5 Tec45

Instructor Guide Section five: Tec45
Five: Tec 45 Standards and

Course Content
The Tec 45 subcourse of the DSAT Tec Diver course introduces Tec 40 divers to the first
stages of full, technical deep decompression diving. Certified Tec 45 divers are qualified to make
multistop decompression dives that employ EANx and oxygen for accelerated decompression.
The expectation is that a Tec 45 diver intends to continue on in technical diving.
Accordingly, the course not only develops the knowledge and skills to make open circuit technical
dives as deep as 45 metres/145 feet, but also begins developing the knowledge and skills the diver
will need at the Tec 50 level and beyond.
Program Sequence
The Tec 45 course consists of three knowledge development sections, three practical appli-
cations sessions and four training dives. You will find these in the Knowledge Development,
Practical Application and Training Dive subsections, each with content/presentation outlines and
related standards.
The fully integrated instructional sequence for the Tec 45 course is:
Tec 45 Knowledge Development One
Tec 45 Practical Application One
Tec 45 Training Dive One
Tec 45 Knowledge Development Two
Tec 45 Practical Application Two
Tec 45 Training Dive Two
Tec 45 Knowledge Development Three
Tec 45 Practical Application Three
Tec 45 Exam
Tec 45 Training Dive Three
Tec 45 Training Dive Four
The Tec 45 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:
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Section five: Tec45 Instructor Guide
Any knowledge development sections, practical applications or training dives

•
that precede a training dive in the integrated sequence must be successfully
completed before that training dive.
• Any knowledge development sections or practical applications that precede a
practical application in the integrated sequence must be successfully complet-
ed before that practical application.
• Any knowledge development section that precedes another knowledge devel-
opment section must be successfully completed before that knowledge devel-
opment section.
For example, the following sequences would be acceptable:
Tec 45 Exam

Tec 45 Exam
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Tec 45 Key Standards

Participant prerequisites:
• Certified as a Tec 40 diver or qualifying certification from another training organization.
For the purposes of this level, a qualifying technical certification is one that qualifies the
student to make decompression dives to 40 metres/130 feet using air and EANx using
open circuit scuba equipment. 18 years old, 50 logged dives (12 deeper than 18 metres/60
feet using EANx, at least 6 deeper than 30 metres/100 feet (with or without EANx).
• Instructor qualification: Teaching status, insured (where required) Tec Deep Instructor
• Assistant qualification: renewed, insured (where required) PADI Divemaster or higher
certified as a Tec 45 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: 2.4 metres/8 feet
Maximum 10 metres/30 feet
Decompression: No stop only
Gases: Air or EANx, recommended that all blends be breathable at maximum dive depth
Ratios: 6:1, 8:1 with one or more certified assistants
Training Dive Two

Environment: Open water
Depths: Minimum: 12 metres/40 feet
Maximum: 18 metres/60 feet
Gases: Air or EANx, recommended that all blends be breathable to maximum dive depth
Training Dive Three

Environment: Open Water
Gases: Air, Air, EANx or oxygen
Training Dive Four

Environment: Open Water
Decompression: Single gas decompression, gas switch for conservatism,
Gases: Air, EANx or oxygen
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Tec 45 Knowledge Development
Knowledge Preassessment
The Tec 45 course builds upon and extends the knowledge development estab-
lished in the Tec 40 course. A lack of understanding or familiarity with the fundamental
knowledge required of a Tec 40 diver can substantially impede learning at the Tec 45
level, and in some cases, raise safety concerns. Therefore, it is important to verify and
assess prerequisite knowledge before beginning Tec 45 level knowledge development.
Apply these standards:
1. Students who enter the course with a qualifying prerequisite certification
(not DSAT Tec 40 certification) must complete all the Tec 40 Knowledge Reviews
and the Tec 40 Exam. It is recommended that you have these students complete the
reading assignments first. Check over the Knowledge Reviews and score the exam, pro-
viding remediation to achieve mastery as necessary.
2. Students who enter the course as DSAT Tec 40 divers (not a qualifying
certification from another organization) who you did not personally certify, and/or
who completed certification more than six months prior to the start of the course,
must retake the Tec 40 exam. Score the exam, providing remediation to achieve mas-
tery as necessary.
3. As appropriate, it’s recommended that you preassess potential students’ skill
and knowledge in a confined water session and/or interviews. You can combine remedi-
ation with preassessment, refreshing student capabilities to mastery prior to beginning
the course.
4. Students who you certified as DSAT Tec 40 divers (not a qualifying certifica-
tion from another organization) within six months of starting the course do not have any
particular assessment requirements. It is recommended that you check their training
records for any areas that may have had difficulty and conduct informal assessments by
asking questions, etc.
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 stu-
dent understands, you may use the outline to present all course content. Otherwise, it is
recommended that you cover knowledge development through student independent
study with the manual and handouts, with presentations that review/remediate what they
studied.
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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 convenience) 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 independently 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 45 students do not use the Knowledge Reviews in the Tec Deep Diver Manual.
Instead, copy the blank Tec 45 Knowledge Reviews in the Appendix of this guide for their
use. You will also find the answer keys there. Students have not completed a Knowledge
Development until they have completed the corresponding Knowledge Review cor-
rectly, accurately and completely.
The final step in completing Tec 45 Knowledge Development is the Tec 45 Exam.
Tec 45 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 mastery 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 45
Practical Application Three.
All material in the Knowledge Development content outline is required and
must be covered, studied and otherwise remediated until the student demonstrates
mastery.
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[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 45 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 students
become acquainted.]
2. [Have students introduce themselves and tell something about themselves,
diving interests, etc.]
3. [Collect and review Tec 45 Knowledge Review One].
a. [Review the answers to assess mastery so you can tailor your presen-
tations accordingly.]
B. Course Goals
1. The goals of the Tec 45 course are
a. To qualify you to make limited decompression dives using air,
enriched air and oxygen to a depth of 45 metres/145 feet or less.
• Certification as a Tec 45 diver qualifies you to use a single
decompression gas of up to 100 percent oxygen to make your
decompression more conservative or to accelerate your
decompression.
b. To train you in the knowledge, procedures and motor skills required
for decompression diving within the limitations of the Tec 45 certifi-
cation.
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 45 limits.
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e. To lay the foundation continuing your training in the Tec 50, Tec
Trimix 65 and Tec Trimix Diver courses.
C. Your Obligations and Responsibilities
1. During the Tec 45 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 to 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 quali-
fied 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 conse-
quences:
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 associated
with the course, refund policies, etc.]
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.
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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 not completed, etc.]
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 training.]
f. [Have student divers read, complete and sign the PADI
Medical Statement. Prior to Tec 45 Training Dive One, 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. [Diver insurance – It’s recommended that you require students in
the DSAT Tec 45 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
handle knowledge development.]
a. You will study independently with the Tec Deep Diver Manual
and provided handouts.
• The manual supports the entire Tec Diver course as well
– Tec 40 through Tec 50. You should have already read
much of it.
• Read the assigned handouts, sections and exercises.
b. You will use the manual to complete knowledge reviews provid-
ed to you. Do not use the knowledge reviews in the manual.
c. We will review the material and help with anything you don’t
understand [state where/when: class sessions, practical applica-
tions, predive sessions, etc.]
d. You will complete the Tec 45 Exam before the last two training
dives of the course.
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II. Equipment
[Note to instructor: Students who took the Tec 40 course in the standardized techni-
cal rig (or sidemount) will have already completed this section. At your discretion,
they do not have to repeat it. Students who took the Tec 40 course using the basic
Tec 40 configuration do need to complete this section.]
Manual Supported Content

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 10-33, Equipment I, Tec
Exercise 1.2, pgs 80-87, Equipment II, Tec Exercise 2.1, pgs 142-145,
Equipment III, Tec Exercise 3.1
Watch the TecRec Equipment Setup and Key Skills video.
Learning Objectives
1. What is meant by “standardized technical rig,” and why do technical divers need
to apply it?
2. What guidelines apply to selecting masks, fins and snorkels for technical diving?
3. What characteristics should you look for in a cylinder valve or manifold used for
deep technical diving?
4. What is the minimum number of fully independent regulators, per diver, and how
do you configure each?
5. What three characteristics should you look for in a BCD, and what five character-
istics should you look for in a harness, for a deep technical diving rig?
6. How do you choose an appropriate exposure suit for a deep technical dive, and
how may your choice affect your BCD choice?
7. What are your options regarding a weight system, and what are the advantages
and disadvantages of each?
8. What instrumentation do technical divers generally carry, and why do they gener-
ally avoid consoles?
9. What are the three types of computers you can use for technical deep diving with
air and enriched air, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
10. What types of cutting tools are appropriate for deep technical diving, and at least
how many should you have with you?
11. What are six general guidelines regarding pockets, accessories and clips you
might need when technical diving?
12. What is the difference between a stage bottle and a decompression cylinder?
13. How do you set up a stage/deco cylinder? PADI
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14. What is the advantage of a stage/deco cylinder connection you can cut?
15. Why would you need a lift bag/DSMB and reel?
16. What are suitable lift bags/DSMBs and reels, and where do you secure them on
your rig?
17. What makes a suitable spare mask for tec diving?
18. What are the issues and recommendations relating to equipment and oxygen
compatibility?
19. What are four recommendations regarding equipment maintenance?
20. What are three reasons that technical divers consider a slate standard equip-
ment?
21. What is a “jon line,” and how do you use it?
22. What benefits does a multigas computer offer you?
23. What are the options regarding urination for long technical dives?
You should also be able to:

17. Describe the layout, arrangement and configuration of the basic rig and equip-
ment, head to toe, as worn for a technical deep dive.
A. The technical community has evolved a standardized technical rig that mini-
mizes and streamlines your gear so that nothing dangles, everything is easily
accessible and so you eliminate the unnecessary.
1. With the extensive equipment needs in technical diving, you must
apply the standardized rig philosophy to minimize confusion and pro-
cedural error due to equipment task loading, and to assure streamlin-
ing, which avoids entanglements and reduces wasted energy due to
drag.
2. Gear rigging may vary with the type of technical diving and still be
consistent with the standardized technical rig philosophy. In this
course, you’ll learn the basic technical diving setup most widely
accepted in the technical diving community.
B. Mask, fins and snorkel.
1. Choose a compact mask to maximize streamlining and to minimize
having it jostled loose by current.
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2. Choose fins with sufficient blade area and flex for power. Fins suitable for
snorkeling or warm water recreational diving may not be suitable for tech-
nical diving.
3. Usually you omit the snorkel. They are appropriate standard equipment
for recreational diving, but not for tec diving. In tec diving condictions, a
snorkel tends to create drag and be an entanglement hazard.
a. In rare instances with long swims at the surface in conditions call-
ing for a snorkel (before or after a dive), you may choose a snorkel
you can detach and stow for the dive.
4. Full face masks are not widely used for open circuit tec diving. However,
at least one company manufacturers a model with interchangeable mouth
“pods” that permit the diver to easily change gases and use standard sec-
ond stages. The use of such a mask may be especially beneficial during
decompression with oxygen, because it may reduce drowning risk in the
event of a convulsion.
C. Cylinders and valves.
1. The basic technical rig usually consists of twin cylinders chosen based on
your gas consumption, size and the dive requirements.
a. Twin 11-12 litres/71.2-80 cubic foot cylinders are sufficient for
many divers going no deeper than 50 metres/165 feet.
b. In some instances, a single 18-20 litre/105-120 cubic foot cylinder
with an appropriate valve will suffice for the planned dive.
2. For twins, choose a valve with twin regulator posts that can shut down gas
to either regulator and still allow the other access to all gas in both cylin-
ders (in case of a freeflow malfunction).
a. You also want an isolator manifold, which has a valve that sepa-
rates the cylinders and saves half the remaining gas in the event of
a manifold leak.
b. The DIN (Deutche Industrie Norm) system is preferred over the
yoke system – considered more reliable because of the threaded
connection and captured o-ring (some valves will accept either
with an insert adapter.)
c. If you train in sidemount, you will have independent twin cylin-
ders, and (obviously) no isolator valve. Your instructor will go
over sidemount equipment specifics in detail.
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3. For a single cylinder set up, choose an “H” or “Y” valve, which have
twin regulator posts and can shut down gas to either regulator and still
allow the other access to all the remaining gas (again, the DIN system is
preferred).
a. All your training in the Tec 45 course will be in doubles, but you
may elect to use a single at times as a certified Tec 45 diver.
4. Cylinder and valve accessories
a. A remote-close cable for the isolator manifold is common in a
few areas with specialized needs, such as in cold water where
thick exposure suits make it difficult to reach the valve.
b. Some wreck divers use valve guards to protect against impact
inside wrecks; the trend is away from these due to bulk and
entanglement, though they’re common in some environments
that call for them.
5. Doubles are set up with doubles bands set with the mounting bolts a
standardized 28 cm/11 inches apart. Setting up doubles takes some
training and practice, so have your PADI Dive Center or Resort handle
it for you.
a. Sidemount cylinders ride on either side of your body much like
stage/deco cylinders. These don’t require a manifold, but they do
require special clips and other rigging as well as a specialized
harness.
D. Regulators
1. In deep technical diving, the minimum is two fully independent regula-
tors per diver (this does not include those used on stage or decompres-
sion cylinders).
2. Choose top of the line balanced regulators for maximum reliability and
performance at depth.
3. Configure the right post (as worn) regulator with a low pressure inflator
hose and the second stage on a 1.8 m/7 ft hose. Sidemount will be simi-
lar, though you will have an SPG. Its hose and the low pressure inflator
hose lengths may differ.
4. Configure the left post regulator with the SPG and the second stage on a
standard length (about 80 cm/32 in) hose.
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5. The left regulator may or may not have a low pressure inflator hose (more
about this later).
6. Note: neither regulator needs an extra second stage (one per regulator).
7. Again, the DIN system is preferred (most DIN regulators accept adapters
for yoke system use).
8. Sidemount configuration is similar – your instructor will show you the
sidemount configuration if you’re completing the course in sidemount.
E. BCD and harness
1. The basic deep technical rig calls for a harness that sits on top of an inter-
changeable BCD bladder; this attaches to double cylinders via recessed
wing nuts that screw down on the band bolts.
a. In the case of sidemount, the BCD bladder may or may not be
incorporated into a typically fabric harness. There are no bands to
mount to with sidemount, however, the harness may have a metal
rail system at the bottom and back of the harness, which is used to
connect the lower part of cylinders.
2. BCDs –called “wings” (because they let you “fly” doubles or because they
resemble stubby wings).
a. Size – a wide variety is available; choose based on adequate lift to
hold you at the surface wearing all the gear for the planned dive,
and with all cylinders full.
b. Single bladder (has a single air cell, inflator and deflator) and
double bladder (two air cells, inflators and deflators) models are
available.
c. You need back up buoyancy if your primary BCD fails. Options
depend upon your other gear:
• Single bladder: when using lighter cylinders with a dry suit
• Double (dual bladder): needed for heavy cylinders with a
dry suit, or diving a wet suit, so you can still restore posi-
tive buoyancy even with a major BCD failure. The heaviest
diving rigs may pose too much weight for dry suit back up
buoyancy; you may need a double BCD in either a wet or
dry suit. This is the generally preferred choice.
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• Unrestrained or “bungeed” BCDs – Bungeed wings have

elastic or tubing that constricts the BCD to minimize pro-
trusion and reduce the profile for wreck penetration div-
ing.
o bungeed wings should not be so tight that they
would squeeze out all air if you had an exhaust
valve failure or hole
o some BCD wings have adjustable elastic that you
set for the required buoyancy; this will not squeeze
out all air; some allow you to release the bungee
during the dive
3. Harness – holds the BCD to the cylinders, and the assembly on to you.
a. Style – Plate (steel, aluminum or plastic) with standard nylon
webbing is simple and holds a lot of weight securely. A soft har-
ness is all standard nylon webbing and fabric; it is a bit more ver-
satile and comfortable, but not as simple. It also weighs less,
which is advantageous for traveling divers.
b. Crotch strap – Due to the bulk and buoyancy distribution, you’ll
need a crotch strap with most harnesses.
c. Shoulder harness adjustable quick release connectors – they are
generally not needed, but are convenient. Should you need assis-
tance, they simplify getting you out of your gear; without them,
they may have to cut your straps to get you out of your rig.
d. Adjustable D-rings at the shoulders (two max each side) on
straps, standoff (bent out or rigid), are recommended. Custom
BCD with “permanently adjusted” D-rings are an option. Rigid D
rings on the waist strap at hips (one each side) are essential – you
need them located for optimum stage/decompression cylinder car-
rying (more about this later in the course).
• Fabric “butt plates” can be added to some BCDs.
Developed for sidemount, these plates have cylinder
attachment rails that some backmount divers prefer for
stage/decompression cylinders in place of hip D rings.
• Sidemount harnesses will also have two bungees clipped
off to the back of the harness and to the front shoulder
D-rings. This bungee is placed around the valve of each
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cylinder to hold it close to the diver’s body. These should

be attached underwater and not used to support the weight
of the cylinder out of the water, because the bungee isn’t
strong enough. Many divers will use a short loop of nylon
cord with a bolt snap that can be easily be looped around
the valve out of the water to support the cylinder and allow
the diver to enter and exit with them on, if needed.
• If using a quick release on the harness shoulder, D-rings
should be above the release – this makes adjustment easier,
and the stage bottle keeps the rig on you if you release it
accidentally (very rare with modern harnesses).
e. Waist strap – is usually a standard webbing/buckle on a plate har-
ness, or a standard webbing/buckle with a removable “cummer-
bund,” foundon many soft harnesses. Avoid harnesses with cum-
merbund only (these are not as strong and create gear positioning
problems). Many divers prefer a metal buckle to avoid breakage
when moving heavy gear.
4. The BCD may or may not be partly integrated to your harness; you will
want to choose your BCD and harness as a system.
5. Many avid technical divers have two or three wings, or entirely separate
BCDs and harnesses, to match differing dive requirements.
F. Exposure suits
1. As in recreational diving, you choose your exposure suit based on the
water temperature at depth and the dive duration.
a. Exposure protection suitable for short recreational dives may not
be sufficient for long technical dives.
b. You almost always need more insulation for a technical dive due to
duration and decompression/safety stops without much exertion.
2. Dry suits
a. For longest durations/coldest water.
b. May permit using a single bladder BCD.
c. Inflate with argon system for additional insulation.
d. Master dry suit use in recreational diving before using one in tech-
nical diving. At least 20 dives is a conservative minimum before
using your dry suit for tec diving. The PADI Dry Suit Diver course
recommended.
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• Note that in recreational diving, you use only the dry suit
for buoyancy control underwater.
• In a heavy weight technical rig, you may need to use
both the suit and your BCD – a more complex skill to
master.
3. Wet suits
a. For most divers, a full 6 mm 1/4 in. wet suit with hood will suf-
fice in water 24°C/75°F or warmer for two to three hour dives.
Choose high quality neoprene to withstand the rigors of com-
pression and recovery inherent to deep diving.
b. Choose a redundant (double bladder) wing BCD, because drop-
ping weights (if any) may not give you sufficient buoyancy if
your BCD fails, or dropping weights may make you too buoyant
to make your decompression stops.
c. Note that at depth, wet suit compression may require substantial
air in the BCD.
d. The advantage of diving in a wet suit is simplicity – you only
need to adjust the BCD. A minor tear will not substantially affect
your thermal protection.
G. Weight systems
1. With aluminum double cylinders, you will probably still need weights.
With a heavy weight rig, you may not.
2. The choices are weight belt, integrated weight system and weight har-
ness.
a. Weight belt
• Advantages: simple, readily available when needed.
• Disadvantages: must don after putting on rig so it’s not
trapped by crotch strap; can be hard to position securely
amid other components. Note: Since losing weights on a
deco dive can be hazardous (discussed in a moment),
some divers intentionally wear their crotch straps over
their weight belts, knowing they’ll have to release it in a
weight ditching emergency.
b. Integrated weight system
• Advantages: no need to put on last; prepositioned amid
rest of rig
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• Disadvantages: must have a harness system that accepts one;

makes an already heavy rig heavier; may add clutter to the
configuration (depends on design)
c. Weight harness
• Advantages: it is put on before the rig; does not add to rig’s
weight; provides key advantages of both weight belt and
weight system
• Disadvantages: may be awkward to adjust and position so that
rig doesn’t interfere with weight ditching; may interfere
somewhat with putting rig on
d. Combination
• Advantages: loss of one weight system doesn’t lose all your
weight; may make configuration and donning easier.
• Disadvantages: more complicated preparation, one more thing
to remember.
3. Loss of weights can be a significant hazard when wearing lightweight rigs

(such as twin aluminums), due to out of control ascent and the inability to
make required decompression stops.
a. Some tec divers use double buckles on weight belts to prevent acci-
dental release.
b. Another technique for backmounts is to use a metal plate and thread
smaller weights into the harness in the shoulder area. Typical plates
weigh 2.7 kg/6 lbs. Adding small weights to the harness can provide
the diver up to 3.5 – 4.5 kg / 8 – 10 lbs that can’t be accidentally lost.
While this may not provide sufficient weight alone, it makes loss of
weight less of an issue with the remaining system.
c. A third backmount technique is the use of a keel weight. This is a bar
weight that fits between the cylinders, generally under the harness.
H. Instrumentation
1. Basic deep technical rig instrumentation: SPG, compass, computer or timer/
depth gauge and back up computer or timer/ depth gauge.
2. Technical divers generally prefer arm-mount instruments (generally SPG is
not arm-mounted, though it can be) – consoles are bulky and protrude
(doesn’t follow the standardized technical rig philosophy) creating drag and
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entanglement hazard. (Note: you can often mount two gauges on a

single wrist strap. Some tec divers carry back up instruments clipped
inside a pouch or pocket.)
3. SPG (submersible pressure gauge)
a. One only (except in sidemount) – there is no back up (it cre-
ates two potential high pressure leaks); failure means end the
dive immediately
b. Mechanical preferred – reliable with no battery concerns
c. In sidemount, smaller and lower profile preferred
4. Compass -- Good quality, liquid filled as used in recreational diving.
It is commonly carried in a pouch until needed, rather than worn.
5. Timer and depth gauge (integrated or separate)
a. May be used in place of computer when diving with tables
(though most common “timer-depth gauge” is a dive computer
set to gauge mode.)
b. May be used to back up a computer (with tables).
6. Dive computers
a. State of art in tec diving is the multiple gas computer.
b. Modern computers accept as many as 7 different gases that
you can switch to “on the fly” (during the dive) to accelerate
decompression. Some allow you to add or delete gas blends
underwater to handle emergency situations.
c. Many also calculate helium dives – useful for diving trimix
d. Single gas computers can be used, but at this level, are typical-
ly used as timer/depth gauges along with tables
I. Cutting tools
1. You always dive with at least two cutting tools.
2. Carry at least one where you can deploy it with either hand.
3. Common types and locations include:
a. Typical dive knife – sharp and in excellent condition; com-
monly worn on inside of calf (on the outside is prone to entan-
glement and hard to reach with either hand), however, most
tec divers have moved away from large, leg knives altogether.
b. Small dive knife – sharp, typically worn in sheath near center
of waist band.
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c. Z-knife – a small hook with blade especially suited to cutting fine

line. It is worn on a gauge strap, harness or BCD deflation hose.
d. EMT shears – heavy duty shears that cut rope (some will even
handle cable). These may be worn on the calf, harness or waist.
e. Bosun’s knife or other folding knife – very sharp for cutting line,
often carried with clip or lanyard in a pocket or under instrument
wrist bands
f. Multi tools – Leatherman®- type tools, sometimes carried to meet
specific dive objectives, usually in a sheath/pouch on the waist
band or in a pocket with a clip.
4. Different types of technical diving have different cutting tool concerns
(e.g., cave divers never wear large, calf-mounted knives).
J. Guidelines for pockets, clips and accessories
1. To minimize confusion and bulk, avoid large pocket pouches on the har-
ness; small pockets for back up gear (e.g., spare mask) that are out of the
way at the hips are okay.
2. The most useful pocket in tec diving is on the outside of the thigh on the
exposure suit (some manufacturers make a strap-on pocket if your expo-
sure suit doesn’t have one). Some sidemount divers prefer it on the front
of the thigh so they can reach it by lifting a knee.
3. Use brass or stainless steel clips on accessories, SPG, etc. Mount clips on
accessories, not on the BCD.
4. Sliding gate clips (a.k.a. “dog clips”) are preferred by most divers to
marine snaps (a.k.a. “swinging gate clips”), because they won’t acciden-
tally snap on to things by themselves.
• Choose clips for the environment– smaller clips that work easily
in warm water with thin gloves may be impossible to use in cool
water with thick gloves.
• You should be able to reach all clips, because all clips can entangle
or need your attention.
5. Accessories on a D-ring should be well out of way when stowed, and not
dangle or create entanglement potential. If possible, keep accessories in a
pocket except when in use, and clip them off only to free hands momen-
tarily or to avoid dropping them while using them. If possible, only hang
one item per D-ring.
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6. Use a breakaway clip on anything you may need to discard or release in

an emergency. A simple breakaway: connect a clip to accessory or
gauge via a small o-ring or small, thin cable tie. In an emergency, a
sharp pull or twist breaks the o-ring/cable tie, releasing the accessory or
gauge.
K. Basic rig: head-to-toe configuration– how everything fits together.
[Note to instructor: The most effective way to demonstrate this is to have a
staff member wearing the kit for you to demonstrate.]
1. Regulators and valves
a. Short hose regulator on the left post - The SPG goes straight
down, the gauge mounts at the left hip D-ring or on chest on an
upper left or right D-ring with a break away clip. The second
stage goes to the right and then rests on the upper chest held by
a bungee or surgical tubing “necklace.” The LP hose goes to the
right to the back up BCD inflator (if used), or straight down and
in, to the dry suit inflator. If using an argon system and no back
up BCD, there is no LP inflator hose. For sidemount, the left
regulator is the same, however, the SPG may be on a short hose.
It rests on the shoulder of the cylinder or in some cases may
route directly out from the first stage to make it easier to see.
The LPI hose for the BCD connects directly to the BCD, but
will have a small loop that folds up underneath the diver’s arm.
b. Long hose regulator on the right post- The LP inflator hose goes
from it to the BCD inflator. The second stage hose goes straight
down behind the BCD wing, up at the hip, across the chest (held
in place by a rigid D ring and the safety reel), behind the neck
from the left and around into the mouth. A break away clip is
mounted where the hose meets the second stage (not clipped
while in use). The reel is normally clipped on the right hip
D-ring to hold the hose in place. For sidemount, the long hose
routes down along the right cylinder, up around the diver’s neck
and into the mouth. The hose is held by a bungee or shock cord
around the cylinder. A break away clip is mounted in same loca-
tion as on a back mount. Reels are typically clipped to a D-ring
located on the back of the harness/BCD.
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c. Note that all hoses route in or down – never out (except a short hose
SPG in sidemount).
d. All valves and the isolator are all the way open. Do NOT close back
a partial turn. This assures they only turn one direction in a shut-
down emergency – closed.
2. BCD and harness
a. The primary BCD inflator hose is over left shoulder, retained so it
won’t float away.
b. The back up BCD inflator is clipped behind the wing or bungeed to
the cylinder on the left or right (depends upon how the BCD is laid
out) to avoid confusion with the primary. (Note: You never use both
BCDs at the same time.) If using a high flow inflator, many divers
bungee the low pressure hose in place, but don’t connect it so as to
avoid a runaway ascent if the back up low pressure inflator malfunc-
tions. In a BCD failure situation, they would use oral inflation if they
need to quickly establish buoyancy, then connect the LP hose after
stabilizing the situation. Note that sidemount configuration generally
requires a specialized bladder or rigging.
c. If using a dry suit, you should ideally be able to hold the BCD infla-
tor and press the dry suit inflator with the left hand at the same time.
d. Pockets (if used) should be small and mounted at the hips, out of the
way. (The ideal place for a pocket is on the exposure suit thigh).
e. Straps are adjusted/trimmed so there’s no excessive slack dangling
from any slide or buckle.
f. The height on cylinders is adjusted so you can reach both regulator
valves and the isolator (with loosened waist/crotch strap acceptable).
3. Exposure suit
a. The argon system (if used) usually is mounted on the left cylinder or
side of the harness, inverted, regulator in, so you can open the valve
while worn. The LP hose to the inflator is threaded under the har-
ness, as necessary, to eliminate protruding slack. There is no second
stage on the regulator. The system is mounted with straps you can
cut away if necessary. Some divers prefer to wear it on the right.
b. Desirable accessories
• Thigh pockets
• Knee pads
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4. Instruments
a. Arm mounted, either side preferred
• mounting all one side makes one arm “clean” for more eas-
ily sliding in and out of harness
• some types of tec diving (e.g. scootering in a cave) make it
important to mount gauges on one arm or the other
b. The compass is positioned on the arm so you can center it for
accurate navigation (it is frequently stored in a pocket/pouch if use
is not expected)
c. Two computers, or one computer and one depth gauge/ timer/
tables, or two depth gauge/timers and tables.
5. Mask and fins
a. No snorkel in most circumstances
b. Spare mask (optional) in an out-of-the-way harness pocket or in a
thigh pocket
c. Fins are preadjusted and taped or otherwise secured so they can’t
slip or dangle (unless they have spring heel straps or are adjustable
while being worn).
d. Inspect straps frequently – this is one of the most common, but
most avoidable gear failure points.
6. Weight system -– weights secure, free and clear for ditching; back up
buckle secured (if used)
7. Cutting tools – two, mounted appropriately for type, at least one retriev-
able by either hand alone.
8. Some variations on the above rigging suggestions exist, but these are the
most common approaches. Agree on any departures with team mates –
standardized rigs speed up your reaction time.
L. Stage and decompression bottles (stage/deco cylinders)
1. They are worn on the side under the arm, clipped at the waist and on the
chest, and are often removed and then later replaced during the course of
the dive.
2. Although rigged the same, stage bottles are cylinders used to extend your
range (working part of the dive), while decompression (deco) bottles are
cylinders with enriched air (higher oxygen content than your bottom gas)
or oxygen for decompression.
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a. In this program, you’ll learn about using stage cylinders for extended
no decompression dives, and decompression cylinders for decom-
pression dives.
b. Handling considerations are the same for either, so exercises and
descriptions refer to “stage/deco” cylinders.
c. Leaving either type cylinder for later retrieval and use is called “stag-
ing,” regardless of whether it is a deco or a stage bottle.
d. The terms are used somewhat interchangeably. This actually isn’t
confusing in context in most circumstances.
3. Typical configuration [show setup cylinder]
a. Nylon rope or strap approximately 46 cm/18 in (more or less to indi-
vidual needs), runs under the valve opening from the neck down to a
band around the cylinder, with a clip at each end – serves as handling
strap underwater, plus provides clips for hip and chest D-rings; you
may adjust bottom clip (some divers prefer it under the valve knob)
b. Regulator is a second stage and SPG only – hoses tuck under inner
tubing, bungee, surgical tubing or other retaining band stretched
around cylinder
c. The second stage has a clip with a breakaway mount so you don’t
pull it out unintentionally
d. A short hose SPG, bent up and pull tied to the first stage, is popular
with some divers
e. Suitable cylinders are those that are nearly neutral for easy handling;
those substantially negative are not a good choice
• an optional exception is an oxygen cylinder for use at 6 m/20
ft, since the added weight may benefit you if you’re under
weighted
f. Decompression cylinder second stages may have mouth guards/
blocks
g. Properly set up, the stage/deco cylinder should be a compact package
that you can handle easily with nothing dangling or dragging
4. Stage/deco bottle clips usually attach to the cylinder via a rope or nylon
strap, especially in penetration diving, so you can cut away the cylinder in an
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emergency. You can’t cut connections that are entirely metal. (Some divers
use double ended clips; it’s unlikely that both ends would jam at the same
time).
5. Single stage/deco cylinders are worn under either arm, usually the left arm.
Multiple cylinders may be worn all on the same side or distributed on either
side.
a. You will learn to use two cylinders in the Tec 50 course.
b. If wearing a second cylinder on the right, be sure it does not trap your
long hose – the hose should be routed below a hip D-ring when you
clip.
c. When scootering, you may choose to wear all cylinders on the left so
you can aim the propeller wash under your right arm.
d. You can clip cylinders you’re done with by the upper clip to a hip
D-ring to get them out of the way.
M. Lift bag/Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB) and reel
1. When diving in open water, you may accidentally find yourself away from the
anchor line or planned ascent line or area.
2. In this instance, you deploy a lift bag/DSMB on a line from your emergency
reel.
a. This gives you a line to ascend along and to use to control your depth
and stops.
b. It marks your location for the boat and support team.
3. A suitable bag or buoy is brightly colored (yellow is preferred – it provides
the best visibility amid white caps and in dim light) with at least 45 kg/100
lbs lift. Write your name on it in big letters for surface support identification.
[Show example bag] A bright, elongated DSMB is also ideal, because it pro-
trudes high above the water.
a. In some areas, divers carry two bags/DSMBs – one of a different color
to signal for assistance from surface support.
b. Different teams and areas have differing protocols regarding bag/
DSMB colors and uses.
4. A suitable reel is compact, with ample line to reach the surface. Some divers
use two reels in tandem in case one jams. [Show reels.]
5. Lift bags are commonly carried rolled up and bungeed to doubles or on the
small of the back. Compact DSMBs may fit in a pocket or be clipped with the
reel. [Show stowed bag/DSMB on rig.]
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6. The reel clips to the right hip D ring to help hold the long hose in place. In
sidemount, it clips to the back rail or a D ring behind the harness.
7. Lift bags/DSMB and reels are considered mandatory safety equipment in most
areas. In some places, ascents with bags/DSMBs are standard operating proce-
dures. In others, they are emergency procedures only. You’ll practice such
ascents several times in this course.
N. Spare mask
1. You have a big problem if you cannot read your tables or computer during a
decompression dive, because you can’t tell when to ascend to the next stop,
and you can’t surface. Therefore, many technical divers carry a back up mask,
though it’s considered optional equipment. (Some computers with audio alarms
will alert you when you ascend beyond stop depth, making it another tool in
this situation.)
2. A suitable back up is as small as possible.
3. It is typically carried in a compact pocket as far to the rear as possible on the
right or left hip of the harness. [Show spare mask and location.]
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 45 diver, you will be qualified to use EANx up to and includ-
ing 100 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 com-
bust 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
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a. Example: Using an oxygen service regulator on a standard air cylinder – 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 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 equip-
ment 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 decom-
pression after long, deep dives. The use of higher oxygen probably lessens the risk of decompres-
sion 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 other 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 cen-
tral 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.
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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 including pure oxygen.
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 support – 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 hand-
ful – 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 manufacturer’s guide-
lines 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 notwith-
standing, 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 technical 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.
P. Maintenance
1. You rely on your gear for life support. Therefore, maintain your gear according
to manufacturer specifications.
2. Have regulators, valves, BCDs and gauges inspected and overhauled at least
annually or more frequently for heavy use or as manufacturer specified.
3. Have any equipment that doesn’t appear to function normally inspected and
serviced before using.
4. Never dive with gear in anything but top shape. To do otherwise in technical
diving raises your risk of injury or death by starting the dive with a potential
problem.
a. If you start a dive with some equipment in less than ideal working
order, you are essentially using your back up from the start of the dive.
b. In this case, if your back up has no back up, then you’re diving without
back up. That’s what often injures and kills divers in technical diving
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Q. Slates
1. Usually a convenience in recreational diving, they are a necessity in
most technical diving for several reasons:
a. Communication -- understanding between you and your team
mates may be crucial; if they don’t understand a signal, you need
a slate
b. Memory back up -- you can’t rely on memory for crucial infor-
mation; use a slate to record back up decompression schedules,
turn around times, special procedures, etc.
c. You record your time, depth and gas supply throughout the dive.
2. Choose a slate that fits easily in your thigh pocket (or other easily
accessed pocket) because you’ll use it frequently.
3. You can use specialized slates for dive planning, surveying (cave/wreck
diving) and other plans; multiple page slates are a good choice for lots of
writing space.
R. Jon line
1. Decompressing in a current on an anchor/mooring line can be tiring, also
crowded if several divers reach the same deco stop at same time.
2. A jon line is a short line about a metre/three feet to 3 metres/10 feet long
that snugs (via a loop or special hook) around the anchor/ mooring line
and clips to your harness.
3. The jon line lets you decompress effortlessly, opens up space at the stop
depth and helps you control your depth. Also reduces likelihood of get-
ting blown off the line in a very strong current.
[Show class jon lines and how to attach them.]
S. Multigas computers
1. You can program multigas computers with two or more enriched air
blends or oxygen, then tell the computer when you’ve switched gases
during the dive. The computer adjusts the decompression limits, required
decompression, and oxygen exposure calculations based on the gas
you’re actually using.
2. This provides several benefits:
a. You can conveniently make gas-switch, extended no stop dives as
a way of giving yourself substantial no decompression time.
b. You can accelerate your decompression to reduce your hang time.
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c. You don’t need to calculate oxygen exposure manually as you do

when making gas switch dives using a single gas computer.
3. Multigas computers accommodate from three to 10 different gases; some
require a PC interface with desktop deco software.
4. More about multigas computers shortly.
T. Urination
1. In technical diving, long dives (two or more hours) and the inability to surface
makes having to urinate a real issue, especially when wearing a dry suit.
2. There are three options available to males, two of which are available to
females.
a. Dive in a wet suit and wash the suit thoroughly after each dive.
• This is not an option in many environments due to water tem-
perature or duration
• Urinating in a wet suit feels warm, but actually speeds heat
loss by dilating skin capillaries
• This is an option for both male and female divers
b. Adult diapers in dry suits
• Do not require any suit modification.
• Have limited capacity -- they only hold so much.
• Require that you relieve yourself slowly or it will leak into
your suit.
• Are an option for both male and female divers.
c. Condom catheters in dry suits
• Use disposable external urination condoms to route waste out-
side the suit through a valve.
• Sometimes have valves that can only be opened and used face
down to avoid a squeeze.
• Many not be suitable for pristine environments that would be
sensitive to contamination
• Primarily are an option for males – attempts to make such
devices for females have had only limited acceptance, though
some appear to work.
[Show student hardware for dry suit condom catheter, if available]
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Other Delivery Content, Tec 45-1

Study assignment: Tec 45 Handout 1
III. Equipment Issue Discussions and Philosophies
Learning Objectives
1. Why is the standard practice to use two multigas dive computers on the dive, and to
plan with desk top decompression software?
2. Why are DSMBs replacing lift bags in many tec diving situations?
3. Why has failure of quick releases on harness shoulders proved not to be a serious
issue? What would you do if it were to happen?
4. What is perhaps the most common weighting error in tec diving?
5. Why is backup buoyancy critical in most open water, open circuit technical diving?
6. What are the problems with trying to use a lift bag or DSMB as a backup buoyancy
system?
7. What is the policy of virtually every lift bag and dry suit manufacturer with respect to
backup buoyancy?
8. Why is the redundant (double bladder) BCD the most realistic approach to providing
backup buoyancy control?
A. The standard of practice in deep decompression tec diving is to use multigas dive
computers during the dive, with decompression software for overall planning.
You may use a single gas computer and/or depth gauge and timer with tables in
this course, but this is the recommended approach. There are several reasons why:
1. Multigas computers now handle up to seven gas mixes (including trimix),
and also calculate CCR (closed circuit rebreather) diving, making them
suited to your future as well as present tec diving.
2. A multigas computer maximizes your options in an emergency, allowing
you, for example, to switch to a lower oxygen gas (even back gas) should
you lose or exhaust your primary deco gas.
a. Some of the newest models allow you to enter entirely new gases
during the dive and recalculate your decompression. This provides
more options in an emergency.
3. Many multigas computers have PC interfaces, allowing you to adjust stop
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depths, conservatism factors, etc. Some let you choose the decompression
model you prefer.
4. Multigas computers track your actual dive profile, adjusting your decom-
pression requirements based on your actual dive. This makes it easier to
adjust to circumstances. Example: You accidentally exceed your planned
depth slightly; you leave the bottom sooner based on your computer so
that your decompression time is the same as planned, keeping you within
your gas plan.
5. With a multigas computer, you can choose to decompress based on a sin-
gle gas and switch to a higher oxygen gas for added conservatism (as you
learned to do as a Tec 40 diver). Should circumstances require (emergen-
cy), however, you can switch to accelerated decompression to get to the
surface faster with less gas used.
6. You still use deco software to plan the dive – oxygen exposure, decom-
pression and gas requirements. Use the computer within the dive you plan.
7. Multigas computers are more sophisticated than single gas, so they’re
more complex to use. But, they are not difficult to use and getting easier.
B. DSMBs (Delayed Surface Marker Buoys) are replacing lift bags in many tec div-
ing situations.
1. DSMBs stand higher in the water, making them preferred for rough condi-
tions.
2. DSMBs are more compact on your rig, making them popular when used
as an emergency alert only.
3. DSMBs have no-spill designs (though several lift bags have these, too,
now), so accidentally losing tension on the line isn’t likely to result in a
spilled buoy.
4. The highest capacity DSMBs are essentially tall, thin lift bags and work
well for drift decompression.
5. Several types of DSMBs (and lift bags) have LP inflation ports that allow
you to fill them with an LP inflator hose, away from your body or mouth,
without using a second stage. This minimizes the chance of regulator
freeze, as well as minimizing reel tangle issues.
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C. At one time, some people thought failure of shoulder quick release buckles on
tec harnesses would be a serious issue. This hasn’t proven true.
1. Quick release buckles are designed to withstand hundreds of kg/lbs
direct stress. This explains why stress failure is virtually unheard of.
2. Were the release to fail, you would only have to pass the lower part of
the harness strap through the D-ring on the upper part and tie it.
D. Weighting
1. Proper weighting and adequate backup buoyancy remain two areas
commonly addressed inadequately in open circuit technical divers.
2. Perhaps the most common weighting error in tec diving is under
weighting.
a. Proper weighting means you’re able to maintain your final stop
depth with nearly empty back cylinders and either no or near-
empty deco cylinders – this is what would happen if you had a
major problem forcing you into a long deco using your gas
reserve, and/or decoing on back gas.
b. If you were not weighted for this, you face a high DCS risk,
because you would not be able to remain at stops.
c. As an example, a properly weighted tec diver wearing high
capacity doubles and two deco cylinders will be about 14 kg/30
lbs negatively buoyant at the start of a dive, and 4.5 kg/10 lbs or
more negative at the end if dive goes as planned.
d. In this example, inadequate weighting would mean that in an
emergency situation, besides the original problem, you also have
to deal with between 4.5 kg/10lbs and 14 kg/30 lbs positive
buoyancy while trying to decompress.
E. Backup buoyancy is critical in most open water, open circuit technical diving
because a diver is substantially negatively buoyant throughout the dive.
1. Failure of the primary BCD without a backup leaves no alternative but
to drop equipment (deco cylinders, weights, etc.). This can make the sit-
uation worse if the diver must discard deco gases to attain buoyancy.
2. Discarding gear may result in too much buoyancy. If the diver is already
in deco, the ability to decompress effectively becomes compromised,
growing worse as the diver consumes gas.
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3. There is a high likelihood of surfacing with omitted decompression if the

diver cannot maintain stop depths, or lacks the required decompression
gases, or both.
4. A dry suit may work as a backup buoyancy device.
a. This is primarily an option when the dive will be relatively short and
shallow, with short decompression – the gas requirement is low, so
the diver is not substantially negatively buoyant (such as when using
aluminum cylinders).
b. Limited option – most dry suits will not hold more than small
amount of excess gas. Beyond a certain point, it escapes through
neck/wrist seals.
c. Several manufacturers caution against inflating their dry suits to gain
large amounts of buoyancy because of zipper failure issues.
d. A large volume of expanding gas is harder to control in a dry suit.
e. With deeper/longer tec dives, backup buoyancy control other than
the dry suit is generally necessary.
5. Some have advocated using a lift bag or DSMB as a backup buoyancy
device. This has several problems:
a. DSMBs and lift bags are not designed as buoyancy devices and are
difficult to control in that role.
• They are even more difficult to control while trying to per-
form gas switches, handle a gas shutdown, etc.
• Even if learned and practiced, it is not a skill one would
expect a diver to perform reliably in a real failed BCD emer-
gency over the course of a real decompression. If it has not
been practiced at all, it would be especially difficult.
• DSMBs/lift bags do not provide a realistic buoyancy system
for positive buoyancy at the surface after completing decom-
pression.
• Using a DSMB/lift bag as back up buoyancy would require
the diver to hold on to the bag while dealing with other tasks,
or it would have to be clipped to the harness. Either would
compromise safety.
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b. If the DSMB/lift bag is used for backup buoyancy, then it is not

available to send to the surface.
c. Sending the DSMB/bag to the surface and hanging on the line
for buoyancy is not a good option either.
• In all but flat seas, this will cause the diver to rise and
fall, compromising the quality of the decompression.
• Once sent up, there is no way to adjust the bag’s buoyan-
cy.
• It is not a technique that transfers well to other environ-
ments.
• Stress on the line and reel is a major issue. For this to be
reliable, the diver would need to carry much heavier line
and a larger reel than most tec divers prefer.
d. Trying to use a lift bag or DSMB as a backup buoyancy system
unnecessarily complicates an emergency situation, and provides
inadequate benefit.
6. It’s worth noting that no dry suit manufacturer and no lift bag manufac-
turer sanctions the use of their products as tec diving backup buoyancy
devices. Some specifically warn against it.
7. The redundant (double bladder) BCD is the most realistic approach to
providing backup buoyancy control.
a. They are designed for the job and endorsed by the manufactur-
ers.
b. They are used the same way as your primary BCD – a well prac-
ticed skill you use on every dive, exactly what you want in an
emergency situation.
c. They are applicable to virtually all dive environments.
d. Other than a slightly higher investment, there are no meaningful
drawbacks.
e. They are the only real option for open water tec diving in a wet
suit.
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Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 45-1

1. Multigas computers have become the standard of practice in tec diving because (choose all that
apply)
q a. they handle multiple gases and CCR diving.
q b. they maximize your options in an emergency.
q c. their decompression models are newer than those in single gas computers.
q d. they are smaller than single gas computers.
2. DSMBs are replacing lift bags in many tec diving situations because (choose all that apply)
o a. they don’t stick so far up into the wind.
q b. they are more compact on your rig.
q c. they have no-spill designs.
q d. some have special inflation systems.
3. It is unlikely that a quick release on your harness shoulder would fail, but if it did, you would
only need to tie off the loose end.
q True
q False
4. Perhaps the most common weighting error in tec diving is
q a. under weighting.
q b. over weighting.
q c. neutral weighting.
q d. None of the above.
5. Backup buoyancy control is critical in open water, open circuit tec diving because if you’re
properly weighted and your primary BCD fails, you risk being unable to decompress adequately.
q True
q False
6. Problems with trying to use a lift bag or DSMB as a backup buoyancy system include (choose
all that apply)
q a. it is a complex skill with low reliability for use under stress after disuse.
q b. it is difficult to conduct that skill and other complex skills at the same time.
q c. hanging from a floating DSMB/lift bag may compromise the quality of decompression.
q d. hanging from a floating DSMB/lift bag requires a heavier line/reel than tec divers like
to use.
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7. Several manufacturers endorse the use of the lift bags/DSMBs are emergency backup buoyancy
devices.
q True
q False
8. The redundant (double bladder) BCD is the most realistic approach to providing backup buoy-
ancy control because (choose all that apply)
q a. they were designed specifically for this purpose.
q b. you use them exactly like you use your primary BCD – a practiced skill.
q c. it is applicable to almost all dive environments.
q d. other than a slightly higher cost, it has no meaningful drawbacks.
How did you do?
1. a, b. 2. b, c, d. 3. True. 4. a. 5. True. 6. a, b, c, d. 7. False. 8. a, b, c, d.
IV. Gas Planning

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 93-97, Determining Gas Supply and
Reserve Requirements for Multiple Depths and Decompression Stops
pgs 146 -161, Gas Planning III, Tec Exercise 3.2
Learning Objectives
1. How do you determine your gas supply and reserve requirements for a multiple depth dive
(including dives with decompression or safety stops)?
2. What is the theoretical cause of gas narcosis?
3. How do you account for narcosis in dive planning?
4. What depth limits arise from narcosis concerns?
5. How do you perform an “air break” and why should you do so?
6. How do you determine your OTUs and OTU limits for a given dive profile?
7. How do you calculate your “CNS clock” exposure for a given dive profile and determine its
limits?
8. How do you include oxygen concerns in determining the ideal enriched air to use at a given
depth?
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9. What is the basis of oxygen surface interval credit, and how do you apply it?
You should also be able to:10. Calculate the gas supply requirements and oxygen exposure
for a decompression dive based on a single gas computer using enriched air and/or oxygen
during decompression for conservatism.
A. As a Tec 40 diver, you learned to use desk top decompression software to plan your
gas requirements and oxygen exposure. This is the state of practice, but as a Tec 45
diver, you should understand more specifically what the software does for you.
We’ll start with a review of what you learned already.
B. Determining gas supply and reserve requirements for multiple depths and decom-
pression stops.
1. To determine the gas you need for a given depth, you multiply your SAC by
the number of minutes at that depth and by the conversion factor for that
depth:
gas required = SAC X min X conversion factor
a. You get the conversion factor from the SAC Conversion Factor Table
in the Appendix of the Tec Deep Diver Manual. (Round up to the
next depth if the exact depth isn’t shown.)
b. The conversion factor is simply the absolute pressure in atmo-
spheres:
Metric: (D in metres + 10) / 10 Imperial: (D in feet + 33) / 33
Metric
Example: 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
Imperial
Example: 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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2. You do this for each depth and then total all the required gas.
a. Use the DSAT TecRec Dive Planning Slate to list depth, conversion
factor and required gas (as well as other information to be filled in
later).
b. If making a gas switch, note each gas type as well.
c. You use the midpoint between bottom and the first stop for the
ascent depth, and the time of the ascent to the first stop. (Subtract the
stop depth from the bottom depth, divide that by two and add it to
the stop depth to find the midpoint).
d. Ascent between stops accounts for minimal gas use and is handled
several ways. Most common (used in examples) in manual calcula-
tion is to add one minute every third stop (gas switches are ignored),
which accommodates rates as slow as 10 m/30 ft per minute. Ascent
from last stop to surface is generally disregarded in gas calculations.
e. Recall that your SAC is typically higher on the bottom (working)
portion of the dive and lower during the decompression portion of
the dive.
f. Determine a planned gas volume consumption for each gas you’ll
use.
g. Typically round to closest litre or cubic foot.
3. Get your total gas requirements by multiplying the planned consumption for
each gas by 1.5 (for thirds – or use the formula you learned earlier for a dif-
ferent reserve)
Examples: [Have students complete the appropriate portions of the

DSAT TecRec Dive Planning Slate; tell them to disregard the col-
umns not used here – they’ll learn about those later.]
Metric
What is your total gas requirement, including one third reserve, if
your SAC rate is 20 litres per minute and you plan a dive to 30
metres for 15 minutes followed by a 3 minute safety stop at 5
metres, using air for the entire dive? Ascent rate is 18 metres per
minute.
Answer: 2103 litres
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Total Air = 1200 + 112 + 90 = 1402; 1402 X 1.5 = 2103 litres
Metric
You plan to make a dive with air by following a standard air table.
You plan to make the decompression more conservative by using
EANx50 at 9 and 6 metres, and pure oxygen at 3 metres. Your
planned dive is 45 metres for 40 minutes, with 5 minutes at 9
metres, 19 at 6 metres and 33 at 3 metres. Your SAC rate is 24
litres per minute during the working part of the dive, and 18 litres
per minute when decompressing. Your ascent rate is 10 metres per
minute. What are your total gas requirements for each gas, includ-
ing a one-third reserve?
Answer: Air = 8452 l, EANx50 = 1077 l, Oxygen = 1194 l
Air = 5280 + 355 = 5635; 5635 X 1.5 =8452

EANx50 = 171 + 547 = 718; 718 X 1.5=1077
Oxygen = 796 X 1.5=1194
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Imperial
What is your total gas requirement, including one third reserve, if
your SAC rate is .75 cubic feet per minute and you plan a dive to
100 feet for 15 minutes followed by a 3 minute safety stop at 15
feet, using air for the entire dive? Ascent rate is 60 feet per minute.
Answer: 78 cubic feet
Total Air = 45 + 4 + 3 = 52; 52 X 1.5 = 78 cubic feet
Imperial
You plan to make a dive with air by following a standard air table.
You plan to make the decompression more conservative by using
EANx50 at 30 and 20 feet, and pure oxygen at 10 feet. Your
planned dive is 150 feet for 40 minutes, with 5 minutes at 30 feet,
19 at 20 feet and 33 at 10 feet. Your SAC rate is .8 cubic feet per
minute during the working part of the dive, and .65 cubic feet per
minute when decompressing. Your ascent rate is 30 feet per min-
ute. What are your total gas requirements for each gas, including a
one-third reserve?
Answer: Air = 282 cf, EANx50 = 39 cf, Oxygen = 44 cf
Air = 176 + 12=188; 188 X 1.5=282

EANx50 = 6 + 20 = 26; 26 X 1.5=39
Oxygen = 29; 29 X 1.5=44
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[Work examples based on tables generated with software you’ll

use in the course and have students calculate the gas require-
ments.]
4. Your calculations will likely vary somewhat from what your desk top
decompression software gives you. The differences should be minor, how-
ever, and result from variations in calculating ascents, rounding, etc.
C. Narcosis -- theory and application
1. As you already know, your END (Equivalent Narcotic Depth) does not
change with different blends of enriched air.
2. Without going into deep physiological theory, the basic explanation for
narcosis is that gas dissolved into nerve cell lipids interferes with nerve
impulse transmission.
a. Gas solubility varies with different gases; the higher the solubility,
the higher the expected potential for narcosis.
b. Oxygen is twice as soluble as nitrogen; suggesting that it is poten-
tially more narcotic than nitrogen. This is offset somewhat by your
body metabolizing oxygen.
c. Argon is more soluble than nitrogen or oxygen, and highly narcot-
ic, making it (along with high density) a poor choice as a breathing
gas.
d. Helium has poor solubility, which is thought to explain why it does
not produce narcosis easily.
e. The relationship between solubility and narcosis isn’t perfect;
physiologists still don’t understand all the mechanisms underlying
narcosis.
3. Because oxygen and nitrogen have roughly equivalent narcosis, the END
does not change when the oxygen-nitrogen ratio changes. A blend contain-
ing helium, however, would be less narcotic at a given depth than air or
enriched air, and therefore have a lower END.
4. You must realize that narcosis is present on all dives -- in theory, it begins
to affect you as soon as you drop below the surface, though when using
oxygen/nitrogen, its effects don’t become noticeable for most divers until
approaching the 30 metres/100 foot range.
a. Diving with some narcosis present is acceptable (and practically
speaking, unavoidable), provided it doesn’t impair you.
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b. Proper training allows you to function properly with some narcosis

present -- the use of step-by-step procedures (NO TOX switches, for
example) not only speed learning, but aid proper functioning -- what
seems simple at the surface may not be as simple under stress on a
deep dive. Note that many procedures such as NO TOX gas switches
take place at significantly shallower depths than 30 metres /100 feet,
where narcosis is not an issue for most divers.
c. Diving substantially impaired can be one of the primary hazards of
deep tec diving (even when using helium blends) -- be conservative
when dealing with narcosis.
5. You account for narcosis in dive planning by limiting your dives to appropri-
ate depths based on:
a. Safety -- Your primary concern is that you note and react quickly and
properly to emergencies. If you’re so narked (under the influence of
narcosis) that to react quickly and properly to an emergency is ques-
tionable, ascend immediately to a shallower depth. It may take some
time for your head to clear.
b. Individual susceptibility -- Narcosis affects different people differently
at different times. You’re more likely to be affected adversely when:
• you’ve not made a deep dive recently.
• you’re attempting new tasks and/or are task loaded.
• you implement an emergency procedure you’ve not practiced
recently.
• you’re subject to environmental stress (cold, dark, overhead
environment).
• you’re less than optimally fit.
c. Individual adaptation -- You’ll be more able to function appropriately
despite narcosis when:
• you’ve been diving regularly, working up to the depth progres-
sively.
• your mission and the dive requirements are not complex.
• you’ve practiced emergency procedures extensively and regu-
larly.
• you’re diving in good environmental conditions.
• you’re in optimal physical fitness.
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6. You must adjust your depth limits based on the above considerations, but the
technical diving community generally observes the following narcotic limits
when using air or enriched air:
a. 40 metres/130 feet – this is the limit for recreational diving, and the
limit for technical penetration (penetration beyond 40 linear
metres/130 linear feet from surface).
b. 50 metres/165 feet – this is the general limit for open water technical
diving, particularly for less experienced technical divers. Much of the
European dive community has used this as its limit for decades, with
a good track record. This limit for air is acknowledged by the HSE
(Health and Safety Executive) in the UK, by SPUMS (South Pacific
Underwater Medical Society), and by the commercial diving industry
in the USA.
• This is the outside limit, with the trend in some areas toward
using trimix at shallower depths to manage narcosis and gas
density/carbon dioxide issues more conservatively.
• This limit is not generally accepted for cave environments or
wreck penetration; for those activities, you would use trimix
beginning at least at 40 metres/130 feet.
c. 56 metres/185 feet – This is the1.4 ata PO2 limit for air diving; few
tec communities recommend diving this deep with air any longer,
though it was the accepted limit for a long time.
7. As a technical diver, it is your responsibility to adjust your maximum depth
based on how narcosis and other variables affect you on a dive. In a warm,
tropical sea with clear water, 50 metres/165 feet on air may be acceptable,
but the same depth in a cold, dark lake or in strong current, etc., may be too
deep. During the dive, you may need to limit depth shallower than you
planned if you or a team mate find narcosis becoming too strong. It’s your
responsibility to adjust accordingly.
D. Managing Oxygen Exposure
1. Air breaks – These are breaks on air/lower oxygen EANx while decompress-
ing on oxygen or EANx at a depth that yields a PO2 of 1.6 to give your body
a rest from the high oxygen exposure.
a. Air breaks have been found to greatly reduce the risk of a CNS toxic-
ity convulsion. Therefore, you should consider them standard prac-
tice. You don’t have to limit them to PO2 of 1.6 bar/ata. Most divers
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b.
The typical air break is five minutes on air (or lowest oxygen gas
available) for every 25 minutes of decompression. Do not include
the 5 minutes in your decompression time when following a tables-
based accelerated decompression schedule.
• Switch a multigas computer to the break gas when on
an accelerated computer deco schedule. Computer will
continue to calculate deco and oxygen exposure.
c. Some desk top deco software programs can include air breaks in
the tables they generate.
2. Calculating OTUs.
a. As you learned as a Tec 40 diver, the OTU (introduced by Dr. Bill
Hamilton as an extension of the previous UPTD [Unit Pulmonary
Toxic Dose] method) is a method for measuring your oxygen
“dose” for a given dive.
b. Based on the formula:
OTUs = minutes x ((PO2-0.5)/0.5)0.83
c. You can use the formula, but it’s much simpler and less error prone
to use desk top deco software, which calculates automatically, or
tables such as the Equivalent Air Depth and Oxygen Management
Table. Multiply OTU per minute for the given blend at depth by
the number of minutes. Round down to the next deeper depth if the
actual depth is not shown. You do this for all depths (including
your ascent and decompression/safety stops) and total them to get
your OTUs for the dive. Note: You accumulate no OTUs when
your PO2 is .5 or less.
d. OTU limits appear on the Oxygen Limits Table in the Appendix of
the Tec Deep Diver Manual.
• Total OTUs per day varies depending on number of contin-
uous days of diving. This is based on the body’s ability to
recover from oxygen exposure. Example: If diving only
one day, 850 OTUs for this day are permissible. If diving
five days in a row, a total of 2300 OTUs, or an average of
460 OTUs per day, is the maximum.
• OTUs on a day may exceed the daily average, provided
that the total OTUs for the period does not exceed the
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allowable OTUs for the Mission. Example: Five days div-

ing has 2300 Total OTUs for the Mission, average 460 per
day. If the first day exposes you to 700 OTUs, you have a
total of 1600 OTUs (2300-700=1600) to divide among the
remaining four days.
• Note: “Average OTUs per Day” is not a daily allowance.
That is, you cannot have 850 day one, 700 day two, 620
day three, etc.
• If you ever don’t know what the OTU daily limit is (no
table is available), the daily OTU limit for continuous days
forever is 300 OTUs.
• Some tec divers simply use 300 OTUs as their daily limit
and don’t worry about the longer allowances. This simpli-
fies calculations and is generally adequate for many tec
diving situations.
e. To calculate your OTUs and limits for a dive, total all the OTUs
for each planned depth based on the gas blend and time, making
sure the total is within the allowable OTUs. (After the dive, you
total the OTUs for the actual dive to use in planning subsequent
dives).
• Calculating OTUs (and “CNS clock”) includes calculating
the descent, the ascent and all decompression.
• Normally you disregard air breaks in calculating OTUs.
• When your PO2 is less than .5 ata you accumulate zero
OTUs.
[Note: Go through the following using the Equivalent Air Depth and
Oxygen Management Tables for PO2 and OTU per minute. Have students
fill in the Depth, Time, Gas, PO2, OTU/min, OTUs columns on their Dive
Plan Slates.]
Metric
Example : You’re planning three days of diving, and this is the first dive
of the second day. You ended yesterday having used 705 OTUs, and you
know you’ll need 700 OTUs for the dives planned on the third day. You
plan to dive to 30 metres on air and decompress using EANx40 at 6
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metres and oxygen at 3 metres as a decompression “pad” following the air-

only schedule. Your planned bottom time is 40 minutes, and the tables you
plan to use require 8 minutes of decompression at 6 metres and 26 minutes at
3 metres. Your ascent rate is 10 mpm. What are your OTUs for the dive? If
you make only this dive today, do you have enough OTUs for tomorrow? If
not, how many more do you need? If yes, how many do you have to spare
after this dive if made as planned?
Answer: 71.2 OTUs for the dive. Yes. You would have 383.8 OTUs left for the
second day after this dive.
Total allowed for 3 days = 1860

1860 - 705 (day 1) - 700 (day 3) = 455 OTUs available for day 2. 455 - 71.2
= 383.8 OTUs left.
Imperial
Example: You’re planning three days of diving, and this is the first dive of the
second day. You ended yesterday having used 705 OTUs, and you know
you’ll need 700 OTUs for the dives planned on the third day. You plan to dive
to 100 feet on air and decompress using EANx40 at 20 feet and oxygen at 10
feet as a decompression “pad” following the air only schedule. Your planned
bottom time is 40 minutes, and the tables you plan to use require 8 minutes of
decompression at 20 feet and 26 minutes at 10 feet. Your ascent rate is 30
fpm. What are your OTUs for the dive? If you make only this dive today, do
you have enough OTUs for tomorrow? If not, how many more do you need?
If yes, how many do you have to spare after this dive if made as planned?
Answer: 71.6 OTUs for the dive. Yes. You would have 383.4 OTUs left for the
second day after this dive.
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Total allowed for 3 days = 1860

1860 - 705 (day 1) - 700 (day 3) = 455 OTUs available for day 2. 455 -
71.6 = 383.4 OTUs left.
3. Calculating the “CNS clock”

a. You can calculate the “CNS clock” much the same way you calcu-
late OTUs -- by using desk top deco software, or by using tables to
determine the CNS percent per minute.
• Note that some programs and tables extrapolate NOAA
limits to more increments on the “CNS clock” than others;
this may produce some differences in what different pro-
grams and tables produce.
• As with OTUs, you normally disregard air breaks in calcu-
lating the “CNS clock.”
b. Total the CNS for each depth and time as with OTUs.
[Note: Go through the following using the Equivalent Air Depth and
Oxygen Management Tables for PO2 and CNS% per minute. Have stu-
dents fill in the Depth, Time, Gas, PO2, CNS% per minute and CNS per-
centage columns on their Dive Plan Slates.]
Metric
Example: You dive to 33 metres using EANx32 for 65 minutes. The
EANx32 tables you’re using call for a 15 minute stop at 6 metres and 40
minute stop at 3 metres. You plan to use 100 percent oxygen at these stops
to maximize your conservatism. Your ascent rate is 10 metres per minute.
What is your “CNS clock” at the end of the dive?
Answer: 99.8% PADI
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Imperial
Example: You dive to 110 feet using EANx32 for 65 minutes. The EANx32
tables you’re using call for a 15 minute stop at 20 feet and 40 minute stop
at 10 feet. You plan to use 100 percent oxygen at these stops to maximize
your conservatism. Your ascent rate is 30 feet per minute. What is your
“CNS clock” at the end of the dive?
Answer: 99.8%
4. Oxygen exposure and ideal enriched air blend

a. You learned in the Tec 40 course that you could choose the “ideal”
gas based on the blend that allows the highest fraction of oxygen
without exceeding a PO2 of 1.4 at the desired depth.
b. You also learned that previous oxygen exposure can affect this gas
choice if you won’t have enough oxygen exposure time remaining
to make the dive. In such a case, you must choose a blend with less
oxygen.
Example: As part of a 15 day dive series during which you’re keep-
ing your OTUs within the accepted daily average (300), you plan a
repetitive dive to 21 m/70 ft for 45 minutes. At the start of the dive,
your CNS clock is 80% and you have 240 OTUs for the day. The
“ideal” blend would normally be EANx45, but 45 min at 21m/ 70ft
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and OTU limits. Using EANx32, however, 45 minutes at 21m/70ft yields

45 OTUs and 14.8% CNS, keeping you within limits.
c. Remember that regardless of whether your repetitive dive is a gas-switch,
extended no-stop dive or a decompression dive, you need to account for
oxygen exposure at all levels with all gases.
d. An alternate method to calculate the “CNS clock” is to divide the actual
time by the single exposure time for that PO2 on the NOAA Oxygen
Exposure Limits listed on the Oxygen Limits Table in the appendix of the
DSAT Tec Deep Diver Manual.
Example: In calculating a dive, you will spend 10 minutes at 30 metres/100
feet using EANx32. What is your “CNS clock” percentage for that part of
the dive? Answer: 5.5% -- Limit for 1.3 PO2 = 180 min; 10÷180 = .055 =
5.5%
• You may use this method for each level and PO2 as an alternative
to the previously described percent-per minute techniques.
• Both give you approximately the same answers -- you may find
insignificant variations due to rounding.
5. Oxygen surface interval credit for the “CNS clock.”
a. Between dives breathing air, your body begins to reverse the chemical
effects of oxygen.
b. The OTU system accounts for this in its mission/daily average methodolo-
gy. For the CNS “clock,” there’s surface interval halftime credit (similar to
dive table credit).
c. CNS surface interval credit was initially based on studies of hospital
patients undergoing long term oxygen exposure.
• Though not based on divers initially, the CNS surface interval credit
system, when also used with the OTU system, has a good field
record in diver use
• Different computers, desk top deco software and tables use different
halftimes for this -- 90 minutes is the “standard” halftime, but some
default to a slightly less conservative 60 minutes (you can usually
set it higher, though)
• CNS surface interval credit not commonly used with recreational
enriched air diving, because you almost never reach oxygen expo-
sure limits doing no stop dives with EANx40 or less
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d. You apply your credit several ways:

• Enriched air computers and desk top deco software will calcu-
late your credit for you. (Not all computers/ programs give
credit.)
• You can use a table such as the CNS Surface Interval Credit
Table in the Appendix of the Tec Deep Diver Manual. Find
your CNS percentage at start of surface interval along the side,
and where your interval falls along the top. Where they inter-
sect is your new CNS percentage, which you add to the CNS
percentage you accumulate during the next dive. (If your per-
centage isn’t shown, round up to the next greater.)
Example: After the first dive, your CNS was 68%. After an hour and
40 minutes, you make your second dive, which accumulates 43%
“CNS clock” time. What is your CNS percentage after the dive?
Answer: 78%. After 1:40 surface interval, 68% (round to 70%) yields
35%. 35% + 43% = 78%.
e. As with any table, software or computer, stay well within limits and be
conservative.
E. Planning a decompression dive: using a single gas computer
1. This discussion takes what you learned as a Tec 40 diver and extends it to
doing the planning by hand. You’ll use what you learn for extended no stop
dives and accelerated decompression dives as well.
2. Recall that the simplest way to plan a decompression dive is based on a single
gas, using gas switches for conservatism. Using a multigas computer, you pro-
gram it with all your gases, but leave it set for your bottom gas throughout the
dive, including the decompression. This has several advantages:
a. Maximum conservatism -- keeps you well within decompression
model limits.
b. Simplicity – the computer generates required decompression and
guides you through the dive.
c. Not based on max depth -- decompression is based on actual profile
rather than the deepest depth, which can reduce overall decompression
time.
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d. Gas flexibility -- since the computer assumes you’re decoing

based on your back (bottom) gas, you can deco on back gas or
any other gas with an equal or greater oxygen fraction (within its
oxygen limits). This lets you use whatever gases you have avail-
able for the dive, and makes it easier to handle a deco gas prob-
lem (becoming lost, regulator malfunction, etc.).
e. Easy back up decompression -- by using a second computer of
the same type, and/or backup tables.
f. Accelerated decompression option -- you can switch your com-
puter to the gases you’re actually decompressing with (or, for a
single gas computer, you can carry accelerated decompression
tables based on the gases you’ll use) for emergency get-out-of-
the-water-sooner situations (such as a leaking dry suit). Keep in
mind that compared to using EANx/oxygen following an air
schedule, accelerated deco is a trade – a less conservative
decompression for less time decompressing.
3. The flexibility makes it a good method for gaining experience with
decompression diving, which is why you learned it at the Tec 40 level
and continue to use it at the Tec 45 level.
4. To plan oxygen exposure and gas requirements, use a dive table (or gen-
erate one with desk top deco software) based on making the entire dive,
including deco, using the bottom gas. But, you must calculate oxygen
exposure based on the actual gases you’ll use, and gas requirements
based on your SAC rates and the times at each depth.
[Note: Go through the following profile with students, having them

complete the entire Dive Planning Slate (except runtime) with you and
using the various tables in the Tec Deep Diver Manual. Ask guiding
questions so that as a group, the class finds the answers rather than you
simply providing them.]
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Metric
Example: You plan a dive to 44 metres using a single gas enriched air
computer set for EANx26. You plan to decompress using EANx80 from
9 metres to the surface. You estimate that your bottom time will be 40
minutes. Your dive tables for EANx26 show that 40 minutes at 44
metres requires 3 minutes decompression at 12 metres, 10 at 9 metres,
17 at 6 metres and 43 at 3 metres. Your ascent rate is 10 mpm. Your
SAC rate is 19 litres per minute on the working part of the dive, and 16
lpm (litres per minute) when decompressing.
• Following the rule of thirds, how much of each gas do you need for
this dive?
Answer: 6771 litres of EANx26; 2489 litres of EANx80
• If you have twin 18 litre cylinders with 170 bar of EANx26 do you
have enough EANx26 for the dive? If you have a 13 litre cylinder with
205 bar of EANx80, do you have enough EANx80 for the dive? How
much do you have of each?
Answer: No and yes. 6120 litres EANx26; 2665 litres EANx80
• What are your OTUs and “CNS clock” after the dive?
Answer: OTUs=161.5; CNS%=85.1%
• If you’ll be diving again in two and a half hours, and you’ll be staying
within the mission averages for three days of diving, how much “CNS
clock” time and how many OTUs can you have on the second dive?
Answer: Allowable CNS = 64%; allowable OTUs = 459.2
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EANx26 = 4180+228+106=4514 l; 4514 X 1.5 = 6771 litres

EANx80=304+461+894=1659 l; 1659 X 1.5 = 2489 liters
18 litres x 170 = 3060 litres, 3060 x 2 (doubles) = 6120 litres EANx26
13 litres x 205 = 2665 litres EANx80
OTUs = 66.8+3.2+0.6+18.1+26.11+46.0=160.8
“CNS clock” = 33.2%+1.3%+0.4%+22.2%+9.9%+18.1%=85.1%
After two and a half hours, CNS 85.1% = 36%; 100%-36%=64%
Three day mission allows 1860 OTUs, average 620 per day. 620-160.8 =
459.2
Imperial
Example: You plan a dive to 145 feet using a single gas enriched air comput-
er set for EANx26. You plan to decompress using EANx80 from 30 feet to
the surface. You estimate that your bottom time will be 40 minutes. Your
dive tables for EANx26 show that 40 minutes at 145 feet requires 3 minutes
decompression at 40 feet, 10 at 30 feet, 17 at 20 feet and 43 at 10 feet. Your
ascent rate is 30 fpm. Your SAC rate is .8 cubic feet per minute on the work-
ing part of the dive, and .65 cf when decompressing.
• Following the rule of thirds, how much of each gas do you need for this
dive?
Answer: 285 cubic feet of EANx26; 101 cf of EANx80
• If you have twin 104 cf cylinders, working pressure 2400 psi, with 2500
psi of EANx26 do you have enough EANx26 for the dive? If you have a 104
cf cylinder, working pressure 2400, with 2300 psi of EANx80, do you have
enough EANx80 for the dive? How much do you have of each?
Answer: No and no. EANx26 = 216 cf; EANx80 = 100 cf (99.8)
• What are your OTUs and “CNS clock” after the dive?
Answer: OTUs=160.4; CNS%=85.1%
• If you’ll be diving again in two and a half hours, and you’ll be staying
within the mission averages for three days of diving, how much “CNS
clock” time and how many OTUs can you have on the second dive? Answer:
Allowable CNS = 64%; allowable OTUs = 458.3
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EANx26=176+9.6+4.3=189.9 cf; 189.9 X 1.5=285 cf

EANx80=12.4+18.7+36.3=67.4 cf; 67.4 X 1.5 =101 cf
2500/2400 = 1.04, 1.04 x 104 = 108 cf, 108 x 2 (doubles) = 216 cf
2300/2400 = .96, .96 x 104 = 100 cf (99.8)
OTUs=67.6+3.2+0.6+18.2+26.1+46.0=161.7
“CNS clock” = 33.2%+1.3%+0.4%+22.2%+9.9%+18.1%=85.1%
After two and a half hours, CNS 85.1% = 36%; 100%-36%=64%
Three day mission allows 1860 OTUs, average 620 per day. 620-161.7 =
458.3
6. [Have students compare their results with the same profile(s) calculated
with desk top decompression software.] Again, minor variations between
your hand-calculated plan and what decompression software provides are
normal.
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V. Turn Around Points and Environmental Variables

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 167-172, Turn Around Points and
Environmental Variables, Tec Exercise 3.4, questions 2-4
Learning Objectives
1.What are turn around points, and how do you determine them?
2. How do you learn to account for environmental variables such as current, visibility,
temperature and waves when planning a tec dive?
3. What are four guidelines to consider when planning a tec dive in an unfamiliar envi-
ronment?
A. Turn around points

1. You learned as a Tec 40 diver that all dives have turn around points, which
are points in the dive at which you and your team agree to turn the dive
around and head up/back to the exit.
2. When you or a team mate reaches any turn point, you turn the dive.
Factors to consider when determining turn around points include:
a. completing your decompression within your gas planning without
using your reserve.
b. the effects of total exposure time (temperature, fatigue).
c. the effects on repetitive dives, if any (OTUs, CNS, deco require-
ments).
3. All dives have at least two turn around points:
a. a turn around point based on bottom time
b. a turn around point based on gas consumed -- the SPG reading at
which you turn around is called “turn pressure”
4. Dives may have other turn around points based on the mission, logistics or
unknown variables in the profile. These may include:
a. Distance -- you turn when you’ve traveled an approximate maxi-
mum distance from the exit.
b. Task completion -- when you accomplish your mission, the team
may agree to turn immediately to minimize decompression.
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d. Depth/time combinations -- the time turn around point varies with

the maximum depth to accommodate decompression within the
planned gas supply; example: The planned depth is 36 metres/120
feet, we’ll turn at 65 minutes. If we exceed that, we’ll use 40
metres/130 feet as the maximum depth and turn at 50 minutes.
• Respect your turn around points.
• Note that exceeding your time usually affects your decom-
pression more than does exceeding your depth.
[Show students a table example of exceeding depth limit
slightly and time limit slightly for the same dive and com-
pare decompression increases.]
e. KISS -- Keep it Super Simple. Too many turn around points gets
complicated -- keep it to only a few that cover the plan require-
ments.
5. As you recall, calculating your back gas turn pressure means finding the
pressure at which you begin your ascent with enough gas to complete your
planned decompression (including the proportion that will use back gas)
and still have one third (or other planned reserve) of your back gas remain-
ing.
a. Start by determining your total back gas volume requirements (bot-
tom plus decompression), including reserve. Determine what cylin-
ders you’ll be using to have this volume, and their fill pressure.
b. Now determine how much pressure (bar/psi) you’ll use breathing
that volume, and subtract that from your starting pressure.
c. For metric, divide the volume you’ll use on the bottom by the cylin-
der capacity, then subtract that from the starting pressure.
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Metric:
Turn pressure = Start pressure - (bottom volume ÷ cylinder capacity)
Example:
Previously, you planned a dive to 44 metres using a single gas enriched air
computer set for EANx26. You plan to decompress using EANx80 from 9
metres to the surface, with an estimated bottom time of 40 minutes. Your
dive tables for EANx26 showed that 40 minutes at 44 metres requires 3
minutes decompression at 12 metres, 10 at 9 metres, 17 plus one minute at
6 metres and 43 at 3 metres. Your ascent rate is 10 mpm. Your SAC rate is
19 litres per minute on the working part of the dive, and 16 lpm when
decompressing. The gas volume results were:
Following the rule of thirds, you determined you need 6771 litres of
EANx26. To meet this requirement, you will dive in twin 21 litre cylin-
ders filled to 162 bar. This gives you 6804 litres of gas (21 x 2 x 162 =
6804). By what pressure should you be starting your ascent so that you
will have a one third reserve after completing your decompression?
Answer: 62.5 bar 4180 ÷ 42 (twin 21 litre cylinders) = 99.5; 162-99.5 =
62.5 bar.
d. For the imperial system, the baseline method is the easiest way to
find your turn pressure. Divide the bottom volume by the baseline,
and subtract that from the starting pressure.
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Imperial:
Turn pressure = Start pressure - (bottom volume ÷ cylinder baseline)
Example:
Previously, you planned a dive to 145 feet using a single gas enriched air
computer set for EANx26. You planned to decompress using EANx80
from 30 feet to the surface. You estimated that your bottom time will be
40 minutes. Your dive tables for EANx26 show that 40 minutes at 145 feet
requires 3 minutes decompression at 40 feet, 10 at 30 feet, 17 plus one
minute at 20 feet and 43 at 10 feet. Your ascent rate is 30 fpm. Your SAC
rate is .8 cubic feet per minute on the working part of the dive, and .65 cf
when decompressing. The gas volume results were:
Following the rule of thirds, you determined you need 285 cf of EANx26.
To meet this requirement, you will dive with twin 140 cubic foot 2400
working pressure plus-rated (10% overfill) cylinders filled to 2640 psi.
This gives you 308 cubic feet of gas (140 x 2 = 280, 280 + 28 (10% over-
fill) = 308). By what pressure should you be starting your ascent so you
will have a one third reserve after completing your decompression?
Answer: 1136 psi
Baseline = .117 (280/2400 = .117)
176 ÷ .117 = 1504; 2640 - 1504 = 1136
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e. As a shortcut many divers use the “half + 15 bar/200 psi” rule -- take
half your doubles pressure and add 15bar/200 psi. You should be
ascending by then. This generally works well (actually conservative-
ly, if you compare to previous examples) when most of your decom-
pression will be made with deco cylinders. If you will use back gas
for more than the first one or two stops, calculate as shown above to
be sure you’ll be starting up with ample gas for decompression plus
reserve.
f. Most desktop deco software does not calculate turn pressure because
it doesn’t know what size cylinders you’re using. Therefore, you need
to calculate it yourself (but desktop deco software, of course, will
calculate the volume requirements, making it a simple process).
g. For sidemount, turn pressure is the same, however, you switch
between your primary cylinders until you reach the turn pressure in
each. Some divers will swap every 15 – 20bar / 200 – 300psi, which
has the advantage of keeping the pressure close in case the gas in one
cylinder would become unavailable (more on this later). Other divers
will swap every 50bar/500 psi, which reduces task loading by reduc-
ing the number of regulator exchanges. It is also the most intuitive
interval on most SPGs).
B. Environmental variables
1. Tec diving is like recreational diving in that the procedures and techniques
vary with the environment.
2. Many of the techniques and procedures you learn in this course will be area
specific, just as they were where and when you became an Open Water
Diver.
3. When tec diving in a new area, as in recreational diving, you want an orien-
tation to the new area and any special procedures and techniques that apply
to it from an experienced local tec diver, ideally a technical diving instructor.
4. The following guidelines will help you minimize difficulties when making
tec dives in a new environment.
a. Gain experience with a new environment before making challenging
tec dives in it. Make recreational and/or no stop dives initially.
b. Master new, area specific equipment and procedures in controlled
conditions before applying them on more challenging tec dives.
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c. Consult local tec divers. Local methodologies evolve based on local

needs; just because something works well in one environment
doesn’t mean that it’s suited to another.
d. Recognize the difference between local methods and inappropriate
methods. In the DSAT Tec Diver course, you learn principles that
apply universally to manage your risk in the tec environment. The
application method may vary, but the principles remain. Disregarding
them is not a “local method.” Example: Divers in an area commonly
diving to 60 metres/200 feet using standard recreational single cylin-
ders and regulators does not constitute a local tec diving method
because it ignores having at least two independent regulators in a
technical environment.
V. Team Diving
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 173-175, Team Diving III, Tec
Exercise 3.5
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate the hand signals for:
• line
• entanglement
• reel
• I think I’m bent
• question
• Turn the dive.
2. Identify where your team mates rank in your chain of back up systems.
You should also be able to answer these questions:
3. What is the one back up your team mates provide that you cannot provide yourself?
4. What are the duties of a safety/support diver?
A. More tec diving hand signals [Demonstrate the following:]

1. line
2. entanglement
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3. reel
4. I think I’m bent
5. question
6. Turn the dive.
B. In recreational diving, your team mate is your primary back up system (first in the
back up chain). In tec diving, your team mate is not your primary back up system.
1. In tec diving, you rely on yourself first and have back ups for everything.
2. Therefore, your team mate is second, third or even further into your back up
chain, providing a back up only if your self reliant back ups fail.
3. The exception is that your team mates provide your “back up brain,” which
is the only back up you can’t provide yourself.
a. This means you and your team mates dive paying attention to limits,
the plan and what’s going on. You dive as though you might have to
finish the dive alone; no one follows everyone else blindly.
b. Team mates signal each other if they notice anything out of sorts.
They remind each other to check gas supplies, time, depth, etc.
c. Team mates never assume that another is either right or wrong. If
they disagree about what’s happening or what to do, they resolve the
confusion or end the dive if they can’t.
C. The duties of the safety/support diver
1. Part of team diving often involves handling support tasks and safety.
This is especially true when you’re less experienced. Interacting with
more experienced divers is a great way to learn.
2. A safety/support diver generally (but not always) stays within the no
stop limits and attends to divers decompressing.
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3. Safety/support diver duties may include, but are not limited to:
a. Checking on divers, assuring they have ample gas, etc.
b. Shuttling gear. Up – exhausted stage/deco cylinders, unneeded
equipmen. Down – extra gas, weights, etc.
c. Watching for and locating divers separated from their teams.
Notifying teams that missing divers are located.
d. “Baby-sitting” -- hovering near decoing divers to be ready to
assist.
e. Sitting standby on the boat or shore, fully geared up and ready
to go in to assist in an emergency.
f. Coordinating the boat crew with the needs of the decoing div-
ers.
g. Shuttling communications between the divers and surface sup-
port.

I. Thinking Like a Tec Diver
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 176-179, Thinking Like a Tec Diver
III, Tec Exercise 3.6
Learning Objectives
1. What assumption do technical divers make when they plan a dive?
2. What is a “trust me” dive and why do technical divers avoid them?
3. What do technical divers do with superfluous equipment in an emergency?
4. How do you “think backwards” to assist with planning for possible emergencies?
5. What are six principles for surviving a tec dive?
A. Self sufficiency
1. By now, you’ve learned that you dive self sufficiently -- your team mate is a
back up only after your back ups fail.
2. Tec divers plan their dives assuming that they may have to complete a dive
alone, separated from the rest of the team.
a. Thinking this way guides you to plan a self sufficient dive.
b. Self sufficiency helps you manage risk, because you’re better prepared
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to handle problems unaided if necessary.

c. Though self sufficient, tec divers work in cohesive teams to maintain
the “back up brain” teamwork.
3. A “trust me” dive is a dive in which one diver relies on another to complete
the dive safely. Tec divers avoid them, because on a “trust me” dive, you
dive using your “back up brain” only, and separation from the leading diver
may make it impossible to complete the dive safely.
a. Following a more experienced diver is not necessarily a “trust me”
dive if you could, at any point in the dive, abort and complete it with-
out assistance.
b. “Trust me” dives usually result when divers attempt dives well
beyond their experience and training.
c. Ask yourself whether you could, in an emergency, finish the dive
alone, or reasonably expect to assist a team mate, at any point during
the dive.
B. Equipment is disposable
1. Tec divers invest a lot in their gear and in maintaining it.
2. However, they also consider it disposable in an emergency. Anything that’s
superfluous to handling an emergency and completing a dive gets ditched
immediately.
3. Tec divers don’t allow themselves to get attached to their gear, and they
don’t cut corners due to cost. If it doesn’t do the job, replace it, no matter
how new or expensive. Nothing in diving is worth a serious injury or death.
C. Thinking backwards
1. As a Tec 40 diver, you learned to “think backwards” to anticipate problems
when planning a dive. Let’s look at this philosophy more closely.
2. Dive planning and emergency preparation is a mental process based on
anticipating the mission needs and preparing for realistic problem scenarios.
3. A good strategy for emergency planning is to include thinking backwards in
your dive planning.
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a. Imagine you’re at the furthest point in your dive.

b. Imagine realistic problems -- that might stand between you and return-
ing safely to the surface.
c. For each one, think about what you need to survive the dive indepen-
dently.
d. Make sure you have those resources.
e. Caution: Don’t create a problem by carrying gear or following a proce-
dure in trying to solve an unrealistic problem.
4. Work one problem at a time, and beware of “paralysis through analysis.” Think
things through and then move on.
D. Principles for surviving a tec dive
1. You learned these principles as a Tec 40 diver. Refer to them constantly as you
plan, execute and review your tec dives.
2. Never intentionally violate any of these principles. If you have a question
about what you or your team should do or not do, or use or not use on a tec
dive, these principles will usually guide you to the answer.
3. The principle of gas reserve -- you should have ample gas to handle reasonably
possible emergencies and still complete your decompression (usually thirds).
4. The principle of self sufficiency -- at any point in a dive, you should be able to
complete it independently.
5. The principle of depth -- your dive plan should account for narcosis, decom-
pression, oxygen toxicity and gas supply needs based on a planned depth and/
or a maximum contingency depth that you do not exceed.
6. The principle of simplicity -- your dive should be planned as simple as possi-
ble, with complexities eliminated.
7. 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.
II. Gas Planning
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Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 194-201, Gas Planning IV, Tec
Exercise 4.2
Learning Objectives
1. What are the procedures for staging and switching gases when making gas-switch,
extended no stop dives?
2. What do you do if you cannot switch to your shallower gas blend, or if you must switch
back to the deeper blend when making a gas switch, extended no stop dive?
3. How do you plan and make a gas-switch, extended no stop dive using desk top decom-
pression software?
4. How do you plan and make a gas-switch, extended no stop dive using a multigas comput-
er?
5. How can you make a gas-switch, extended no stop dive more conservative?
6. How do you make a safety stop while within a decompression stop?
7. What is “runtime,” how do you determine it, and how do you use it?
8. What do you do if you find yourself slightly ahead of your runtime?
9. What is “gas matching”?
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A. Gas-switch, extended no stop dives

1. As you recall, a gas-switch, extended no stop dive is a dive in which
you gain bottom time by ascending to a shallower level and switching
to a richer EANx. This gives a longer no stop time that takes full advan-
tage of a tec diver’s extended gas supply through both the multilevel
profile and the gas switch.
a. The no stop increase is substantial, usually with so much time
that even using multiple cylinders, you can stay well within no
stop limits.
b. Although a no stop dive, this is considered tec diving because of
the equipment and procedures required, which include breathing
more than one gas, NO TOX switches, etc.
c. Especially when diving shallower than 40 metres/130 feet for
the first level, gas-switch extended no stop dives work well with
single cylinders for back gas.
d. It is possible, though not common, to make gas-switch, extended
no stop dives with more than two blends.
2. Procedure -- requires desk top deco software and multigas computer.
a. Can be done as a tables based dive, but the most common prac-
tice is to plan with deco software and execute with a multigas
computer.
b. Choose a back gas based on the bottom depth and a richer gas in
a stage cylinder based on the second level depth being above its
maximum depth (1.4).
c. Start the dive at the deepest point. When you reach a particular
point (usually dive time or particular pressure), you ascend to
second level and NO TOX switch to stage cylinder.
d. You remain on stage cylinder and stay at or above second level
depth for the rest of the dive.
e. You may carry the stage cylinder throughout the dive if neces-
sary, but if feasible, to minimize the possibility of oxygen toxici-
ty, stage it at the second level depth as you head down and
retrieve it upon returning. If you must carry it, a mouth block is
a good reminder in addition to the required markings.
f. Plan an appropriate reserve in both cylinders, but since you stay
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within no stop limits and can head up at any time, a 35-70 bar/500-
1000 psi reserve is usually adequate.
3. If, for some reason you can’t make the gas switch, you end your dive accord-
ing to the no stop limits/oxygen limits of your back gas.
4. If, for some reason, you have a problem with your shallow blend, you must
obviously switch to your back (deeper) gas.
a. This is simple with a multigas computer – switch back to the bottom
gas and finish/shorten your dive staying within no stop limits.
b. If following a table, you may be beyond the deepest depth, no stop
limits for your back gas, but you are still in a no stop situation. Start
your ascent immediately, make a safety stop and end the dive.
5. Desk top deco software allows you to write tables for planning gas-switch,
extended no-stop dives.
a. Used most commonly to plan dives you will make with a multigas
computer.
b. Enter your first depth, EANx and desired time within no stop limits.
c. Enter your second level, second EANx and find your no stop limit
(you may be limited by oxygen instead of no stop time). When in
doubt, assume and plan for a deeper second level as opposed to a
shallower one.
d. Have the program generate tables based on your variations in your
deepest depth/time. Use these to plan your dive.
e. If making a tables-based dive, carry backup tables based on having
made the entire dive on back gas in case you cannot switch for some
reason.
[Show class planning for gas switch, extended no stop dive using software.]
6. Multigas dive computers simplify gas-switch, extended no stop dives.
a. Choose the blends for the depth levels and enter them into the com-
puter per manufacturer instructions.
b. Start with your deepest depth and blend. You switch gases on the
computer after you ascend to the next level and NO TOX switch to
the richer EANx.
c. If you must switch back to back gas for some reason, switch your
computer and it automatically gives your new no stop times.
d. Although the multigas computer calculates automatically, you’ll still
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use desk top deco software to assist with dive planning. It is the
only way to estimate your gas supply requirements.
e. Have two multigas computers, or carry backup tables/time/depth
gauges.
7. Making gas-switch, extended no stop dives more conservative:
a. The easiest way is to stay well within no stop limits; ascend and
switch well before reaching the deeper level limits.
b. Plan your dive based on EANx blends with somewhat less oxy-
gen than you actually use. (E.g., use in EANx30 and EANx40 in
your desk top/multigas dive computer, but dive with EANx32
and EANx45.)
• Be sure not to exceed maximum depths for the blend.
• You’ll need to track oxygen exposure for each dive and
repetitive dives separately (manually or with desk top
deco software), because your dive computers don’t know
what you’re really breathing.
c. Some dive computers allow you to set them to provide more
conservative no stop limits.
B. Safety stops within decompression stops
1. As a recreational diver, you learned to make safety stops – a stop at 5
metres/15 feet for three to five minutes not required by your tables or
computer, for added conservatism.
2. Tec divers make safety stops by extending their last deco stop by five
minutes. E.g., your table says you require nine minutes at 3 metres/10
feet, so you stay 14, or your computer clears you to surface, and you
stay another five minutes.
3. After surfacing from a particularly strenuous dive or long deco dive,
“safety stop” at the surface by resting in the water for five to 15 minutes
before exerting yourself (such as climbing aboard or ashore in heavy
gear).
a. You may continue to breathe EANx or oxygen. Remember that
even though you’re at the surface, if you’re breathing EANx50
or higher, the CNS clock is running and you’re gathering OTUs.
C. Runtime
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1. Runtime is a continuous elapsed time schedule you follow from the begin-
ning to the end of the dive when following a table. It accounts for your
descent, ascent, decompression time and tells you where you should be
against elapsed time.
a. Diving based on runtime is a common method of following a table.
Because it doesn’t work well for dive computer based decompression
(nor is it necessarily needed), runtime isn’t used as commonly as it
once was.
b. Runtimes can be useful, however, for planning a mission with multi-
ple teams, because it helps establish an approximate common time
base for coordinating efforts.
2. To use runtime, you depart from the depth when you reach the elapsed time
listed for that depth.
3. You create runtime by adding the times for each dive phase (descent time is
usually included in bottom time) and deco stop in sequence, including ascent
time (round minutes to the closest whole minute, up or down).
a. Desk top deco software will generate runtime automatically, some-
times with less rounding.
b. Desk top deco software may list arrival times by repeating the depth
(arrival time and departure time).
c. When generating multiple tables, some programs will generate run-
times for alternative schedules as well as the planned one.
4. Example: You’re making a 30 minute dive to 30 m/100 ft using air and your
table calls for a stop for one minute at 6 m/20 ft and 15 minutes at 3 m/10 ft.
Your runtime would be:
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5. Runtime is simple to follow, but if you find yourself slightly ahead of

your runtime (you leave a bit early, for example), adjust to merge grad-
ually with the runtime. If you’re behind your runtime, you usually
switch to the next longer deco schedule.
Example: Using the previous runtime, you leave the bottom at 29 min-
utes. You merge by ascending slightly slower than usual so that you
reach 6 m/20ft in 3.5 minutes, and then stay 1.5 minutes at the stop to
the 34 minute mark.
6. Air breaks and gas switches when you return to back gas don’t count as
decompression time. You handle this by:
a. using a dive watch with a stopwatch function and stopping the
runtime during air breaks/gas switches.
b. adding air breaks and switches into your runtime.
c. using desk top deco software that automatically includes air
breaks. Also, you can revise the provided runtime by manually
adding in air break/gas switch times.
7. Runtimes work well with tables-based gas-switch, extended no stop
dives. Your runtime shows the point by which you must ascend from
each deeper level to the next shallower level. If you go up ahead of the
time indicated, the dive becomes more conservative than planned, so
you can still follow the runtime without adjustments.
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D. Gas matching
1. Gas matching is a method (used primarily in overhead environments – cave,
wreck) to account for teams with members who have different breathing
rates and cylinder sizes. It’s not generally needed in open water because you
can generally begin an ascent quickly in an emergency. However, it can be
useful if, due to current for example, you want to be sure you and your team
mate can return to the anchor line to ascend while sharing as..
2. Gas matching helps assure that should the diver with a higher gas supply and
SAC rate have complete loss of gas supply at the furthest penetration point,
a team mate with a smaller gas supply and lower SAC rate would have suffi-
cient gas for both divers to exit.
3. To gas match (based on one third reserves), the diver with the smaller gas
supply needs to reserve a volume equal to one third of the larger gas supply.
4. To do this in metric:
a. Take the volume of the larger gas supply and divide by three. This is
the amount that must be reserved by the diver with the smaller sup-
ply.
b. Divide the reserve by capacity of the smaller gas supply cylinders.
The result is the reserve pressure that the diver with the smaller gas
supply should have left at the end of the dive if there’s no emergency.
c. Subtract the reserve pressure from the actual pressure of the smaller
cylinders, divide that by two and subtract it from the full pressure to
get the one-third turn around point for the smaller gas supply.
Example: You’re diving with twin 11 litre cylinders with 200 bar. Your team
mate has twin 21 litre cylinders with 160 bar. What should your reserve pres-
sure be, and what’s your one-third turn around pressure?
Answer: 102 bar reserve pressure; 151 bar turn around
Team mate’s volume = 21 x 2 x 160 = 6720 litres.
Reserve = 6720 ÷ 3 = 2240 litres.
Reserve divided by your cylinder capacity = 2240 ÷ 22 (11 x 2) =
102 bar reserve you should have left
200 - 102 = 98 bar you can use; 98 ÷ 2 = 49; 200 - 49 = 151
5. To do this in imperial:
a. Determine the baseline for each set of doubles, and determine the gas
volume in each.
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b. Divide the largest volume by three. This is the amount that must
be reserved by the diver with the smaller supply.
c. Divide the reserve volume by the baseline of the smaller cylin-
ders. The result is the reserve pressure the diver with the smaller
gas supply must maintain.
d. Subtract the reserve pressure from the actual pressure of the
smaller cylinders, divide that by two and subtract it from the full
pressure to get the one-third turn around point for the smaller
gas supply.
Example: You’re diving with twin 80 cubic foot cylinders, working
pressure 3000 psi, with 2950 psi in them. Your team mate has twin 120
cubic foot cylinders, working pressure 2400 psi, with 2350 psi in them.
What should your reserve pressure be, and what’s your one-third turn
around pressure?
Answer: 1473 psi reserve pressure; 2213 turn pressure
Team mate’s baseline = .1 (240 ÷ 2400 = .1);
Team mate’s volume = 235 cf (2350 x .1);
Your baseline = .053 (160 ÷ 3000 = .053).
Your volume = 156 cf (3000 x .053 = 156)
Team mate’s (larger volume) reserve = 235 ÷ 3 = 78.3.
78.3 ÷ .053=1477; 2950 - 1477 = 1473, 1473 ÷ 2 =
736.5;
2950 - 737=2213
6. Remember that even if you don’t need to gas match,
you must determine your actual gas supply before each
dive to be sure you have enough gas, plus reserve, to
make the dive.
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III. Emergencies
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 202-209, Emergencies IV, Tec
Exercise 4.3
Learning Objectives
1. How do you ensure you don’t lose your deco cylinders, and what should you do if you
do?
2. What do you do if your dive goes deeper and/or longer than your planned dive?
3. How can you use a single gas dive computer to back up a multigas computer?
4. What should you do if you miss a decompression stop?
5. What should you do if you have a delay in your ascent to a decompression stop?
6. What should you do if you omit some or all of your decompression?
7. What should you do if you run out of gas?
8. What is a “drift kit,” when would you use it and what items would you have in it?
9. How do you handle a lift bag that spills as it ascends but cannot be pulled back down to
redeploy?
A. As a Tec 40 diver, you learned about some of the emergency procedures covered in
this section, but for that level. As a Tec 45 diver, you learn additional considerations
to address the longer/deeper dives you’ll be qualified to make.
B. Lost decompression cylinders
1. Losing your deco cylinders can leave you without a complete solution, so the
emphasis is on prevention.
a. Never stage your cylinders if you have any question whether you’ll
be able to return to them and retrieve them.
b. Don’t stage cylinders where other divers might take the “lost” cylin-
ders they “found.”
c. Be sure that you stage cylinders where they won’t roll, float or get
swept away. Clip them to something or otherwise secure them if pos-
sible.
d. As you learned, confirm that the valves are closed, but regulator pres-
surized, on the staged cylinders.
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2. If you do lose your cylinders, how difficult your situation would be

depends on how much decompression you have and whether it’s based on
accelerated decompression or not. The primary issue will be whether you
have enough gas volume.
a. If your decompression is based entirely on your back gas and your
deco cylinders held higher oxygen for conservatism, then you
decompress on back gas. If you don’t have enough back gas, you
can use any EANx blend with as much or more oxygen than your
back gas, so a team mate or support diver may be able to assist.
b. If you’re making an accelerated decompression, leave your multigas
computer set for back gas. If backing up your computer with tables,
be sure to carry single gas back up tables as well as accelerated
decompression tables.
c. If you have support divers, they may be able to bring down standby
cylinders.
d. When making accelerated deco dives, if using a multigas computer
and your team mates have not lost their deco gases, they can give
you what’s left of theirs as they finish. They’ll finish before you, but
you should be able to complete your decompression.
3. If you don’t have enough gas in your doubles to complete your decompres-
sion, decompress as long as you can. When you surface, breathe emergency
oxygen and contact emergency medical care if you suspect DCI (either
DCS or AGE) symptoms.
C. Exceeding your planned depth and time
1. This shouldn’t be an “emergency” but a situation. You should prepare for
this as a regular part of dive planning (as you’ve already been practicing).
2. Use decompression software for times and depths greater than and less than
your planned dive so you can see how they affect required decompression
and gas volumes.
3. The rule of thirds will generally accommodate the next longer/ deeper
schedule, but you should compare the gas requirements to be sure.
4. Be prepared to alter time to accommodate depth. If you find yourself deep-
er than planned, turn the dive sooner. Again, also remember that exceeding
your bottom time usually creates a higher decompression penalty than
slightly exceeding your planned depth.
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5. Precision diving is the key -- you must master buoyancy control and closely
monitor depth, time and gas supply. Dive well and this won’t be an issue.
D. Backing up a multigas computer with a single gas computer (continued).
1. Though not ideal, you can back up a multigas computer with a single gas
computer by setting the single gas computer for your back gas. Decompress
as if using back gas, with the higher oxygen blends for conservatism.
2. However, if conditions might require accelerated decompression (E.g. due to
water temperature or gas volume), then carry accelerated deco tables generat-
ed by desk top deco software and use a single gas computer for time and
depth information only (or a depth gauge/time, of course).
E. Missed decompression stop
1. If you miss a decompression stop, how you handle it depends on the situation.
2. If you can, immediately (less than a minute) redescend and complete the stop
and add one minute, then decompress according to schedule.
3. If you cannot redescend (such as if you have a gas supply problem and must
switch to a deco cylinder you can’t use at the deeper depth), stay at the next
stop for the combined time of both stops.
4. If you cannot redescend or it takes longer than a minute to do so, extend your
6 metre/20 foot stop and/or the final stop by 1.5 times the decompression nor-
mally required. (Note: some dive computers calculate missed deco stop proce-
dures automatically – see the manufacturer’s instructions.)
5. If you’re using a dive computer, it may lock up if you skip a stop and cannot
redescend to complete it. You may need to decompress according to back up
tables.
F. Delay in ascent to decompression stop
1. A delay in ascent while following a dive computer is not an issue because the
computer will adjust your decompression requirements.
2. If you’re delayed ascending to your first decompression stop while using
tables, add the delay to your bottom time and decompress according to the
new schedule.
3. Using tables, delays between stops aren’t usually as critical unless they’re
excessive (more than two or three minutes). Do not count the delay as decom-
pression time.
4. When you’ve had a delay in ascent, it’s always wise to extend your last stop
as much as practicable.
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G. Omitted decompression
1. The seriousness of omitted decompression depends on the situation.
a. Omitting all required decompression has high DCS risk, espe-
cially if it’s greater than five or ten minutes.
b. The more decompression you’ve completed, the less risk (obvi-
ously).
c. If decompressing with a single gas computer/table and using
EANx/oxygen for conservatism, your risk is relatively low if
you’ve completed most of your decompression.
2. If you omit decompression from 6 metres/20 feet or shallower, if you
have no DCS symptoms and it’s possible, return to depth within one
minute, add a minute and complete your decompression as scheduled.
As a precaution, extend your last stop several minutes or more.
3. If you omit decompression from 6 metres/20 feet or shallower, and if
you have no DCS symptoms but it takes longer than one minute to
return to your stop depth, extend your 6 metre/20 foot stop and/or the
final stop by 1.5 times the decompression normally required (or longer
on the final stop, as possible).
4. If you omit decompression from deeper than 6 metres/20 feet, return to
the first stop depth as quickly as possible (ideally less than five min-
utes) and decompress according to the schedule up to and including the
12 metre/40 foot stop. Extend the 9 metre/30 foot stop and all shallow-
er stops by 1.5 times their scheduled times.
5. If you cannot return to depth (no gas available, for instance), breathe
emergency oxygen, remain calm and monitor yourself for DCS symp-
toms. If you surfaced owing more than a few minutes decompression
or skipped all your decompression, assume you will get bent and have
your team begin preparing for emergency evacuation. If possible stay
on 100 percent oxygen until reaching emergency medical care.
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H. Running out of gas

1. Running out of gas should be a rare event if you plan your reserve appropri-
ately. Unexpected exertion or a sudden freeflow can cause you to exhaust
gas faster than expected
a. You should not run out of gas on the bottom, because you should be
ascending to your first stop depth before it happens.
b. Your first option is to see if your team mates or support divers can
help by sharing gas or bringing some down.
c. With a multigas computer, you can switch to back gas and continue
to decompress, though it will take longer.
d. If you exhaust a deco gas using tables and you have another, higher
oxygen deco gas, ascend to the first stop where you can use it.
Combine your missed stops with the stop at that depth, unless this
will prematurely exhaust that gas, too. In that case, follow the decom-
pression schedule and extend the shallower stops as much as practi-
cable.
e. If you are following a single (back) gas deco schedule with a higher
oxygen deco gas for conservatism, you can switch to back gas or any
other gas with as much or more oxygen as your back gas (provided
you’re shallower than the maximum depth).
f. As a general guideline, if gas termination interferes with your decom-
pression, decompress as long as you can as best you can with what
you have. Stay down with team mates’ high oxygen deco cylinders
after they complete decompression, if possible. Even if you end up
getting DCS, the more decompression you complete, the less severe
it should be.
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I. Drift kits
1. A drift kit is an emergency kit you carry in open ocean where you could
end up adrift in current a considerable distance from the dive boat. The
most elaborate kits are watertight/pressure proof containers bracketed to
the doubles; the simplest are items in a pocket or pouch.
2. You use your drift kit if you surface and cannot see the dive boat, or it
is too far away to reach and you’re having trouble getting the crew’s
attention.
3. At a minimum, a drift kit contains an inflatable signal tube (may be a
DSMB) and whistle, or other visual and audible signaling devices.
4. In higher risk current environments, you may consider
a. signal mirror
b. watertight flasher
c. portable PLB (Personal Locator Beacon -- allows authorities to
find you electronically when activated.)
d. smoke flares; flares, aircraft dye
e. collapsible radar reflector
J. Partly spilled lift bag/DSMB
1. If you send up a lift bag without sufficient line tension, it can partly
spill at the surface, leaving it too buoyant to pull down and redeploy,
but insufficiently buoyant for use as a firm decompression line. A
spilled DSMB (unlikely with no-spill designs) may not stand upright for
maximum visibility.
2. First option: As you’ve practiced, send up a team mate’s lift bag/DSMB
clipped to the same line via a carabineer or large bolt snap (small snaps
can hang up). Using same line combines their lift and avoids entangle-
ment from two lines in water.
3. Second option: team mate deploys own lift bag/DSMB with separate
reel.
4. Final option: use the bag as is -- you’ll have to be more careful with
buoyancy.
K. The DSAT Emergency Procedures Slate summarizes missed decompression
stop, delay in ascent and omitted decompression procedures so you can have
them with you when diving.
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Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer this question:
1. Why may you set a multigas computer for gas blends you don’t plan to use on a dive?
L. More on using multigas computers in emergency situations

1. You do not have to use a gas just because you set your multigas dive com-
puter for it.
2. Dive computers that support a large number of gases can be set for gases you
don’t plan to use, but that would be available for use in an emergency. This
gives you more gas options in the event of an emergency.
a. Example: Deco gases used by another team that will be diving along
with your team may be different from your team’s, but available for
sharing.
b. Example: Air is readily available in many dive environments, so
support divers could bring it for decompression use if nothing else
were quickly obtainable.
3. The main drawback to having your multigas computer set for gases you
don’t plan to use is that you have to be sure you don’t select one of the con-
tingency gases by accident.
4. Some of the newest computers will allow you to enter a new gas during the
dive should you need to do so in an emergency situation. The computer can
then calculate your decompression accordingly.

1. You might set a multigas computer for gas blends you don’t plan to use during a dive so
your computer can calculate your decompression with them in an emergency situation.
q True
q False
How did you do?
1. True.
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I. Homemade Equipment
Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 192-194, Equipment IV, Tec
Exercise 4.1
Learning Objectives
1. Why would technical divers use “homemade” equipment?
2. What are examples of acceptable and unacceptable instances in which a tec diver
might use “homemade” gear?
3. What are six general guidelines regarding the use of “homemade” equipment?
4. What is probably the most common “homemade” item used by tec divers?
A. Because tec diving is evolving rapidly and taking on new challenges, it’s not
unusual for tec divers to have to create special equipment for special purposes,
or adapt something for an underwater need.
B. This is considered acceptable for equipment that is not critical for safety and/or
life support, and for which there exists no professionally made version.
1. Acceptable examples might include specialized compass slates for map-
ping, bungee-clip arrangements for securing accessories, binder rings
for attaching laminated deco tables to slates, etc.
2. Unacceptable examples might include a BCD or regulator, line reel, lift
bag, etc.
C. The following six guidelines apply to “homemade” items:
1. Be sure you really need it. Keep things simple.
2. Confirm that a professionally made version does not exist.
3. It should provide a clear benefit or meet an important need, yet not cre-
ate a hazard nor be essential to safety and life support.
4. Try the item during some no stop, simple dives before using it on a
demanding tec dive.
5. Get an opinion from one or more experienced tec divers whom you
respect.
6. When in doubt, do without it.
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D. The most common “homemade” item is probably the custom dive table generated
by desk top deco software and then laminated or printed on waterproof paper for use
during the dive.
II. Thinking Like a Tec Diver

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 210-211, Thinking Like a Tec Diver
IV, Tec Exercise 4.4
Learning Objectives
1. What do tec divers mean when they say they “never stop learning”?
2. What four attitudes characterize leading tec divers?
3. What is the biggest myth told about diving with certain methodologies or in certain envi-
ronments?
4. Why is methodology situational?
A. Tec diving continues to evolve, with new methodologies and technologies arising
quickly.
1. Competent tec divers recognize that their learning never stops.
2. Besides continuing education courses, tec divers avidly read online and print
dive magazines, underwater scientific and technical literature, and other
information sources for new developments.
3. Tec divers pay attention to new ways of doing things as they interact with
fellow tec divers. They also analyze each dive after the fact and make a con-
scious effort to distill new learning from it.
4. Tec divers say they “never stop learning,” meaning that education in techni-
cal diving never ends, and that every tec dive is part of it.
B. Four attitudes characterize leading tec divers. It’s worth noting that these character-
istics tend to typify leaders in most areas of exploration.
1. Humility -- they realize that they don’t know everything, and that there may
be more than one right way to do something. Their ego doesn’t get in the
way of learning, doing or teaching.
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2. Open mindedness -- they never reject something just because it’s new or
different, and they listen to other viewpoints. They don’t fear change
and they’re not threatened by differing opinions.
3. Analytical -- they try to accurately and realistically weigh the merits of
a technology or procedures for themselves and never accept something
just because it’s new or because someone else thinks it’s better. They try
to not let what they like, dislike or want to believe influence their con-
clusions.
4. Competent -- while they’re open to change and alternative ways to do
things, their own methodologies are solid and they can demonstrate a
rationale and realistic basis for each. They’re quietly confident about
how they dive, and they don’t choose their methodologies based on
“looking cool” or what someone else might think or say.
C. The biggest myth in diving (tec or recreational) is that learning to dive in a spe-
cific environment or with a specific methodology qualifies you to dive every-
where.
1. Methodology (including its technology) is situational, because each sit-
uation imposes differing demands. E.g. A three hour dive in 27°C/80°F
water wouldn’t require a dry suit, whereas in 10°C/50°F water it defi-
nitely would.
2. The suggestion that mastering one methodology or environment meets
all diving circumstances presupposes that the methodology addresses all
possible variables, or that the environment imposes all possible vari-
ables. This isn’t possible. Example: a deep lake dive may be very cold,
dark and eerie, but it cannot have the challenge of oceanic currents.
3. The basic methodologies and configurations you learn in this course
form the foundation for a wide variety of technical diving circumstanc-
es. However, you must learn specifics for the tec environment you actu-
ally dive from your instructor, the local tec community and from experi-
ence gained by broadening your limits slowly and carefully over many
dives.
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III. Accelerated Decompression and Deep Stops

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 222-227, Oxygen Window and
Accelerated Decompression, Deep Stops, Tec Exercise 5.1
Learning Objectives
1. What is the “oxygen window”?
2. How does the “oxygen window” relate to accelerated decompression?
3. Why is it that when decompressing with 100 percent oxygen, you can complete the decom-
pression time for a 3 metre/10 foot stop as deep as 6 metres/20 feet without having to adjust
your decompression time for the depth change?
4. How do you use desk top decompression software and/or multigas computers to calculate
accelerated decompression dives?
5. How do you plan backup decompression information for an accelerated decompression
dive?
6. How do you choose which gas blends to use for an accelerated decompression dive?
7. What are “deep stops,” how do you apply them and what might the benefit be of doing so?
A. Oxygen window and accelerated decompression

1. Oxygen is metabolically active -- the body consumes it for energy production
and in other reactions. It contributes only minimally to DCS -- far less than
gases such as nitrogen or helium.
2. When you ascend, the drop in ambient pressure causes a pressure differential
(gradient) between the pressure of the dissolved inert gas (nitrogen) in your
tissues and the pressure of the inert gas in your lungs. This is what causes the
nitrogen to dissolve out of your tissues. However, as you know, you can’t
ascend too far (on a decompression dive) or the ambient pressure drops so
much that nitrogen may form bubbles in the tissues before it can dissolve
harmlessly out through circulation and the lungs.
3. However, as you’ve also learned, if you shift to a higher oxygen gas (or pure
oxygen) during ascent and/or decompression, you create a higher gradient
between the dissolved inert gas (nitrogen) in your tissues and in your lungs
without decreasing the ambient pressure.
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4. This causes nitrogen to dissolve out of the tissues faster without increasing
bubble formation risk. This oxygen-derived gradient is called the oxygen
window.
a. You can use it to speed up your decompression without ascending to
an unsafe depth.
b. This is the basis for accelerated decompression.
c. EADs illustrate what’s happening.
E.g.: Your first decompression stop is at 9 metres/30 feet. If you switch to EANx50,
your EAD is two metres/seven feet. Therefore, nitrogen leaves your body as if you
were only two metres/seven feet deep, without ascending that shallow (which would
probably cause DCS).
d. Accelerated decompression reduces your exposure to cold water and
boredom.
e. It’s known that the shorter the required decompression, the more reli-
able it is.
f. You can enjoy these advantages and still make your schedule conser-
vative.
5. The greatest oxygen window comes from breathing pure oxygen (6
metres/20 feet and shallower). Note that with 100% O2, the EAD is always
minus 10 metres/ minus 33 feet and you’re releasing nitrogen faster than if
you were at the surface breathing air.
6. This is why, when using 100% oxygen, you can complete stops shallower
than 6 metres/20 feet at 6 metres/20 feet without having to recalculate deco
time. With any EANx blend, you must recalculate with tables; using a multi-
gas computer, your deco time will be longer at the deeper stop depth. Note
that you cannot ascend from the 6 metre/20 foot stop earlier than scheduled.
a. This can have logistical advantages (staying below waves, boat traf-
fic, etc.)
b. There may be some theoretical advantage in minimizing bubble for-
mation.
c. It’s common when using pure O2, after completing the 6 metre/20
foot time, to ascend to 5 metres/15 feet for the 3 metre/10 foot stop.
This takes advantage of the added depth but drops the oxygen expo-
sure somewhat.
d. A 5 metre/15 foot stop has become common, in place of the 3
metre/10 foot stop; even when not using O2 you can take your stop at
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5 metres/15 feet when using a dive computer, or by setting your desk

top deco software to create the final stop at 5 metres/15 feet instead
of 3 metres/10 feet. (This is why you’ve been making 5 metre/15 foot
stops in training dives.)
B. Calculating and planning accelerated decompression dives
1. You calculate accelerated deco dives using desk top deco software much like
calculating gas-switch, extended no stop dives
a. You compare decompression and gas requirements for possible depth/
time combinations using different deco gases to find those most use-
ful for the situation.
b. Calculating your gas supply requirements is important to assure that
you have ample gas to decompress. Dealing with your gas supplies is
usually more flexible, however, because deco is shorter for the same
dive.
2. The optimal way to plan and make an accelerated decompression dive is to
have desk top deco software to estimate what schedule you get from your
multigas dive computer, then making dive using two multigas computers
based on the plan.
a. If software isn’t available, then plan your dives based on your back
gas, noting the actual deco time on the dive. Keep notes in your log-
book and use the same deco gases when doing this so you gradually
learn how much bottom time you can have and still surface with one-
third of your deco gases remaining.
[Demonstrate these concepts on desk top deco software by comparing the
deco times for a dive to 50 metres/165 feet for 40 minutes using air for the
entire dive to the same decoing with EANx50 starting at 21 metres/70 feet
and oxygen at 6 metres/20 feet.]
C. Making accelerated deco dives more conservative.
1. When diving from desk top deco software generated tables, you can:
a. Use the tables for the next greater depth and/or time than actually
called for.
b. Generate the tables based on blends with less oxygen than actual
(note that you will need to determine actual max depths and oxygen
exposure)
c. Make a safety stop within the last decompression stop.
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2. When using a multigas computer you can

a. Set the computer to be more conservative (if possible with your
model). If it doesn’t have such a setting, you can adjust the alti-
tude; setting it for a higher altitude than actual will make it more
conservative.
b. Set the blends for less oxygen than actual (note that you will
need to determine actual max depths and oxygen exposure your-
self).
c. Stay well within all limits given by the computer.
d. Make a safety stop within the last decompression stop.
D. Planning back up for accelerated decompression dives
1. A drawback to an accelerated deco dive is that you must have your deco
cylinders to decompress.
2. You can use desk top deco software to write alternative emergency
tables for decoing without your deco cylinders. With multigas comput-
ers, you simply stay on the blend you’re using.
a. It may be difficult to make the desired dive and decompress
using only back gas. If so, accounting for this is crucial in going
through A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live.
b. As you learned earlier, if in doubt it’s less risky to keep your
deco cylinders with you.
c. As you learned earlier, sometimes you can set multigas comput-
ers for blends you don’t plan to use, but that may be available in
an emergency situation.
E. Choosing deco blends
1. Using desk top deco software, you’ll find that the shortest decompres-
sion comes from switching to the highest possible oxygen at each stop.
2. This is usually impractical (if you have four stops, you would need four
deco cylinders) and you usually don’t gain much.
3. For shallower dives, a single cylinder is usually adequate (Tec 45). For
dives to 50 metres/165 feet (Tec 50) to 65 metres/210 feet (Tec Trimix
65), you seldom benefit much by having more than two deco blends.
Below that depth (Tec Trimix Diver) three or more decompression cyl-
inders aren’t unusual to accelerate decompression and to provide the gas
volume.
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a. Remember KISS (Keep It Super, Simple) principle -- simpler is usu-

ally better, especially if it only means few more minutes deco time.
b. Remember that you and your team mates want to use the same
blends.
F. Deep decompression stops
1. While there is some anecdotal evidence that suggests a benefit to using deep
decompression stops, more recent scientific studies suggest that there may be
no actual benefit.
a. A deep stop is a deco stop deeper than required by conventional
decompression models.
2. You normally make a deep stop for two minutes at the halfway point
between the bottom depth and the first “required” deco stop, which you find
exactly as you find the midpoint for calculating your ascent.
a. For example, if you were diving at 45 metres/150 feet and your first
stop is at 12 metres/40 feet, you make a deep stop at 28.5 metres/95
feet.
b. If you make your deep stop on your bottom gas, you typically list
the ascent and the deep stop separately (different SAC rates) on the
dive planning work slate, though the same depth.
c. You can also calculate ascent based on the midpoints from the bottom
to the deep stop, then the deep stop, and then the ascent from the
deep stop to the first required stop (three different depths between the
bottom and the first required stop) You may do this if you change
gases at your deep stop, which affects your oxygen exposure and gas
supply requirements.
3. Some desk top deco software will automatically add deep stops if you want.
If not, you must enter the deep stop as a way point in the profile it calcu-
lates.
4. Dive computers automatically account for deep stops, of course.
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Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to answer this question:
1. What are your two options for conducting deep stops?
2. What is the current thinking regarding deep stops?
3. What approach to deep stops seems to be the most prudent?
G. More on deep stops

1. There are two primary options for conducting deep stops.
a. The first is to use a conventional dissolved gas decompression model
and then add deep stops as discussed previously and in the Tec Deep
Diver Manual.
b. The second is to use a decompression model that inherently stops you
deeper than other models. Most “bubble” models fit into this catego-
ry.
2. Although deep stops had a lot of anecdotal support at one time, the current
thinking based on US Navy Experimental Diving Unit research is that they
may not be as beneficial as once thought.
a. The USN compared a bubble model and conventional dissolved gas
model on manned test dives. Dives were to the same depth for the
same duration with the same decompression time distributed over a
deep stops (bubble) schedule and a conventional (dissolved gas)
schedule.
b. The tests were terminated due to an unacceptable DCS rate in sub-
jects decompressed with the bubble schedule.
3. Other data are less conclusive.
a. Some no stop diving tests find a minor benefit to deep stops.
b. Many divers have been using bubble models without difficulties.
c. Deep stops and bubble models are common practices widely used in
the tec community, again, without widespread problems.
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4. The prudent approach to deep stops at the moment seems to be:

a. Use a conventional dissolved gas model and add deep stops as you
learned. The deep stops will lengthen your shallower stops.
b. If you wish to use a decompression bubble model, choose one that is
well supported by human test data.
c. Whatever model you use, stay well within limits and pad your
decompression to make it conservative. Don’t be in a hurry to leave
your last stop – extend it beyond the required time.
d. Stay up to date on the latest findings in decompression research.
Know your sources – just because someone says something on an
internet forum doesn’t make it true.

1. Your two options for deep stops include (choose all that apply)
q a. using a deep stops bubble model.
q b. adding deep stops to a bubble model.
q c. using a conventional dissolved gas model.
q d. adding deep stops to a conventional dissolved gas model.
2. The current thinking on deep stops is
q a. they are unquestionably beneficial.
q b. they are unquestionably without benefit.
q c. there is some doubt about whether they’re as beneficial as once thought.
3. To use deep stops prudently (choose all that apply)
q a. use a conventional model, add deep stops and complete the extra deco they add.
q b. if you use a bubble model, use one well supported with human test data.
q c. use any model conservatively.
q d. stay informed about the latest findings in decompression theory.
How did you do?

1. a, d. 2. c. 3. a, b, c, d.
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IV. Decompressing in Currents

Study assignment: Tec Deep Diver Manual, pgs 228-229, Techniques IV, Tec
Exercise 5.2
Learning Objectives
1. What are some of the procedures and considerations for making decompression
dives in a current?
2. What is a “drift hang” and what are the advantages and disadvantages?
A. You’ve already learned a lot and practiced regarding tec diving in currents,
making stops in them, and emergency procedures. These include:
1. Using jon lines
2. Using a lift bag/DSMB
3. Ascents/descents along anchor or mooring line, and ascents along lift
bag/DSMB line
4. Drift kits
5. Not staging deco cylinders if there’s a reasonable possibility you won’t
be able to return to them.
6. Using swim lines, trail lines, etc., to work a current, just as you would
while recreational diving
B. As a review, consider these points:
1. Before making decompression dives in an area with currents, gain expe-
rience and be thoroughly familiar with the local techniques by making
no stop dives first.
2. It’s easy to overexert yourself trying to out swim a current wearing just
recreational equipment; in tec gear it’s even easier. Use your brain, not
your back, to work a current.
[Review information about currents in the local environment and the
techniques used for making deco dives.]
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C. Drift hangs
1. It’s often tiring to fight current during a long “hang” (decompression) in mid
water.
2. An alternative is a “drift hang” (also called “blue water decompression”) in
which divers decompress along a line from a float or boat while adrift in the
current.
3. Procedures vary, but in general:
a. All divers return to the mooring/anchor line and start decompression,
maintaining position in the current.
b. The boat lowers (or has in place) a weighted line.
c. On signal, support divers release the boat from the mooring/ anchor,
and all divers swim to the weighted line while maintaining their stop
depth.
d. Divers complete decompression on line.
e. A variation is the breakaway hang -- the team releases a line with a
float ball from a mooring or other anchor point. The team decom-
presses drifting with the boat, following the float ball.
f. An obvious variation you’ve practiced (or will practice) – the team
sends up a lift bag/DSMB and decompresses with the boat following;
this may be a planned procedure or the emergency procedure if the
team is unable to locate the ascent line/area.
4. Advantages
a. Once adrift, there is no current for practical purposes – it is much
more restful.
b. It is easier to maintain stop depth.
c. Surface support can easily take unneeded gear (used stage cylinders,
etc.) or bring down extra gas, etc. when not having to fight current.
5. Disadvantages
a. Requires close coordination of all teams in the water if all teams will
drift together. You often can’t stagger teams going in and coming out.
(This isn’t an absolute; in some areas there are ways to stagger teams
for drift hangs, but typically it’s not the case.)
b. Waiting for one diver can hold up the drift for several teams -- proce-
dures include actions for disoriented divers (usually requires sending
up a bag and drifting under it) and accounting for them by surface
support.
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c. Surface support is usually mandatory.

d. You must account for where you’ll drift. In some environments
with strong current, it’s possible to be pushed into water too
shallow for decompression. In other areas, it may be possible to
drift into sea lanes with hazardous ship traffic. Plans must
account for preventing such problems.
6. As you learned earlier, a drift hang may also be reserved as an emergen-
cy procedure if you cannot relocate the ascent line. In that case, you
may have no immediate surface support if the boat has to hold station
for other teams to complete decompression before coming for you.
Tec 45 Practical Application

On the surface, the practical applications develop skills with procedures related
to gear rigging, using decompression software and dive planning. However, the practi-
cal 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.
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
inappropriately. Otherwise, allow teams to develop their own interaction and coopera-
tion 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 to develop their capabilities.
At the Tec 45 level, you should see teams that work closely together before,
during and after each dive. Even divers who don’t know each other before starting the
course should quickly gel into teams that work well together. Unless necessary for
logistics or to assure individuals meet performance requirements, avoid breaking up
closely-knit, well functioning teams.
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Tec 45 students come into the course with either of two backgrounds. First, they
may have the Tec 40 certification (or a qualifying certification from another organization)
that they earned using the minimal Tec 40 equipment configuration. Or, they may have the
same certification, but trained in the full standardized technical rig (or sidemount).
The first part of the Tec 45 Practical Application One is primarily for Tec 45 stu-
dents who have little or no experience with the standardized technical rig (or sidemount).
During this practical application, working in teams, students set up their rigs (including a
stage/deco cylinder) following the guidelines in the Equipment I and Equipment II discus-
sions of the Tec Deep Diver Manual (or comparable sidemount setup).
If all the students in your class completed the Tec 40 course in the standardized
technical rig (or sidemount) and completed Tec 40 Practical Application One following the
standards for this practical application, then you may, at your discretion, skip the first part
and go directly to the second part (dive planning, discussed below). Alternatively, you may
have teams set up their gear to provide you a quick assessment that they have retained what
they learned.
If you have a mix of students who did and who did not previously train in the stan-
dardized technical rig (or sidemount), it is recommended that you have those experienced
with the rig assist those who aren’t in setting up their gear. One method is to assign teams
that consist of both types of students.
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
members conforms with the standardized technical rigging philosophy previously learned,
and with any environment-specific requirements provided by the instructor.
2. Working as a team, plan a hypothetical technical dive with a single gas switch made for
additional conservatism (not accelerated decompression) and with not fewer than three
decompression stops, based on information (gases, depths, times, objective, environment
etc.) provided by the instructor, with individual diver gas requirement calculations, turn
points, reserves, OTUs, CNS clock, etc. calculated manually (not with deco software) using
the TecRec Dive Planning Slate, adequately addressing all points of a Good Divers Main
Objective Is To Live planning.
3. As a team, compare the resulting calculations with the same dive as calculated by desk
top decompression software, find any variations and assess whether these variations reflect
minor differences in rounding, etc., or an error in the team’s calculations.
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Part One, Conduct

1. Divide the class into teams of two to four individuals.
2. Review proper rigging with an already setup kit, including mask, fins,
gauges, exposure suit, deco cylinders, etc. Leave the kit where students can
see it, and refer them to the equipment discussion in the first three chap-
ters of the Tec Deep Diver Manual, as well as Tec 45 Handout 1.
3. Tell the class that, working as teams, they’re to set up their equipment to
the appropriate similar configuration according to your example and what
they’ve previously learned.
• Depending on logistics, you may give this as an assignment to be com-
pleted by a specific time for your evaluation, or you can conduct this as
a session 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
into 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 45 Practical Application I to immediately precede Tec 45
Training Dive One, with time for remediation and adjustments. This gets every-
one’s gear set up for the dive, and assures that team mates are familiar with
each other’s gear.
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Part Two, Conduct

1. Assign each team a Tec 45 level dive to plan using and adequately addressing
all points of A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live dive planning, based on
information you provide.
• Tell divers that the intent of this exercise is to plan an entire technical deep
decompression dive just as they will as certified Tec 45 divers. Explain that they
will be doing this in every practical application session in their training from this
point through Tec Trimix Diver.
• You may use this session to meet the planning requirements for Tec 45 Training
Dive One, with the same teams, equipment, gases (simulated) etc.
• Have students plan for a mission accounting for equipment, environment and
other specifics you provide. Emphasize that this is a team exercise – no one is
successful until everyone on the team is successful.
• Give students the dive depth (max 45 metres/145 feet) and time. They should
plan the dive as a single gas switch (it is recommended that you assign EANx80
or oxygen as the deco gas) using the deco gas for conservatism. Run the numbers
for the depth/time and gases ahead of time to be sure they are planning something
realistic for a Tec 45 diver.
• You may provide a decompression schedule, or you may have them generate one
using decompression software. However, they must calculate everything else by
hand using the TecRec Dive Planning Slate. Encourage team mates to help each
other, but not do it for each other.
• They should have their working and deco SAC rates. Assign rates if necessary.
• The dive plan should cover all aspects of a Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To
Live.
• If divers discover something doesn’t work (e.g., the available cylinders do not
hold enough gas to meet the requirements), they should adjust the plan accord-
ingly (for example, reduce bottom time, use a shallower depth, different gear,
etc.).
• Give ample time for this exercise. Be available to provide guidance and answer
questions.
• When they’re done, review the overall plan and note any additional problems
they may not have thought of. Ask them for solutions to these. Different teams
may have somewhat different plans – that’s fine, provided they reasonably
address all required points.
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2. Have students compare their calculations to those of decompression soft-

ware.
• Note that because the dive is using gas switches for conservatism, the pro-
file will have to be entered manually (otherwise, the program will acceler-
ate decompression, resulting in lower gas requirements, oxygen exposure,
etc.

1. Calculate the student’s bottom (working) and decompression (resting) SAC rates
based on the data gathered during Tec 45 Training Dive One.
2. Working as a team, plan a hypothetical technical dive with a single gas switch made
for additional conservatism (not accelerated decompression) and with not fewer than
three decompression stops, based on information (gases, depths, times, objective, envi-
ronment etc.) provided by the instructor, with individual diver gas requirement calcula-
tions, turn points, reserves, OTUs, CNS clock, etc. calculated manually (not with deco
software) using the TecRec Dive Planning Slate, adequately addressing all points of a
Good Divers Main Objective Is To Live planning.
3. As a team, compare the resulting calculations with the same dive as calculated by
desk top decompression software, find any variations and assess whether these varia-
tions reflect minor differences in rounding, etc., or an error in the team’s calculations.
1. Divers calculate their bottom and deco SAC rates based on the informa-
tion they acquired during Tec 45 Training Dive One.
• Encourage teamwork, but students should determine their SAC rates them-
selves.
• Remind students that even though they have their SAC rates from their Tec
40 training, they need to update their SAC rates whenever their equipment
changes substantially, and to account for changes in fitness and experience.
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2. Assign each team a Tec 45 level dive to plan using accounting for all steps of
the A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live dive planning sequence, based
on information you provide.
• Use a different profile from the one provided in Tec 45 Practical Application
One. It is recommended you assign the dive that students will simulate. during
Tec 45 Training Dive Two. Run the numbers for the depth/time and gases ahead
of time to be sure they are planning something realistic for a Tec 45 diver.
• They should plan the dive as a single gas switch (recommended you assign
EANx80 or oxygen as the deco gas) using the deco gas for conservatism. See Tec
45 Training Dive Two for specific requirements.
• If the dive is a repetitive dive, remind divers to account for that in their decom-
pression planning.
• As before, the intent is for students to plan an entire technical deep decompres-
sion dive just as they will as certified Tec 45 divers. They should require less
assistance than in the previous practical application.
• Have students plan for a mission accounting for equipment, environment and
other specifics you provide. Emphasize that this is a team exercise – no one is
successful until everyone on the team is successful.
• It is recommended that you have them generate the decompression schedule with
decompression software just as they would when planning the dive without
instructor supervision. However, they must calculate everything else by hand
using the TecRec Dive Planning Slate. Encourage team mates to help each other,
but not do it for each other.
Live.
ingly (for example, reduce bottom time, use a shallower depth, different gear,
etc.).
• Give ample time for this exercise. Be available to provide guidance and answer
questions.
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• Have students write (or print and laminate) the decompression schedule for use
during Tec 45 Training Dive Two.
3. Have students compare their calculations to those of decompression software.
• Note that because the dive is using gas switches for conservatism, the profile
will have to be entered manually (otherwise, the program will accelerate
decompression, resulting in lower gas requirements, oxygen exposure, etc.)

1. Working as a team, plan a hypothetical technical dive with a single gas switch made to
accelerate decompression and with not fewer than four decompression stops, based on
information (gases, depths, times, objective, environment etc.) provided by the instructor,
with individual diver gas requirement calculations, turn points, reserves, OTUs, CNS
clock, etc. calculated manually (not with deco software) using the TecRec Dive Planning
Slate, adequately addressing all points of a Good Divers Main Objective Is To Live plan-
ning.
2. As a team, compare the resulting calculations with the same dive as calculated by desk
top decompression software, find any variations and assess whether these variations
reflect minor differences in rounding, etc., or an error in the team’s calculations.
3. Working as a team, plan a single gas decompression dive with a single gas switch
made for conservatism using desk top decompression software based on information
(gases, depths, times, objective, environment etc.) provided by the instructor, with individ-
ual diver gas requirement calculations, turn points, reserves, OTUs, CNS clock, etc., ade-
quately addressing all points of a Good Divers Main Objective Is To Live planning.
Tec 45 Practical Application Three has students planning two dives: an accelerat-
ed decompression dive using the TecRec Diving Planning Slate (calculated manually),
and a single gas decompression dive with a gas switch for conservatism using desk top
decompression software. (You may require manual calculation also, at your discretion).
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It is recommended that these dives be the basis for Tec 45 Training Dives Three and
Four, respectively. If these dives will not be made concurrently, you may split this practical
application into two sessions to make the dive planning part of each dive. You may also
have students plan these dives, and then plan entirely different dives in their entirety for
each of the training dives.
For both dive plans.
• Encourage teamwork, but students should determine their SAC rates themselves.
• If either of these dives will be repetitive dives, remind students to account for
that in their decompression planning
1. Assign each team a Tec 45 level dive to plan for an accelerated decompression
dive with four stops, using and adequately addressing all points of A Good
Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live planning, based on information you provide.
• Use a different profile from the one provided in Tec 45 Practical Application One
or Two. It is recommended you assign the dive that students will simulate. dur-
ing Tec 45 Training Dive Three. Run the numbers for the depth/time and gases
ahead of time to be sure they are planning something realistic for a Tec 45 diver.
• They should plan the dive as a single gas switch ( assign oxygen as the deco gas
for Training Dive Three). See Tec 45 Training Dive Three for specific require-
ments.
• As before, the intent is for students to plan an entire technical deep decompres-
sion dive just as they will as certified Tec 45 divers. They should require less
assistance than in the previous practical application.
• Have students plan for a mission accounting equipment, environment and other
specifics you provide. Emphasize that this is a team exercise – no one is success-
ful until everyone on the team is successful.
• It is recommended that you have them generate the decompression schedule with
decompression software just as they would when planning the dive without
instructor supervision. However, they must calculate everything else by handing
using the TecRec Dive Planning Slate. Encourage team mates to help each other,
but not do it for each other.
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• The dive plan should cover all aspects of a Good Diver’s Main Objective Is
To Live.
• If divers discover something doesn’t work (e.g., the available cylinders do
not hold enough gas to meet the requirements), they should adjust the plan
accordingly (for example, reduce bottom time, shallower depth, different
gear).
• Give ample time for this exercise. Be available to provide guidance and
answer questions.
they may not have thought of. Ask them for solutions to these. Different
teams may have somewhat different plans – that’s fine, provided they rea-
sonably address all required points.
• Have students write (or print and laminate) the decompression schedule for
use during Tec 45 Training Dive Three.
2. Have students compare their calculations to those of decompression soft-
ware.
• Note that because the dive is using gas switches for conservatism, the pro-
file will have to be entered manually (otherwise, the program will accelerate
decompression, resulting in lower gas requirements, oxygen exposure, etc.
3. Assign each team a Tec 45 level dive to plan a single gas decompression
dive with a gas switch for conservatism that adequately addresses all
points of A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live planning, based on
information you provide.
• Divers calculate their heavy exercise SAC rates based on the information
they acquired during Tec 45 Training Dive Three.
• It is recommended you assign the dive to that students will make during Tec
45 Training Dive Four. Teams should plan the dive for your review.
• They should plan the dive as a single gas switch for conservatism. See Tec
45 Training Dive Three for specific requirements.
• As before, the intent is for students to plan an entire technical deep decom-
pression dive just as they will as certified Tec 45 divers. They should require
less assistance than in the previous practical application.
• Have students plan for a mission accounting equipment, environment and
other specifics you provide. Emphasize that this is a team exercise – no one
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is successful until everyone on the team is successful.

• Have them plan the dive with decompression software just as they would when
planning the dive without instructor supervision.
Live.
ingly (for example, reduce bottom time, shallower depth, different gear).
• Give ample time for this. At this point students should be able to do this with lit-
tle assistance, but since this will be a real decompression dive (if used for Dive
Four), expect students to have some additional questions. Be available to provide
guidance and answer questions.
• Have students write (or print and laminate) the decompression schedule for back-
up use during Tec 45 Training Dive Four.
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Tec 45 Training Dives

Tec 45 students come into the course with either of two backgrounds. First,
they may have the Tec 40 certification (or a qualifying certification from another orga-
nization) that they earned using the minimal Tec 40 equipment configuration. Or, they
may have the same certification, but trained in the full standardized technical rig (or
sidemount).
Tec 45 Training Dive One repeats many of the skills learned at the Tec 40 level,
and builds upon them. The purpose of this dive is:
1. To allow you to assess and as necessary, remediate Tec 40 level skills and
over-all diving ability.
2. To acquaint Tec 40 divers who have not previously used the full standardized
rig with the performing skills in that rig (or sidemount).
3. To begin developing skills and procedures that students will develop fully in
the open water portions of the Tec 45 course.
4. To begin developing skills and procedures that students will fully develop at
the Tec 50 level.
Tec 45 Training Dive One is a long dive, but it is quite feasible given the shal-
low depths and large gas supplies used. You can expect to progress more quickly with
students who are already experienced with the standardized technical rig (or side-
mount), whereas plan more time for those who are not.
To successfully complete this training dive, the student must be able to:
1. Working in a team, assemble and inspect the standardized technical diving rig (or
sidemount) including a stage/deco cylinder following the previously described rigging
philosophies and to meet individual/environmental needs.
2. Establish proper weighting for the standardized technical rig (or sidemount) and
exposure suit as worn in the dive environment.
3. Independently don and remove a single deco cylinder at the surface.
4. Descend along a line to the bottom, maintaining control of depth and descent speed
by adjusting buoyancy.
5. Working as a team, perform appropriate bubble checks and descent checks.
6. Swim not less than 18 metres/60 feet while sharing gas via long hose as the receiver.
7. Swim not less than 18 metres/60 feet while sharing gas via long hose as the donor.
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8. As part of a team, properly stage and secure a deco cylinder on the bottom for later
retrieval and use.
9. Perform the gas shutdown drill within 60 seconds (40 seconds in sidemount).
10. Tow a simulated unresponsive, breathing diver horizontally 6 metres/20 feet underwater.
11. As part of a team, retrieve and don a stage decompression cylinder.
12. As part of a team, simulate decompressing on high oxygen EANx/oxygen by ascending
to a shallower depth, NO TOX switching to simulated high oxygen EANx/oxygen and com-
pleting a stop of not less than five minutes, maintaining physical contact with the line, a
wall or the bottom, as needed.
13. As part of a team, simulate a descent in rough or choppy conditions by descending to
the bottom at a controlled rate in water too deep in which to stand, then conducting a bub-
ble check, descent check and an S-drill.
14. Perform a working rate SAC swim by swimming for approximately five minutes at a
level depth, recording the appropriate information for later calculation.
15. In full technical equipment including stage/deco cylinder, demonstrate buoyancy control
by establishing neutral buoyancy with the backup buoyancy system and hovering over the
bottom for not less than one minute.
16. As a team, deploy a lift bag/DSMB from the bottom using the proper technique to avoid
entanglement and maintain control of the bag/DSMB.
17. 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.
18. As a part of a team, 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, and perform four simulated decompression stops for a total of not less than 18
minutes, remaining within .5 metres/1.5 feet of the required stops.
19. 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.
20. While neutrally buoyant at a simulated decompression stop, perform the gas shutdown
drill while maintaining depth within 1 metre/3 feet of the stop depth.
21. Record the appropriate information for later calculation of a deco SAC rate by record-
ing gas use information during a series of simulated decompression stops.
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22. Throughout the dive, demonstrate time/depth and gas supply awareness by writing
the depth and time at each 35 bar/500 psi of back gas consumed.
23. 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.
24. Throughout the dive, respond appropriately to simulated emergencies prompted by
the instructor.
I. Training Dive Standards

A. Tec 45 Training Dive One is conducted in confined water or limited
open water. (See Section Two, Course Standards for definitions of
these.) The maximum depth is 10 metres/30 feet. It is a no decom-
pression dive. It is recommended that the site provide ready access to
water shallow 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 long dive with gas sharing and simulated free
flows. Although it is described as a single dive, it may be appro-
priate to break it into two dives.
2. It is recommended that you use as shallow a depth as possible
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
specific 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 in standardized technical
rig (or sidemount) as worn when making open water technical
decompression dives with Tec 45 limits in the local environment,
including exposure suit and stage/decompression cylinder.
1. The ideal is for the instructor to wear the same kit as students.
2. If a class has sidemount and backmount configurations, for dem-
onstration purposes it is recommended that both configurations
be represented, with the instructor wearing one and a certified
assistant wearing the other.
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D. Gas requirements: Students and staff may use air or enriched air, any suit-
able blend, in sufficient supply to accomplish the dive performance objec-
tives and have free time for experience and practice. It is recommended that
the stage/deco cylinder have a richer EANx blend than the back gas cylin-
ders, but be breathable to the dive’s maximum depth. You will have students
simulate using different EANx blends and pure oxygen.
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)
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.
c. Have students mark their decompression cylinders with the
actual content and max depth, and a simulated content/max
depth (example: AIR, 50 METRES, SIM: OXYGEN, 6
METRES)
d. Tell students that they will simulate deep and shallow areas,
and handle their simulated deco gas accordingly. [Explain the
areas you’ll use as simulated areas.]
e. Students plan the dive based on information you provide
(depth, simulated gases, etc.)
• Students should have turn pressures, deco schedules,
time limits etc. based on the hypothetical dive.
• Tell students they will have to signal you when they
reach any of these limits.
• This planning may be the plan developed during Tec
45 Practical Application One (recommended)
2. Dive site overview
a. Discuss the 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
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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 require-
ment and how you’ll conduct it, including signals you will use,
etc.
a. proper weighting – no deco cylinder
b. don stage/deco cylinder at surface
c. bubble check, descent check
d. out of gas – use long hose as receiver
e. out of gas – use long hose as donor
f. stage deco cylinder
g. gas shutdown drill
h. unresponsive diver tow
i. retrieve and don deco cylinder
j. ascend to “shallow” depth, NO TOX switch, five min-
ute simulated deco stop (physical contact)
k. descent into deep water – bubble check, descent check
and S-drill
l. primary BCD failure, neutral buoyancy over bottom
with backup buoyancy system
m. regulator free flow/valve shut down
n. SAC swim at constant depth
o. deploy lift bag/DSMB
p deploy second lift bag/DSMB (spilled bag scenario)
q. simulated four stop, neutrally buoyant decompression
(NO TOX gas switch at 3rd stop, total deco time 18
minutes)
r. gas shutdown drill while neutrally buoyant
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s. SAC deco – during simulated decompression stop

t. remove stage/deco cylinder in water too deep in which to
stand
u. recheck weight with near empty cylinders
v. gas/time/depth awareness
4. Review hand signals, emergency protocols, descent and ascent proce-
dures, entry and exit procedures and any final details
a. Predive check – technical level using checklists.
b. It’s recommended that you spot check everyone’s gear after it
is donned.
III. Tec 45 Training Dive One – suggested sequence

A. Entry – into water shallow enough 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
3. Don stage/deco cylinder at the surface
4. Bubble check at surface
B. Descent to insensitive bottom (limited open water)
1. Students perform descent check; check each other for loose gear,
etc.
a. It is recommended that you secretly assign a student to have a
minor gear problem that should get caught by the descent
check.
2. Position class for skills.
C. Dive skills –instructor demos each as necessary, then has students perform as
briefed.
1. Out of gas – long hose gas sharing
a. Instructor chooses a receiver and a donor.
b. The team swims 18 metres/60 feet (circle or pattern) sharing
gas via long hose.
c. Donor and receiver switch roles.
d. Remind students that the receiver leads.
2. Stage decompression cylinder – as a team, students stage and secure
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deco cylinders on the bottom in simulated deep (below the maximum

depth for the gas) water, confirming hoses are tucked and valves
closed.
3. Gas shutdown drill – within 60 seconds (40 seconds in sidemount)
4. Unresponsive diver tow – simulates assisting an unresponsive diver at
depth
a. Instructor demonstrates.
b. Instructor chooses “victim” and “rescuer.”
c. Rescuer establishes neutral buoyancy for self and victim and
then tows horizontally 6 metres/20 feet while holding the vic-
tim’s regulator in place and controlling the victim’s buoyancy.
d. Divers switch roles.
5. Retrieve and don deco cylinders – teams retrieve and replace their
deco cylinders
a. It is recommended that before the dive, you assign a student to
“accidentally” switch immediately after donning.
b. Team mates should respond by providing long hose and pulling
deco reg from diver’s mouth (if necessary).
c. If team mates don’t catch it, point it out to them.
6. Ascend to “shallow” depth, NO TOX switch, five minute simulated
deco stop (physical contact)
a. Students ascend as a team, NO TOX gas switch and simulate
five minutes of decompression.
b. Physical contact allowed; students may be on a line, against a
wall or on the bottom.
c. Remind students of proper positioning.
7. Teams surface
a. If desired/needed, this is a good place for a break, refill cylin-
ders etc.
b. From this point, the team will simulate an extended decompres-
sion dive starting with conditions too rough for an adequate
bubble check at the surface.
c. Remind students you expect them to carry out routine proce-
dures without prompting.
8. Teams descend to bottom in water too deep in which to stand
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a. Divers stay together and control their descents.

b. At the bottom, the team conducts a bubble check, a descent
check and carries out S-drills, all divers as donor and receiver.
c. Deco cylinders remain on divers.
9. Neutral buoyancy with simulated failed primary BCD
a. Completely deflate primary BCD.
b. Establish neutral buoyancy with backup system.
c. Hover for at least one minute over bottom without kicking
or sculling.
d. After exercise, students completely deflate backup BCD sys-
tem and return to primary system.
10. Regulator free flow/valve shut down – instructor simulates a free
flow regulator on each diver; the diver switches second stages (if
necessary) and shuts down the affected regulator
a. Have students return to the primary long hose after the drill
and reopen the valve.
b. Confirm the valve is open.
11. SAC swim at constant depth – in teams, divers swim at a constant
rate and depth for approximately five minutes recording data for bot-
tom SAC calculations.
12. Deploy lift bag/DSMB – within team, one diver deploys a lift bag/
DSMB using proper technique to avoid entanglement and to control
bag/DSMB
13. Spilled bag scenario, second lift bag/DSMB – team mate sends sec-
ond bag/DSMB up the line of the first bag.
14. Simulated four stop, neutrally buoyant decompression with NO
TOX gas switch and SAC deco – students ascend the lift bag/DSMB
line, reeling in line to designated stop depth.
a. Suggested actual stop depth is 1.2 metres/4 feet; in limited
open water, it may be possible to simulate using the last two
actual stop depths.
b. Remind students to use neutral buoyancy to remain within .5
metres/1.5 feet of stop depth.
c. To simulate stop depth changes, have students re-descend and
then ascend to “next” stop.
d. Students make NO TOX gas switch while maintaining depth;
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team mates may assist each other.

e. Students will gather information for later calculation of
deco SAC rate.
f. Suggested deco schedule:
Simulated depth time
12 m/40 ft 1 min
9 m/30 ft 3 min
6 m/20 ft 5 min – NO TOX gas switch
5 m/15 ft 9 min – SAC deco information and
gas shutdown drill
g. After completing decompression, team ascends slowly to
surface in water too deep in which to stand, as they
would on a real open water tec dive.
15. Gas shutdown drill – during deco, students control depth using
buoyancy only and perform a gas shutdown drill while remain-
ing within 1 metre/3 feet of stop depth; no time limit.
16. Students remove deco cylinders and exit (deep water exit rec-
ommended).
a. If necessary, before exiting, have students recheck their
weight requirements with near empty cylinders and no
stage/deco cylinder.
17. Gas/time/depth awareness – assign divers to write down the
depth and time for each 35 bar/500 psi of back gas used. Divers
should also signal the instructor when the team reaches the turn
pressure or time limit that they planned if this were a real
decompression dive.
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 hap-
pened, mistakes, what worked, what didn’t, what they learned, etc.
Comment and fill in missing information as necessary, but have stu-
dents critique themselves constructively while you guide the process.
B. Confirm that all divers have their time/depth/pressure information, and
their SAC swim and deco data.
C. Divers disassemble and stow equipment.
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D. Students log the dive for your signature.

E. Remind students of assignments/tasks before the next scheduled meeting
(knowledge development, etc.)

1. Working in a team, plan a simulated decompression dive with a gas switch for added
conservatism based on information (simulated depth, bottom time, gases etc.) provided by
the instructor.
2. Working in a team, assemble and inspect the standardized technical diving rig (or side-
mount) including a stage/deco cylinder following the previously described rigging philoso-
phies and to meet individual/environmental needs.
3. Independently don and remove a stage/deco cylinder at the surface in water in which it is
too deep to stand.
4. As part of a team, conduct a bubble check at the surface or just below the surface.
5. As part of a team, conduct a descent check on the bottom.
6. Underwater, properly stage a stage/deco cylinder for later retrieval and use.
7. Perform the gas shutdown drill within 60 seconds (40 in sidemount).
8. Swim not less than 18 metres/60 feet with no mask on while sharing gas via long hose as
the receiver.
9. Respond properly to impromptu emergency drills based on previously learned skills pre-
sented by the instructor.
10. Underwater, retrieve and don a stage/deco cylinder.
11. As part of team, deploy a lift bag/DSMB and ascend along its line conducting a simulat-
ed decompression while neutrally buoyant.
12. As part of a team while maintaining stop depth during a simulated decompression (plus
or minus 1 metre/3 feet) perform a NO TOX gas switch at the first stop at which the gas is
breathable (simulated).
13. After an interval breathing from a deco cylinder designated by the instructor, or at 20
minutes (whichever is less) during a simulated decompression, conduct an air break, then
NO TOX switch back to the deco cylinder and complete the decompression.
14. While neutrally buoyant at a simulated decompression stop, perform the gas shutdown
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drill while maintaining depth within 1 metre/3 feet of the stop depth.
15. Demonstrate gas/time/depth awareness throughout the dive by a)signaling the
instructor and team mates upon reaching the agreed turn point of technical dive plan
(not actual dive plan) and b) writing the depth, time and SPG reading at each 12 min-
utes throughout the dive.

A. Tec 45 Training Dive Two is conducted in open water. The mini-
mum depth is 12 metres/40 feet and the maximum depth is 18
metres/60 feet. It is a no decompression dive that simulates a
decompression dive.
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 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 in standardized technical
rig (or sidemount) appropriate for the local environment, including
exposure suit and stage/decompression cylinder.
2. If a class has sidemount and backmount configurations, for dem-
onstration purposes it is recommended that both configurations
be represented, 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, in sufficient supply to accomplish the dive performance
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, but that all cylinders are breathable to the dive’s
maximum depth. You will have students simulate using different EANx
blends and pure oxygen.
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A. Predive briefing
1. Students plan a decompression dive within Tec 45 limits using
EANx/oxygen for added conservatism based on information you
provide (depth, bottom and deco gases, etc.). Tec 45 Practical
Application Two may be the planning session this dive.
a. Students should have turn pressures, deco schedules, time
limits etc. based on the hypothetical dive.
b. Tell students they will have to signal you when they reach any
of these limits.
2. Students set up their rigs, but do not yet don exposure suits (gear may
already be set up from the Practical Application)
labels, etc.
depth (simulated oxygen recommended, example: AIR, 50
METRES, SIM: OXYGEN, 6 METRES) based on the simu-
lated dive.
and handle their simulated deco gas accordingly. [Explain the
areas or depths you’ll use as simulated deep and shallow
areas; during decompression you can use real depths with
simulated gases; for example, air simulated as oxygen -divers
should not breath it deeper than 6 metres/20 feet. If the site
allows, it is recommended that simulated bottom depth be 30
metres/100 feet or deeper, then have students decompress at
the real stop depths, with a switch to simulated oxygen at 6
metres/20 feet.]
e. As appropriate, remind students that the actual bottom time
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may be longer than the simulated bottom time (but with-

in no stop limits) if necessary to accomplish all skills.
a. Discuss the 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. Depth/time limits – Students planned a simulated dive; establish
the real limits for the dive.
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. Students will need the simulated decompression schedule on
their slates, because this is a no stop dive and their dive comput-
ers will not provide the schedule.
4. Skill overview – describe each skill, the performance require-
ment and how you’ll conduct it, including signals you will use,
etc.
a. don stage/deco cylinder at surface
b. bubble check
c. descent check
f. stage deco cylinder
g. gas shutdown drill
h. no mask, long hose gas sharing
i. free time as time allows -- surprises
j. retrieve and don deco cylinder
k. deploy lift bag/DSMB and ascent
l. simulated neutrally buoyant decompression with NO
TOX gas switch
m. air break
n. neutrally buoyant gas shutdown drill
o. remove stage/deco cylinder in water too deep to stand
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in
p. gas/time/depth awareness
4. Review hand signals, emergency protocols, descent and ascent proce-
dures, entry and exit procedures and any final details
is donned.
III. Tec 45 Training Dive Two – suggested sequence

A. Entry – appropriate for environment (no deco cylinder at this point).
1. Divers check their weight (if necessary, no deco cylinder)
2. Don stage/deco cylinder at the surface in water too deep in which
to stand
3. Bubble check at surface (just below the surface is acceptable if con-
ditions require)
B. Descent to insensitive bottom
etc.
a. It is recommended that you secretly assign a student (to have
a minor gear problem that should get caught by the descent
check (a different student and problem from Dive One).
C. Dive skills –instructor demos each as necessary, then has students perform as
briefed.
1. Stage deco cylinders
a. Team stages together, confirms valves are closed and cylin-
ders secured
2. Gas shutdown drill
a. One at a time with each student; 60 seconds (40 with side-
mount)
3. No mask, long hose gas sharing
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a. Deploy a line 18 metres/60 feet across clear bottom for

students to follow.
b. Designate donor and receiver.
c. On your signal, receiver removes mask, signals out-of-
gas. Donor provides long hose.
d. After getting settled, divers follow line (receiver leads) to
the end.
e. Receiver replaces and clears mask.
f. Switch roles and repeat.
4. Free time – surprises
a. Tell students that they will be able to explore the imme-
diate area as teams (set limits as necessary to maintain
control) until reaching the required ascent time or gas
pressures (actual).
b. You may signal or use a slate to present problems for
them to deal with as they’ve trained – anything they’ve
learned is fair game.
5. Retrieve and don deco cylinder
6. Team deploys a lift bag/DSMB and ascends along the line
7. Simulated neutrally buoyant decompression with NO TOX
gas switch
a. Students decompress according to the planned schedule.
b. Remind students to stay plus or minus .5 metres/1.5 feet
of the stop depth and generally horizontal, stop depth at
chest level.
c. Have students NO TOX switch to their simulated EANx/
oxygen at the appropriate depth (1 metre/3 feet variation
acceptable during switch).
8. Air break
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a. Have students practice switching to back gas for two-three

minutes, then NO TOX switching back to deco gas after a set
interval using deco gas.
b. Remind students that the typical break is every 20 minutes,
but more frequently is acceptable.
c. Remind students that if following a decompression table,
break time does not count as deco time.
9. Neutrally buoyant gas shutdown drill
a. During the simulated decompression, have students conduct
the gas shutdown drill using only buoyancy control to remain
within 1 metre/3 feet of stop depth.
10. Remove stage/deco cylinder in water too deep in which to stand
a. After completing the simulated decompression, teams surface
together.
b. Remove stage/deco cylinders and exit the water as appropriate
for the environment.
11. Gas/time/depth awareness
a. Have students signal you and team mates when they reach an
agreed turn point based on the simulated dive plan.
b. Students record the depth, time and SPG reading at each 12
minutes throughout the dive regardless of what else is going
on (other than a real emergency). Team mates may assist each
other with this task.
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.
B. Confirm that all divers have their time/depth/pressure information.
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1. Working in a team, plan a simulated, accelerated four stop decompression dive (sin-
gle gas switch) based on information (simulated depth, bottom time, gases, etc.) pro-
vided by the instructor.
2. Working in a team, assemble and inspect the standardized technical diving rig (or
sidemount) including a stage/deco cylinder, following the previously described rigging
philosophies and to meet individual/environmental needs.
3. Independently don a stage/deco cylinder at the surface in water too deep in which
to stand.
7. Swim at an elevated pace for two to four minutes at a level depth, noting time, depth
and air pressure information for determining a heavy work SAC rate.
8. Respond properly to impromptu emergency drills based on previously learned skills,
as presented by the instructor.
9. As part of team, deploy a lift bag/DSMB and ascend along its line to the first stop of
a simulated accelerated decompression while neutrally buoyant.
10. Demonstrate managing a drift decompression using a lift bag/DSMB after primary
BCD failure by ascending, establishing neutral buoyancy and beginning a simulated
accelerated neutrally buoyant decompression with a deepest stop no shallower than 12
metres/40 feet, then simulating primary BCD failure by switching to the backup buoy-
ancy system at 10 metres/30 feet, using the backup buoyancy system for the rest of the
dive, including making a NO TOX gas switch to simulated oxygen at 6 metres/20 feet,
air breaks, and following the assigned deco schedule while not varying from the stop
depths by more than .5 metres/1.5 feet.
11. After an interval breathing from a deco cylinder, as designated by the instructor, or
at 20 minutes (whichever is less) during a simulated decompression, conduct an air
break, then NO TOX switch back to the deco cylinder and complete the decompression.
12. During a simulated neutrally buoyant decompression, using the backup buoyancy
control system alone, perform the gas shutdown drill without varying from stop depth
more than 1 metre/3 feet (no time limit).
13. During a simulated neutrally buoyant accelerated decompression dive, simulate
switching or actually switch (depending upon gases/computers used) a multigas com-
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puter or computers as appropriate for NO TOX gas switches and air breaks.
14. While using the backup buoyancy system to maintain positive buoyancy at the surface,
independently remove a stage/deco cylinder in water too deep in which to stand.
15. Demonstrate gas/time/depth awareness throughout the dive by a)signaling the instructor
and team mates upon reaching the agreed turn point of the technical dive plan (not actual
dive plan) and b) writing the depth, time and SPG reading each 15 minutes throughout the
dive.

A. Tec 45 Training Dive Three is conducted in open water. The minimum
depth is 18 metres/60 feet and the maximum depth is 30 metres/100 feet.
It is a no decompression dive that simulates an accelerated decompres-
sion dive with at least four stops, with a total simulated decompression
time of not less than 18 minutes.
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
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 in standardized technical rig
(or sidemount) appropriate for local environment, including exposure
suit and stage/decompression cylinder.
2. If a class has sidemount and backmount configurations, for demon-
stration purposes it is recommended that both configurations be rep-
resented, 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, in sufficient supply to accomplish the dive performance objec-
tives and have free time for experience and practice. It is recommended that
the stage/deco cylinder have a richer EANx blend than the back gas cylin-
ders, but that all cylinders are breathable to the dive’s maximum depth. You
will have students simulate using pure oxygen at 6 metres/20 feet. The
NO TOX switch must be at 6 metres/20 feet to meet this dive’s performance
requirements.
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A. Predive briefing
1. Students plan a decompression dive with Tec 45 limits using
oxygen to accelerate decompression from 6 metres/20 feet to
the surface based on information you provide (depth, bottom
and deco gases, etc.), with a total simulated decompression time
of not less than 18 minutes. Tec 45 Practical Application Three
may be the planning session this dive.
limits etc. based on the hypothetical dive.
b. Tell students they will have to signal you when they reach
any of these limits.
2. Students set up their rigs, but do not yet don exposure suits (gear
may already be set up from the Practical Application)
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.
depth (simulated oxygen, example: EANx36, 28 METRES,
SIM: OXYGEN, 6 METRES) based on the simulated dive.
and handle their simulated deco gas accordingly. [Explain
the areas or depths you’ll use as simulated deep and shal-
low areas; during decompression you can use real depths
with simulated gases; for example, air simulated as oxygen,
divers should not breath deeper than 6 metres/20 feet. Have
students decompress at the real stop depths, with a switch
to simulated oxygen at 6 metres/20 feet.]
e. As appropriate, remind students that the actual bottom time
may be longer than the simulated bottom time (but within
no stop limits) if necessary to accomplish all skills.
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features, etc.
B. Dive overview
1. Depth/time limits – Students planned a simulated dive; establish the
real limits for the dive.
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. Students will need the simulated decompression schedule on their
slates, because this is a no stop dive and their dive computers will not
provide the schedule.
4. Skill overview – describe each skill, the performance requirement
and how you’ll conduct it, including signals you will use, etc.
b. bubble check
c. descent check
d. gas shutdown drill
e. accelerated SAC swim
f. free time as time allows -- surprises
g. deploy lift bag/DSMB and ascent
h. begin simulated neutrally buoyant decompression
i. simulated primary BCD failure at 10 metres/30 feet; main-
tain stop depth and switch to backup system for remain-
der of dive
j. NO TOX gas switch to simulated oxygen at 6 metres/20
feet
k. switching multigas computers
l. air breaks
m. neutrally buoyant gas shutdown drill at last stop (5
metres/15 feet or 3 metres/10 feet as planned)
n. remove stage/deco cylinder in water too deep in which to
stand
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o. gas/time/depth awareness
4. Review hand signals, emergency protocols, descent and ascent pro-
cedures, entry and exit procedures and any final details.
is donned.
III. Tec 45 Training Dive Three – suggested sequence

A. Entry – appropriate for environment (no deco cylinder at this point).
1. Divers check their weight (if necessary, no deco cylinder).
2. Don stage/deco cylinder at the surface in water too deep in which
to stand.
3. Bubble check at surface (just below the surface is acceptable if
conditions require)
B. Descent to insensitive bottom
etc.
a. It is recommended that you secretly assign a student (to have
a minor gear problem that should get caught by the descent
check (different student and problem from Dive One).
C. Dive skills –instructor demos each as necessary, then has students perform
as briefed.
mount)
2. Accelerated SAC swim
a. Have students swim, in teams, along a pattern at an elevated
rate for two to four minutes recording SAC data.
b. Remind students not to overexert – they should swim faster
than they normally would, but not get out of breath.
c. The slowest team member sets the pace.
d. Remind students that at the slightest indication that they may
be getting out of breath (overexerted), they should stop and
rest.
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3. Free time – surprises

a. Tell students that they will be able to explore the immediate
area as teams (set limits as necessary to maintain control)
until reaching the required ascent time or gas pressures (actu-
al).
b. You may signal or use a slate to present problems for them to
deal with as they’ve trained – anything they’ve learned is fair
game.
4. The team deploys lift bag/DSMB and ascends along the line,
begins simulated neutrally buoyant decompression.
5. Simulated primary BCD failure at 10 metres/30 feet; teams main-
tain the stop depth and switch to backup system for remainder of
dive.
a. Students switch to backup buoyancy system and completely
exhaust the primary system. Students continue to use their
backup buoyancy system for all subsequent drills and
exercises. The primary system remains connected so it is
available in a real emergency.
b. Remind students to stay plus or minus .5 metres/1.5 feet of
stop depth and generally horizontal, stop depth at chest level.
c. Deco schedule continues.
6. NO TOX gas switch to simulated oxygen at 6 metres/20 feet
a. Students NO TOX switch to simulated oxygen while using
their backup buoyancy systems, staying plus or minus .5
metres/1.5 feet of stop depth.
7. Switching multigas computers
a. Remind students that this is a simulated accelerated decom-
pression dive, so they must switch their multigas computers
whenever they change gases – NO TOX gas switches and air
breaks.
b. If possible, students actually switch their computers (for
example, they use EANx32 to simulate oxygen; during the
dive, they switch their computers to EANx32 when they NO
TOX switch at 6 metres/20 feet).
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c. If actually switching isn’t feasible (students using single

gas computers or same back gas and deco gas), students
simulate switching by pressing their dive computers’
faces. (The intent is to get students in the habit).
8. Air breaks
a. Have students practice switching to back gas for two-
three minutes, then NO TOX switching back to deco gas
after a set interval using deco gas.
b. Remind students that the typical break is every 20 min-
utes, but more frequently is acceptable.
c. Remind students that air break time does not count as
deco time when following tables. With multigas comput-
ers, switch the computer to switch to air (or EANx used
as break gas) during the break.
9. Neutrally buoyant gas shutdown drill at last stop (5
metres/15 feet or 3 metres/10 feet as planned)
a. No time limit.
b. Plus or minus 1 metre/3 feet of stop depth.
10. Remove stage/deco cylinder in water too deep in which to
stand.
a. After completing the simulated decompression, teams
surface together and establish positive buoyancy using
backup buoyancy control systems
b. Students make an approximately 5 minute “surface
safety stop” using only their backup buoyancy sys-
tems to remain at the surface
c. Teams remove stage/deco cylinders and exit the water as
appropriate for the environment
11. Gas/time/depth awareness
a. Have students signal you and team mates when they
reach an agreed turn point based on the simulated dive
plan.
b. Students record the depth, time and SPG reading at each
15 minutes throughout the dive regardless of what else is
going on (other than a real emergency). Team mates may
assist each other with this task.
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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.
B. Confirm that all divers have their time/depth/pressure information.

1. Working in a team, plan and execute an actual decompression dive with a single gas
switch for added conservatism based on dive site information and limits provided by the
instructor and other necessary variables, within Tec 45 limits.
2. Working in a team, assemble and inspect the standardized technical diving rig (or side-
mount) including a stage/deco cylinder, following the previously described rigging philoso-
phies and to meet individual/environmental needs.
3. Independently don and remove a stage/deco cylinder at the surface in water too deep in
which to stand.
7. Demonstrate gas/time/depth awareness throughout the dive by signaling the instructor
and team mates upon reaching an agreed turn point of technical dive plan.
8. As part of a team, execute the decompression as planned, following a dive computer set
for a single gas and/or tables generated with desk top decompression software.
9. Properly respond to and deal with any simulated or actual problems that occur during
the dive.
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
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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.

A. Tec 45 Training Dive Four is conducted in open water. The minimum
depth is 27 metres/90 feet and the maximum depth is 45 metres/145 feet.
It is a decompression dive with a single gas switch to provide added
conservatism.
B. Ratios – 3 students to 1 instructor, with 1 more student 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 in standardized technical rig
(or sidemount) appropriate for the local environment, including expo-
sure suit and stage/decompression cylinder.
2. If a class has sidemount and backmount configurations, for demon-
stration purposes it is recommended that both configurations be rep-
resented, with the instructor wearing one and a certified assistant
wearing the other.
D. Gas requirements: Students and staff may use air, enriched air and/or oxy-
gen, in sufficient supply to accomplish the dive performance objectives.

A. Predive briefing
1. Students plan a decompres-
sion dive with Tec 45 limits
using EANx or oxygen to
make decompression more
conservative. Tec 45 Practical
Application Three may be the
planning session this dive.
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limits etc. for the dive.
b. Tell students this is an actual decompression dive that should
be planned and conducted as appropriate and realistic for the
local environment.
c. There are no minimum or maximum decompression time
requirements, other than being within the normal gas volume,
oxygen exposure, etc. Guide students to account for exposure
duration.
d. There is no requirement for decompression methodology. It is
recommended that students use whatever is standard practice
in the local area (drift deco, hanging on a line, deco on the
bottom, etc.)
2. Students set up their rigs, but do not yet don exposure suits.
labels, etc.
actual content and max depth.
features, etc.
B. Dive overview
1. Depth/time limits.
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. Even if diving two multigas computers, car-
rying a copy of the program-generated deco schedule (or laminated
table) is advised for emergency uses. Get them in the habit of doing
this for each dive.
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3. Students will use their dive computers for their decompression

schedule. Multigas computers may be set for the deco gases to
allow accelerated decompression in an emergency, but divers
should plan to decompress with them set for bottom gas .
4. Skill/dive overview – describe each skill, the performance
requirement and how you’ll conduct it, including signals you
will use, etc., as needed.
b. bubble check
c. descent check
d. gas shutdown drill
e. gas/time/depth awareness
i. ascent and decompression
j. NO TOX gas switch
k. problems
4. Review hand signals, emergency protocols, descent and ascent
procedures, entry and exit procedures and any final details
b. It’s recommended that you spot check everyone’s gear
after it is donned.
III. Tec 45 Training Dive Four – suggested se-

quence
A. Entry – appropriate for environment (no deco cylinder
at this point).
1. Divers check their weight (if necessary, no deco
cylinder)
2. Don stage/deco cylinder at the surface – as
appropriate for the environment.
3. Bubble check at surface (just below the surface
or combined with descent check at bottom is
acceptable if conditions require).
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B. Descent
1. Students perform descent check on insensitive bottom; check
each other for loose gear, etc.
C. Dive skills – no new skills; there should not be a need to demo.
mount)
2. Tour for fun – surprises/
a. Tell students that they will be able to explore the immediate
area as teams (set limits as necessary to maintain control)
until reaching the required ascent time or gas pressures (actu-
al).
b. You may signal or use a slate to present minor problems for
them to deal with as they’ve trained – anything they’ve
learned is fair game.
c. However, explain that because this is an actual decompression
dive, staged problems will be minimized. A “serious” situa-
tion (such as diver with a freeflowing second stage) will be a
genuine emergency – they should simply respond as they’ve
been trained and abort the dive.
4. Gas/time/depth awareness – students should signal you and their
team upon reaching any turn point; everyone is expected to remain
within the planned limits
5. Ascent and decompression
a. Technique as appropriate for the local area.
b. Contingency situations handled as planned.
c. Remind students to use good decompression technique.
6. NO TOX gas switch
a. Students NO TOX switch to a higher oxygen EANx, or oxy-
gen, as planned.
7. Air breaks
a. Air breaks may not be necessary depending upon the decom-
pression duration.
b. You may have students practice switching to back gas for
two-three minutes, then NO TOX switching back to deco gas
after a set interval using deco gas.
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c. Remind students that air break time does not count as

deco time when following tables. Remind students to
switch multigas computers to air (or EANx used as break
gas) during the break.
8. Remove stage/deco cylinder in water too deep in which to
stand.
a. After completing the decompression, teams surface
together.
b. Teams remove stage/deco cylinders and exit the water as
appropriate for the environment
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 hap-
pened, mistakes, what worked, what didn’t, what they learned, etc.
Comment and fill in missing information as necessary, but have stu-
dents critique themselves constructively while you guide the process.
B. Divers disassemble and stow equipment.
C. Students log the dive for your signature.
D. Remind students of assignments/tasks before the next scheduled meet-
ing (knowledge development, etc.)
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Instructor Guide Section five: Tec45

Five: Tec 45 Standards and

The Tec 45 course provides flexibility in scheduling knowledge development, practical

Any knowledge development sections, practical applications or training dives

Tec 45 Knowledge Development One

Tec 45 Key Standards

Training Dive One

Training Dive Two

Training Dive Three

Training Dive Four

Tec 45 Knowledge Development

The following knowledge development outlines provide the course content in

Tec 45 Knowledge Development One

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

d. Students sign the Tec Diver Statement of Understanding and

Manual Supported Content

You should also be able to:

• Unrestrained or “bungeed” BCDs – Bungeed wings have

cylinder to hold it close to the diver’s body. These should

• Disadvantages: must have a harness system that accepts one;

3. Loss of weights can be a significant hazard when wearing lightweight rigs

entanglement hazard. (Note: you can often mount two gauges on a

c. Z-knife – a small hook with blade especially suited to cutting fine

6. Use a breakaway clip on anything you may need to discard or release in

a. Example: Using an oxygen service regulator on a standard air cylinder – the

c. You don’t need to calculate oxygen exposure manually as you do

Other Delivery Content, Tec 45-1

III. Equipment Issue Discussions and Philosophies

3. There is a high likelihood of surfacing with omitted decompression if the

b. If the DSMB/lift bag is used for backup buoyancy, then it is not

Exercise, Other Delivery Content, Tec 45-1

IV. Gas Planning

gas required = SAC X min X conversion factor

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

Examples: [Have students complete the appropriate portions of the

Total Air = 1200 + 112 + 90 = 1402; 1402 X 1.5 = 2103 litres

Air = 5280 + 355 = 5635; 5635 X 1.5 =8452

Total Air = 45 + 4 + 3 = 52; 52 X 1.5 = 78 cubic feet

Air = 176 + 12=188; 188 X 1.5=282

[Work examples based on tables generated with software you’ll

b. Proper training allows you to function properly with some narcosis

allowable OTUs for the Mission. Example: Five days div-

metres and oxygen at 3 metres as a decompression “pad” following the air-

Total allowed for 3 days = 1860

Total allowed for 3 days = 1860

3. Calculating the “CNS clock”

4. Oxygen exposure and ideal enriched air blend

and OTU limits. Using EANx32, however, 45 minutes at 21m/70ft yields

d. You apply your credit several ways:

d. Gas flexibility -- since the computer assumes you’re decoing

[Note: Go through the following profile with students, having them

EANx26 = 4180+228+106=4514 l; 4514 X 1.5 = 6771 litres

EANx26=176+9.6+4.3=189.9 cf; 189.9 X 1.5=285 cf

V. Turn Around Points and Environmental Variables

A. Turn around points

d. Depth/time combinations -- the time turn around point varies with

c. Consult local tec divers. Local methodologies evolve based on local

A. More tec diving hand signals [Demonstrate the following:]

Tec 45 Knowledge Development Two