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The PADI Tec 45 course is the second part of the full PADI Tec Deep Diver program. You'll extend your depth limit to 45 metres/145 feet and learn to plan and execute repetitive decompression dives using a single stage/decompression cylinder. It puts you in a complete tec diving rig, which can be either backmount or sidemount.
This is a course where you'll rise to the challenge and make the commitment to become a technical diver.
You'll learn how to calculate dive plans “by hand”. However the emphasis in this course is on using state-of-the-art multigas dive computers coupled with decompression software. You will continue using air, enriched air and oxygen to practice accelerated decompression permitted with a single decompression gas to depths as deep as 45 meters/145 feet.
Course Prerequisites
Student divers must meet the following training prerequisites before starting the PADI Tec 45 course:
- Certified as a Tec 40 diver or provide a qualifying certification from another training organization. For the purpose of this level, a qualifying technical certification is one that qualifies the student to make limited decompression dives to 40 meters/130 feet using air and EANx using open circuit scuba equipment.
- Certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or provide a qualifying certification from another training organization. For this course, a qualifying certification is proof of training in diver rescue. Students who meet this prerequisite through a qualifying certification must provide proof of training in CPR and First Aid within the previous two years.
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Have minimum of 50 logged dives, of which at least 12 dives were made with enriched air nitrox deeper than 18 meters/60 feet, and at least 10 dives (with or without EANx) dives that were deeper than 30 meters/100 feet.
Tec 45 Equipment Requirements
- Double cylinder of at least 12 liter/70 cubic feet each, with isolator manifold. The isolator manifold is not required for divers using sidemount configuration.
- Primary and secondary regulators for back mounted double manifolds, one with two meter/seven foot hose for air sharing and one with SPG. Note: In sidemount configuration, one reulator must have the two meter/seven foot hose, and both regulators must have an SPG.
- Stage/decompression cylinder(s) (1 for Tec 45, 2 for Tec 50) with regulator and SPG, with proper labels/markings.
- Tec diving BCD(s) and harness (backmount or sidemount)
- Two multigas enriched air capable dive computers, or one multigas enriched air computer and a back up single gas computer with dive tables, or one single gas enriched air computer and a backup timer and depth gauge with dive tables.
- Exposure suit appropriate for environment and dive duration (if students will use dry suits, they should be trained/experienced in their use in recreational diving prior to using them for Tec training or diving).
- Argon dry suit inflation system (as needed for environment)
- Weight system (if needed). Note: Students and staff should weight for the contingency of decompressing with near-empty primary cylinders and empty or absent stage/deco cylinders.
- Jon line (as needed for environment)
- Inflatable signal tube, whistle and/or other visual and audible surface signaling devices. Note that a sausage type DSMB may double for the inflatable signal tube.
- Reel and lift bag (bright yellow preferred) or DSMB. A suitable DSMB has sufficient buoyancy to help steady a diver during drifting decompression, and is unlikely to spill when deployed from the underwater.
- Knife/cutting device and back up
- Slate
- Backup mask (optional)
- Compass
- Lights (optional-as required for dive environment)
- Backup buoyancy control. The student must have a reliable means for controlling buoyancy and maintaining decompression stops in midwater with a failed primary BCD. This is usually accomplished with a backup BCD (double wings) or, when using light weight cylinders, the use of a dry suit is permitted. Note: A lift bag/DSMB is not considered a reliable method of backup buoyancy control.
Required Paperwork
- Liability Release and Assumption of Risk for Technical Diving
- Standard Safe Technical Diving Practices Statement of Understanding
- Technical Diver Statement of Understanding and Learning Agreement
- PADI Medical Statement (must be completed by your physician)
Course Material
- PADI Tec Deep Crewpak
Training Dives
Tec 45 Training Dive 1
- Environment: Confined water or limited open water
- Minimum Depth: 2.5 metres/8 feet
- Maximum Depth: 10 metres/30 feet
- Decompression: No stop only
- Gases: Air or EANx, recommended that all blends be breathable at maximum dive depth
Tec 45 Training Dive 2
- Environment: Open water
- Minimum Depth: 12 metres/40 feet
- Maximum Depth: 18 metres/60 feet
- Decompression: No stop only
- Gases: Air or EANx, recommended that all blends be breathable to maximum dive depth
Tec 45 Training Dive 3
- Environment: Open Water
- Minimum Depth: 18 metres/60 feet
- Maximum Depth: 30 metres/100 feet
- Decompression: No stop only
- Gases: Air, Air, EANx or oxygen
Tec 45 Training Dive 4
- Environment: Open water
- Minimum Depth: 27 metres/90 feet
- Maximum Depth: 45 metres/145 feet
- Decompression: Single gas decompression, gas switch for conservatism
- Gases: Air, EANx or oxygen
Contact us to get your Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak that includes a PADI Tec Deep Diver Manual, which you can start reading right away. You'll continue to use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak through your Tec 50 course.