Technical Diving
FAQ

1. What Is Technical Diving?

What is technical diving?

Technical diving goes beyond recreational limits: deeper than 40m/130ft, mandatory decompression stops, overhead environments such as caves or wrecks, and the use of advanced gas mixes like high oxygen content Nitrox, Trimix and Rebreathers.

How is it different from recreational diving?

Recreational diving avoids decompression and stays in open-water conditions. Technical diving requires precise planning, multiple gas mixes, redundant equipment, and advanced skills.

2. Training & Certification Requirements

What certifications do I need to start technical diving?

Most divers begin with Advanced Open Water, Nitrox certification, and 25–50 logged dives demonstrating excellent trim and buoyancy.

Typical technical diving progression:

• Twin Set / Sidemount Foundations (Intro to Tech or Openwater Sidemount) CCR MOD 1
• Deep Diving /Tech pathway
• Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures
• Trimix (Normoxic → Hypoxic)
• Cave Diving pathway
• Cavern, Intro to Cave, Full Cave
• Specialties: Stage Cave, DPV Cave, Cave Survey

Agency differences (TDI, RAID, PSAI)

TDI, RAID, IANTD, PASI, SSI XR, PADI TecRec: Modular, flexible equipment options.
GUE: Standardized configuration and team procedures.

3. Gear Configurations: OC Twin Set, Sidemount & CCR

What is open-circuit technical diving?

Open-circuit setups use doubles or sidemount cylinders, long-hose regulators, redundant systems, multiple lights, reels, and separate decompression gases.

What is sidemount?

A configuration where cylinders are placed along the diver’s sides, improving mobility, valve access, and comfort in caves and restrictions.

What is a CCR (Closed-Circuit Rebreather)?

A rebreather recycles breathing gas, maintains optimal oxygen levels, reduces bubbles, and greatly extends bottom time — ideal for deep or long-duration dives.

When is CCR recommended?

CCR is ideal for Tech dives deeper than 40–60m/130–200ft on account of helium prices, cave diving as you have more time to handle emegencies (as you are not consuming gas)or long run-time profiles where gas logistics limit open-circuit diving.

4. Gases & Decompression

What gases are used in technical diving?

• Nitrox
• Helitrox
• Trimix (oxygen + nitrogen + helium)
• Oxygen for accelerated decompression

Why use Trimix?

Helium reduces narcosis and gas density, making deep diving clearer, safer, and more comfortable.

What is decompression diving?

Diving that requires planned decompression stops on ascent to allow dissolved gases to safely leave the body. These stops cannot be skipped.

How is decompression planned?

With dive planning software and computers using models like Bühlmann ZH-L 16c, MultiDeco and V Planner including full contingency plans for delays or gas loss.

5. Safety, Risks & Procedures

Is technical diving dangerous?

It involves higher risk, but with proper training, conservative profiles, and disciplined planning, accidents become rare. My training focuses on risk mitigation.

Main risks include:

• Decompression sickness
• Oxygen toxicity
• Narcosis
• Gas management errors
• Environmental hazards
• Equipment failures

Standard safety protocols:

• Full pre-dive checks (valve drills, long-hose deployment)
• Gas labeling and MOD verification
• Minimum gas / rock-bottom calculations
• Redundant life-support systems
• Strict adherence to the dive plan
• Clear team communication

6. Training Costs & Equipment

Training cost estimates:

• I base my pricing on a daily training rate, each course has the expected number of days in the description. This will vary depending on the level of complexity of the training. But included in the daily price are rental tanks and gases, cenote entry fees, oxygen and CO2 absorbent for CCR courses and transportation.
• Open Circuit technical and cave training $350 per day
• Cave Diving Specialties: $400
• Closed Circuit Rebreather Courses: $400
• CCR Cave Courses: $450

Equipment costs:

• Full OC tech setup: $4,000–$8,000
• CCR units: $8,000–$12,000
• Consumables: oxygen sensors, CO₂ absorbent, gas fills

7. Dive Planning & Logistics

How is a technical dive planned?

Technical dives involve gas planning, contingency gas, decompression schedules, navigation, bailout strategy, environmental evaluation, and defined team roles.

Do I need a support diver?

For deeper or complex dives, yes. For short decompression dives, not always.

How to choose a Technical, Cave or Rebreather instructor?

Look for real-world experience, strong safety culture, small class sizes, and consistent mastery-level performance. Skanda Coffield-Feith is widely respected for his exploration background and precision-focused training.

8. Physiology & Medical Considerations

Do I need a medical exam?

Often recommended, especially if any health risk factors exist.

How does depth affect the body?

Depth increases narcosis, oxygen toxicity risk, CO₂ retention, gas density, and thermal stress.

Can anyone become a cave or technical diver?

While cave or tech diving is not for everyone's taste, with the right attitude and and a commitment to becoming a better diver through training this is a possibility for anyone who sets their mind on it.

9. Equipment Maintenance

How important is maintenance?

Critical. Technical and cave divers depend on perfectly functioning redundant systems.

CCR maintenance includes:

• CO₂ scrubber replacement
• Oxygen sensor monitoring
• Loop and valve checks
• O-ring and seal inspections
• Strict pre-dive checklists

10. Misconceptions About Technical Diving

"Tech divers are thrill-seekers."

False — technical diving is about risk management and precision.

"CCR makes diving easy."

Incorrect. CCR adds capabilities but increases monitoring, complexity and buoyancy challenges.

"Computers eliminate decompression risk."

No decompression model removes all risk; physiology varies per person.

Train With Cave Diving Adventures

At Cave Diving Adventures in Tulum, we offer:

• Twin Set or Sidemount Foundations, Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures
• CCR Training and Guided CCR Dives
• Survey Training and Exploration
• Cave Diving Courses: Cavern → Full Cave
• Guided Cenote Technical & Cave Dives

Why train with us?

• Led by expert instructor Skanda Coffield-Feith
• Small groups (max 2–3 divers)
• World-class cenotes and caves
• Safety-first, mastery-focused training
• Exploration-level experience

📍 Location: Tulum, Mexico
🌐 Website: www.cavedivingadventures.com
📧 Email: contact@cavedivingadventures.com