What is considered "Techreational"?

[Clanggedin]

Yesterday I visited some of the LDSs in my area shopping for a reg and octo. During my visits conversation would always turn to what type pf setup I have and when I mentioned BP/W and they automatically assumed that I was going cave diving and that I wanted to die. Never did I mention cave diving. I either said something about my BP/W or that I was going to use a long hose and the people at the shops would automatically place in the the tech diving category.

All I want to do is stay within recreational limits, yet use a more tech setup because I like it.

I told my brother that we should call ourselves techreational divers, and thought I had come up with something new, but after googling the term I realized that the term is not new, but I couldn't find a good definition of what techreational really means.


What is considered techreational? Can we use the term for the so called "new breed" of divers who use tech gear, yet stay within the recreational limits?

[NoTime58]

I keep coming across the same question at the dive shops I've been in "what kinda diving you doing". I usually respond with, "the kind where you get wet", then wait to see the look on there face before I tell them I have all kinds of interests and I'm looking for something that is compatible with, deep, wreck, drift, and reef diving. Never used the term "techreational" before, heard it, never used it.

[WV Diver]

Actually I am in this category and trying to decide what BP/W set up to go with. I like the configuration and ideology of the tech types but I won't likely be diving the Doria anytime soon.

[Splitlip]

BPW I don't believe is reserved for tech divers any more. I wear BPW, necklaced 2nd, gauges on my wrists, thigh pockets (just makes sense for me) and SPLIT fins.

Although somebody today did tell me I was looking pretty "teched out".

WV diver, a plate is pretty much a plate. A harness is pretty much a harness. Wings have subtle differences and it would be good to try different ones. Just don't over size it.
30# or so singles wing is probably a good first wing.

[WV Diver]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

BPW I don't believe is reserved for tech divers any more. I wear BPW, necklaced 2nd, gauges on my wrists, thigh pockets (just makes sense for me) and SPLIT fins.

Although somebody today did tell me I was looking pretty "teched out".

WV diver, a plate is pretty much a plate. A harness is pretty much a harness. Wings have subtle differences and it would be good to try different ones. Just don't over size it.
30# or so singles wing is probably a good first wing.

That's what I am looking at. I notice there are a certain few suppliers that most tech folks like though, like DiveRite, Halcyon, Deep Sea Supplies, Oxycheq and one or two others. I wonder why I don't see too many of those techie types discussing Zeagle more often. From what I can see they seem to have a very large number of well adapted accessories made to configure with all their gear. They are the only ones I have seen so far that offer bladder rebuild kits.

I may be going that way unless someone can show me some light I can't see.

I'm not planning on doing a lot of deep dives or penetrating deep into wrecks or anything. I just want the buoyancy and trim that BP/W offer. I have been wearing a necklace and using wrist gadgets for a while and will likely ditch the split fins when I change over. They just don't go backwards. I may even get a 7' hose. I will definitely be using a pony.

Don't mean to Pirate this thread. I can start a new one if you want me to. Just say the word OP.

[Splitlip]

I have DiveRite plates. Aluminum for summer, steel for winter. They are lower profile than my hammer head. Oxycheq wings.

Why Zeagle and Apeks are not in the main stream, I cannot say. OMS is very popular with the North East wreck divers. Dive Rite among the non GUE cavers here with Oxycheq building a market share. Halcyon (owned by JJ) is popular among many of the GUE cavers. Open water divers I see a mix of all with the exception of DSS. They are more left coast I think.
By far, I still see primarily conventional BC's. Seaquest/USD, Scubapro and Zeagle.

[cummings66]

I think you can use the term how you want, it gets the point across though.

I've seen other dive shops think just because you have a BP/W that you're a technical diver, funny huh. They wouldn't have thought that in the 60's or 70's.

[texdiveguy]

I think all the diving most of us conduct is just recreational sport diving. The gear you chose to use does not dictate really if you are recreational only or rec/tech. I hear this same stuff at shops I go in....folks are just interested in what type of diving you do.

[Scubastud16]

I don't think there is much cross over between the two sides of diving. You can wear tech diving equipment in rec diving and use tech diving techniques in rec diving, but I don't think you can cross the two styles.

[ianr33]

I've always thought of "techreational" being that gray area between recreational and technical. (which are arbitrary names at best)

Most of my local dives are "techreational" 130 feet,maybe 140. Turn at 1500 psi in my doubles or max of 20 minutes deco on computer. Maybe use 100% O2 for a bit,maybe not.

Clearly not recreational but not really technical either.