PADI TEC 45 Course Cozumel

The PADI TecRec Tec 45 is the second course in the series of PADI’s TecRec courses. It builds upon the knowledge and skills earned in the Tec 40 course and introduces you to diving at depths beyond the limits of recreational diving.

Dealing with increased oxygen exposures, planning dives with accelerated decompression and handling greater decompression requirements are part of this course.

This course qualifies you to perform stage decompression dives to a maximum depth of 45m / 145ft using one decompression gas up to pure oxygen for either conservatism or accelerated decompression and it is a prerequisite to continue training on to the PADI Tec 50 course.

Knowledge Development:

• Dive planning and the use of up to date decompression software to plan your deco dives.
• Practical sessions were you learn different styles technical diving gear and how it all goes together.
• Four open water training dives where you run simulations and master skills before utilizing them on decompression dives.

TEC 45 TRAINING DIVE 1

Key Standards
Environment: Confined water or limited open water.
Maximum Depth: 10 metres/30 feet
Decompression: No Stop Only
Ratio: 6:1, 8:1 with one or more certified assistants

Skills
To successfully complete this training dive, students 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 meters/60 feet while sharing gas via long hose as the receiver.
7. Swim not less than 18 meters/60 feet while sharing gas via long hose as the donor.
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 meters/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 shallower depth, NO TOX switching to simulated high oxygen EANx/oxygen and completing 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 bubble check, descent 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, simulate a partially failed 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 simulate 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 simulate 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 recording gas use information during a series of simulated decompression stops.
22. Throughout the dive, demonstrate time/depth and gas supply awareness by writing the depth and time at each 35 bar/500psi/ or 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 has planned were this really a decompression dive.
24. Throughout the dive, respond appropriately to simulated emergencies prompted by the instructor.

TEC 45 TRAINING DIVE 2

Key Standards
Environment: Conducted in open water
Minimum Depth: 12 metres/40 feet
Maximum Depth: 18 metres/60 feet
Decompression: No decompression dive that simulates a decompression dive
Ratio: 4:1, 6:1 with one or more certified assistants

Skills
To successfully complete this training dive, students must be able to:

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 sidemount) including a stage/deco cylinder following the previously rigging philosophies 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 presented by the instructor.
10. Underwater, retrieve and don a stage/deco cylinder.
11. As part of a team, deploy a lift bag/DSMB and ascend along its line conducting a simulated decompression while neutrally buoyancy.
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 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 minutes throughout the dive.

TEC 45 TRAINING DIVE 3

Key Standards
Environment: Conducted in open water
Minimum Depth: 18 metres/60 feet
Maximum Depth: 30 metres/100 feet
Decompression: No decompression dive that simulates an accelerated decompression dive
with at least four stops with a total simulated decompression time of not less than 18
minutes.
Ratio: 4:1, 6:1 with one or more certified assistants

Skills
To successfully complete this training dive, students must be able to:

1. Working in a team, plan a simulated, accelerated four stop decompression dive (single gas switch) 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 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.
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. Perform the gas shutdown drill within 60 seconds (40 in sidemount)
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 a 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 drifting 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 not shallower than 12 metres/40 feet, then simulating primary BCD failure by switching to the backup buoyancy 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 .5metres/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 NOTOX switch back to the deco cylinder and complete the decompression.
12. During a simulated neutrally buoyant accelerated decompression dive, simulated switching or actually switch (depending upon gases/computers used) a multigas computer or computers as appropriate for NO TOX gas switches and air breaks.
13. During a simulated neutrally buoyant decompression dive, simulate switching or actually switch (depending upon gases/computers used) a multigas computer 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. 

TEC 45 TRAINING DIVE 4

Key Standards
Environment: Conducted in open water
Minimum Depth: 27 metres/90 feet
Maximum Depth: 45 metres/145 feet
Decompression: Decompression dive with a single gas switch.
Ratio: 3:1, 4:1 with one or more certified assistants.

Skills
To successfully complete this training dive, students must be able to:

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 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.
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. Perform the gas shutdown drill within 60 seconds (40 in sidemount).
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.

• Double cylinder of at least 12 liter/70 cubic feet each, with isolator manifold. The isolator manifold is not required for divers using sidemount configuration. Divers known to have a very low gas consumption rate may, at the instructor’s discretion, use lower capacity cylinders than specified here, provided the diver will have ample gas to assist a team mate in a gas sharing emergency.

   

• Primary and secondary regulators for back mounted double manifolds, one with two meter/seven foot hose for air sharing and one with SPG. Note: In sidemount configuration, one reulator must have the two meter/seven foot hose, and both regulators must have an SPG.

   

• Stage/decompression cylinder(s) (1 for Tec 45, 2 for Tec 50) with regulator and SPG, with proper labels/markings.

   

• Tec diving BCD(s) and harness (backmount or sidemount)

   

• Two multigas enriched air capable dive computers, or one multigas enriched air computer and a back up single gas computer with dive tables, or one single gas enriched air computer and a backup timer and depth gauge with dive tables.

   

• Exposure suit appropriate for environment and dive duration (if students will use dry suits, they should be trained/experienced in their use in recreational diving prior to using them for Tec training or diving).

   

• Weight system (if needed). Note: Students and staff should weight for the contingency of decompressing with near-empty primary cylinders and empty or absent stage/deco cylinders.

   

• Inflatable signal tube, whistle and/or other visual and audible surface signaling devices. Note that a sausage type DSMB may double for the inflatable signal tube.

   

• Reel and lift bag (bright yellow preferred) or DSMB. A suitable DSMB has sufficient buoyancy to help steady a diver during drifting decompression, and is unlikely to spill when deployed from the underwater.

   

• Knife/cutting device and back up

   

• Slate

   

• Backup mask

   

• Compass

   

• Lights

   

• Backup buoyancy control. The student must have a reliable means for controlling buoyancy and maintaining decompression stops in midwater with a failed primary BCD. This is usually accomplished with a backup BCD (double wings) or, when using light weight cylinders, the use of a dry suit or lift bag/DSMB is permitted.