"and above all else, to thine own self be true"
- Wm. Shakespeare

If you've clicked here, you are already a technical diver looking at what we have to offer or either an experienced diver looking to expand your horizons, or a new diver who is just curious.

All the same we are bound together by the challenge of the next step and our curiosity as humans.

WHAT'S TECH?

After many offered definitions, the community at large has come to an agreed consensus, that loosely states; "Any dive that exceeds the recreational limit of 130ft/40m, that is within an overhead enviroment, either virtual(deco), or literal(cave),using gases other than air, and using accelerated gases for the facilitation of decompression, can be described as a technical dive.

WHY TECH?
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance"

The Yucatan Peninsula lies on a limestone platform which was formed millions of years ago. During several glacial periods oceans varied greatly. During
the ice age the ocean levels were 300ft/91m lower than today. Approximately 18,000 years ago the ice began to melt and eventually rose to it's current
level, flooding the passages and creating a massive network of subterranean rivers unlike anywhere on earth. It has also provided us with an amazing
topography on the awesome walls within our reefs. The freedom to explore these wonders safely is acquired through a discipline, achieved through advanced and methodical training, commonly called "Tech".

IS TECH FOR ME?
"The more you sweat, the less you bleed"      - Richard Marcinko

At the center of safety in technical diving is an honest self assesment. It requires discipline and the constant persuit of excellence. Although the basic skills required in technical diving are the same as in recreational diving, the level of performance and precision warranted in the performance of the same is exponentially higher, in what can quickly become a very unforgiving enviroment. It has been said that divers, educators and organizations underestimate the degree of skill required to dive competently in any enviroment, we cuncurr with that observation. Lastly, risk. There is increased risk associated with any extreme activity. Have you thought out the implications of these to you and your loved ones?

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE?
"If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you; If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you"
- Gospel of St. Thomas

First, experience. At the bare minimum, to be qualified as A.O.W. with at least 100 dives 20 of those to the 90-130ft/30-40m range and to be currently an active diver.

Second, ability. The ability to maintain correct diaphragmatic breathing. The ability to maintain neutral buoyancy while having 500psig in the tank,
with little or no air in the BCD, through proper weighting and buoyancy control. Insuring proper, quality safety/deco stops. The ability to maintain a horizontal position while swimming and hovering. To do the frog kick, and execute a 360o helicopter turn using only ankles and fins("Look Ma, no hands".)

Third, fitness. You should be in good cardiovascular shape, preferrably a non smoker, with dietary habits that excludes junk/fast food, and anything above two glasses of wine with dinner can be considered substance abuse. The participant at the very least should be able to swim with no aids 900ft/280m in less than 10 minutes, and accomplish a breathhold
swim(horizontal) of 50ft/15m.

Diving at this level is more than a sport, it's a discipline. Don't let the word put you off, it's still fun. Disciplined fun!

CAVERN DIVER COURSE

Purpose: To teach the safe exploration of the cavern enviroment within specified limits. This course is an extension of recreational diving designed for the use of single tanks. The course develops and establishes minimum skills, knowledge, dive planing abilities, problem solving procedures and the basic abilities to safety cavern dive. Unlike the other NACD courses, prospective students may be encouraged to enroll in the Cavern Diver Course. The NACD feels that this course is incomparable to other open water specialty classes and will have significant safety benefit for all active scuba divers who enroll, even if they do not continue to dive in the overhead enviroment. Promoting students to continue training or diving in the overhead enviroment beyond this level is a violation of NACD ethical standards. Course duration: This course may be taught over a period of two days. Pre-requisites: A. Open water certification. B. Minimun age 16, with signed parental consent. Provisional status certification for younger divers with approval of NACD training director only.

INTRODUCTION-TO-CAVE DIVING COURSE

Purpose: To develop basic cave diving skills with limited penetrtions in the cave enviroment. This is the second level of the progression to the full cave diver certification. It is a recreational cave diving course. The course develops and establishes minimum skills, knowledge, dive planning abilities, problem solving procedures and the basic abilities necessary to safely cave dive to limited penetrations, using single tanks. Course duration: Minimum time: two days Pre-requisites: A. NACD cavern diver or equivalent. B. Minimim of 25 logged non training dives. C. Minimum age eighteen unless waived training director.

CAVE DIVER COURSE

Purpose: To teach the openwater diver the necessary skills to safely dive in the overhead (cave) enviroment. Course duration: May be taught in a week long program, (6-8 staright days); or in a modular program consisting of cavern, intro-to-cave and full cave. Pre-requisites: A. Advanced open water or equivalent, or intro-to-cave or equivalent, if entering from the modular program. B. 18 years of age.

       PADI International Resort Association #19398 and I.A.N.T.D. Platinum Technical Training Facility#539

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