Technical Diving & Trimix courses in Maryland

Technical Diver & Trimix Diver Training

Technical Diver Programs

The UTD Technical Diver program consists of a three step process - Technical Diver 1 (Tech 1), Technical Diver 2 (Tech 2), and Tech Gold. These are building block classes that introduce a diver to deeper depths and staged decompression in a slow progression, first working on bottom skills, then ascent skills and finally mid-water skills. Upon completion of Tech 1 and Tech 2, divers are trained and qualified to dive to a depth of 160’/48m breathing Helitrox 25/25, Trimix 21/35, and 18/45 with a single decompression gas of Nitrox 50 or 100% O2. During Tech 2, divers may elect to train with a stage bottle so that they can conduct multiple technical dives in the same day. After 25 Tech 2 dives, divers may also take Tech Gold, which allows two decompression bottles on a dive (Nitrox 50 and 02). UTD's Tech program limits divers to 30 minutes of total decompression. The Tech Gold course is a great class for someone looking for “cleaner” dives when conducting multiple technical dives in a single day while not looking to push deeper depths found in the Trimix Diver courses.

Course Fee: $1500 for both Tech 1 & 2

Course fee includes: Instruction only

Additional fees: Certification processing, gas fills, any travel expenses, educational materials, rental gear, and dive site admission/charter fee

Minimum age: 21

Tech 1:

The Technical Diver course begins with Tech 1 training as your next step in your technical dive training after the Essentials of Technical Diving course. During your Tech 1 training, you will be introduced to more advanced dive theory, methods, and procedures for conducting planned decompression dives to a maximum depth of 130 fsw using Helitrox and a single decompression gas . You will learn how to plan and conduct short decompression dives with a total of only 30 minutes of deco. Since a deco bottle is added in this course, you will learn how to manipulate the bottle underwater and what effect it has on buoyancy and trim. The course is designed for the diver who has spent time on expanding/developing their personal or fundamental skills learned in their Essentials of Tec course. The Tech 1 course really pushes critical skills development and is designed to truly develop the technical diver.

Some students ask us, "why do staged decompression dives?" By learning the procedures for performing decompression dives, you will be able to stay longer at depth and have the knowledge, equipment, and skills to make a proper ascent. This means that you can enjoy wrecks or reefs beyond the recreational limits and get to those sites you have always wanted to visit. Remember, anyone can go deep but only with proper training can you come back to do it again - Submerged will teach you how to go there and back safely!

Course Fee: $850

Course fee includes: Instruction only

Additional fees: Certification processing, gas fills, any travel expenses, educational materials, rental gear, and dive site admission/charter fee

Minimum age: 21

**Students can complete the Technical 1 and 2 program together for a course fee of only $1500. This will save you $200 on course fees. This combined program is very intense and is designed for technical divers who excelled during the Essentials to Tec program.**

Tech 2:

The Tech 2 training is your next step in your UTD Technical Diver training which is conducted after the Tech 1 course. During your Tech 2 training, you will be introduced to more advanced dive theory, methods, and procedures for conducting planned decompression dives to a maximum depth of 160 fsw using various trimix breathing gases to include 21/35 and 18/45 as standard bottom gases. You will learn how to plan and conduct these decompression dives using a single decompression gas and you will learn how to manage a stage bottle if you desire in order to conduct multiple technical dives in a day. This course expands the student’s depth limit understanding of decompression and gas logistics. Again, a great deal of time will be spent on expanding the diver's team skills that the he learned in the Tech I course but an emphasis is placed on mid-water skills.

Some students ask us, "why team skills, shouldn't I be able to do this stuff all by myself?" By learning the procedures for performing decompression dives as a team, you will be able to function even better as a diver. The team promotes redundancy, safety, and efficiency during any dive. This means that you can safely enjoy wrecks or reefs beyond the recreational limits and get to those sites you have always wanted to visit.

Course Fee: $850

Course fee includes: Instruction only

Additional fees: Certification processing, gas fills, any travel expenses, educational materials, rental gear, and dive site admission/charter fee

Minimum age: 21

Tech Gold:

Do you want the ability to have even “cleaner” profiles while conducting multiple technical dives in a single day? Are you not ready for the jump to Trimix Diver but want the advantages of two decompression gases for your 160 fsw dives? The Tech Gold course is designed to be a two day course that focuses on skill development for two decompression gases without adding any addition depth rating. Students find this course to be a helpful step between Tech 2 and Trimix 1 but it is not prerequisite for the Trimix Diver course series.

Course Fee: $500

Course fee includes: Instruction only

Additional fees: Certification processing, gas fills, any travel expenses, educational materials, rental gear, and dive site admission/charter fee

Minimum age: 21

Trimix Diver

Just like the Technical Diver program, the UTD’s Trimix Diver program is also a multi-step process, consisting of Trimix 1, Trimix 2, and Trimix Gold. This building block concept adds depth and complexity in small steps, building on the Technical Diver’s existing skill set. A student may take these classes individually, allowing time between to gain experience, or may combine Trimix 1 and 2 into one 6-day class, called Trimix Diver if the student is prepared for an intense training path.

Trimix 1 takes divers to 200'/60m with a maximum of one hour of decompression while Trimix 2 moves divers to 250'/75m with a 90-minute decompression limit. Finally, Trimix Gold is the unlimited open circuit diver certification level allowing students unlimited depth, gases, and decompression/stage bottles.

Course Fee: $1750

Course fee includes: Instruction only

Additional fees: Certification processing, gas fills, any travel expenses, educational materials, rental gear, and dive site admission/boat charter fees

Minimum age: 21

Trimix 1:

After the successful completion of Tech 2 and the students have conducted some dives outside of training to further develop their awareness and skills as a technical diver, they can take the Trimix 1 & 2 course (Trimix Diver). Trimix 1 allows the diver to extend their depth range and perform staged decompression dives to a maximum depth of 200 fsw. During training, we will examine more advanced dive theory, methods, and procedures for performing extended range dives that require multiple decompression gases, stage bottles to extend bottom time, and multiple oxygen windows. The hazards associated with these types of dives and the careful planning they require are covered in extensive detail. During this course you will continue to refine your decompression techniques and further develop key skills for technical diving. A diver's fundamental skills must be solid at this level since this course will add more levels of complexity - depth, time, equipment, etc...

One of the major benefits of diving with a helium based mix is that it allows you to perform deeper dives while significantly reducing – almost eliminating – the effects of nitrogen narcosis. By reducing the narcotic effect of your breathing gas, you can maintain your cognitive ability and your ability to perform fine motor skills, thereby increasing your awareness and safety on a dive. Not to mention the major benefit of being able to remember your dive.

Course Fee: $950

Course fee includes: Instruction only

Additional fees: Certification processing, gas fills, any travel expenses, educational materials, rental gear, and dive site admission/boat charter fees

Minimum age: 21

**Students can complete the Trimix 1 and 2 program together for a course fee of only $1750. This will save you $150 on course fees. This combined program is very intense and is designed for technical divers who excelled during the Technical Diver program.**

Trimix 2:

After the successful completion of Trimix 1 and students further developed their awareness and skills as a Trimix 1 diver, they can take the Trimix 2 course. Trimix 2 allows the diver to extend their depth range and perform staged decompression dives to a maximum depth of 250 fsw. During training, we will examine more advanced dive theory, methods, and procedures for performing extended range dives that require multiple decompression gases, stage bottles to extend bottom time, and multiple oxygen windows. The hazards associated with these types of dives and the careful planning they require are covered in extensive detail. During this course you will continue to refine your decompression techniques and further develop key skills for technical diving. Multiple bottle handling is heavily emphasized at this level.

Course Fee: $950

Course fee includes: Instruction only

Additional fees: Certification processing, gas fills, any travel expenses, educational materials, rental gear, and dive site admission/boat charter fees

Minimum age: 21

Trimix Gold:

Trimix Gold is the unlimited open circuit diver certification level allowing students unlimited depth, gases, and decompression/stage bottles needed to preform the dive at hand. This is a pinnacle diving course that few people reach and those divers that successfully complete this training are truly some of the best divers around. Join the elite divers conducting exploration dives all over the world by completing the Trimix Gold course.

Course Fee: $500

Course fee includes: Instruction only

Additional fees: Certification processing, gas fills, any travel expenses, educational materials, rental gear, and dive site admission/boat charter fees

Minimum age: 21