Blog

DDS Comfort Neoprene Mask Strap featuring a DDS Diver in trim with the dansdiveshop.ca web url

PADI Deep Diver Specialty Course

Our PADI Deep Diver Specialty Course adds some skill, knowledge and technique to your diving as you learn how to utilizing a more streamlined profile of your gear and your body, along with new safety equipment and a greater focus on dive planning and use of specialized equipment that can help make deeper diving safer.

Dive with more confidence as you engage in dives using redundant breathing systems.

Learn how to properly plan dive plans, over-plans, manage emergencies and equipment related failures and self rescue techniques and utilize redundant equipment, including a pony bottle, doubles kit, sidemount or other.

PREREQUISITE:

Advanced Open Water Diver

AVAILABILITY:

Upon Request. Contact the shop to find out when we are running our next courses.

Cost: $350 +HST Includes PADI Deep Diver Manual

TRAINING AGENCY:

PADI

DETAILS:

Extend your dive limits with the Deep Diver course
Extend your dive limits with the Deep Diver course

Our Deep Diving program focuses on skill proficiency and ability before we go deep.

Upon certification, divers will be certified to dive to 130′, so proper skills, buoyancy, dive planning, self rescue techniques are needed first.

We will spend 1 day in shallow water working on trim, posture, buoyancy, management of emergency bailout systems, double tanks, sidemounted tanks, or high capacity single tank with h-valve.

Divers will learn how to deploy a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) from depth with a safety spool and simulate decompression stops in an “over-plan” scenario.

Depth stabilization is a must, as divers cannot waiver up and down in their buoyancy. Buoyancy must remain constant, divers must be able to maintain depth within 2′.

If a diver does not have the skill, experience or buoyancy to safely engage in deep diving activities they can cause harm to themselves or their dive buddies.

Our Deep Diver course is structured in a different and more thorough way to make you the best diver you can be and prepare you mentally and physically for deep diving activities.

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

Here are some popular examples of courses commonly taken by graduates of this course:

  • Wreck Diver
  • Intro to Tech
  • Technical Wreck Penetration
  • Cavern
  • Cave 1
  • Sidemount Diver or Tech Sidemount
  • Tech 1
  • Cave 2
  • Trimix Diver
  • Rebreather

NAUI NTEC Doubles Primer

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

Our NAUI NTEC Doubles Primer Workshop is a Primer program that acts as an awakening of sorts introducing the Recreational Diver, preparing them for diving with the most beneficial doubles equipment configuration and foundational skills that all divers should have.

The NTEC Workshop is the perfect starting point for students to being their path towards more disciplined and polished diving skills and techniques offered as a crossover to our style of diving if coming from the more pedestrian Diver Courses offered by the majority of dive shops around the world.

NTEC is a mini workshop/experience program that outlines the benefits of diving with a more streamlined, simple, safe and comfortable doubles equipment configuration, setting up more skills oriented double tank dives and getting ready for the NAUI Intro to Tech Course, which is the most challenging course enroute to becoming a cave/technical diver.

NAUI NTEC is a hands on opportunity for divers to rig their gear properly under our supervision to start utilizing the most modern methods of skill in this configuration.

All foundational skills training starts off in the classroom and pool…

We are currently offering this program on a regular basis with the opportunity to add-on an open water diving component with your Instructor to prepare you for the next step, which is the NAUI Intro to Tech Course.

Diving is something that is always evolving, improving and changing through new technology, training and experiences.  The concepts we implement and the way we think of posture, trim and technique gets taken to a new level of excellence as the average recreational diver has typically not been taught anything about trim, posture, streamlining themselves in water, or simplifying the equipment configuration.

NTEC introduces divers to streamlining gear for example how to clean up your existing equipment configuration, re-routing hoses that are too long or too short, as well as providing the diver with knowledge as to why this gear needs to be reconfigured or streamlined.

With NTEC, we utilize the use of a longer primary regulator hose, which is given in an out of air emergency to the out of air diver, while retaining the alternate air source quickly and easily because its located on a necklace around your neck.  Through additional streamlining we start removing all the “danglies” off the divers equipment, thus creating a sleeker, more efficient diver profile.

The “Traditional” equipment configuration that is commonly used in diving has become dated and obsolete and needs revision, this is where the NAUI Recreational Equipment Configuration has truly become “Today’s Equipment Configuration” for divers of all skill level from Open Water to Technical, Extreme Exposure Trimix, DPV, and Cave Diver.  It really is a multi-purpose, uniformed way to dive.

Upon successful completion of this workshop, students will be free to enrol in our NAUI Intro to Tech Course.

TRAINING AGENCY:

NAUI TEC

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

Workshop training starts at 10am Saturday morning heading to the pool in the afternoon and finishing round 7pm

This experience program outlines the benefits of diving with a more streamlined, simple, safe and comfortable equipment configuration.

The NAUI NTEC Experience Program is a hands on classroom and equipment rigging session that allows the diver the opportunity to rig their equipment under the direct supervision of our NAUI Tec Instructor, followed by a Pool Session where skills will be demonstrated and students will have an opportunity to preview and work on these rudimentary skills.

While at the pool, you’ll learn the benefits of proper diving techniques, fin techniques, improved knowledge on trim and buoyancy, while shedding massive amounts of excess weight, bulk and drag versus a traditional equipment setup.

Upon Successful completion of the pool session there is an opportunity to complete an open water diving opportunity with 2 foundational skills dives and mentorship to help you move towards the NAUI Intro to Tech Course and pass it successfully.

Cost $150+HST Pool/Class Only
$350+HST Class/Pool/Open Waters

 

PREREQUISITES:

For Divers of ALL Skill Levels beginner to Instructor

NAUI NTEC Doubles Primer

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

Our NAUI NTEC Doubles Primer Workshop is a Primer program that acts as an awakening of sorts introducing the Recreational Diver, preparing them for diving with the most beneficial doubles equipment configuration and foundational skills that all divers should have.

The NTEC Workshop is the perfect starting point for students to being their path towards more disciplined and polished diving skills and techniques offered as a crossover to our style of diving if coming from the more pedestrian Diver Courses offered by the majority of dive shops around the world.

NTEC is a mini workshop/experience program that outlines the benefits of diving with a more streamlined, simple, safe and comfortable doubles equipment configuration, setting up more skills oriented double tank dives and getting ready for the NAUI Intro to Tech Course, which is the most challenging course enroute to becoming a cave/technical diver.

NAUI NTEC is a hands on opportunity for divers to rig their gear properly under our supervision to start utilizing the most modern methods of skill in this configuration.

All foundational skills training starts off in the classroom and pool…

We are currently offering this program on a regular basis with the opportunity to add-on an open water diving component with your Instructor to prepare you for the next step, which is the NAUI Intro to Tech Course.

Diving is something that is always evolving, improving and changing through new technology, training and experiences.  The concepts we implement and the way we think of posture, trim and technique gets taken to a new level of excellence as the average recreational diver has typically not been taught anything about trim, posture, streamlining themselves in water, or simplifying the equipment configuration.

NTEC introduces divers to streamlining gear for example how to clean up your existing equipment configuration, re-routing hoses that are too long or too short, as well as providing the diver with knowledge as to why this gear needs to be reconfigured or streamlined.

With NTEC, we utilize the use of a longer primary regulator hose, which is given in an out of air emergency to the out of air diver, while retaining the alternate air source quickly and easily because its located on a necklace around your neck.  Through additional streamlining we start removing all the “danglies” off the divers equipment, thus creating a sleeker, more efficient diver profile.

The “Traditional” equipment configuration that is commonly used in diving has become dated and obsolete and needs revision, this is where the NAUI Recreational Equipment Configuration has truly become “Today’s Equipment Configuration” for divers of all skill level from Open Water to Technical, Extreme Exposure Trimix, DPV, and Cave Diver.  It really is a multi-purpose, uniformed way to dive.

Upon successful completion of this workshop, students will be free to enrol in our NAUI Intro to Tech Course.

TRAINING AGENCY:

NAUI TEC

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

Workshop training starts at 10am Saturday morning heading to the pool in the afternoon and finishing round 7pm

This experience program outlines the benefits of diving with a more streamlined, simple, safe and comfortable equipment configuration.

The NAUI NTEC Experience Program is a hands on classroom and equipment rigging session that allows the diver the opportunity to rig their equipment under the direct supervision of our NAUI Tec Instructor, followed by a Pool Session where skills will be demonstrated and students will have an opportunity to preview and work on these rudimentary skills.

While at the pool, you’ll learn the benefits of proper diving techniques, fin techniques, improved knowledge on trim and buoyancy, while shedding massive amounts of excess weight, bulk and drag versus a traditional equipment setup.

Upon Successful completion of the pool session there is an opportunity to complete an open water diving opportunity with 2 foundational skills dives and mentorship to help you move towards the NAUI Intro to Tech Course and pass it successfully.

Cost $150+HST Pool/Class Only
$350+HST Class/Pool/Open Waters

 

PREREQUISITES:

For Divers of ALL Skill Levels beginner to Instructor

Vertical Diving SeaHorses Sucking it Up

Diving Dry with Doubles

Diving Dry with Doubles
by
Matthew Mandziuk

Diving Dry with Doubles.  Have you ever noticed that the most active divers on the dive site are the one’s who are Diving  Drysuit with Doubles?  Quite often its the same 10-12 divers who sign up for a lot of the same trips and who often prefer diving together with the group.  The reason for that is comfort, with their kit, with the group, with themselves in the water, whereas the other 10-12 guests are a revolving door of divers with a ranged diving background.

In this blog we are going to talk a little about the benefits of diving Diving a Drysuit with Double Tanks.

By the end of this reading you should have a clearer understanding of the partnership between diving with a drysuit and doubles, the benefits of diving with a drysuit and doubles, some of the training offerings with divers in a drysuit and doubles and where diving in a drysuit and doubles can take you.

Why should you start Diving Dry with Doubles? 

At first it sounds a little much, diving a nylon or neoprene full body suit, hood, gloves and then more weight than we even used in a wetsuit?  Drysuit divers wear approximately 6-8lbs minimum in fresh water (more in salt because of the added buoyancy)  more weight than a diver in a single piece 7mm jumpsuit (or about the same weight as they’d wear with an old school farmer John and Jacket).

That added weight can be inconvenient at best.

Where does one put that extra weight?

Most of our DDS Divers utilize a backplate and harness system which promotes better horizontal trim, posture and streamlining , it’s expandable and fully adjustable to accommodate the drysuit much easier than a jacket bcd can and is far more comfortable.

To learn more about backplates in general, please click the hyperlink above.

Divers diving in Canada with a single tank often times use a stainless steel backplate with a weighted single tank adapter, that system has a total negative buoyancy weighting of approximately 10lbs.  Nearly enough to sink anyone in a 7mm wetsuit with 2-3lbs maximum per side additional, however a drysuit diver is going to require an additional 6-8lbs minimum depending on the undergarments they wear.

In an attempt to  promote proper horizontal trim, the diver will want to re-distribute the weight evenly around the body with a maximum of 4-5lbs per hip pocket and up to that much weight on each of the single tank straps for a total of up to approximately 20lbs of weight plus the backplate system = 30lbs. Doesn’t that seem like a little much?

In an attempt to minimize the weight the diver wears, many will go to a single steel tank which can be 2-8lbs negatively buoyant by todays standards diving with a Faber steel cylinder.

A few years ago Worthington cylinders were preferred for their additional negative buoyancy characteristics with the X7-100 and X8-130 being the 2 most popular options.  In Faber the FX100, FX133 and LP85 are our most popular sizes.  Strangely enough the 100’s and 130’s were also the most suitable tanks for doubling up for deeper dives.

Faber FX100 swings from -8.41lbs full to -0.59lbs empty.
Faber FX133 swings from -9.08 full to +1.45lbs empty
Faber DVB85 swings from -3.8 full to + 2.32 empty

Worthington X7-100 had a swing of -10lbs to -2.5lbs
Worthington X8-130 had a swing of -11.7 to -2lbs

Having a tank that is negatively buoyant allows divers to reduce overall weight required and keeps some of that negative buoyancy behind you which helps improve your trim rather than having all that weight on the hips, but you don’t want to overweight yourself with tanks too heavy and underwear too thin.  Try and find the balance.  Many divers will even favour aluminum tanks for shallow shore diving with thin garments.

Adding an extra tank minimizes or eliminates the need for additional weight while adding a safer configuration that builds on our progressive single tank system utilizing a long hose/short hose and spg on 24″-26″ HP hose and it gives divers  the ability to solve a catastrophic failure thanks to redundant regulators.

Aluminum twins are popular option for divers looking for a great wetsuit set that can be used with a drysuit, however, they are more suitable for use on shallow dives.  When worn with a drysuit the diver will have to wear a heavier steel plate, a v-weight with lead down the centre of the tanks and a compact and streamlined wing.  They are easy to dive with little learning curve.

Steel tanks will take the diver further through deeper dives, caves, wreck penetration and offer more reserve gas on the divers back to deal with emergencies.

Vertical Divers with all the weight on the waist in a jacket bcd with dangling everything
DDS Diver John displaying perfection with great trim, buoyancy, control and style as he swims around the Tugs in Tobermory, ON

Many divers prefer the additional gas capacity of the steel tanks as well as the larger sized tanks allow divers to dive deeper and stay longer in comparison to the standard aluminum 80 tank which is still the most popular scuba diving tank on the market.

 

Drysuit Divers and DDS Divers have better trim because a drysuit surrounds the entire body with a little bit of air (less is better).

Redistribute weight, minimize weight and enjoy easier diving.

 

As divers tend to dive more off the dive boats and spend more time on their favourite dive sites, divers start looking at how to get more bottom time.

Diving Nitrox allows divers to gain up to 50% more bottom time on sites around 100′ and deeper, while yielding even more bottom time shallower, however, the limiting factor at that point tends to be their breathing rates and the sizes of tank they use, so a steel tank will in fact increase their bottom time an allow them to achieve their dive plans up to the Nitrox NDL most dives.

For divers who find even on Nitrox, the NDL isn’t always long enough, extending their range into decompression diving often is the trick, as a diver learns how to properly and safely plan their dives with a little bit of decompression utilizing advanced nitrox mixes to accelerate decompression times.  This is where doubles are most beneficial.

DDS Divers practicing bottle handling

When a diver combines the drysuit for maximum exposure protection and comfort along with a set of twin tanks, they no longer have to worry about switching out their tanks on that rocking dive boat in between dives, they no longer have to worry about adding weight to their hips or anywhere usually on their body, and they can certainly benefit from the increased balance and comfort that doubles offer.

You’ll also find divers enjoy just going out and working on foundational skills is easy to observe as our divers are always out in open water honing their skills.

Diving Dry with Doubles allows for more even balance in the water as the tanks are placed over top of each lung rater than down the spine like a single tank, while giving the diver a more comfortable suit to don and doff.

Drysuits are easier to put on than a 5-7mm wetsuit.

Drysuits are more effective for warmth retention.

Crushed neoprene or trilaminate Drysuits don’t compress with depth like wetsuits which get thinner with each atmosphere making the diver heavier because of the initial weight they start the dive with, as well as making the diver colder because those thick suits become much thinner every 30ft/10meters they descend.

Are Doubles For You?

If you can carry them on your back, reach your valves and dive with them comfortably, the answer is yes!

 

Look at the number of  accidents that have happened in recreational diving situations with single tanks, especially on deeper dives.  Most recreational diving accidents occur in a single tank with no redundancy (pony bottle, sidemount, h-valve, doubles) or lack of training.

A diver breaths their tank empty, their buddy runs out of air and they didn’t reserve enough gas for them and their buddy to ascend, they went in cold water and the regulator froze up, they hit the regulator or tank valve off a shipwreck or overhead environment creating a catastrophic failure, the BCD freezes, their dive computer blows off the end of their high pressure hose (another reason to wrist mount your computer) so they panic seeing bubbles streaming out of the high pressure hose, etc….

Minimize the risk, Increase the Fun and Learning and be more mentally and physically prepared with more advanced training.

If you’re interested in diving deeper than 80′, cavern or cave diving, technical diving, ice diving, mixed gas diving or wreck penetration, you should do it on doubles.  To many people did it wrong and it cost them their lives.

Be the best diver you can be.  Get involved with DDS and we’ll make you the best diver you can be with our training, experience dives, trips, charters and exploration offerings.

We’ve found these factors to be some of the most beneficial tools to extend your diving into a more fun and exciting world:

Dive Planning: Plan Your Dive, Follow Your Plan, Have an overplan, bailout plan, but don’t deviate from the main dive plan

Gas Management: 1/3 down and around, 1/3 back, exiting water with 1/3 of your gas supply 

Redundancy: Doubles allow the ability to shut down your regulator in the event of a failure, free flow, freeze-up, burst disc failure etc. Isolation manifold allows to shut down and switch over by isolating and shutting down the offending post or just shutting down the offending post.

Narcosis Management: Don’t Dive Deep On Air.  You’re narc’d at 130ft/40meters whether you know it or not.  Don’t dive deep on air, it’s silly, outdated and unsafe with education and helium training available now.

Team Diving: Serious Diving requires divers you can trust in an emergency and in an pinch. Don’t just dive with the randoms you find on a boat down south, they’re usually once a year divers with horrible habits and inferior training.  Dive with divers you have a positive history with or as ask us and we can refer you to more progressively minded shops

No Solo Diving on Deep Dives: Solo Diving is popular now, we’d likely choose this option if diving south with random divers instead of having to buddy up with people that we don’t feel comfortable diving with, however, deeper dives require piece of mind, extra equipment and a proper plan with lots of “what-if’s” to be safe guarded against.  It’s not worth solo cave, solo deep (exceeding NDL) or solo overhead environment without buddies

Analyze Your Mixes: Always, Always, Always analyze your mixes when you pick your tanks up, make sure they’re labelled and if diving with a fill that was “just filled” and you have to grab and go, analyze it again before your day of diving begins.

Practice , Practice, Practice: Complacency Kills.  Work on trim, buoyancy, bottle handling, dealing with simulated emergencies, smb deployment, alternate fin kicks, etc.  Be the most polished and best diver you can be.

Fit is Everything

Don’t just jump into drysuits and doubles blindly.  It requires the right fitting suit and undergarments first and foremost.  Many brands of drysuits are inferior in fit and quality, even the brands offering “custom fit”.

You’ll notice most shops try and pedal the cheaper suits that are like garbage bags or garbage bags wrapped in lycra to cover up the garbage bag look. This is like buying a drysuit from McDonald’s!  Don’t Waste Your Money

If you truly want to LOVE your drysuit and want to enjoy using it, take the time to get properly measured and properly fit.  Don’t just let the dive store hand you a suit off the rack and tell you that it’ll fit you perfectly, we’ve had that happen to several students from out of town that couldn’t complete their required skills during Intro to Tech Training and ended up renting suits from us to finish the class, then ultimately buy a brand new suit from us.

Do it Right.

We are partial to Diving Unlimited International because they offer the best quality, service, workmanship and there is an actual after sales service with them.  They are our top choice for hard to fit people too.  It’s all about comfort and fit with them.

DUI have great value priced suits with their Coronado, San Diego and Yukon II suits and the new Cortez (2019) suits obliterate most brands “top of the line suit” for quality, features, performance, as well as coming with user replaceable quick change ZipSeals, meaning you don’t have to send the suits away for service unless you damage the suit or zipper!  No brand can compete with that!

Santi offers a great quality and great looking suit.  We do their stock and modified stock suits.  You’re allowed up to 4 alterations at no extra cost with them and they do offer custom too.  Suits are very tough and stylish with a beautiful Euro look of elegance and colour.  They do take some time 2-3 months typically (sometimes less sometimes more).

Fourth Element offers the most flexible drysuit on the market.  It’s durable and looks great and they’re using technology to their advantage instead of dive stores who can miss measure someone by using BIOMAP technology to digitally create an image of the person to cut the suit for.  Great suits for a great price with great service…it might just take a bit more time to get the suits made 2-3 months typically.

BARE offers a great stock suit at a good price depending on what you get with the suit from your LDS.  Just but it from DDS and you’ll be happiest.

The Drysuit Underwear is as important for fit and mobility as the drysuit itself.  Santi offers modified stock and custom underwear, DUI offers DuoTherm ultra stretch polartec suits for custom fit as well as a great selection of stock sizes in up to an XM450 material which is exceptional underwear for cold water.  Fourth Element offers an amazing range of suits for a range of conditions made with some of the nicest feeling and fitting materials.

Learn more about diving doubles by stopping in or sign up for a Discover Doubles NTEC night with us.  

NTEC will introduce you to the doubles configuration, foundational skills you should master, emergency drills and more. It’s a perfect prep-workshop that introduces divers to the principles that will help lay the groundwork moving forward towards more regimented training with the right guidance, education, exercises and more to help ready you for our NAUI Intro Class.

Our NAUI Intro to Tech Course is a Rudimentary Elements of Diving Course that will highlight the foundational skills and develop them from a recreational perspective that will dovetail into more advanced and technical diving activities and show recreational divers a preview of what their diving can be like by testing and honing a divers finesse, comfort, trim, buoyancy, effortless skills, problem identification and reactions, team diving, smb deployments, buoyancy refinement, fin techniques and so much more.

2 divers swimming across an old wooden shipwreck
Tiller Wreck, Port Dalhousie

NTEC and Intro are the 2 most exciting, modern, challenging classes that will help improve your skills and enjoyment in the drysuit the most. Tie in NTEC and your PADI Drysuit Specialty Course together and see diving with a  different mindset than what you’d hear/see/learn in a traditional PADI system of diving education.

Diving Dry allows for longer bottom time in cooler water or more dives per day. A more comfortable gear up experience from a boat.

When you look at our DDS dive trip pics on Facebook or Instagram you’ll notice aside from a pool or an open water course weekend, the majority of the divers you see on our trips and con-ed classes are all in drysuits and you’ll notice that a lot of the same divers come out year after year on our charters and trips because their level of enjoyment is substantially higher than a wetsuit divers.

A friend of ours had a shop in Massachusetts and they trained their divers exclusively in drysuits.  They offered by far the most expensive open water course from NY-Maine and everywhere in between, yet their continuing education rates were 400% vs a national industry average of about 25% of divers who go diving and train after open waters.

So they found enormous success training their divers and promoting colder water diving trips because like DDS, they realized the best diving in the world was around the Great Lakes, Atlantic wrecks, Florida and surrounding areas. They were right.

In Closing

Drysuits will last you longer than a wetsuit, will give a diver buoyancy control that is easier to maintain when you where a little “squeeze” on the suit vs a wetsuit which compresses and changes depth the deeper or shallower you go.

Drysuits will allow for colder water immersion and more dives per day, while in between dives the divers will warm up faster, so the energy that is rejuvenated is much higher, especially with todays’ warmer Thinsulate’s and heated systems.

Combining a drysuit with a set of doubles sets a diver up for a lifetime hobby where anything is achievable.

The divers can spend more time under the water enjoying their hobby.  They don’t have to change tanks awkwardly on the boat in between dives like single tank divers do.  They add a larger gas source to deal with emergencies such as low on air or an equipment failure, while also adding redundancy in the event of a regulator or valve failure.

Aside from a little extra weight on land, there isn’t much difference between a single tank and a lot of lead to sink a recreational diver and a set of doubles.

For divers who can’t wear a set of doubles, try Sidemount!  Sidemount is a great option for divers who don’t have the ability to reach back to shut a valve down or who have had back surgery or a physical limitation that negates the ability the wear doubles on their back.

At Dan’s we believe in a more fun progression, so training our divers the right way from the very beginning is so imperative and gives them so many more options moving forward beyond Open Water, Advanced, Drysuit, Rescue, Divemaster and Instructor.  Don’t get caught in the boring progressions that the recreational agencies endorse, there is a much more fun, challenging and enjoyable progression ahead.

Experience more in the world of scuba diving instruction with Dan’s and let us show you a better way to do things that makes more sense and creates better divers.

Dan’s is an innovator of progressive recreational and technical diving, bringing the most modern skills and philosophies forwards before anyone in Canada as we continue to lead and offer the highest standards and most exceptional dive training for recreational and technical diving and have helped shaped some of the finest explorers in the world of scuba diving too.  Train with Dan’s and see a brighter diving future.

TDI Advanced Nitrox Decompression Procedures Course

TDI Advanced Nitrox Decompression Procedures Course

Join us for your TDI Advanced Nitrox Decompression Procedures Course and see how much more exciting it is when to be diving deeper, longer on bigger and better dive sites!

When it comces to technical diving, deep diving isn’t just setting a dive computer, seeing deco and calling yourself a tech diver, there is a lot that goes into becoming a technical diver, both mentally and physically.

Technical 1 Divers doing a Helitrox Dive on Dufferin Wall in Tobermory, Ontario

Through our TDI Advanced Nitrox Decompression Procedures Course classroom and watermanship teachings, you’ll learn what technical diving is, advanced decompression theory, dive planning, gas management, decompression gas planning, as well as tracking both CNS and Pulmonary Oxygen toxicity.

You’ll learn how to follow a decompression schedule, handle emergencies, contingencies, plan for over staying your dive plan and ensuring you have enough gas to safely get yourself back up to the surface.

Decompression is a course requiring sound thinking and judgement. Decompression divers cannot simply ascend when they have a problem.  All issues must be solved underwater, especially with a decompression ceiling above you.

Students will complete a series of eLearning and classroom sessions, as well as local diving shore dives, dive charters followed by a completion of open waters and certification dives in 1000 Islands with us as part of our Rockin’ Rockport Trips.

Starts May 4/5 2024

Prerequisites:

Naui Intro to Tech
50 logged dives
Physically Fit
Must be able to swim 400 meters <10 mins.
Breath swim hold 50′

Availability:

This course is available privately for individuals or groups as well either locally or wherever you are located.

Your training will include a minimum of 7 dives (on air/nitrox not exceeding 130′) or 11 dives (with Helitrox not exceeding 170′) including planning and executing staged decompression dives conducted over a 4-7 day period.

Training Agency:

TDI

Additional Details:

Technical Decompression dives will be conducted on air/nitrox to a maximum depth of 40 meters/130 feet, or up to 150′ for those divers wishing to participate in the Helitrox Diver upgrade.

Divers can benefit from a clearer head, due to reduced narcosis and CO2 loading, maximizing gas elimination  gradients and hyperoxic decompression.

This course is your first step beyond the normal recreational sport diving limits.

This course introduces the prospective technical diver to many essential skills which will become instinct in a real technical diving environment. Some examples include: Emergency procedures and Failure drills, Gas Management, Bail out and Contingencies, Proper buoyancy and Fin Technique introduced during your Into to Tech Course, proper gas switches not exceeding MOD and more.

The Prospective Technical Diver must have the proper mind set and educational background and experience level to become a SAFE technical diver. Remembering that the technical diver cannot just simply surface in an emergency situation.

If you’re interested in this program a CD is available upon request with a wealth of information

Students will be expected to have maintained their skills at a level of at least NAUI Intro To Tech prior to the Start of this intensive training process or above.

Students will have to show up ready to dive properly and dive well or you will not pass this course.  All foundation skills must be completed with proper trim, buoyancy, time requirements and in the right gear configuration.

Cost:  1 Person $1500.  2 People $1200.  3-4 People $799+HST TDI Advanced Nitrox/Deco or $1 Person $1800, 2 people $1500, 3-4 people 1199+HST for TDI Advanced Nitrox/Decompression Procedures with NAUI Helitrox Diver (Hyperoxic Trimix >170′).  Course cost includes Certification Fee, Student Materials, online TDI eLearning code or NAUI Student Materials.

Accommodations, Park Entrance Fees, Gas Fills, Transportation and Dive Charter Fees are Extra.

What gear will you need?

You’ll need a Technical Diver setup with double tanks, decompression bottle (properly rigged with MOD).  Gear is to be Simple and Streamlined, complying with equipment configuration requirements.  A full gear list will be given to all candidates.

Where do I go from here?

Here are some popular examples of courses commonly taken by graduates of this course:

  • Helitrox
  • Technical Wreck Penetration
  • Cave1
  • Cave 2
  • Trimix Level 1
  • Advanced Trimix
  • Extreme Exposure Trimix
  • CCR or pSCR Diver
DDS NAUI Intro to Tech Divers exploring the R.H. Rae off Picton in Lake Ontario

NAUI Intro to Tech Course

NAUI Intro to Tech Course

The Naui Intro to Tech Course is a game changer, changing the way recreational divers think about their diving skills and offers the ultimate challenge along with a window into their diving future, we begin unlocking doors to the right skills, the right information, the right techniques, the right knowledge and the right equipment configuration.

Our NAUI Intro To Tech Course presents new challenges for Recreational Divers, while taking a fundamental diving approach to buoyancy, trim, team diving, above and below the surface through above land problem solving and underwater scenarios that require sound solution thinking and finesse, while refining and mastering the rudimentary skills that most Divers tend to lack at the Recreational (and some Technical Agencies) diving level.

Many divers consider our NAUI Intro to Tech Course the turning point in their diving career because it opens divers up to the more exciting challenges ahead like Technical Diving, Wreck Penetration, Trimix, Cave Diving, Technical Sidemount, Ice Diving and Expedition Diving for future dive explorers.

Every aspect of technical diving is introduced in this course, so it offers a window to their diving future laying out a crystal clear path to ultimate perfection.

Our NAUI Intro to Tech Course is available to recreational divers in a single tank with H-valve configuration or for those divers wishing to move into Tech Diving with back mounted Doubles.

Sidemount Option: Available to those with a physical limitation that prohibits use of doubles (a poor fitting drysuit is not a real reason).  A Sidemount Team would be required, as no mixed teams are permitted. Can be combined with NAUI Tec Sidemount Diver.

Our program will help you develop better buoyancy, fin techniques, propulsion methods, all the while Improving Trim, Breaking BAD Habits, Diver Communication, Problem Solving abilities, Risk Management, Dive team Planning, Dive Equipment Streamlining, Horizontal Out of air sharing and more in backmounted doubles.

This course is available privately for individuals or groups locally or wherever you are located.

We are happy to offer this course locally or anywhere else in Canada.  DDS is a mobile shop with the ability to teach anywhere you need us.

This Program has become one of the scuba worlds Most Popular Courses for good reason. We feel Intro to Tech is the BEST Diving course on the market today, designed to challenge the diver with new skills, techniques and awareness. Step up to the plate and challenge yourself to be the best diver you can be.

Pre-requisites

For divers of all skill levels
Must be 18 or Older
Open Water Diver or equivalent
Minimum of 25 logged dives
5 dives on EANx
400 Meter Swim
50′ Underwater Breathold with Gear
NTEC Doubles Primer Completion with DDS Mentorship Endorsement

Training Agency

NAUI TEC

Additional Information:

Our Naui Intro to Tech program offers the candidate a Fundamental approach to refining and mastering the rudimentary skills such as Buoyancy, Fin Technique/Propulsion Methods, Improving Diver Trim, Breaking BAD Habits, Diver Communication, Problem Solving abilities, Risk Management, Dive team Planning and Team Communications, Dive Equipment Streamlining, Rescue Techniques, Horizontal Ascents/Descents, Valve Manipulation drills, Air Sharing and more.

The Naui Intro to Tech program also offers divers a look deeper into diving science, physics, physiology and decompression theory using zero calculation tables, the 120 Rule and NAUI RGBM and other decompression models.

Divers will be introduced to a safer, more versatile and more user friendly/beneficial equipment configuration (NTEC) allowing divers take advantage of the benefits of diving with a long hose (5-7ft), a streamlined back flotation buoyancy system which is the heart of the system, a reel and lift bag for mid-water ascents and drifting decompression stops, proper light requirements and more.

All gear is designed to be streamlined using a Hogarthian approach revolving around the KISS principal to give divers the freedom to improve their skills. Keep It Simple and Streamlined.

This course is conducted only over a period of 4 days making it a rather intensive program. Students must understand that these skills might not be able to be mastered without practice outside of the Naui Intro to Tech program.

All training dives are filmed so divers can see themselves in the water and see the learning curve from pool to open water training sessions. Dives are conducted in shallow water which affords us maximum bottom time for skill development.

This course is intended for divers of any skill level from Open Water Diver to Open Water Instructor and will benefit all who take it, especially divers wishing to progress into more serious aspects of diving requiring this type of discipline, comfort and finesse in the water.

Graduates of this program will also be able to enroll in more advanced programs with the skills and confidence to succeed in those programs including technical diving courses like Technical Decompression Diver, Helitrox, Trimix, not to mention it goes hand in hand with Cavern, Wreck Penetration and our Cave diving courses, which will build on the foundation started with Intro to Tech.

We believe NAUI offers the best scuba diving course progressions offering a little bit more than your other agencies with regards to more theory, more diving and higher standards, while our instructional staff are the countries leading Technical Diving educators and active Explorers.

If  you want a challenging course that will test your skills, knowledge and abilities, NAUI Intro to Tech is the course for you.

Cost:

$650+HST/ea (minimum of 3 students) includes materials and certification fees.

$800+HST/ea (2 students)

$1200+HST Private

Private instruction out of town may bear other additional expenses for travel, meals, fills, etc.

If you’re interested in this program a wealth of information to share.  Start changing your diving habits for the better today with Dan’s Dive Shop and our exceptional progressive dive training.

FREE Divers Alert Network Student Member Insurance

Start changing your diving habits for the better today with Dan’s Dive Shop and our exceptional progressive dive training.

For more information on our training check out our Blog.  Here’s a great starting point: Challenges Will Reward Your Longterm Goals

If you can’t make a local class in Niagara, we can present this program to you anywhere else you may be in Canada or other graphic regions. We routinely offer this program in Georgian Bay, Humber and other locations around Ontario and we’ve taught this course in other province and countries, so ask us and we’ll set something up for you and your group.