I-dive - Dive with us - Technical Courses

Technical Courses

Tec Deep Level 1

Why DSAT TecDeep Level 1?

If you're interested in technical diving, but haven't yet met the prerequisites for the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course, you can consider enrolling in the DSAT Apprentice Tec Diver course. It is also a sub course of the full DSAT Tec Deep Diver course.

What do I need to start?

•  PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another organisation)
• PADI Enriched Air Diver (or qualifying certification from another organisation)
• PADI Deep Diver (or qualifying certification from another organisation)
• Have a minimum of 50 logged dives, of which at least 10 must be enriched air dives, 12 must be deeper than 18 metres/60 feet and at least 6 must be deeper than 30 metres/100 feet
• Minimum age: 18 years old

What will I do?

You'll learn to make gas-switch, extended no-decompression dives using air and enriched air to 40 metres/130 feet. You'll also prepare for and respond to foreseeable technical diving emergencies. Since it's part of the TecDeep Diver course, your DSAT TecDeep Level Diver course training credits count towards the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course.

What will I need?

• Tec Deep Student Crew-Pack, which includes student manual, planning slate and checklist slate.

Why DSAT Tec Deep Diver?

The DSAT Tec Deep Diver course takes you past recreational diving and immerses you in the world of technical diving.

What do I need to start?

• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another organisation)
• PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another organisation)
• PADI Enriched Air Diver (or qualifying certification from another organisation)
• PADI Deep Diver (or qualifying certification from another organisation)
• Have a minimum of 100 logged dives of which 20 must be enriched air dives, 25 dives must be deeper than 18 metres/60 feet and at least 15 dives must be deeper than 30 metres/100 feet
• Minimum age: 18 years old

What will I do?

After successful completion of the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course you'll be able to conduct gas-switch extended no-decompression dives, decompression dives and accelerated decompression dives using air and enriched air to a depth of 50 metres/165 feet. You'll also understand the hazards and risks involved in technical diving, as well as how to prepare for and handle reasonable foreseeable technical diving emergencies.

What will I need?

• Tec Deep Student Crew-Pack, which includes student manual, planning slate and checklist slate.

Why DSAT Tec Trimix Diver Course?

For the extreme diver ready to further explore the world of technical deep diving, the gas of choice is trimix. The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course takes you to the outer edges of technical deep diving, opening the door to pristine dive sites few divers – if any – ever see.

What do I need to start?

Certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or have a qualifying certification in diver rescue and accident management from another organization *. Students who meet this through a qualifying non-PADI certification need to provide proof of CPR and first aid training within the previous two years.

Certified as a DSAT Tec Deep Diver or have a qualifying certification in deep decompression diving using air/enriched air from another organization *. Students who qualify through a qualifying certification other than DSAT Tec Deep Diver must read the entire DSAT Tec Deep Diver Manual and complete the Knowledge Reviews prior the beginning the Tec Trimix Diver Course.

Equipment Requirements?

• Double cylinders (minimum 12ltr each, with larger preferred) with isolator manifold
• Primary and secondary regulator, one with two metres/seven foot hose (approx.) for gas sharing, and one SPG.
• Stage/decompression cylinders with regulator, SPG, mounting hardware and proper labelling/markings. Two per diver will be required
• Backup decompression cylinders as appropriate and required for the environment
• BCD and harness - redundant buoyancy control is required (double bladder BCD or dry suit if suitable for weight of equipment worn)
• Depth gauge/computer and backup depth gauge/computer
• Timing device and backup timing device
• Trimix decompression information (tables/trimix computer) and backup decompression information
• Exposure suit appropriate for environment and dive duration. (If students will use dry suits, they should be trained/experienced with their use in recreational and technical diving prior to using them for trimix training or diving.)
• Argon dry suit inflation or other inflation system as needed (students should not inflate dry suit with trimix)
• Weight system (if needed)
• Jon line (if needed for current diving environments)
• Inflatable signal tube
• Reel
• Lift bag (bright yellow or per local community practise preferred)
• Knife/cutting device and backup
• Slate
• Backup mask (optional)
• Compass
• Lights (optional)
• Drift kit (if drift decompressing)

What will I do?

The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course is intended to extend the depth range available to technical divers trained and qualified to use air, enriched air and oxygen for technical decompression dives beyond 50 metres/165 feet in open water. The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course is intended for technical divers certified as DSAT Tec Deep Divers (or qualifying certification from another training organization). The course extends their depth range capabilities by training them in the use of trimix (helium, oxygen and nitrogen).

What will I need?

Tec Trimix Student Manual and the Tec Deep Diver Manual

Why DSAT Gas Blender?

More people are diving with enriched air and this means the demand for enriched air fills is also increasing. However, there needs to be someone qualified to administer these fills to meet this demand. This is where the DSAT Gas Blender course comes in. It can result in one of two certifications: DSAT Gas Blender or DSAT Trimix Blender.

What do I need to start?

• PADI Enriched Air Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another organization)
• Minimum age: 18 years old

What will I do?

The DSAT Gas Blender course will train you as a qualified gas blender, allowing you to provide gas mixes to appropriately certified consumers. You'll learn the physical properties of oxygen, its associated hazards, handling requirements and what cleaning equipment is necessary. Finally, you will learn the five methods of obtaining the desired enriched air nitrox mix and the various methods used to obtain proper helium mixes.

What will I need?

DSAT Gas Blender Manual Gas Mix Calculator.

Program Prices Do Not Include Course Required Materials, Certification Fees or Processing Fees.

A report from DSAT TDD Consultant, Immi Wallin

A two day expedition to a cargo ship Eira lying in about 50 meters depth in the Gulf of Finland was conducted in the beginning of March. S/S Eira is a 116,5m steam ship which sunk due to bottom hit on 9th of December 1969. It was on it’s way from Gotland, Sweden to Koverhar, Finland with limestone as cargo. The wreck is in very good condition and a popular dive site especially for technical divers.


Hanna and Rasa exiting while ice forming at the surface the second day of the trip when there were no wind.
Often at this time of the year (February-March) the sea has ice cover, but this year the ice at the open sea was forming literally as we dived during our second day. The air temperature was -10◦C and the water at the surface -1◦C and at the bottom 2◦C. We had a great opportunity to use the local Search and Rescue Vessel Russaro which proved to be an excellent ice breaker too… The first day we had blue sky, bright sun shine and some brisk wind. The second day there were no wind at all and the ice started to form covering the whole sea area in the afternoon when heading back to Hanko, the southest peninsula in Finland. The dives went really well taking in consideration the circumstances. The first day we had one regulator freezing which was not causing any serious problem. When surfacing the freezed first stage had about 5 cms of ice covering it all over. Both days we had some difficulties in the beginning of the second dive with opening the stage clips which had freezed during the surface interval. The most proven method to melt the stage’s clip is to put it into your mouth for a minute or so. I had a ROV with me which I used the second day to visit some deeper parts of the wreck and keep company to my fellow divers at the deco stops.

NEW- DSAT Programme the MOST ACCESSIBLE training yet for recreational divers looking to expand their practices, experiences, techniques and horizons.  Read on!