Technical Diving - TDI
From Basic Nitrox Diver to Advanced Trimix & Rebreather, Rubicon diving offers all levels of TDI Technical Courses.
TDI-Technical Diving International
TDI was formed in 1995 by Bret Gillian a former Director of IANTD and is now the world’s largest technical diving agency offering all technical level courses from Nitrox to Mixed Gas Rebreather. TDI is the future of technical training.
What is technical diving?
Answer; All non commercial diving is categorized as recreational and within recreational diving there are sub categories: sport and technical. Sport diving in general terms means diving within no stop limits (no decompression) on Air to depths not exceeding 40mtrs. Technical diving goes beyond the sport diver classification and includes breathing gasses different from Air eg Nitrox (a breathing gas with oxygen levels greater than 21 percent) and Trimix (where Helium is added to the breathing mix) diving to depths beyond no stop limits and into environments which are more hazardous.
Question: What is my first step into technical diving?
Answer; Although Nitrox is strictly speaking classified as “technical diving” over the last 10 years diving with Nitrox as become common place and has thus been accepted into the realms of sport diving. Without even realising it diving on Nitrox is most divers first step into technical diving! TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures builds on the divers basic nitrox knowledge and skills and lays the foundation for all further technical courses.
Question: Do I have to go deep for technical diving?
Answer; No. Although technical diving is commonly thought of as deep diving, there are a lot of courses that stay within the sport diving limit of 40 m such as Advanced Nitrox, Semi Closed Circuit Rebreather (SCR), Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) and Advanced Wreck to name a few.
Question: Will technical diving allow me to go deeper?
Answer; yes. TDI has course curriculum’s that can take you as deep as 100 m it does this in a manner that each course builds on the skills and knowledge gained on the previous course, each new course allowing you to explore a little deeper. By receiving training in this manner not only are your skills and knowledge increasing but just as importantly so is your comfort level
Start right now with our TDI technical diving courses !
REBREATHER COURSES
Discover Rebreather diving
Marina Rubicon offers a Rebreather introduction experience this allows those who are considering diving with a rebreather the opportunity to have first hand experience on the unit of their choice before venturing onto the full course. The experience involves theory and 2 dives and takes a full day.
TDI Advanced Nitrox
The objective of this course is to train the divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for utilising EAN 21 through to 100 percent oxygen for dives not requiring staged decompression. To a depth of 40 m this course can be combined with Decompression Procedures at the discretion of your instructor.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 15
- Minimum certification of TDI Nitrox Diver or equivalent
- Proof of 25 logged open water dives
This course is run over three days if taught stand alone or five days if combined with the TDI Decompression Procedures course. Students looking at moving into further technical diving courses will need Advanced Nitrox certifications to enrol on the higher technical dive courses.
TDI Decompression Procedures
This Course examines theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. The objective of the course is to train divers how to plan and conduct standard staged decompression dives not exceeding a maximum depth of 45 mtrs. During the course students will look at the most common equipment requirements, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and dive planning. Students are able to use EAN and Oxygen for decompression provided the gas mix is within their current certification level.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18
- Minimum certification of open water diver
- Show proof of 25 dives
This course is run over three days if it is taught stand alone or over five days if combined with the TDI Advanced Nitrox course. Consisting of two days theory, equipment workshop and three full days boat diving. Students taking the combined training will also require a basic Nitrox certification to enrol onto the Advanced Nitrox course. See our main price list which shows you the course saving when combining the Advanced Nitrox course with the Decompression Procedures course.
TDI Extended Range
This course provides training and experience required to competently utilise air for dives up to 55 mtrs that require stage decompression, utilising nitrox mixtures or oxygen during decompression. This course is the most rewarding course you may take as a diver and sets the foundations for all your future deep diving.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18
- Minimum of 100 logged dives, of which 25 must be deeper than 100 fsw / 30 msw
- Certification as a TDI Advanced Nitrox and TDI Decompression Procedures Diver (or equivalent) are required
This course is run over four days and consists of one day of theory and equipment workshop if required plus three full day's boat diving with a total of six dives.
TDI Trimix
The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures of utilising custom oxygen / helium / nitrogen mixtures as breathing gases with no less than 18% Oxygen, and utilize Nitrox mixtures and Oxygen for decompression to a maximum depth of 60 mtrs . This course is for students looking at diving deeper reducing the effect of nitrogen narcosis and handling Oxygen Toxicity. This course has fast become the course of choice over the TDI Extended Range course.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18
- Minimum certification as a TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and Decompression Procedures Diver (or equivalent)
- Minimum of 100 logged dives
This course is run over four days and consists of one day of theory and three days boat diving. However, students who have already completed the Extended Range course may be credited two dives towards this course.
TDI Advanced Trimix
The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures of utilising custom oxygen / helium / nitrogen mixtures as breathing gases with less than 18% Oxygen, and utilize Nitrox mixtures and Oxygen for decompression to a maximum depth of 100 mtrs This course is for students looking at diving deeper reducing the effect of nitrogen narcosis and handling Oxygen Toxicity. This course is the highest diver rating achievable via the TDI course routes, it is extreme diving so therefore requires extreme levels of tuition. Students will master advanced planning techniques and open water skills required for this type of diving.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18
- Minimum certification as an Extended Range Diver or Trimix Diver (or equivalent)
- Minimum of 100 logged dives
This course is run over five days and consists of one day of theory and four days boat diving. However, students who have already completed the Extended Range course may be credited two dives towards this course at the discretion of the instructor.
TDI Technical Divemaster Course
This programme is designed to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for an individual to lead certified Technical Divers in the open water environment. Many Sport divers and instructors wishing to open up more opportunities become Technical Divemasters as it helps advance dive theory and teaches more advanced diving techniques that employers are looking for in the business of diving.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18
- Candidates must be certified as a Sports Diver, Dive Master
- Must hold current CPR certification
- Have a current medical examination
- Minimum of 50 logged dives
- Hold the Technical Diver Rating which they are applying for Divemaster in. For example: A TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver, who is also a Sports Divemaster may receive a Technical Dive Master rating up to Advanced Nitrox.
This course is run over five days and consists of one day of theory and four days boat diving.
TDI Air diluent CCR course Inspiration /Evolution
This is the entry level certification course for divers wishing to utilize the Inspiration / Evolution Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) for air diving. The objective of the course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for diving a CCR and to develop basic CCR diving skills to a maximum of 40 mtrs using an air diluent for minimal decompression diving (no greater than 5 minutes required at 6 mtrs).
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18
- Show proof of sixty (60) logged open water dives
- Minimum certification level of Advanced Nitrox Diver (Advanced Nitrox Diver may be combined with this course) or equivalent from agencies recognized by TDI
Duration : 5 days
TDI Mixed Gas closed circuit Rebreather, Inspiration & Evolution course
This is the intermediate level certification course for divers wishing to utilize a Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) for mixed gas diving. The objective of the course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for mixed gas diving on the Inspiration & Evolution CCR, utilizing a mixed gas diluent containing sixteen (16%) percent or greater oxygen, and to develop intermediate CCR diving skills appropriate to technical diving to a maximum of 60 mtrs.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18
- Have a verified log of a minimum of fifty (50) rebreather hours distributed over a minimum of fifty (50) dives on the specific rebreather. Fifty (50) % deeper than sixty six (66) fsw / twenty (20) msw. All to be deeper than twenty (30) fsw / nine (9) msw. If the diver has fifty (50) hours on another CCR unit recognized by TDI, only twenty five (25) hours are required to be on the Inspiration / Evolution
- Have completed and qualified the TDI Air Diluent Rebreather Course or equivalent from agencies recognized by TDI
Duration : 5 days
TDI Advanced Mixed Gas closed circuit Rebreather, Inspiration & Evolution course
This is the highest level certification course for divers wishing to utilize the Inspiration / Evolution Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) for advanced mixed gas diving. The objective of the course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for advanced mixed gas diving on a CCR and to develop advanced CCR diving skills appropriate to technical diving to a maximum of 100 mtrs.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18
- Have a verified log of a minimum of one hundred (100) CCR hours distributed over a minimum of one hundred (100) dives on the Inspiration / Evolution CCR. Fifty (50) % of these dives must be deeper than 30 mtrs. All to be deeper than twenty 9 mtrs. If the diver has one hundred (100) hours on another CCR unit recognized by TDI, only fifty (50) hours are required to be on the Inspiration / Evolution.
- Have completed and qualified the TDI Air Diluent CCR Course or equivalent from agencies recognized by TDI
Duration : 5-7 days
