PADI Tec Basics - Technical Diving Course on Koh Tao
PADI Tec Basics is a bridge course that introduces recreational divers to technical equipment, tecy procedures, and the mindset of tec diving within recreational depth limits.
It focuses on refining buoyancy and trim while wearing a sidemount rig, serving as an ideal way to test the waters of technical diving without full decompression commitments.
This course is particularly popular for Koh Tao divers who want to improve their gas consumption and streamlining for longer recreational dives.
PADI Tec Basics Course in Koh Tao
PADI Tec Basics at Black Turtle Dive is an entry-level technical diving course on Koh Tao designed to bridge the gap between recreational and technical diving. The program focuses on mastering fundamental equipment configurations, precise buoyancy control, and advanced dive planning, providing the essential foundation required for PADI Tec 40 and beyond.
PADI Tec Basics – Bridging the Gap
PADI Tec Basics is designed and delivered as a bridge and intermediate stepping-stone for divers who want to begin honing and refining their diving skills with the aspiration and goal of transitioning toward the dedicated and disciplined world of Technical Diving.
The course focuses on development of and exposure to the fundamental elements that define Technical Divers.
These elements include perfect and precise buoyancy control, enhanced and streamlined equipment configuration, adaptive and advanced propulsion techniques, and elevated and heightened environmental and situational awareness.
Although PADI Tec Basics is often taken as preparation for the PADI Tec 40 Diver course, it is also an exceptional and excellent standalone program for divers who simply want to become more controlled, confident, and efficient underwater.
PADI Tec Basics for Aspiring Technical Divers
Technical Diving as a discipline requires a high level of comfort, confidence, control, dedication and teamwork, both in and out of the water.
During the PADI Tec Basics course on Koh Tao, you will begin building and developing these attributes and characteristics of an aspiring Technical Diver, while learning how to dive competently, confidently and safely with a Technical Diving equipment configuration.
These include multi-cylinder setups, rigging and use of decompression cylinders, as well as backup and redundant equipment systems, and their management and use throughout a dive.
By the conclusion of the course, you will have built the core competencies, fundamental foundational skills, and competence and confidence in the water, that form the core of initial entry-level training for any aspiring Technical Diver.
Included in the PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao
- PADI Tec Basics eLearning & PADI Tec Basics Diver Manual
- Minimum 4 x Dives at varying shallow skills focused and advanced deep dive sites around Koh Tao
- PADI Tec Basics Certification eCard
- Rental and use of all required Technical Diving equipment, including Sidemount Harness & Sidemount Regulators, 100% O2 Compatible Decompression Regulator + required backup / redundant equipment, including Dive Computer(s), Reels, SMBs, Slates etc. + Decompression Cylinders & Gases
- FREE rental and use of 2 x Dive Computers required throughout the course
- 2 x Students per PADI TecRec Instructor, and / or max. 4 x Students per PADI TecRec Instructor + PADI TecRec Certified Assistant
- Black Turtle Dive Customer & Environmental Promise + FREE Black Turtle Tech T-Shirt
Pre-Requisites for PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver with PADI Rescue Diver recommended
- PADI Enriched Air Diver
- 15 years old
- Medically fit to dive
**Please note that qualifying certification(s) from another agency can be used to meet the prerequisites for the PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao – please contact us for clarification / confirmation, or with any additional questions.
PADI Tec Basics Course Schedule & Structure
At Black Turtle Dive, we conduct the PADI Tec Basics course over a minimum of 2 x days, incorporating and including what we find to be an educational, informative and productive combination of theory sessions and equipment workshops, alongside practical in-water training.
Day 1:
08:00-11:30 – Equipment & Theory
12:30-17:30 – 2 x PADI Training Dives
Day 2:
08:00-11:30 – Equipment & Theory
12:30-17:30 – 2 x Additional Black Turtle Dive Training Dives
The course consists of three sections, and is divided and delivered as follows:
PADI Tec Basics Knowledge Development
During your independent study element of the course, you will complete the PADI Tec Basics Knowledge Development materials and begin to explore and understand the core concepts that underpin Technical Diving.
This includes but is not limited to equipment configuration, advanced buoyancy and propulsion techniques and understanding of dive planning principles and procedures, specifically contingency and emergency planning, and how to manage and mitigate these potentially adverse circumstances.
As you progress into the practical in-water elements of the course, these concepts will be examined and explored in more detail during your dives with our in-house PADI TecRec Instructor.
PADI Tec Basics Equipment & Theory
During these sessions our in-house PADI TecRec Instructor will introduce and familiarise you to the Technical Diving equipment configuration that you will be using throughout the course, including how to customise, modify and tailor it to your unique physiology, and your preferred and required body position, streamlining and trim in the water.
Once configured and set, you will then begin drills and skills that emphasise the importance and use of the concepts of redundancy, gas management, and efficient and streamlined equipment setups that are used in Technical Diving.
PADI Tec Basics Confined & Open Water Training
Throughout the course you will complete a series of skills development dives that are designed to enhance and refine: buoyancy control, trim, propulsion techniques and team diving procedures.
These sessions will also enhance and increase your appreciation of dive planning and execution, all while using full Technical Diving equipment, to give you the experience, appreciation and understanding of what Technical Diving entails and requires.
All these dives will be under the direct supervision of our in-house PADI TecRec Instructor, including detailed briefings, debriefings, and analysis, to aid and inform your development and journey into the elite realms of Technical Diving.
Throughout the course, these dives and skills will also all be practiced in accordance with the Black Turtle Dive Neutral Buoyancy Philosophy, ensuring that you develop exceptional and best-in-class Technical Diving prowess.
This will enable you to push deeper and further into your PADI TecRec training pathway and unlock the destinations and dives that you are dreaming of.
The Building Blocks of Your Technical Diving Destination
PADI Tec Basics on Koh Tao is focused on developing the precision and discipline that Technical Diving requires.
During this course, you will practice and master:
- Advanced buoyancy control
- Trim and body positioning
- Effective and efficient propulsion techniques
- Equipment configuration and streamlining
- Situational awareness and team communication
These skills form the foundational Technical Diving toolkit that you will carry forward as a diver in preparation for more advanced decompression diving training.
What Next After PADI Tec Basics Course?
The PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao provides an excellent intermediate and preparatory step before progression into the PADI Tec 40 Diver Course.
At this stage you will begin your full immersion into Technical Diving and your introduction to staged decompression diving, before gradually progressing your dives of both depth and duration, with the more advanced PADI Tec 45 Diver and PADI Tec 50 Diver certifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I learn during the PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao?
During the PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao you will focus on honing and refining the essential diving skills that form the foundation for both advanced Recreational Diving and Technical Diving.
These skills include but are not limited to the following: advanced buoyancy control and breathing techniques, streamlining and trim, effective and efficient propulsion techniques, and enhanced and improved environmental and situational awareness underwater.
You will also learn about Technical Diving equipment configurations and how Technical Divers manage, prepare and organise their equipment to ensure redundancy and safety.
The course is designed and delivered to help you become a more controlled, confident and efficient diver, while also preparing you for future Technical Diving courses, such as PADI Tec 40 Diver and beyond.
How long does the PADI Tec Basics Course take on Koh Tao?
The PADI Tec Basics course typically takes 2 days to complete on Koh Tao.
During this time you will participate in independent study and Knowledge Development Sessions, as well as Equipment & Theory Workshops, alongside multiple drills and skills development Training Dives designed to improve your buoyancy, control, trim and overall diving awareness, techniques and understanding.
This will all be conducted under the expert instruction and supervision of our in-house PADI TecRec Instructor, who will work closely with you throughout the course to develop and refine these skills in a productive and relaxed training environment.
What is the cost of the PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao?
The cost of the PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao is: 15,000 THB.
This is an all-inclusive price and includes eLearning, instructor fees, equipment rental, dive trips and dive accident insurance for the duration of the course.
Food and accommodation are not included, although we can help to recommend accommodation options on Koh Tao.
Please note that Continuing-Education and Returning Students may also qualify for additional discounts, please contact us to discuss your eligibility for this.
How many dives are included in the PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao?
The PADI Tec Basics Course on Koh Tao includes a minimum of 4 x Training Dives, which include 2 x Additional Black Turtle Dive Training Dives, over and above the mandated and required minimum of 2 x PADI Training Dives.
These dives will all focus on developing and refining the essential Technical Diving procedures and skills required for more advanced training.
As with all courses and experiences at Black Turtle Dive, our focus is on ensuring that students feel comfortable and confident with the skills they are learning, and are developing and progressing at a pace at which they feel is conducive and constructive to building and enhancing their abilities.
Additional practice and training dives can always be added and considered in consultation with our in-house PADI TecRec Instructor, if required.
Is the PADI Tec Basics Course a prerequisite for PADI Tec 40 Diver Course?
The PADI Tec Basics Course is not a mandatory or required prerequisite for the PADI Tec 40 Diver Course on Koh Tao.
However, it is highly recommended for divers who feel they may want to improve their basic Technical Diving foundational and fundamental skills, or alternatively do not feel fully confident transitioning into full PADI TecRec training, and would like an intermediate stepping-stone in between.
This will provide additional time both in and out of the water, gaining the requisite knowledge and skills to make the more advanced and challenging PADI TecRec Courses easier and more enjoyable.
Many divers choose to complete the PADI Tec Basics Course to build stable and strong buoyancy, control and equipment management techniques, in order to then make the transition to PADI Tec 40 Diver and beyond significantly smoother and more satisfying and rewarding as a result.
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