PADI TEC 50 Course Cozumel

The PADI TecRec Tec 50 course is the last course in the Tec Deep Diver series of courses. It takes the skills learned in the Tec 45 course and builds upon them, introducing dealing with two different decompression gases, executing multiple gas switches, complex logistics of longer dives, problem solving and emergency scenarios.

This course qualifies you to perform stage decompression dives to a maximum depth of 50m / 165ft using two different decompression gases up to pure oxygen for accelerated decompression.

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 50 TRAINING DIVE 1

Key Standards
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, five stop simulated decompression
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

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. As part of a team, retrieve and don a stage decompression cylinder.
11. Ascend to first simulated stop depth, NO TOX switch to first simulated deco gas, two minute simulated deco stop (limited physical contact permitted).
12. Ascend to second simulated stop depth, same gas, three minutes simulated decompression.
13. Ascend to third simulated stop depth, NO TOX switch to simulated higher oxygen deco gas, two minutes simulated deco stop (limited physical contact permitted).
14. Ascend to fourth simulated stop depth, four minutes decompression with air break.
15. Team mate breathing wrong gas drill.
16. Surface, switch to back gas; redescend to “deep” area.
17. SAC swim at constant depth.
18. Stage deco cylinders. 
19. Mission execution (with pre agreed limits).
20. Catastrophic gas loss – team exercise through end of dive • a team member has catastrophic gas loss at depth • the affected diver goes on long hose • the team swims 30 metres/100 feet, retrieves stages • team sends up the lift bag/DSMB and emergency signal lift bag DSMB • team ascends along the line – the affected diver remains on long hose.
21. Simulated five stop, neutrally buoyant decompression with NO TOX gas switch and air breaks.
22. Air breaks during deco (out of gas diver breaks on simulated lower oxygen deco gas, or breaks by sharing gas with a team mate via the long hose).
23. Emergencies – other emergencies may occur during decompression u. after completing deco and ascent, team removes two stage/deco cylinders in water too deep in which to stand; “out of gas” diver is still out of gas and must use oral inflation for buoyancy etc. as appropriate, with team mates assisting v. recheck weight with near empty cylinders w. gas/time/depth awareness.

TEC 50 TRAINING DIVE 2

Key Standards
Environment: Open water
Depths: Minimum: 12 metres/40 feet
Maximum: 24 metres/80 feet
Decompression: No stop only, 30 minutes simulated decompression
Gases: Air or EANx, recommended that all blends be breathable to maximum dive depth
Ratios: 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. Mission
10. Free time as time allows — surprises.
11. Retrieve and don deco cylinders.
12. Ascent and decompression.
13. Neutrally buoyant gas shutdown drill.
14. Air break.
15. Emergency signal to surface support drill.
16. Remove stage/deco cylinders in water too deep in which to stand.
17. Gas/time/depth awareness.

TEC 50 TRAINING DIVE 3

Key Standards
Environment: Open Water
Depths: Minimum: 30 metres/100 feet
Maximum: 50 metres/165 feet
Decompression: Decompression dive with two decompression gases
Gases: Air, Air, EANx or oxygen
Ratios: 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 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. Perform the gas shutdown drill within 60 seconds (40 in sidemount)
6. Mission
7. 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.
8. 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 50 TRAINING DIVE 4

Key Standards
Environment: Open water
Depths: Minimum: 40 metres/130 feet
Maximum: 50 metres/165 feet
Decompression: Decompression dive with two decompression gases
Gases: Air, EANx or oxygen. Trimix permitted within limited conditions.
Ratios: 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 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. Perform the gas shutdown drill within 60 seconds (40 in sidemount)
6. Mission
7. 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.
8. 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. 

• 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.