What is SoCal Tec Divers? 

SCTD is a dive club focused on technical diving.  We provide advanced training and mentoring to those that seek us out.

What is Technical Diving?

In 1993, Michael Menduno's aquaCorps journal published an article that defined technical diving as

A discipline that uses special methods and equipment to improve diver safety and performance enabling the user to conduct dives in an environment and perform tasks beyond the scope of traditional recreational limits.

To better understand this definition, we need to review a few of the components: 

Traditional Recreational Limits

• Dive no deeper than 130ft
• All dives within No-Decompression Limits
• No virtual or actual ceiling - A direct ascent to the surface is possible at all times
• No cave diving or wreck penetration
• Breathing gas is limited to air or Nitrox (less than 40% O2)

Special Equipment

• Double Cylinders
• Backplate & Wing
• Long Hose
• Decompression/Stage Cylinders (as required)

Special Methods

• Gas management
• Decompression techniques
• Gas switch procedures
• Buoyancy and trim
• Team Awareness
• Proper dive planning
• Contingency planning

Exceeding the recreational limits without the right equipment and proper training is not a technical dive, it's a dangerous dive. Please take the time to get the proper training and plan your dives accordingly

SoCal Technical Divers is here to help fill the technical dive training void, providing thorough training and mentorship, helping to ensure that divers with the motivation and discipline to make safe technical dives have the right training and information to meet their goals.

How much time will training take?

The Introduction to Technical Diving course is designed to only take 4 days. This includes two 4-hour classroom sessions, one 3-hour pool session, and four open water skills dives. Keep in mind that this is a minimum schedule. It is highly likely that additional dives will be required prior to certification. The Technical Diver is far more intensive, with five Academic sessions and a minimum of 14 Open Water dives.

What kind of experience should I have?

Divers interested in pursuing technical diving should have a minimum of 100 dives with excellent buoyancy control and trim. Basic Nitrox certifications and Rescue training are also required. A typical technical student holds a divemaster certification.

Is technical diving dangerous?

Diving in general is a dangerous sport. Fortunately, accidents are very rare, however the consequences in technical diving are severe. Proper training, equipment, and procedures can help reduce the risks involved with decompression and overhead diving.