in the event of computer failure. It
is recommended that you print schedules for your planned
depth and time, as well as plus and minus five minutes and
plus and minus 3 metres/10 feet (nine schedules total).
5. During equipment setup for the dive, set your dive computer(s) for the
EANx blend or air that you used in the decompression software.
a. Your actual EANx blend may have a higher oxygen content, pro-
vided you don’t exceed a PO2 of 1.4 at your deepest depth.
b. Your decompression cylinder may have EANx50 (or a blend with
less oxygen). Do not decompress with it at a depth where the PO2
exceeds 1.6.
c. These gases with higher oxygen content simply make your decom-
pression more conservative.
d. During the dive, you and your team mates may have slightly differ-
ent decompression schedules due to slight variances in your depths,
as well as differences in your dive computer’s decompression mod-
els.
• To stay together, the team stays at each stop until all com-
puters clear all divers to ascend to the next stop or surface.
• If using tables (back up situation), team stays at each stop
until all computers clear all divers to ascend, or for the table
stop time, whichever is longest.

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6. Limits that end the dive.

a. In technical diving, your dive ends when anyone on your dive team
reaches any of the following, whichever comes first:
• you reach the planned bottom time (what you used in the
decompression software)
• your or a team mate’s dive computer shows 10 minutes
decompression time required (or less if the planned decom-
pression was less)
• It is important to turn the dive with the planned
decompression time showing, even if the bottom time is
less than planned and the required decompression is
still less than 10 minutes, because your decompression
gas volume requirement is based on the planned
decompression time.
• you or a team mate reaches turn pressure on your gas supply
7. Turn pressure is the reading on your SPG that indicates it is time to head up.
It is calculated based on the cylinder pressure of the gas volume your soft-
ware predicts you’ll use on the bottom. Knowing your turn pressure and
having it written on a slate assures that you head up with the gas for decom-
pression and reserve intact.
a. Almost all software will tell you the required gas for all individual
gases, but many do not tell you how much you use on the bottom, or
calculate turn pressure.
b. To determine your turn pressure, you may therefore have to do so
with a calculator and the tables in the Tec Deep Diver Manual.
c. You will use turn pressure formulas, as well as what you already
learned about SAC and actual gas supplies in Tec 40 Knowledge
Development One.
• Note: For simplicity, treat your descent as time on the bot-
tom. This gives you a slightly higher reserve.

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d. Formulas:
• Metric: Turn pressure = start pressure – (bottom volume ÷
cylinder capacity)
• Imperial: Turn pressure = starting pressure – (bottom vol-
ume ÷ baseline)
e. Examples

Metric example:
Your working SAC rate is 19 litres per minute. You plan a dive to 40
metres for 10 minutes. Your decompression software shows that using an
11 litre cylinder, working pressure 205 bar, and a 9 litre deco cylinder will
provide the gas volume you need. By what pressure should you start your
ascent?

First, find your bottom volume.

Bottom volume = minutes X SAC X conversion factor
Bottom volume = 10 X 19 X 5.2
Bottom volume = 988 litres

Assuming your 11 litre cylinder is full (205 bar), then:

Turn pressure = 205 – (988 ÷ 11)

Turn pressure = 115 bar

To manage your gas appropriately, you should begin ascending when or

before your SPG reaches 115 bar.

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Imperial example.

Your working SAC rate is .8 cf per minute. You plan a dive to 130 feet for
10 minutes. Your decompression software shows that using an 80 cubic
foot cylinder, working pressure 3000 psi, and a 65 cubic foot deco cylin-
der will provide the gas volume you need. By what pressure should you
start your ascent?

First, find your bottom volume.

Bottom volume = minutes X SAC X conversion factor
Bottom volume = 10 X .8 X 4.9
Bottom volume = 39.2 cubic feet

Next, find the baseline for an 80 cubic foot cylinder. Recall that to get the
baseline, you divide the working capacity by the working pressure

Baseline = cap ÷ working pressure

Baseline = 80 ÷ 3000
Baseline = .0267

Assuming your 80 cubic foot cylinder is full (3000 psi), then:

Turn pressure = 3000 – (39.2 ÷ .0257)

Turn pressure = 1474 psi.

To manage your gas appropriately, you should begin ascending when or

before your SPG reaches 1474 psi.

f. Note that in both examples that your deco cylinder is required to

meet the required reserve (rule of thirds).

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C. Oxygen exposure calculations

1. If your dive computer was set for air or EANx with less oxygen
than your actual bottom gas and/or you switched to a higher oxy-
gen decompression gas for conservatism, you have to account for
your oxygen exposure after the dive, because your dive computer
didn’t know how much oxygen you actually had in your
cylinder(s).
2. After the dive, use desktop software and enter the dive as you actu-
ally made it – actual depths, times and gases used. Record your
OTUs and CNS clock for planning subsequent dives.

D. Repetitive dives
1. Plan repetitive dives as you did the first dive, but recall that you
must enter the first dive data and your surface interval so the pro-
gram can account for residual nitrogen.
2. When planning a repetitive dive, enter the actual dive as made.
You may also use the previous dive as planned if it yields a more
conservative repetitive dive plan.
3. If OTUs or CNS could approach their maximums – unlikely within
Tec 40 limits, but possible if you make several repetitive dives –
after planning your dive based on a single gas, enter the planned
depths, times and stops based on the actual gas blends to make sure
you will remain within oxygen limits.
E. Making software line up with your dive computer
1. After a few decompression dives, you may find that your decom-
pression software is more conservative than your dive computer, or
vice versa.
a. Be sure your backup computer and/or your team mate’s
computers are similar to your computer to rule out a prob-
lem with your computer.
2. If you don’t spend the majority of the time at the deepest depth,
your dive computer would be expected to be less conservative than
your software, because it calculates the slower nitrogen absorption.
Don’t make any adjustments on this account.

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3. If you do spend the majority of the time near the deepest depth, there may
be some difference in the required stops and some variation in the total
decompression time due to minor differences in the decompression mod-
els. This is normal.
4. If there is a large difference between your decompression software and
your dive computers (enough to substantially throw off gas supply calcu-
lations etc.), contact the software author and/or the dive computer manu-
facturer. You can adjust safety factors above the default settings to make
software more conservative, but do not make it less conservative unless
advised to do so by the software manufacturer.
5. Assuming no unforeseen emergencies, you should surface from a dive
with your reserve gas supply intact. If you have substantially more or less
gas:
a. First, confirm your working and decompression SAC rates. Adjust
your SAC rates in the software if necessary.
b. If your SAC rates are accurate and you’re coming up with a bit
less gas than you should, it is typically that your software predicts
less decompression than does your computer.
c. Check your decompression software setting and adjust it so it is
more conservative and predicts a bit longer decompression.
d. If the decompression seems to be in line (close match between
your dive computer and the software), it may be how the software
calculates gas use. Increase your SAC rate setting even if that
makes it high compared to your calculations.
e. Do not adjust anything if you have too much gas, unless the sur-
plus is extreme. Too much gas is seldom a problem.

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Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-5

1. At the Tec 40 level, the recommendation is that you use EANx for your bottom gas and
set your decompression software dive
o a. for the gas you’re using.
o b. for an EANx blend with more oxygen.
o c. for at least two different gases.
o d. for air or an EANx blend with less oxygen.
2. To determine your gas supply requirements, you must enter your _________ into the
software.
o a. decompression profile
o b. SAC rates
o c. bottom gas
o d. dive computer model
3. The minimum gas reserve you should plan for on a technical dive is ________ of your
total gas supply.
o a. a quarter
o b. a third
o c. half
o d. two thirds
4. At the Tec 40 level, you set your dive computer to follow the plan you made with your
decompression software by setting it for the EANx blend you used for your decompression
planning with the software.
o True
o False
5. When using computers to provide decompression information, the team stays together.
All divers stay at each stop until all computers clear all divers to ascend to the next stop.
o True
o False
6. When you or a team mate reaches any of the following, you should begin your ascent
(choose all that apply):
o a. your planned bottom time
o b. a dive computer shows 10 minutes decompression required
o c. you have a decompression stop at 18 metres/60 feet
o d. turn pressure on your SPG

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7. You calculate turn pressure by determining how much cylinder pressure you would use
for the volume software predicts you will consume on the bottom.
o True
o False
8. To account for your oxygen exposure when using a gas with a higher oxygen content than
you set your dive computer for
o a. you needn’t do anything because the difference is negligible.
o b. you need to dive with a third and fourth dive computer set to the actual content.
o c. you enter the actual dive with the actual gases into your software.
o d. All of the above.
9. If your gas requirement calculations appear to be off, your first step is to confirm your
working and decompression SAC rates.
o True
o False
How did you do?
1. d. 2. b. 3. b. 4. True. 5. True. 6. a, b, d. 7. True. 8. d. 9. True

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IV. Murphy’s Law, Reserves and a Good Diver’s Main

Objective Is To Live
Manual Supported Content
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 101-107, Thinking Like a Technical
Diver II, Team Diving II, Tec Exercise 2.3, pgs 109-113, Predive Check, Technical
Diving Hand Signals, Tec Exercise 2.4, questions 1-3 and 9-15.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What do you assume about every technical dive?
2. What do you take for granted about a technical dive?
3. What question do you ask yourself as you plan each step in a technical dive?
4. What is your most important resource in an emergency, and what provides this resource
in an emergency?
5. What is the principle for your gas reserves and how do you apply it during an open
water deep technical dive?
6. What are the seven primary segments to planning a deep technical dive?
7. What recall phrase can you use to recall the seven segments for planning?
8. What are the substeps for each of the seven segments?
9. What is the predive check recall phrase for technical diving?
10. What steps do you include in a predive check?
11. How, in the field, do you determine the one-third pressure for cylinders?
12. How do you perform a bubble check?
13. How do you perform a descent check?
14. How do you use one hand to signal numbers to a team mate?
15. What do the thumbs-up, fist and “okay” hand signals mean on a tec dive?

A. As a technical diver, you always assume Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go
wrong will go wrong.
1. Assuming failures prompts you to plan for them.
2. Therefore, take nothing for granted on a technical dive.
B. As you plan each step in a dive, ask yourself, “What aspect of this can fail and hurt
or kill me?”
1. For every reasonably possible failure or problem you can imagine, have a
workable solution before beginning the dive.
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2. Within reason, make contingency plans that do not require your team-
mate’s assistance as your first option.
3. Remember that it’s impossible to anticipate all problems – but you can
anticipate the most common and likely.
C. Reserve gas
1. In an emergency or other problem, your most important resource is time.
2. Your gas supply provides time, so it’s your reserve that gives you time to
deal with an emergency – especially important for an unanticipated emer-
gency.
3. As discussed in the previous section, the most common reserve is the rule
of thirds. The principle for using reserves is (if using thirds):
• Use no more than two thirds of supply on the bottom and during
all deco stops that you make with it – determining the pressure at
which you need to start your ascent should be part of your gas
planning.
• As a Tec 45 diver and beyond, you learn to use no more than two
thirds of each different gas – bottom and decompression gases.
• Assuming your dive goes as planned (neither substantially shorter
or longer due to emergency), you should surface with at least one-
third of each gas (your reserve) remaining.
o If less or substantially more remains, recheck your calcula-
tions and/or recalculate your SAC.
o The rule of thirds provides a margin for error in case you
consume gas more quickly than expected, to cover a regu-
lator free flow prior to shutting it down, and to assist a
team mate with a gas supply problem.
• When in doubt, increase your reserve. For instance, increase it
beyond a third if
o conditions may be likely to increase your SAC due to exer-
tion or cold.
o there’s a higher than normal possibility that you’ll slightly
exceed your planned depth/time.
o the dive appears reasonable to make, but your team has
some question about particular variables.

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D. Assuming that anything that can go wrong will, and taking nothing for granted,
forms the basis for planning tec dives.
E. A technical dive plan consists of seven primary segments to consider when
planning.
1. The seven segments are Oxygen, Decompression, Inert gas narcosis,
Gas management, Thermal, Mission, and Logistics. Note that everything
you learn in your training as a technical diver, at all levels, fits into one
of these segments.
2. To help you recall these, remember the phrase “a Good Diver’s Main
Objective Is To Live.”
a. Good – G – Gas management
b. Diver’s – D – Decompression
c. Main – M – Mission
d. Objective – O – Oxygen
e. Is – I – Inert gas narcosis
f. To – T – Thermal exposure
g. Live – L – Logistics
3. Each segment has substeps and considerations that you need to plan and
check before each dive.
4. Good – Gas Management
a. Plan sufficient gas for the dive, plus the reserve, for each diver.
Determine the gas available and compare it to the gas require-
ments.
b. All divers personally analyzed their gas immediately before the
dive.
c. Mark all cylinders appropriately.
d. All cylinders have a second stage at all times (except argon).
e. Test all regulators and valves.
f. Plan for gas termination, malfunction or high consumption.
g. Determine turn pressure for bottom gases.
h. Confirm that team mates have compatible (ideally the same)
gases.

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5. Diver’s – Decompression
a. Calculate the decompression, and compare it to the gas supply
planned.
b. Calculate back-up decompression schedules, or have a back-up com-
puter – all divers have two entirely independent methods for determin-
ing their deco.
6. Main – Mission
a. The entire team understands and agrees to the mission (objective).
b. The mission is reasonably achievable within the dive plan.
c. All team members know their roles and are qualified to perform them.
d. The mission has been made as simple as possible.
e. You can abort the dive at any point, mission notwithstanding.
f. If it would help and is possible, you have practiced the mission on land
or in shallow water first.
g. All team members agree that the primary mission is for everyone to
come back unhurt.
7. Objective – Oxygen
a. The PO2 for the planned max depth and bottom gas 1.4 bar/ata, or less.
b. On gas-switch, extended no-stop dives, the PO2 for the second EANx
blend and depth is 1.4 or less.
c. The PO2 for the planned decompression stops and decompression
gases is 1.6 or less.
d. The oxygen exposure (OTUs and “CNS clock”) for the entire dive
stays within accepted limits.
8. Is – Inert gas narcosis
a. For the planned depth and objective, narcosis will not be a significant
factor.
b. The objective has been simplified as much as possible, and the dive
planned for as shallow as possible.
c. All divers have experience working at the planned depth and in the
conditions present.
9. To – Thermal exposure

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a. Team exposure suits are adequate for the planned duration and
any reasonable contingency extended duration.
b. If using argon in a dry suit, there’s adequate gas for the dive.
c. The team is prepared for the consequences of a major dry suit
failure, if dry suits are used.
d. As part of the predive check, all divers inspect and check dry
suit valves, zippers and seals for integrity and function.
e. If using a wet suit, there’s adequate buoyancy compensation and
insulation to allow for suit compression at depth.
10. Live – Logistics
a. Logistics tend to be extensive and begin well before the dive.
Each of the previous planning segments generates logistical
considerations, most involving who, how, what, where, when.
Note these as you plan; examples include:
b. Establish who is responsible for providing what equipment, gas,
backup gear, etc.
c. Establish who is qualified and will handle surface and underwa-
ter support (if necessary).
d. Establish team dive leaders and project leader.
e. Establish when and where teams will meet.
f. Determine where to find the closest emergency medical facility.
g. Assure that all project members know where to find the first aid
kit, emergency oxygen and other emergency equipment items
know how to use them.
h. Assure that all project members know where to contact help.
i. For big projects, housing, boat access, food and so on may be
considerations.

[Note to students: Use the DSAT TecRec Dive Planning Checklist slates before
dives to review A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live and equipment
requirements.]

F. Predive check– same BWRAF you use for recreational diving, only extended/

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modified for technical diving.

1. Use Begin With Review And Friend, or Being Wary Reduces All Failures.
as your final gear check and readiness. It does not replace A Good Diver’s
Main Objective Is To Live, which you follow for overall, broad tec dive
planning.
2. Being– B – BCD: Confirm connection and proper operation of all valves
for both BCDs (if using a back up) or BCD and dry suit.
3. Wary – W – Weight: Confirm that weight system is properly secured. If
heavy weight diving, confirm ample buoyancy and adequate back up
buoyancy.
4. Reduces – R – Releases: Confirm all releases and straps are secure and
intact (including mask, fins, gauges, stage straps), that all stage/deco cyl-
inders can be cut away, that any large equipment can be released for ditch-
ing easily.
5. All – A – Air (gas): For yourself and team mates, confirm all manifold
valves are all the way open; test breath primary and secondary, confirm
that no equipment is trapping the long hose; confirm that deco cylinders
are pressurized but the valve is closed. It’s common to determine the one-
third-used pressure point for your bottom gas as a turn around pressure
(the pressure at which you head up, or head back to the ascent area –
though you may plan to ascend at a different pressure based on your gas
plan, as discussed earlier).
a. For a simple thirds calculation, divide your SPG pressure by three
and subtract from total to determine when you’ve used the first
third. E.g.. If your SPG reads 210 bar, 210÷3 = 70; 210 - 70 = 140
bar. If it reads 3000 psi, 3000÷3 = 1000; 3000-1000 = 2000 psi.
b. If your pressure isn’t evenly divisible by three, round down to the
next “round” number that is, divide by three and subtract from the
total pressure. E.g.: If pressure is 200 bar, round to 180 bar;
180÷3=60; 200 - 60 = 140 bar. If pressure is 2900 psi, round down
to 2700. 2700÷3= 900; 2900 - 900 = 2000.
6. Failures – F – Final Check: Check each other head to toe looking for loose

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or missing gear. This step finishes in the water with a bubble check and
usually a descent check.
a. Bubble check – Team enters the water and each dunks manifold
below surface. Check each other for bubble leaks at first stage/
valve, in manifold, etc. (In sidemount you check your own cylin-
ders). Same on all stage/deco cylinders. Dive doesn’t commence
until all bubbles leaks, even small ones, are handled. When possi-
ble, also check regulators in the water just under the surface.
b. Descent check – When feasible, after starting descent, team paus-
es at about 6 metres/20 feet and quickly checks:
• for loose gear, correct stage/deco cylinder on top, etc.
• no bubbles (confirm bubble check)
• that everyone is breathing the correct gas (not accidentally
breathing a deco cylinder, for example)
• Descent check may not be feasible until reaching bottom,
due to current, logistics, etc. May submerge and combine
bubble/descent check in very shallow water.
G. Technical diving hand signals
1. Because BCD adjustments, holding a line, etc. may require one hand
constantly, tec hand signals usually only use one hand.
2. Numbers are shown in single digits, one hand [Show students hand sig-
nal for 0 through 9]
a. Show large numbers as digits rather than totals: E.g.., to show
184 bar, you would signal “1,” then “8,” then “4.”

3. In tec diving, thumbs up means more than “up.” It is a command signal

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meaning end the dive now. (To signal, “let’s go up there,” point where you
want to go with index finger.)
4. The second command signal is hold. (To signal, make a fist.) This means
stop everything while sorting through a problem or situation.
5. The third command signal is okay. (Same as in recreational diving.) This
means that you need to confirm that you are okay because your team mate
has concerns about your well being.
6. In tec diving, you usually respond to a signal with the same signal to con-
firm that you understand it. With a command signal, you always return the
command signal.

V. Techniques and Emergencies

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Manual Supported Content

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 167, When to Make Cylinder
Switches, pgs 162-166, Emergencies III, Tec Exercise 3.3

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What are the guidelines and procedures for when to switch to and from stage/deco
cylinders?
2. What should you do if one of your stage/deco cylinder regulators malfunctions?
3. What should you do if our dive computer fails?
4. What should do if you lose your dive tables?
5. What should do if, on a decompression dive, you have no decompression information at
all?
6. What should you do if you find narcosis affecting you or your team mates’ abilities to
accomplish the mission or dive safely?
7. What should you do if you discover a team mate has separated from you?

A. When to make cylinder switches

1. The guidelines for switching differ somewhat for stage cylinders (used for
added bottom time) and deco cylinders (used for decompression).
a. You won’t be using stage cylinders (only a deco cylinder) as a Tec
40 diver, but it is important to understand the concepts and differenc-
es.
2. Stage cylinders
a. The entire team switches and stages together when any one member
reaches the switch pressure.
b. When using a stage cylinder for gas-switch, extended no stop dives
(Tec 45), you switch when you ascend above the maximum depth for
the gas in the cylinder. (In this case, you handle the stage cylinder
much as you handle a deco cylinder).
c. All switches follow the NO TOX procedure.
3. Decompression cylinders

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a. Your dive plan dictates when you switch to your deco cylinders
• As a Tec 40 diver, it is usually at the first stop.
• When making an accelerated decompression dive (Tec 45
and up), it is usually the first stop depth that requires a dif-
ferent gas – deeper stops may be on back gas.
b. However, you may switch once you ascend above the maximum
depth for the gas and use it as you ascend to the first stop. Eg.
Suppose your first stop is 6 metres/20 feet and you have a cylinder
of EANx50 for decompresion. You may switch to EANx50 after
you ascend above 21 metres/70 feet (maximum deco depth for 50
percent oxygen) and use it as you ascend to 6 metres/20 feet.
c. When using desk top deco software, you can schedule in a one
minute stop at a switch depth deeper than the first required stop to
give you time for the switch. (This is not generally required at the
Tec 40 level because you’re switching for added conservatism.)
d. When staging deco cylinders, all team mates stage together, typi-
cally at the deepest depth you can use the cylinder (PO2 1.6 bar/
ata maximum depth).
e. All switches follow the NO TOX procedure.
B. Stage/deco cylinder regulator failure.
1. A stage/deco cylinder regulator can malfunction and free flow due to dirt/
debris, or due to valve seat failure, etc.
2. This is one reason why you keep the valve closed until needed -- (espe-
cially if you stage the cylinders – to assure there’s still gas in it when you
return).
3. If a stage/deco cylinder regulator free flows:
a. Close the valve.
b. If you suspect dirt/debris and believe you can clear it quickly, do
so.
c. If not, remove the regulator and replace it with another from
another stage/deco cylinder, or the secondary from your back gas if
necessary.
d. Have both the malfunctioned regulator and the switched regulator

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serviced (the switched regulator will get water in it during

the switch).
4. You should always have at least two regulators that fit every stage/
deco cylinder -- the one on it and one you can move to it. (Two DIN
or yoke stage/deco cylinders, or a single DIN stage/deco cylinder to
accept the back set regulator).
5. In some cases, it’s acceptable (but not ideal) to carry a DIN adapter
to make a switch possible, such as moving a DIN back set regulator
to a yoke stage/deco cylinder.
6. In some areas, EANx regulators have special threading – consider
this in your plan.
7. In freezing conditions, a regulator switch may cause two, free flow-
ing regulators. It may be best to shut down the gas and allow the
regulator to rewarm rather than to switch it.
8. If all else fails, you may be able to breathe from a free flowing regu-
lator by briefly opening and closing the valve for each breath.
C. You have several options if you have computer failure, assuming you’ve
properly planned your dive and have the required back ups.
1. In order of preference:
a. If you are still in a no stop situation, abort the dive and sur-
face.
b. Switch to a back up computer for deco information.
c. If there is no back up computer, deco based on your back-up
depth gauge, timer and dive tables (printed from desk top
deco software).
2. In most instances, you abort the dive if your computer fails, because
you’re on your back-up system (some dive with two computers, plus
a back- up depth gauge, timer and tables so they still have back-up
with a single failure and therefore can continue the dive).
3. If making a tables-based dive (Tec 45 and up), losing your tables is

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as serious as a computer failure. You have several options:

a. If you are still in a no stop situation, end the dive.
b. Switch to your back up tables. (Plus, you should have your prima-
ry schedule on your slate).
c. If you’ve lost your back up tables, switch to your team mate’s
back- up tables (this is one reason you dive with the same gases).
d. If those aren’t available, you and your team mate ascend together
following your team mate’s tables.
D. No decompression information at all on a decompression dive.
1. This shouldn’t happen if you and your team mates dive with the same
gases and carry appropriate back-up computers and/or tables/gauges. A
team of three divers should have six computers/tables between them.
2. If it were to happen, end the dive immediately and start up (if you have
not already), hopefully before reaching your planned bottom time.
a. Think about your planned dive -- you should have some idea of
what the required stops were, such as the deepest stop, the length
of the last stop, when you were going to switch gases, etc.
b. Decompress as best you remember, slightly padding deeper stops.
Heavily pad the last one or two stops.
c. Use up all your remaining decompression gas at the last stop, espe-
cially EANx50 (Tec 40) or oxygen (Tec 45 and up) if you have it.
d. After surfacing, limit activity for several hours, stay hydrated and
monitor yourself for DCS symptoms.
E. Diving below 30 metres/100 feet, most people find narcosis noticeable, but you
should still be able to function normally.
1. Experience with narcosis increases your ability to function with it. Gain
greater depth experience gradually.
2. If narcosis impairs your ability to accomplish your task, or if your team
mate appears or behaves impaired, either ascend to a shallow depth to
continue the dive (if feasible) or end the dive.
3. Be especially alert for signs and symptoms such as looking at your com-
puter or tables and not understanding what they’re telling you, the inabili-
ty to perform simple motor skills (like knot tying) etc. These all alert you
that it’s time to ascend.
4. Some divers use signals to check each other for narcosis, such as asking

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each other for gas pressure. Delayed or confused responses suggest

that narcosis may be an issue.
F. If you discover a team mate missing from you:
1. Remaining team should stay together and search briefly, if appro-
priate.
2. Regroup at a designated point/abort dive -- this should be part of
your Logistics (Live) step in dive planning. If a team mate doesn’t
show after a reasonable period, your plan may call for a brief
search, limits allowing.
3. If you fail to reunite on the bottom, return to the ascent point. You
often regroup there.
4. In some circumstances, a separated team mate may have to ascend
independently under a lift bag or DSMB. Support divers, if pres-
ent, may notify you when they’ve made contact.
5. Do not continue the dive with a broken group -- this violates the
team concept. If after enacting your plans for regrouping you can’t
reunite, the dive should end.

Tec 40 Knowledge Development Three

Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-6
Study assignment: Tec 40 Handout 6

I. Managing Oxygen Exposure Continued

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. What are Oxygen Tolerance Units (OTUs)?
2. How do you use OTUs to manage oxygen exposure?
3. How do you use the CNS “clock” to manage oxygen exposure?
4. What is the basis for CNS clock surface interval credit?
5. Why may you choose an EANx blend than has a PO2 less than 1.4 at the work-
ing depth for a particular dive?
A. As you already learned, you need to manage your oxygen exposure when

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using EANx (and later oxygen as a Tec 45 diver) to avoid pulmonary and CNS
oxygen toxicity.
1. Recall that your primary prevention of CNS toxicity is in keeping your
oxygen partial pressure below the critical thresholds of 1.4 (working part
of the dive) and 1.6 (decompression at rest).
2. Because it is a biochemical process, there must be an exposure-time rela-
tionship involved with the onset of CNS toxicity. However, there are so
many other physiological variables involved that, for practical purposes,
the relationship is useless for reliably predicting CNS toxicity.
3. Pulmonary oxygen toxicity does have a useful time-exposure relationship
that allows reliable predictions.
a. OTUs (Oxygen Toxicity Units or Oxygen Tolerance Units, depend-
ing upon the reference) and the “CNS clock” both help you pre-
vent pulmonary oxygen toxicity.
b. As a Tec 40 diver, pulmonary oxygen toxicity is highly unlikely,
but possible if you make several dives in a short period using
EANx with high oxygen (like EANx50).
B. OTUs
1. OTUs are units that measure your oxygen exposure as a dose. A given
time at a given PO2 yields a certain number of OTUs based on a simple
mathematical equation.
2. At the Tec 40 level, as you know, you use your desk top decompression
software to calculate your OTUs.
a. You enter the actual gases you use (EANx blend) for your bottom
depth and time, and for your decompression stops and times.
3. OTU limits vary depending upon how much diving you’re doing.
a. The Oxygen Tolerance Units Exposure Limits table in the
Appendix of the Tec Deep Diver Manual shows you the limits
based on the number of days diving.
b. The Total OTUs for Mission is the limit for all OTUs together over
the given number of days.
c. The Average OTUs per day is the maximum allowed in a single
day.
d. Note that at 11 days on, the daily limit is 300 OTUs.

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• Many tec divers use 300 OTUs per day as the limit,
even if diving for fewer than 11 days. This keeps things
simple and conservative.
• You’ll find that 300 OTUs covers a lot of diving – this
is a very workable approach even at higher tec diving
levels.
e. Check your OTUs with your desk top decompression software
after each dive.
C. CNS clock
1. It seems somewhat redundant to calculate the “CNS clock” and
OTUs, but this is the state of practice in tec diving.
2. As you know, you calculate CNS clock with your desk top decom-
pression software. The CNS clock is expressed as a percent of the
allowable exposure – so it should not exceed 100 percent.
a. Most software calculates OTUs and CNS clock simultaneous-
ly.
3. There is oxygen surface interval credit for the CNS clock.
a. Between dives, your body begins reversing the effects of oxy-
gen exposure. This means there is potential for crediting time
at the surface.
b. The basis for CNS surface interval credit is hospital patients
undergoing long term oxygen exposure. The system has a good
field record with use.
c. Most desk top decompression software will credit your CNS
exposure when you plan repetitive dives.
d. The system has variations, so different decompression pro-
grams may give somewhat different results. You can also refer-
ence the CNS Surface Interval Table in the appendix of the Tec
Deep Diver Manual.
e. Note that there is no surface interval credit for OTUs.
4. As always, stay well within CNS and OTU limits.
D. Oxygen exposure and gas blend choice

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1. As you’ve learned, the “ideal” blend for a given dive is the one with a
PO2 near 1.4 at the maximum depth. This is based on the assumption
that you want the maximum possible oxygen so you have the mini-
mum nitrogen (and/or helium as a trimix diver) possible.
2. However, previous oxygen exposure or plans for additional dives may
affect this.
3. To keep oxygen exposure well within limits, you may choose an
EANx blend with a PO2 less than 1.4, even if it means a shorter bot-
tom time or a longer decompression time. This also keeps you well
within PO2 limits.
4. As you gain experience and increase your training as a tec diver, it
becomes increasingly important to consider prior and planned dives
when determining your OTUs and “CNS clock” exposure.

Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-6

1. Oxygen Tolerance Units are units that measure your oxygen exposure as a dose.
o True
o False
2. To use OTUs, (choose all that apply):
o a. use software to calculate OTUs based on actual depths, times and gases.
o b. stay within the limits of the Oxygen Tolerance Units Exposure Limits
table.
o c. never exceed 100 OTUs per day.
o d. use your software to calculate OTU surface interval credit.
3. To use the “CNS clock,” (choose all that apply):
o a. use software to calculate CNS clock percent based on actual depths, times
and gases.
o b. you don’t exceed 100 percent.
o c. stay well within limits.
o d. use your software to calculate CNS surface interval credit.
4. The basis for the CNS clock surface interval credit is extensive testing with mili-
tary divers.
o True
o False
5. Even if it were available, you may choose an EANx blend with a PO2 less than

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1.4 at the working depth to

o a. make your decompression more efficient.
o b. reduce oxidative wear on your equipment.
o c. decrease narcosis.
o d. manage your oxygen exposure over several dives.

How did you do?

1. True. 2. a, b. 3. a, b, c, d. 4. False. The basis for the CNS clock surface interval
credit is data from hospital patients undergoing long term oxygen exposure. 5. d.

II. Emergencies Continued

Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-7
Study assignment: Tec 40 Handout 7

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer these questions:
1. As a Tec 40 diver, what should you do if you exceed your planned depth and
time?
2. As a Tec 40 diver, what should you do if you have a delay during your ascent?
3. As a Tec 40 diver, what should you if you miss a decompression stop?
4. As a Tec 40 diver, what should you do if you omit decompression?
5. As a Tec 40 diver, what should you do if you run out of gas?

A. This section discusses handling some emergencies within the context of

Tec 40 equipment requirements and limits.
1. The same emergencies can be more serious and more complex to
handle for longer, more complex technical dives.
2. This is another important reason to stay within the limits of your
training and equipment.
B. Exceeding your planned depth and time.

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1. This should be a rare situation caused by unusual circumstances (if you

can’t control your depth under normal circumstances, you’re not ready to
tec dive).
2. Immediately ascend and consult your computer. Your allowable dive time
will likely be much shorter than you planned.
3. If you exceeded your depth significantly and/or for more than a minute,
end the dive immediately.
C. Delay in ascent
1. At the Tec 40 level, a delay in your ascent is not usually a major issue.
2. Your dive computer will calculate the changes in your required decom-
pression, if any.
3. If using a backup table (computer failed), it is not critical if the delay is
short (2-3 min or less)
a. Don’t count the delay as decompression time.
b. Extend your last stop as much as practicable, gas allowing.
D. Missed decompression stop
1. At the Tec 40 level, this is most likely to be caused by failure to control
buoyancy.
2. If you can, redescend and complete the stop, plus one minute, then finish
decompression according to your dive computer.
3. If you can’t redescend, stay at the next stop for the combined time of both
stops. Extend your last two stops (if two or more) by 1.5 what your com-
puter requires, and/or as long as you can with the gas you have.
4. Some dive computers will lock up until you redescend to below the depth
of a required stop. They provide no information in the event that you can’t
return to your deeper stop depth. If you have such a computer or comput-
ers, (see the manufacturer’s instructions), you should have your planned
decompression schedule with you (on a slate, backup tables, etc.) in case
of this kind of emergency.
E. Omitted decompression

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1. Omitted decompression is similar to a missed stop, but involves missing all

required stops and coming all the way to the surface.
2. The risk of DCS is higher than normal, but at the Tec 40 level it should not
be excessive if:
a. you’re using an EANx blend with more oxygen than you’ve set your
dive computers for.
b. you’ve completed most of your decompression using an EANx with
an even higher oxygen content.
3. If you omit decompression for 6 metres/20 feet or less (most likely within
Tec 40 limits), have no symptoms and can return to stop depth in less than a
minute, decompress according to your computer, then extend the last stop as
much as possible.
4. If you omit decompression for 6 metres/20 feet or less (most likely within
Tec 40 limits), have no symptoms and return to stop depth in more than a
minute, extend your 6 metre/20 foot stop by 1.5 times what the computer
requires, and extend the last stop as much as possible.
5. If you omit decompression from deeper than 6 metres/20 feet, return to the
first stop depth. Complete that stop up to and including the 12 metre/40 foot
stop, then extend all subsequent stops by 1.5 times the required decompres-
sion.
6. If you can’t return to depth (no gas available, for instance), breathe oxygen,
remain calm and monitor yourself for DCS symptoms.
7. Some dive computers will lock up if you omit decompression. Others lock
up after a given period (typically a minute), after which they provide no
decompression information. If you have such a computer or computers, (see
the manufacturer’s instructions), you should have your planned decompres-
sion schedule with you (on a slate, backup tables, etc.) in case of this kind of
emergency.
F. The TecRec Emergency Procedures Slate summarizes the procedures for delayed
ascents, missed decompression and omitted decompression. It is recommended that
you carry this slate with you on tec dives.
G. Running out of gas

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1. Should be unlikely at the Tec 40 level if you plan your gas supplies cor-
rectly and follow the reserve rules.
a. Having a deco cylinder with more than ample gas makes this even
less likely.
2. Increased SAC rate due to exertion is not usually an issue, because you hit
turn pressure sooner, which means a shorter dive time and less decompres-
sion.
3. If you run low on gas in a deco cylinder, switch to your back gas. As a
Tec 40 diver, all your decompression should be based on using that gas or
ideally, on one with lower oxygen content.
4. You can share gas with team mates and/or support divers.
5. Generally, if gas termination interferes with your decompression, decom-
press as long as you can, as best as you can. The more you decompress,
the lower your DCS risk. However, do not run out of gas. DCS is serious
but has a high likelihood of successful treatment. Drowning does not.
Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 40-7
1. If you exceed your planned depth and time, as a Tec 40 diver you should consult your
computer and be prepared to end your dive sooner than planned.
o True
o False
2. If you have a delay during your ascent, as a Tec 40 diver (choose all that apply)
o a. you should decompress for 1.5 times what your computer says.
o b. you should decompress for 3 times what your computer says.
o c. continue to decompress according to what your computer says.
o d. None of the above.
3. If you miss a decompression stop, as a Tec 40 diver (choose all that apply)
o a. you should redescend, complete the stop plus one minute, then finish decom-
pression according to your dive computer.
o b. surface and seek immediate recompression.
o c. descend to 12 metres/40 feet and extend all stops by 1.5 times what you com-
puter requires.
o d. you may need to refer to your written decompression schedule if your comput-
ers would lock up.
4. If you omit decompression, what you do depends upon how deep your stops were

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when you had the omission, and how fast you can return to stop depth.
o True
o False
5. If you run out of gas, as a Tec 40 diver your options may include (choose all that
apply)
o a. switching back to back gas.
o b. sharing with a team mate or support diver.
o c. decompressing for as long as possible with what you have to minimize DCS
risk.

How did you do?

1. True. 2. c. 3. a, d. 4. True. 5. a, b, c.

Manual Supported Content

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pg 204, sidebar, How Do I Figure
1.5 Times with a Computer?

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III. Thinking Like a Tec Diver

Manual Supported Content
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pg 178, Principles for Surviving a Tec
Dive

Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer this question:
1. What are six principles of surviving a tec dive?

A. Principles for surviving a tec dive. You’ve been learning these already, but learn
to think about these as survival principles that you never violate, though there may
be different ways to follow them, depending on the environment.
B. The principle of secondary life support -- you should have at least two indepen-
dent usable regulators, at least two independent sources of time, depth and decom-
pression information, and at least two methods for controlling buoyancy. You
should have at least two of anything that keeps you alive. If any one fails, you abort
the dive on the other.
C. The principle of gas reserve -- you should have ample gas to handle reasonably
possible emergencies and still complete your decompression (usually thirds).
D. The principle of self sufficiency -- at any point in a dive, you should be able to
complete it independently.
E. The principle of depth -- your dive plan should account for narcosis, decompres-
sion, oxygen toxicity and gas supply needs based on a planned depth and/or a maxi-
mum contingency depth that you do not exceed.
F. The principle of simplicity -- your dive should be planned as simple as possible,
with complexities eliminated.
G. The principle of procedure and discipline -- you follow the rules and work the
procedures without exception on every dive, no matter how familiar the dive and no
matter how much experience you have.

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Tec 40 Practical Application

On the surface, the practical applications develop skills with procedures related
to gear rigging, using decompression software and dive planning. However, the practical
applications also develop the team thinking and spirit appropriate for technical diving.
To accomplish this, the performance objectives require each team – not just individuals
– to meet the requirements before progressing. This encourages team mates to support
each other and work together. It begins the process of learning that in tec diving, what
one person does can affect everyone, for better or worse. This is why team diving is the
normal practice in tec diving, at all levels.
You may rearrange teams if necessary to avoid one individual carrying the entire
workload, or to avoid a person with significant difficulties holding back the rest inap-
propriately. Otherwise allow teams to develop their own interaction and cooperation in
meeting the challenges you present in the practical applications. Pay attention to be sure
that each person ultimately meets the required performance objectives, but let team
mates help those with difficulty develop their capabilities.

Tec 40 Practical Application One

To successfully complete this Practical Application, the student should be able to:
1. Working within the student’s assigned team, rig gear so that the equipment of all team mem-
bers conforms with the standardized technical rigging philosophy previously learned, and with
any environment-specific requirements provided by the instructor.
It is recommended that you begin the session by having students watch the
TecRec Equipment Setup and Key Skills video, or assign them to do independently prior
to this session.

Conduct
1. Divide the class into teams of two to four individuals.
2. Review proper rigging with a set up kit or kits, including deco cylinder with
markings, mask, fins, gauges, exposure suit, etc. The kit or kits should be in
the configuration(s) that students will be using (Tec 40, Tec 45, etc.) Leave
the kit(s) where students can see it (them), and refer them to their handouts
or the Tec Deep Diver Manual, depending upon the configuration they’re
using.
3. Tell the class that, working as teams, they’re to set up their equipment in an
appropriate configuration modeled on your example and what they’ve pre-

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viously learned.
• Depending on logistics, you may give this as an assignment to be complet-
ed by a specific time for your evaluation, or you can conduct this as a ses-
sion during which all teams work with you and staff supervising.
• Emphasize that they succeed at this exercise as a team or that they go back
and try again as a team. If student divers are not working together, you are
not accomplishing the team objective.
• Encourage discovery learning and team mates helping each other set up the
appropriate configuration.
4. Be available to answer questions and assist with configuration challenges.
5. It is recommended that you have basic clips, tools, labels etc. that students may
need while configuring their gear.
6. When complete, students present their kits as teams for you to assess. Note
any discrepancies and have the team correct them and then present their rigs
again as a team. It is acceptable to stipulate that no one in the team is done until
everyone in the team has successfully set the kit appropriately.
7. Tip: Schedule Tec 40 Practical Application I to immediately precede Tec 40
Training Dive One, with time for remediation and adjustments. This gets every-
one’s equipment set up for the dive, and assures that team mates are familiar with
each other’s gear.

Tec 40 Practical Application Two

To successfully complete this Practical Application, the student shouldbe able to:
1.Explain and demonstrate the basic features and operation of a desk top decompression
software.
2. Calculate the student’s working SAC rate based on the data during the SAC swim in
Tec 40 Training Dive One.
3. Plan a decompression dive within Tec 40 limits by planning/calculating gas require-
ments, maximum depth, exposure suit requirements, methods for meeting an objective,
turn pressure and other particulars based on information provided by the instructor
(which may include a particular decompression schedule, gases or cylinders available,
dive objective and environmental details). The plan should appropriately and accurately
account for all segments of the A Good Dive’s Main Objective Is To Live dive planning

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segments.
4. Working as part of a team and with instructor guidance, think backwards through the
dive from the furthest point imagining realistic problems that could come between the team
and surfacing safely, and formulating realistic solutions for each and making them part of
the dive plan. The team must draft a list of the problems and solutions.

Conduct
1. Divide the class into teams of two to four individuals. Unless there are personali-
ty conflicts or other issues, it is usually desirable to retain the same teams from pre-
vious sessions. This is particularly true if they have bonded well and function well
as a team.
2. Demonstrate one or more types of desk top decompression software, showing
students how to launch the program, enter settings and plan a Tec 40 level dive
similar to what they will be making. Allow teams to use and play with the soft-
ware (if necessary due to equipment available, may be done in turns, with some
teams working on other parts of this Practical Application while others use the soft-
ware).
3. Assign each team a Tec 40 level dive to plan using desk top decompression soft-
ware and accounting for all steps of the a Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To
Live dive planning steps based on information you provide.
• You may tell students this plan will be the basis for Tec 40 Training Dive Two,
with the mission accomplishing the assigned skills, and equipment, environment
and other specifics based on actual.
• Give students a maximum depth and time (they may have to reduce them to
stay within 10 minutes decompression or meet gas volume requirements). If this
will be the basis for Dive Two, tell them that the actual dive will be a shallower
and longer no stop dive.
• Have them use their TecRec Dive Planning Checklists. The Dive Planning Slate
may be used to record data from desk top decompression software.
• Since they don’t have data for their decompression SAC rates, assign a deco
SAC rate. A suggested assigned rate is to use two-thirds of their working rate.

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• With most software, divers have to determine their own turn pressures. Have
students do this based on the gas volumes they calculate and the cylinder(s)
they will be using. Students who have more difficulty with math may require
more time – encourage team mates to help each other, but not to do it for each
other.
• Show students how they would use software to calculate their oxygen expo-
sure (OTUs/CNS clock) by entering the actual depths, times and gases used
on the dive.
• You may schedule this practical application so that it is also the predive plan-
ning for Tec 40 Training Dive Two, and brief students accordingly for plan-
ning purposes.
4. As part of the planning process, think backwards through the dive from the
furthest point imagining realistic problems that could come between the
team and surfacing safely, and formulating realistic solutions for each, and
making them part of the dive plan. Have students provide you with a list of
problems and solutions.
• Review the list and note any additional problems they may not have
thought of. Ask them for solutions to these.

Tec 40 Practical Application Three

To successfully complete this Practical Application, the student should be able to:
1. Calculate the student’s decompress SAC rate based on the data during the SAC swim
in Tec 40 Training Dive Two (if not completed during dive debriefing).
2. Working as part of a team and with minimal instructor guidance, plan two decompres-
sion dives within Tec 40 limits according to the principles learned in this course, accu-
rately accounting for all segments of the A Good Dive’s Main Objective Is To Live dive
planning segments.
3. Working as part of a team and with instructor guidance, think backwards through both
planned dive from the furthest point imagining realistic problems that could come
between the team and surfacing safely, and formulating realistic solutions for each and
making them part of the dive plan. The team must draft a list of the problems and solu-
tions.

Conduct

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1. Divide the class into teams. Unless there are personality conflicts or other issues,
it is usually desirable to retain the same teams from previous sessions. This is par-
ticularly true if they have bonded well and function well as a team.
2. Assign each team two Tec 40-level dives to plan using desk top decompression
software and accounting for all steps of the A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is
To Live dive planning steps based on information you provide.
• It is recommended that students plan Tec 40 Training Dives Two and Three.
• Tec 40 Training Dive Two is a no stop dive but simulates a decompression dive.
Tell students to write down the decompression that the software predicts based
on a simulated maximum depth (actual dive depth can be shallower).
• Provide students information that they will need to plan the dives (maximum
depths, maximum times, gas blends available, equipment available, environ-
mental conditions, etc.)
• Tec 40 Training Dive Three is an actual decompression dive that students will
plan and make.
• Have students use their TecRec Dive Planning Slates and Checklists.
• Students should now have their decompression SAC rates and can recalculate
and confirm their working SAC rates based on information they gathered in Tec
40 Training Dive Two.
• Students should be able to plan all aspects of a Tec 40 level dive with only brief
reminders and minimal guidance from you and your staff.
• Remind students to consider repetitive dive exposure (nitrogen and oxygen)
depending upon the scheduling of these two dives, as well as the previous two
training dives.
• Students should be able to provide you with a decompression schedule (per
software) gas use, reserves, turn pressure, oxygen exposure (CNS and OTUs)
for each diver, descriptions of all required/planned equipment (cylinder sizes
and markings), logistics and general emergency procedures specific to the envi-
ronment.
3. As part of the planning process, have students think backwards through
the dives from the furthest point imagining realistic problems that could
come between the team and surfacing safely, and formulating realistic solu-
tions for each, and making them part of the dive plan.
4. Review the dive plans for thoroughness, omitted information and errors. When

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all teams have finished, share the completed plans with the group, discussing the
merits and ideas within them.

Tec 40 Training Dives

Tec 40 Training Dive One
Dive Today Considerations
Students may complete Tec 40 Training Dive One before completing Tec 40
Knowledge Development One or Tec 40 Practical Application One. In this instance, follow
these guidelines.
1. Have equipment set up prior to the dive, or assist with setup. Students must still
set up their own gear later in Tec 40 Practical Application One. Briefly explain what each
component of the rig is for and why it is configured that way.
2. Thoroughly brief all the skills, with more detail than you might normally give in
terms of the purpose of the skill. Students will read about this in more detail when they
complete Tec 40 Knowledge Development One, but it is important from the outset that they
know when and why they would use a particular skill they are learning.
3. Since they have not completed any prior sessions, students may not be aware of
the role team work plays in tec diving. Assign student divers to teams and emphasize the
need to work as a team, think as a team and support each other as a team.
4. After Tec 40 Training Dive One, students must complete Tec 40 Knowledge
Development One before moving on to Knowledge Development Two, Tec 40 Practical
Application One before moving on to Practical Application Two, and all of these before
moving on to Tec 40 Training Dive Two.

To successfully complete this training dive, the student must be able to:
1. Working in a team, assemble and inspect the basic technical diving rig following the pre-
viously described rigging philosophy and to meet individual/environmental needs.
2. Demonstrate the proper weight required for the dive.
3. Demonstrate neutral buoyancy while wearing the basic technical dive rig(Tec 40, full
standardized rig or sidemount) underwater in water too deep in which to stand by hovering
for 1 minute without sculling or kicking.
4. Within 30 seconds, independently close the cylinder valve to a regulator that is experienc-
ing a simulated free flow.
5. Assist a team mate by closing the correct valve to a regulator that is experiencing a simu-

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lated free flow.

6. Within 30 seconds, independently close the isolator valve in response to a simulated
manifold leak. (Simulated closing is permitted if performing the skill with a single
equipped with an H or Y valve, or with a pony bottle. The skill is not required if using
sidemount.)
7. Respond to a simulated out of gas emergency by signaling a team mate, switching to
the team mate’s long hose second stage, then swimming 30 metres/100 feet using the long
hose regulator and maintaining contact with the team mate.
8. Respond to a team mate’s simulated out of gas emergency by, on signal, providing the
team mate with the long hose second stage, switching to the short hose secondary, then
swimming 30 metres/100 feet as the team mate uses the long hose regulator, maintaining
contact.
9. Working in a team, perform a bubble check, descent check and S-drill.
10. Independently don, remove and re-don a stage/deco cylinder on the bottom.
11. Perform gas switches to stage/deco cylinders correctly following the NO TOX proce-
dure.
12. Shut down both manifold valves and the isolator valve, and switch second stages to
maintain a breathing supply, beginning with any valve chosen by the instructor, within 60
seconds (or within 40 seconds if there is no isolator valve).
13. Deploy a lift bag or DSMB from the bottom in water too deep in which to stand.
14. Swim at a steady pace at a constant depth for sufficient time to determine the SAC
rate.
15. Using only neutral buoyancy, maintain a simulated decompression stop for eight min-
utes.
16. Remove and replace stage/deco cylinder at the surface in water too deep in which to
stand.

I. Training Dive Standards

A. Tec 40 Training Dive One is conducted in confined water or limited

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open water. (See Section Two, Course Standards for definitions of these.)
The maximum depth is 10 metres/30 feet. It is a no decompression
dive. It is recommended that the site provide ready access to water shal-
low enough in which to stand, and have an intermediate depth (approx.
half the maximum depth) for simulating breathing high oxygen only at a
shallow depth.
1. Note that this is a moderately long dive with gas sharing and simu-
lated free flows. Especially using single cylinder Tec 40 kits, stu-
dents may exhaust their air supply before completing all required
skills. It is recommended that you use as shallow a depth as possi-
ble and have fills or extra cylinders available if necessary.
B. Ratios – 6 students to 1 instructor, with 2 more students permitted
with a certified assistant to a maximum of 8. (See Section Two for spe-
cific requirements necessary to qualify as a certified assistant in this
course.) These are maximums – reduce ratios as necessary to accommo-
date student characteristics and environmental/logistical variables.
C. Students and instructor must be equipped as described in Tec 40
Knowledge Development One (Tec 40 kit, standardized technical rig
or sidemount) with accommodation for environmental needs. This
includes a decompression cylinder. It is recommended that each student
have an individual cylinder, but acceptable for students to share cylinders.
1. The ideal is for the instructor to wear the same kit as students.
2. The instructor may wear the standardized technical rig. This is rec-
ommended if a Tec 40 class has mixed configurations (some in
standardized technical rig, others in a basic Tec 40 kit). Skills in
the Tec 40 kit differ little from the same skills in the standardized
technical rig.
3. If a class has sidemount and backmount configurations, for demon-
stration purposes it is recommended that both configurations be
represented, with the instructor wearing one and a certified assis-
tant wearing the other.
D. Gas requirements: Students and staff may use air or enriched air, any
suitable blend up to EANx50, in sufficient supply to accomplish the dive
performance objects and have free time for experience and practice. It is

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recommended that the stage/deco cylinder have a richer EANx blend than
the back gas cylinders. You may have students simulate using different
EANx blends.

II. Predive Planning, Briefing and Preparation–

suggested sequence
A. Predive briefing
1. Students set up their rigs, but do not yet don exposure suits (gear
may already be set up from the Practical Application – if following
Dive Today, it’s recommended that you have rigs already set up.
Go over the configuration(s) in detail, because they will not have
been informed about this yet.)
a. Inspect each rig for correct setup, ample gas, proper cylin-
der labels, etc.
b. Have divers work in teams. No one in the team is ready
until everyone in the team is ready.
2. Dive site overview
a. Depth, temperature, entry/exit points, note worthy features.
b. Facilities – parking, lockers, boat dry and wet areas, where
to find emergency equipment, etc.
B. Dive overview
1. Depth/time limits (limited open water) – if appropriate, note that
the dive may actually be two dives if gas fills are needed to get
everything done.
2. It’s recommended that you have students list the dive plan on their
slates – times, depths, turn pressures, etc., plus the skills, in order,
to consult during the dive. Get them in the habit of doing this for
each dive.
3. Skill overview – describe each skill, the performance requirement
and how you’ll conduct it, including signals you will use, etc.
a. proper weighting

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b. neutral buoyancy – hovering

c. regulator free flow – valve shutdown
d. regulator free flow – team mate assist
e. manifold leak – isolator shutdown
f. manifold leak – team mate assist
g. out of gas – use long hose as receiver
h. out of gas – use long hose as donor
i. bubble check, descent check and S-drill
j. don, remove and replace stage/deco cylinder on bottom
k. NO TOX gas switch
l. gas shutdown drill
m. deploy lift bag/DSMB
n. SAC swim at constant depth
o. simulated decompression stop
p. remove and replace stage/deco cylinder in water too deep
in which to stand
q. recheck weight with near empty cylinders
4. Review hand signals, emergency protocols, descent and ascent pro-
cedures, entry and exit procedures and any final details
a. Predive check is general only – technical level BWRAF is
okay; students learn the broader technical diving predive
check in the next session.
b. It’s recommended that you spot check everyone’s gear after it
is donned.

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III. Tec 40 Training Dive One – suggested sequence

A. Entry – into water shallow enough in which to stand (no deco cylinder at
this point).
1. Divers check their weight (no deco cylinder)
2. If using heavy rigs, divers may be negative with zero weight –
explain that they’ll recheck at the end with near empty cylinders
B. Descent to insensitive bottom (limited open water)
1. Students perform descent check and bubble check; check each
other for loose gear, etc.
2. Position class for skills.
C. Dive skills – for each, instructor demos, then has students perform as
briefed.
1. neutral buoyancy – hovering for 1 minute, no sculling or kick-
ing
a. Recommended that you use a line for reference and con-
trol if necessary.
b. Even very experienced recreational divers may need some
practice in learning to control buoyancy with heavy tech-
nical gear, especially in standardized technical rig.
c. Emphasize relatively horizontal position in the water
(ideal deco position)
2. regulator free flow – valve shutdown independently, within 30
seconds
a. Simulate by holding the purge button of either second
stage. Student closes the correct valve (pay close attention
to gas supplies, esp. with single cylinders and pony bot-
tles)
b. Emphasize that you may need to loosen waist strap and/or
crotch strap during your demo, then retighten when done.
3. regulator free flow – team mate assist
a. Simulate by holding the purge button of either second
stage. Student signals team mate to shut down the correct
valve. Again, pay attention to gas supplies.

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4. manifold leak – isolator shutdown independently within 30 sec-

onds
a. Simulate by pressing the purge button of your regulator
behind the student’s head so student can hear air flow, off to
one side or other.
b. Student shuts down isolator independently.
c. To simulate with no isolator on high capacity single, student
closes the valve to the short hose, then reopens it immediate-
ly (to allow for next step.)
d. Student leans back and looks up to find leak and checks sig-
nal to determine leaking side [identify side via a signal.]
Student switches (if necessary) to the regulator on leaking
side.
[Note, optional skill for sidemount students: The sidemount equivalent of
isolator shutdown is to transfer a working regulator to the other cylinder to
replace a malfunctioning regulator. The ideal is to have sidemount students
do this independently underwater in water shallow enough in which to
stand. However, that generally requires the transferred regulator to be over-
hauled afterward. Alternatively, they can practice at the surface with masks
on and breathing from the regulator only, but with the valves and first stages
out of the water.]
5. manifold leak – team mate assists
a. Simulate by pressing the purge button of your regulator
behind the student’s head so student can hear air flow, off to
one side or other.
b. Student signals team mate to assist. Team mate closes isola-
tor and tells the diver which side the leak is on.
c. To simulate with no isolator for high capacity single, assist-
ing student puts hand at valve location and simulates as if
closing valve (does not actually close a valve). The hand
must reach all the way to where the valve would be. For side-
mount students, it is recommended, but not required, that
they assist a staff member or student in a doubles setup.
d. Student switches (if appropriate to simulated scenario) to the
regulator on the leaking side.

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6. out of gas – use long hose as receiver, swim horizontally 30

m/100 ft.
7. out of gas – use long hose as donor, swim horizontally 30 m/100
ft.
8. Students return to surface/shallow area (change/refill all cylinders if
necessary). Enter/re-descend.
a. Descent check – on the bottom is acceptable
b. S-drill -- in teams, divers perform long-hose sharing as donor
and receiver, swimming about 6 m/20 ft.
c. Reposition class for skills demos and practice
9. Don, remove and re-don stage/deco cylinder on bottom
a. Cylinders are placed on the bottom by staff (or hand carried
by students) before exercise.
b. No gas switches.
c. Left side, single cylinder only.
10. Gas switch – NO TOX
a. Teams swim to shallow water (if available – if level depth,
designate one area as “shallow enough to breath EANx50”)
and perform NO TOX switch to their stage/deco bottles with
actual or simulated EANx50.
b. Check for clipping off long hose second stage, and be sure
that team mates check each other at the “X” step.
11. Gas shut down drill – on bottom, students close and reopen both
regulator valves and isolator valve, switching second stages to
stay with the open valve, within 60 seconds (if no isolator valve
for high capacity single, within 40 seconds)
a. Signal each student to perform shutdown drill, and indicate
where to start (long hose, short hose or isolator).
b. Student closes and opens all valves, one at a time beginning
with the one you indicate, and switches second stages to stay
on the open valve.

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c. Mix up which valve you have students start with.

d. Again, simulate an isolator with single cylinder by having
student close and immediately reopen the other (whichever
one the student has not immediately opened or closed) regu-
lator valve.
e. It may take more than one try to do this within 60 seconds.
f. Confirm all valves are open at end of exercise.
12. Deploy lift bag/DSMB
a. After your demonstration, all students practice retrieving
bags and reels, and sending up bag and/or DSMB. Watch for
correct technique that avoids entanglement.
b. If conducting the dive in a pool, do this in the deepest water
possible.
c. Stay close to the diver practicing the skill in case you need to
prevent an ascent – buoyancy control problems are common
when learning this skill.
13. SAC swim at constant depth
a. Teams swim together at a slow, steady pace (with stage cylin-
der) at as level a depth as possible long enough to determine
SAC rate (the shallower they are, the longer the swim).
b. Be sure students note their beginning and ending pressures
and time, and the depth on a slate.
14. Free time for practices and surprise drills
a. Team mates practice skills together. Encourage practice by
spontaneously having students perform the skills they’ve just
learned.
b. Allow plenty of time here – this is also a good time for addi-
tional surprise drills, such as pretending you’re out of gas,
etc.
15. Ascent – in water too deep in which to stand. Watch that students
control their ascent rates (more expanding air in BCDs with heavy
rigs may be an issue). Repeat if necessary until students can control
their ascent rates without difficulty.

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16. Simulated decompression stop – students ascend to a stop depth

you designate (1.5 metres/4 feet recommended) and maintain the
depth for eight minutes.
a. Divers should use only buoyancy control to maintain stop
depth, but you may provide a visual reference for them.
b. Remind students that they should remain within approxi-
mately .5 metres/1.5 feet of stop depth.
c. Remind students to maintain a roughly horizontal position
with their chests at stop depth.
d. This is a difficult skill, especially the first time. If possible,
allow extra practice time beyond eight minutes.
e. Time allowing, have students also practice a NO TOX gas
switch while maintaining stop depth with buoyancy control
only.
17. Student divers remove, replace and then re-remove stage/deco
cylinders at the surface.
a. Students commonly find this more difficult at the surface
than underwater, which is why they learn it first underwater.
b. Some students may find it easiest to remove the hip clip
first at the surface.
18. Recheck weight with near-empty cylinders and no deco cylinder.
a. Students wearing a heavy standard technical rig may be sur-
prised at how much weight they need.
b. Students in single cylinder rigs or light doubles may find
little more weight is needed.
D. Surface and exit – simulate technique that will be used in open water dives

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IV. Post Dive

A. Performance review. After a moment to rest, get a drink, etc., but imme-
diately while all memories are fresh, have teams identify what happened,
mistakes, what worked, what didn’t, what they learned, etc. Comment
and fill in missing information as necessary, but have students critique
themselves constructively while you guide the process.
B. Confirm that all divers have their SAC swim data.
C. Divers disassemble and stow equipment.
D. Students log dive for your signature.
E. Remind students of assignments/tasks before the next scheduled meeting
(knowledge development, etc.)

Tec 40 Training Dive Two

To successfully complete this training dive, the student must be able to:
1. Working in a team, plan the dive following the A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To
Live procedure, and perform predive checks following the Being Wary Reduces All
Failures procedure.
2. Independently don and remove a single deco cylinder at the surface.
3. Descend along a line to the bottom, maintaining control of depth and descent speed
by adjusting buoyancy.
4. Working as a team, perform appropriate bubble checks and descent checks.
5. While continuously swimming, independently stage a deco cylinder, swim at least 10
metres/30 feet from it, return to it and don it.
6. Swim at least two minutes and a distance of 18 metres/60 feet sharing gas with the
long hose as both the donor and the receiver.
7. Perform the gas shutdown drill within 60 seconds (40 seconds if not wearing isolator
doubles).
8. Perform a working rate SAC swim by swimming for approximately five minutes at a
level depth, recording the appropriate information for later calculation.
9. Demonstrate time/depth and gas supply awareness by writing the depth and time at
each 35 bar/500 psi of back gas consumed.
10. Demonstrate turn pressure and time limit awareness by signaling the instructor
upon reaching the turn pressure or time limit the team had planned were this really a
decompression dive.
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11. As a team, deploy a lift bag/DSMB from the bottom.

12. As a team, simulate a partially failed lift bag/DSMB by deploying a second lift bag/
DSMB up the line of the first lift bag.
13. Use primarily proper buoyancy control to ascend along a line at a controlled rate not
to exceed 10 metres/30 feet per minute, or slower if specified by a dive computer, to stop
at a simulated decompression stop at 5 metres/15 feet, without ascending past it.
14. Record the appropriate information for later calculation of a deco rate SAC by simu-
lating a 10 minute required decompression stop at 5 metres/15 feet.
15. While neutrally buoyant at a simulated decompression stop, with a team mate, NO
TOX gas switch to decompression cylinder while maintaining depth within 1 metre/3 feet
of the stop depth.
16. Throughout the dive, respond appropriately to simulated emergencies prompted by the
instructor.
17. Post dive, use desk top decompression software to determine the oxygen exposure
(OTUs and CNS “clock”) of the dive as it was actually made.

I. Training Dive Standards

A. Tec 40 Training Dive Two is conducted in open water. (See Section
Two, Course Standards for definitions of these.) The minimum depth is
10 metres/30 feet and the maximum depth is 18 metres/60 feet. It is a
no decompression dive.
1. 10 metres/30 feet to 12 metres/40 feet is recommended for larger
classes with students in single cylinders to provide adequate time
to accomplish all skills.
B. Ratios – 6 students to 1 instructor, with 2 more students permitted
with a certified assistant to a maximum of 8. (See Section Two for spe-
cific requirements necessary to qualify as a certified assistant in this
course.) These are maximums – reduce ratios as necessary to accommo-
date student characteristics and environmental/logistical variables.
C. Students and instructor must be equipped as described in Tec 40
Knowledge Development One (Tec 40 kit, standardized technical rig
or sidemount) with accommodation for environmental needs. This
includes a decompression cylinder. It is recommended that each student
have an individual cylinder, but it is acceptable for students to share cylin-
ders.
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1. The ideal is for the instructor to wear the same kit as students.
2. The instructor may wear the standardized technical rig. This is recom-
mended if a Tec 40 class has mixed configurations (some in standard-
ized technical rig, others in a basic Tec 40 kit). Skills in the Tec 40 kit
differ little from the same skills in the standardized technical rig.
3. If a class has sidemount and backmount configurations, for demonstra-
tion purposes it is recommended that both configurations be represent-
ed, with the instructor wearing one and a certified assistant wearing
the other.
D. Gas requirements: Students and staff may use air or enriched air, any suit-
able blend up to EANx50, in sufficient supply to accomplish the dive perfor-
mance objectives and have free time for experience and practice. It is recom-
mended that the stage/deco cylinder have a richer EANx blend than the back
gas cylinders. You may have students simulate using different EANx blends.

II. Predive Planning, Briefing and Preparation–

suggested sequence
A. Predive briefing
1. Students set up their rigs, but do not yet don exposure suits
a. Inspect each rig for correct setup, ample gas, proper cylinder
labels, etc.
b. Have divers work in teams. No one in the team is ready until
everyone in the team is ready.
2. Dive site overview
a. Depth, temperature, entry/exit points, note- worthy features,
etc.
b. Facilities – parking, lockers, boat dry and wet areas, where to
find emergency equipment, etc.
B. Dive overview
1. You may schedule Tec 40 Practical Application Two immediately
before this dive and integrate the dive planning and preparation for this
dive with the dive planning assignments in the practical application.

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2. Depth/time limits
3. It’s recommended that you have students list the dive plan on their
slates – times, depths, turn pressures, etc., plus the skills, in order, to
consult during the dive. Get them in the habit of doing this for each
dive.
4. Dive and skill overview – describe how the overall dive will go, detail-
ing each skill, the performance requirement and how you’ll conduct it,
including signals you will use, etc.
a. don and remove a single deco cylinder at the surface
b. controlled descent
c. bubble check and descent check
d. stage and retrieve deco cylinder on the fly
e. swim two minutes sharing gas as donor and as a receiver
f. gas shutdown drill – 60 seconds (40 if not wearing isolator
doubles)
g. open water SAC swim (five minutes)
h. time/depth and gas supply awareness
i. turn pressure/time limit awareness
j. lift bag/DSMB deployment
k. second lift bag/DSMB deployment
l. ascent to simulated decompression stop
m. 10 minute SAC decompression
n. NO TOX gas switch while neutrally buoyant
o. simulated emergencies
5. Review hand signals, emergency protocols, descent and ascent proce-
dures, entry and exit procedures and any final details
a. Predive check – teams should check each other using the DSAT
TecRec Dive Planning Checklist slates, technical level BWRAF
included.
b. It’s recommended that you spot check everyone’s gear after it
is donned.
c. Per team, no one is ready until everyone is ready.

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III. Tec 40 Training Dive Two – suggested sequence

A. Entry – appropriate for local environment.
1. Divers check their weight (if necessary -- no deco cylinder during
check).
2. Don and remove deco cylinder at the surface (if each diver has a
deco cylinder [recommended], then divers may don their cylinders
after entering the water and remove them at the end of the dive
before exiting).
3. Bubble check at surface (may be combined with descent check if
surface conditions are somewhat choppy).
B. Descent
1. Students descend using buoyancy to maintain a controlled rate
along a line, staying in teams and maintaining team contact.
2. Position class for skills on insensitive bottom.
C. Dive skills – instructor demos new skills or if necessary to remediate per-
formance only. Students perform on signal as briefed.
1. Bubble check (if not performed at surface) and descent check
a. Before dive, quietly assign one or two students to have
minor “problems” (e.g. loose crotch strap,) for team mates
to catch.
2. Stage and retrieve cylinder on the fly – instructor demonstrates
first, the students practice.
a. Confirm closed valve, tucked hoses and unclipping cylinder
while swimming to stage point.
b. Stage cylinder and secure in place (eg clip to line along
bottom) – reduce buoyancy at the same time as releasing
the cylinder – pausing only momentarily and without mak-
ing bottom contact.
c. Swim approximately 10 metres/30 feet and return.
d. Prepare to adjust BCD while approaching cylinder.
e. Without making bottom contact, release and grab cylinder;
increase buoyancy to compensate for added weight at the
same time.
f. Clip in cylinder while continuing to swim.

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3. Swim two minutes sharing gas as donor and receiver.

a. Skill starts with receiver giving out of gas signal and donor
deploying long hose and switching to secondary regulator
b. Have students swim a circle or other closed pattern at a
level depth while sharing gas with the long hose; receiver
leads.
c. After two minutes, students switch roles and repeat drill.
4. Gas shutdown drill – 60 seconds (40 if not wearing isolator SAC
swim).
5. Open water SAC swim – in teams, students swim for five minutes
at a level depth gathering cylinder pressure, depth and time infor-
mation to calculate bottom SAC rate.
6. Time/depth and gas supply awareness – on a slate, divers should
record the depth and time for each 35 bar/500 psi consumed for the
entire dive, amid other skills as necessary.
a. Team mates may remind and assist each other.
7. Turn pressure/time limit awareness –students signal you and their
team mates when they reach the turn pressure or dive time based on
the simulated decompression dive they calculated.
a. Remind students that because this is a no stop dive, the dive
will continue until reaching the actual limits of. [reinforce
planned actual dive time/gas supply limits]
8. Lift bag/DSMB deployment – on your signal one diver from team
deploys lift bag/DSMB to surface. Teams should decide who this
will be during dive planning.
9. Second lift bag/DSMB deployment – on your signal, a second
diver in each team deploys a lift bag/DSMB and sends it up the
same line to simulate adding buoyancy to a partially failed bag/
DSMB, or sending up a second bag as an emergency signal.
10. Ascent to simulated decompression stop – divers ascend at 10
metres/30 feet per minute or slower if indicated by their computers.
a. Depending upon the circumstances, you may have them
ascend along their lift bag/DSMB line or a heavier line like
a mooring line or anchor line.
b. Divers should control buoyancy so they arrive at 5
metres/15 feet neutrally buoyant, and not rise past the stop.
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11. 10 minutes SAC decompression stop – students remain at 5 metres/15

feet simulating a decompression stop and recording time/gas supply
information for calculating their decompression SAC rate later
a. Divers should use primarily buoyancy control to maintain stop
depth, but may use a line or other object for assistance.
b. Remind students that they should remain within approximately .5
metres/1.5 feet of stop depth.
c. Remind students to maintain a roughly horizontal position with
their chests at stop depth.
12. NO TOX gas switch while neutrally buoyant – one at a time but as a
team, students switch to a deco cylinder following the NO TOX proce-
dure, maintaining the stop depth plus or minus 1 metres/3 feet, using
neutral buoyancy to control depth.
a. Team mates may assist each other with depth control.
b. Follow the entire NO TOX procedure.
c. If students have individual deco cylinders, you may have them do
the switch before the 10 minute SAC deco and use their deco cyl-
inders for the entire simulated decompression.
d. If students do not have individual deco cylinders, they may take
turns using cylinders (at least two, one each for two team mates)
carried by the instructor/staff.
13. Simulated emergencies – tell students that depending upon time, gas
supplies, etc, throughout the dive you may surprise them with impromp-
tu emergencies via hand signals or your slate that they must respond to
appropriately. Simulate situations students should already be prepared to
deal with based on their training to this point.
D. Surface and exit – technique suited to environment. Students wearing deco cyl-
inders remove them in the water.

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IV. Post Dive

A. Performance review. After a moment to rest, get a drink, etc., but imme-
diately while all memories are fresh, have teams identify what happened,
mistakes, what worked, what didn’t, what they learned, etc. Comment
and fill in missing information as necessary, but have students critique
themselves constructively while you guide the process.
B. Confirm that all divers have their SAC swim data.
C. Divers disassemble and stow equipment.
D. Divers calculate their OTUs and CNS clock based on the actual dive
as made (actual times, depths and EANx blend(s)) used.
1. Provide guidance, but encourage team mates to help each other.
2. You may do this at the beginning of Tec 40 Practical Application
Three if necessary for logistics.
E. Students log dive for your signature.
F. Remind students of assignments/tasks before next scheduled meeting
(knowledge development, etc.)

Tec 40 Training Dive Three

To successfully complete this training dive, the student must be able to:
1. Working in a team, plan the dive following the A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To
Live procedure, and perform predive checks following the Being Wary Reduces All
Failures procedure.
2. Complete a simulated decompression dive based within Tec 40 limits (40 metres/130
feet max depth, 10 minutes max deco, EANx50 max oxygen content).
3. Descend along a line to the bottom, maintaining control of depth and descent speed
by adjusting buoyancy.
4. Working as a team, perform appropriate bubble checks and descent checks.
5. Perform the gas shutdown drill within 45 seconds (30 seconds if not wearing isolator
doubles).
6.. Demonstrate time/depth and gas supply awareness by writing the cylinder pressure
at each 10 minutes of dive time.
10. Demonstrate turn pressure and time limit awareness by signaling the instructor
upon reaching the turn pressure or time limit the team had planned were this really a
decompression dive.

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11. As a team, deploy a lift bag/DSMB from the bottom.

12. Ascend the lift bag/DSMB line and complete the simulated decompression, staying togeth-
er with the team, remaining neutrally buoyant and staying within plus or minus .5 metres/1.5
feet of stop depth by controlling buoyancy.
13. Throughout the dive, respond appropriately to simulated emergencies prompted by the
instructor.

I. Training Dive Standards

A. Tec 40 Training Dive Three is conducted in open water. (See Section Two,
Course Standards for definitions of these.) The minimum depth is 15
metres/50 feet and the maximum depth is 27 metres/90 feet. It is a no
decompression dive.
1. Students will simulate a dive requiring decompression.
B. Ratios – 4 students to 1 instructor, with 2 more students permitted with a
certified assistant to a maximum of 6. (See Section Two for specific require-
ments necessary to qualify as a certified assistant in this course.) These are
maximums – reduce ratios as necessary to accommodate student characteristics
and environmental/logistical variables.
C. Students and instructor must be equipped as described in Tec 40
Knowledge Development One (Tec 40 kit, standardized technical rig or
sidemount) with accommodation for environmental needs. This includes a
decompression cylinder. It is recommended that each student have an individ-
ual cylinder, but acceptable for students to share cylinders.
1. The ideal is for the instructor to wear the same kit as students.
2. The instructor may wear the standardized technical rig. This is recom-
mended if a Tec 40 has mixed configurations (some in standardized
technical rig, others in a basic Tec 40 kit). Skills in the Tec 40 kit differ
little from the same skills in the standardized technical rig.
3. If a class has sidemount and backmount configurations, for demonstra-
tion purposes it is recommended that both configurations be represent-
ed, with the instructor wearing one and a certified assistant wearing the
other.
D. Gas requirements: Students and staff may use air or enriched air, any suitable
blend up to EANx50 or that reaches 1.4 at the maximum planned depth, which-
ever is less, in sufficient supply to accomplish the dive performance objects and
have free time for experience and practice.
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1. It is recommended that students have decompression cylinders. Have

students practice carrying a gas blend that they cannot safely breathe at
the simulated maximum depth (the gas content may be simulated; have
students label cylinders “Simulated EANxXX, Max Depth XX; Actual
EANxXX, Max Depth XX)

II. Predive Planning, Briefing and Preparation–

suggested sequence
A. Predive briefing
1. Students set up their rigs, but do not yet don exposure suits
a. Inspect each rig for correct setup, ample gas, proper cylinder
labels, etc.
b. Have divers work in teams. No one in the team is ready until
everyone in the team is ready.
2. Dive site overview
a. Depth, temperature, entry/exit points, noteworthy features, etc.
b. Facilities – overview parking, lockers, boat dry and wet areas,
where to find emergency equipment, etc.
B. Dive overview
1. It is recommended that you schedule Tec 40 Practical Application Three
immediately before this dive and integrate the dive planning and prepa-
ration for the dive with the dive planning assignments in the practical
application.
2. Depth/time limits (limited open water) – students plan for simulated
depth, time and decompression, and actual maximum depth and time you
provide (no decompression).
Note: Because this is actually a no decompression dive, dive computers
will not provide deco information. Students need to have the sim-
ulated decompression schedule (written on a slate or printed and
laminated tables) to follow.
3. It’s recommended that you have students list the dive plan on their slates
– times, depths, turn pressures, etc., plus the skills, in order, to consult
during the dive. Get them in the habit of doing this for each dive.

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4. Dive and skill overview – describe how the overall dive will go,
detailing each skill, the performance requirements and how you’ll
conduct the dive, including signals you will use, etc.
a. controlled descent
b. bubble check and descent check
c. gas shutdown drill – 45 seconds (30 if not wearing isola-
tor doubles)
d. time/depth and gas supply awareness
e. turn pressure/time limit awareness
f. lift bag/DSMB deployment
g. ascent along lift bag line to simulated decompression
stop
h. simulated decompression stop while neutrally buoyant
n. simulated emergencies
5. Review hand signals, emergency protocols, descent and ascent pro-
cedures, entry and exit procedures and any final details
a. Predive check – should be check each other using the
DSAT TecRec Dive Planning Checklist slates – technical
level BWRAF included.
b. It’s recommended that you spot
check everyone’s gear after it is
donned.
c. Per team, no one is ready until
everyone is ready.

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III. Tec 40 Training Dive Three – suggested sequence

A. Entry – appropriate for local environment.
1. Divers check their weight (if necessary, without deco cylinders)
2. Don deco cylinder at the surface.
3. Bubble check at surface (may be combined with descent check if sur-
face conditions are somewhat choppy).
B. Descent
1. Students descend using buoyancy to maintain a controlled rate
along a line, staying in teams and maintaining team contact.
2. Position class for skills on insensitive bottom.
C. Dive skills – there are no new skills on this dive. Students should perform
skills related to normal dive conduct (bubble checks, ascent checks etc.) with-
out prompting. Other skills (e.g. gas shutdown drills) they perform on signal
as briefed.
1. Bubble check (if not performed at surface) and descent check Before
dive, quietly assign one or two students to have minor “problems”
(e.g. loose crotch strap,) for team mates to catch – if possible, choose
a different student and problem from Dive Two.
2. Gas shutdown drill – 45 seconds (30 if not wearing isolator)
3. Time/depth and gas supply awareness – on a slate, divers should
record their cylinder bar/psi at each 10 minutes of dive time for entire
dive, amid other skills as necessary. Team mates may remind and
assist each other.
4. Turn pressure/time limit awareness –students signal you and their
team mates when they reach the turn pressure or dive time based on
the simulated decompression dive they calculated.
Note: Remind students that because this is a no stop dive, the dive
will continue until reaching the no decompression or gas sup-
ply limits [reinforce planned actual dive time/gas supply lim-
its.
5 Lift bag/DSMB deployment – on your signal one diver from each
team deploys lift bag/DSMB to surface.
a. Teams should decide who this will be during dive planning.
b. If there is a diver in each team who did not send up a lift bag/
DSMB in Tec 40 Training Dive Two, that diver should deploy
the bag.
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6. Ascent to simulated decompression stop – divers ascend along the

lift bag line at 10 metres/30 feet per minute (or slower if indicated by
their computers) to the first scheduled decompression stop.
7. Simulated decompression – students remain as a team under the lift
bag/DSMB and complete simulated decompression per schedules.
a. Divers should use buoyancy control to maintain stop depth.
This may be a drift decompression.
b. Remind students that they should remain within approximate-
ly .5 metres/1.5 feet of stop depth.
c. Remind students to maintain a roughly horizontal position
with their chest at stop depth.
d. Divers with decompression cylinders (recommended) may NO
TOX switch to the cylinders at the first stop. [Note: At this
level, divers will still be gaining skill doing this neutrally
buoyant. Have team mates do this one at a time and assist
each other with depth control. You may allow more latitude
for depth variance during the switch.]
12. Simulated emergencies – tell students that depending upon time, gas
supplies, etc, throughout the dive you may surprise them with
impromptu emergencies via hand signals or your slate that they must
respond to appropriately.
Note: Simulate situations students should already be prepared to
deal with based on their training to this point.
D. Surface and exit – technique suited to environment. Students wearing deco
cylinders remove them in the water.

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IV. Post Dive

A. Performance review. After a moment to rest, get a drink, etc., but immediate-
ly while all memories are fresh, have teams identify what happened, mis-
takes, what worked, what didn’t, what they learned, etc. Comment and fill in
missing information as necessary, but have students critique themselves con-
structively while you guide the process.

Note: The next dive is an actual decompression dive. Students must have met all per-
formance requirements and demonstrated their ability to conduct such a dive before
moving on to it. If you or a student has any doubts about this, repeat Tec 40 Training
Dive Three and/or provide any necessary remediation before continuing on to Tec 40
Training Dive Four.

B. Confirm that all divers recorded their pressure information at each 10 min-
utes.
C. Divers disassemble and stow equipment.
D. Students log dive for your signature.
E. Remind students of assignments/tasks before next scheduled meeting (knowl-
edge development, etc.)

Tec 40 Training Dive Four

To successfully complete this training dive, the student must be able to:
1. Working in a team, plan the dive following the A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live
procedure, and perform predive checks following the Being Wary Reduces All Failures pro-
cedure.
2. Complete an actual decompression dive within Tec 40 limits (40 metres/130 feet max
depth, 10 minutes max deco, EANx50 max oxygen content).
3. Descend along a line to the bottom, maintaining control of depth and descent speed by
adjusting buoyancy.
4. Working as a team, perform appropriate bubble checks and descent checks.
5. As part of a team, demonstrate time/depth and gas supply awareness and turn pressure
and time limit awareness by turning the dive at the planned time, when any team mate’s
computer shows the planned decompression time or when any team mate reaches turn pres-
sure.

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6. Ascend at a safe rate not to exceed 10 metres/30 feet per minute, or slower if prompted by
a dive computer, and complete the required decompression as a team.
7. Throughout the dive, respond appropriately to actual or simulated problems or emergen-
cies.

Reminder: As you know, beginning with Training Dive One, students must demon-
strate mastery of all skills in each training dive prior to progressing to the next.
Because Dive Four is the first actual decompression dive at this level, there should be
no doubt that skills learned and practiced in the previous dives have been mastered.
Remember, you do not continue instruction into Training Dive Four with any students
who have not yet demonstrated mastery of all prior skills and learning.

I. Training Dive Standards

A. Tec 40 Training Dive Four is conducted in open water. (See Section Two,
Course Standards for definitions of these.) The minimum depth is 26
metres/85 feet and the maximum depth is 40 metres/130 feet. It is a
decompression dive within Tec 40 limits: max 40 metres/130 feet, max 10
minutes decompression, max EANx oxygen content 50 percent.
1. Students will make an actual dive requiring decompression within Tec
40 limits.
B. Ratios – 3 students to 1 instructor, with 1 more students permitted with
a certified assistant to a maximum of 4. (See Section Two for specific
requirements necessary to qualify as a certified assistant in this course.)
These are maximums – reduce ratios as necessary to accommodate student
characteristics and environmental/logistical variables.
C. Students and instructor must be equipped as described in Tec 40
Knowledge Development One (Tec 40 kit, standardized technical rig or
sidemount) with accommodation for environmental needs. This includes
a decompression cylinder. It is recommended that each student have an
individual cylinder, but acceptable for students to share cylinders.
1. The instructor may wear the standardized technical rig.
D. Gas requirements: Students and staff may use air or enriched air, any suit-
able blend up to EANx50 or that reaches 1.4 at the maximum planned depth,
whichever is less, in sufficient supply to accomplish the dive and maintain
the planned reserve (thirds or more).
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1. It may be helpful to use a relatively “thin” EANx for bottom gas, or air,
to take students past no decompression limits for a genuine decompres-
sion training dive.
2. It is recommended that students have decompression cylinders with a
higher oxygen EANx blend. This provides extra gas, and helps make
their decompression extra conservative. If using a blend that is not
breathable at the maximum depth, remind students of this. Also
remind them to NO TOX switch at the first stop.

II. Predive Planning, Briefing and Preparation–

suggested sequence
A. Predive briefing
1. Students set up their rigs, but do not don exposure suits yet
a. Inspect each rig for correct setup, ample gas, proper cylinder
labels, etc.
b. Have divers work in teams. No one in the team is ready until
everyone in the team is ready.
2. Dive site overview
a. Depth, temperature, entry/exit points, note worthy features, etc.
b. Facilities – overview parking, lockers, boat dry and wet areas,
where to find emergency equipment, etc.
B. Dive overview
1. It is recommended that you schedule Tec 40 Practical Application Three
before this dive and integrate the dive planning and preparation for the
dive with the dive planning assignments in the practical application.
2. Depth/time limits – students plan for depth, time and decompression
and limits you provide.
a. Students should to have the decompression schedule (written on
a slate or printed and laminated tables) to follow in the event of
a computer failure and/or for reference in an omitted decompres-
sion situation.
3. It’s recommended that you have students also list the dive plan on their
slates – times, depths, turn pressures, etc., to consult during the dive.

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4. Dive and skill overview – describe how the overall dive will go.
Explain that the point of this dive is to put into practice everything
they have learned and practiced.
a. controlled descent
b. bubble check and descent check
c. mission
d. turn dive at pressure/time limit
e. ascent and decompression
f. simulated/actual problems and emergencies
5. Teams plan how to accomplish mission (optional)
a. If possible, assign a mission or task to team. Alternatively,
teams may plan their own.
b. The mission should be very simple, short and reasonable
for Tec 40 limits
c. Remind students that accomplishing the mission is not
required and the dive should end when the team reaches a
planned limit. The overriding mission of any dive is return-
ing safely.
6. Review hand signals, emergency protocols, descent and ascent pro-
cedures, entry and exit procedures and any final details
a. Predive check – should be check each other using the
DSAT TecRec Dive Planning Checklist slates – technical
level BWRAF included.
b. It’s recommended that you spot check everyone’s gear after
it is donned.
c. Per team, no one is ready until everyone is ready.

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III. Tec 40 Training Dive Four – suggested sequence

A. Entry – appropriate for local environment.
1. Divers check their weight (if necessary -- without deco cylinder)
2. Don deco cylinder at the surface.
3. Bubble check at surface (may be combined with descent check if sur-
face conditions are somewhat choppy).
B. Descent
1. Students descend using buoyancy to maintain a controlled rate along
a line, staying in teams and maintaining team contact.
2. Position class for skills on insensitive bottom.
C. Dive skills – there are no new skills on this dive. Students should perform skills
related to normal dive conduct (bubble checks, ascent checks etc.) without
prompting. Other skills (e.g. gas shutdown drills) they perform on signal as
briefed.
1. Bubble check (if not performed at surface) and descent check
2. Mission – optional, as planned, accomplishing it is not required
3. Turn dive at pressure/time limit awareness –students signal you and
their team mates upon reaching any dive limit
4. Ascent and decompression– divers ascend and complete the required
decompression
a. You may have students ascend along a lift bag/DSMB line (if so,
have teams plan time for deploying it), mooring or anchor line, or
other appropriate ascent method.
b. Divers NO TOX switch to deco cylinders (if carried) at first stop.
c. Remind students that they should remain within approximately .5
metres/1.5 feet of stop depth and maintain a roughly horizontal
position with their chest at stop depth.
12. Simulated and actual problems and emergencies – tell students that
you may simulate minor problems or emergencies for them to handle,
but none of these would waste gas (e.g. free flowing regulator) or cause
them to abort the dive. Any problems of that nature are genuine.
D. Surface and exit – technique suited to environment. Students wearing deco cyl-
inders remove them in the water.

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IV. Post Dive

A. Performance review. After a moment to rest, get a drink, etc., but
immediately while all memories are fresh, have teams identify
what happened, mistakes, what worked, what didn’t, what they
learned, etc. Comment and fill in missing information as necessary,
but have students critique themselves constructively while you
guide the process.
B. Divers disassemble and stow equipment.
D. Students log dive for your signature.
E. Remind students progressing immediately into the Tec 45 course
of assignments/tasks before next scheduled meeting (knowledge
development, etc.)

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Section four: Tec40 Instructor Guide

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