differnce between recreational diving and tech.

[bigman241]

What is the difference between recreational diving and tech diving. Is it depth whether or not you use nitrox or what?
what gear do you need to change when going from recreational ot tech diving

[WV Diver]

I'm watching this thread.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by WV Diver

I'm watching this thread.

WV, I don't think Big Man was around when the previous "watchable" thread occurred.

Big man, here is the link to the thread from earlier this month. You may find some answers here but you will absolutely find some very strong opinions.

Technical vs. Recreational diving

[navyhmc]

Tech is usually at below recreational depths, more often than not is decompression diving with accelerated decompression. Accelerated deco is using Nitrox at higher O2% that approach 100% for the under 20fsw deco stages. A lot more planning goes into tech than rec diving.

Tech is deifinitely more gear intensive, instead of a BC, you have a wing and back plate also doubles instead of a single tank with a redundant regulator set up. Not only does the tech diver have doubles for his/her back gas, carrying 2 or more smaller stage bottles for deco and travel gas in commonplace too.

Usually a dry suit is used due to depths, temperatures and length of dives-over 1 1/2 hours at depth and deco are not uncommon. If you do use a wet suit, the wing has a double bladder just in case of a leak in one of the wingbladders. Redundancy is the name of the game.

Nitrox and trimix are the gases of choice for the tech diver. The mixes can be hypoxic as well-less than 21% O2. These are usually used at depths deeper than 165'.

In short: Tech is training intensive, gear intensive and planning intensive. It has a greater level of risk involoved than rec diving and as many steps that can be taken to reduce that risk is taken. Tech is not for everyone, but there are those that are willing to take the tech plunge so to speak.

Does this meet your approval WV Diver?

[chicken]

I thought the difference was spending a lot of money and spending a whole lot more money!

[waytooslow]

Originally Posted by chicken

I thought the difference was spending a lot of money and spending a whole lot more money!

exactly

[Sansho]

John Chatterton just held a webinar, sponsored and coordinated by Conch Republic, on what it takes to get from rec diving to tec diving. It included discussion on:

* Definition of technical diving
* Enhanced personal responsibilities for the technical diver
* Goals
* Personal assessment
* Tek education options
* Equipment options
* Ongoing technical debates
* Further considerations
* Intensive training
"Above all else ... have fun and stay safe!"

There's a great book detaiing John Chatterton's and Richie Kohler's obsession with discovering the identify of a U-boat, previously unknown and discovered in NJ, titled "Shadow Divers" written by Robert Kurson. Great reading, both historically, and to get a general sense of what technical diving is about.

[texdiveguy]

They are both recreational in scope.....if you are engaged in military/commercial/scientific then you are not diving in the recreational scope.

[kjvander]

definitions can vary....some may think that traditional technical diving is really recreational....but from what i know....technical is anything out of the ordianary of recreational....cave, extreme depth, mixed gases..etc...

[tndiverdude]

Aren't they both Tech and Rec?
I mean if you are a tech diver and you like it isn't that recreation for you?
When we were going through OW and AOW the technical aspet of it became technical diving while the enjoyment was recreational. I dont think you can have one without the other.
Shouldn't the breakdown be more specialized diving?