TEC

DSAT courses are demanding, intensive, progressive and exciting; incorporating high quality materials with my top-class instruction. The courses are rewarding, exhilarating and highly enjoyable. Delivery is through a balanced mix of independent study, classroom discussion, surface, pool and open water training, producing confident, highly competent, thinking, technical divers. DSAT courses offer the TRAINING you want and the QUALITY you expect.

It is important to remember that technical diving is not something everyone will embrace. Those who are attracted to learn more about this type of diving will find it to be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences in diving.

Training is based in Austin, TX but is not limited to there. Regular venues include Florida and Lake Amistad, TX- enquire about other training venues by emailing us here.

Current Course Schedules

Expanding your Recreational Diving Limits Seminar more info

DSAT Tec 40 (Maximum 4 Students) more info

DSAT Tec 2 (Maximum 3 Students) more info

DSAT Trimix more info

Sidemount (Maximum 6 Students) more info

Intro to Tech

The DSAT Technical Deep Diver Program Overall Description

The DSAT Tec Deep Diver program is a 12 dive course which is conveniently split into 2 parts or sub-courses, Tec 1 (which is 7 dives and which carries the Certification 'DSAT Tec 1') and Tec Deep (which is often called 'Tec 2', and which comprises the remaining 5 dives plus it carries the full 'Tec Deep Diver' certification- hence it being the 'Tec Deep' class).

Tec 1 can be bypassed if the diver is certified at an appropriate technical level by another agency, otherwise successful completion of both Tec 1 and Tec 2 are required for award of the Tec Deep Diver certification. Divers with technical training from another agency can gain direct access to Tec 2 for full Tec Deep certification, but should be aware that the demands of the course in terms of competence are very high. Divers successfully completing Tec 1 will be prepared for the rigors of Tec 2 and the Tec Deep certification.

DSAT TEC 1 $795/student

This course is the first part of the DSAT Tec Deep Diver certification and is principally taught in Austin TX, Florida or Roatan and is designed for those wishing to explore the thrill of technical diving without the need for years of prior experience. That said, the course will very much stretch even the most seasoned and veteran of divers. The maximum student to instructor ratio on this course is 4:1 which ensures the highest level of personal attention and training is given to each student. The course is accessible to PADI Advanced Open Water divers (or equivalent) and in addition requires:

- PADI Enriched Air Diver (or qualifying certification from another organization)

- a minimum of 50 logged dives, of which at least 10 must be enriched air dives, 12 must be deeper than 18 meters/60 feet and at least 6 must be deeper than 30 meters/100 feet

The DSAT Tec 1 diver course is a sub-course of the Tec Deep course comprising 7 dives (minimum) with dives being progressive, challenging, stimulating and highly enjoyable on many levels. The course takes place over two weekends and includes class work as well as practical sessions.
Students learn to dive with back mounted double cylinders plus 2 stage cylinders (or side mount configuration) and will become proficient in all of the technical dive drills and skills required for Tec Deep diver certification and trimix diver including: s-drills, gas shut down drills, ditching and donning stages both static and mobile, NOTOX gas switches, bag deployment, reel use, etc. During the course students will conduct dives of several hours duration and develop the high level of competence and skill for subsequent, successful completion of Tec Deep and trimix. Successful students will learn everything required be able to comprehensively plan and safely execute gas switch, extended no-decompression dives using air and enriched air to 40 meters/130 feet.

DSAT TEC 2 $795/student

DSAT Tec 2 is a sub-course and second part of the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course and takes divers beyond Tec 1 to deeper diving and to using decompression protocols. The maximum student to instructor ratio for this course is 3:1 so you receive highly personalized and tailored training and instruction. Tec Deep takes students well past recreational diving immersing them in the world of technical diving and is accessible to PADI Rescue Divers (or equivalent) who have completed either Tec 1 or have technical diving certification from another agency, plus in addition entry requires:

- PADI Enriched Air Diver (or qualifying certification from another organization)

- a minimum of 100 logged dives of which 20 must be enriched air dives, 25 dives must be deeper than 18 meters/60 feet and at least 15 dives must be deeper than 30 meters/100 feet

The DSAT Tec Deep Diver course is a 5 dive course (minimum) over 3 days. Dives pick up from Tec 1 and are progressive, highly stimulating, increasing complex and very challenging plus are enormously rewarding and enjoyable. The exceptionally high level of skills reached at Tec 1 will enable candidates to ensure successful completion of Tec Deep. During the course students will conduct deep and long dives to 165' involving staged and accelerated decompression using gases up to and including 100% O2. Successful students will be certified to fully plan and safely conduct gas-switch decompression dives and accelerated decompression dives using air, enriched air and oxygen to a depth of 50 meters/165 feet.

DSAT Tec TRIMIX (Hypoxic TMx) $1195/student

For the 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 edges of technical deep diving, opening the door to pristine dive sites that few divers will ever see. To access this uppermost level of certification through DSAT requires significant dedication and commitment to the very highest level of diving skills, knowledge and practices. Students will require:

- 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 to beginning the Tec Trimix Diver course.

The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course is an 8 dive course intended for technical divers certified as DSAT Tec Deep Divers (or qualifying certification from another training organization) extending their depth range capabilities by training them in the use of trimix (helium, oxygen and nitrogen) both normoxic and hypoxic to a maximum depth of 245' in training. Seize the opportunity to perform at the very top levels of diving.

Sidemount $300/student

If you think that sidemount (or SM as it is abbreviated) is just for cave and wreck penetration, then think again. The DSAT sidemount class will take an Open Water diver from back mount to sidemount demonstrating the comfort and ease of this system, the better trim position and buoyancy SM provides, true redundancy from carrying two cylinders that are not specific (use whatever you have, or rent, from anywhere in the world).

The Sidemount course is a 4 dives course conducted over 2 days and includes: Gear rigging, hoses, trim, gas management, gas shut down, gas sharing, ditch and don of tanks, in-water tank management, boat and shore entry, and propulsion techniques including back finning.

FULL GEAR IS PROVIDED for the course including: complete sidemount rigs (Nomads) plus all cam bands and clips etc, cylinders (AL80), 2x sidemount ready regulator sets, and weights, all you need is your regular dive suit and stuff. Or come with whatever of your own gear you wish to use (e.g. regulator(s) etc).

Seriously, explore this, PADI is leading the world in sidemount diving at the recreational level and it is set to take the dive world by storm. OMS has a sidemount rig coming out next month, Oxycheq have two this month, Hollis has one and Diverite has just updated the Nomad.

The sidemount course also offers a transition into technical diving. Once you have learned to dive a sidemount rig adding stage bottles is easy. You will never have to strap a set of heavy twin cylinders on your back. All levels of technical training can be conducted with the use of sidemount rigs.

As an AOW certified diver (or higher) you will want to further explore what the underwater realms have to offer and learn the steps required to reach them. As an Instructor or DM you will be a student of SCUBA and want to learn more this extraordinary and exhilarating pursuit to enrich the experience of those you instruct.

The evening will be a seminar on some alternative dive techniques and some advanced dive procedures; topics will include: decompression diving in both shallow and deep waters, wreck diving, cave and cavern diving, advanced dive planning, equipment plus much more.