DSAT Tec 40

Why DSAT Tec 40?

For serious divers looking to explore San Andres`s reef to depths and times beyond the recreational limits, DSAT Tec40 is the place to start! Be among the first to safely explore the secrets of San Andres's deep coral walls with up to 10 mins of deco to 40m/130ft with a single decompression cylinder with up to 50% 02.

What do I need to start?

You need to be 18 years of age or older and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certified (or an equivalent certification from another organization). You also need to be PADI Enriched Air Nitrox certified (or qualifying certification from another organization) and have the PADI Deep Diver Specialty. You will also need proof of 30 logged dives, with 10 dives to at least 30m/100ft, and 10 dives on EANx to at least 18m/60ft.
Any of these certifications can be completed at the dive shop. Contact us about Nitrox/Deep/Tec packages available.

What will I do?

The Tec40 course is your introduction to the world of Tec diving. In this course you will learn how to adjust and configure a technical rig for correct fit. Whilst we do have rental equipment available, you are best advised to bring your own equipment or buy a rig from us for your training. This ensures that you will be training in the equipment you will use after the course; thereby getting the most out of our guidance and experience in adjusting it to fit you perfectly (this takes hours, not minutes!). We have selection equipment from Dive rite and Oxycheq available for sale at excellent prices.

Once you have been oriented to your equipment and it has been adjusted, we will spend time in the classroom discussing the new challenges and procedures you will be facing as a technical diver. Planning a technical dive involves using decompression software, paying attention to detail, preparation time, and patience. A significant part of the classroom time is spent training you to use this software, and helping you get the most out of your computer. One of the biggest differences between recreational and technical diving is the need to plan your gas consumption during a dive since running out of gas on a decompression dive is not an option! You will also be learning new procedures and checklists which are used before and during the dive to ensure you remain safe when switching gasses and performing decompression stops.
There are four dives in the Tec 40 course; each dive builds upon the skills learned previously in the course. Each dive will take you progressively deeper as you get more familiar with the new equipment and procedures.

Dive 1 will be conducted in the confined water, or a nearby shallow dive site. With warm crystal clear water we will have all the time we need to introduce you to the equipment and practice the basic procedures you will use on every dive you do as a Tec Diver. You will handle multiple tanks, start calculating your gas consumption rate, practice out-of-air emergencies, refine your weighting and buoyancy control and start learning how to deal with valve or regulator failures. You will also learn how to deploy a lift bag and perform a simulated decompression stop.

Dive 2 will take place at a shallow open water dive site. On this dive you will continue practicing many of the skills from dive one, but with a greater focus on calculating your air consumption rate. We will also start testing your time, depth and gas awareness. Technical diving involves constant alertness to potential problems by monitoring multiple gauges; it is this type of awareness that would stop a minor issue from becoming a major emergency.

Dive 3 takes you deeper still and continues building on the skills from Dives 1 and 2. On this dive we are looking to see that you are mastering the skills that you have been learning previously. Exercises introduced in the previous dives should be performed quickly and efficiently.

Dive 4 to a maximum of 40m/130ft, will take you beyond no decompression limits. For the first time you will have a real decompression obligation, which means keeping a cool head and using the skills and awareness you have developed in the previous training dives.

¿Cuánto tiempo se tarda?

The DSAT Tec40 course generally takes 4 days.

What do I earn?

You will be certified as a DSAT Tec40 Diver, which allows you to use decompression software and dive computers to plan and execute decompression dives with not more than 10 minutes of total decompression, to a maximum depth of 40 meters/130 feet, and use a single cylinder of decompression gas up to 50% oxygen to add conservatism to the required decompression.

Where can I go from here?

Deeper! DSAT Tec 45 expands your knowledge and your tec diving range. Take the next step!