WHY TAKE THIS COURSE?

Recent increased ocean exploration at greater depths has revealed a variety of hidden treasures, including deep pristine reefs, well-preserved wrecks, and valuable historical artifacts. However, venturing deeper bears inherent risks that can be mitigated with proper training, knowledge, teamwork, and gradual experience.

The open-circuit GUE Tech 1 course prepares ambitious divers to begin their path to technical diving safely, with confidence, and with a base of solid skills and knowledge. This course also paves the way to GUE rebreather courses, to advanced technical GUE training, and to GUE project and exploration diving

WHO IS IT FOR?

Divers looking for more sites to explore will enjoy the GUE Tech 1 course, as it will enable longer stays at recreational depths and exploration into depths beyond recreational limits. This class is best suited for divers who don’t want the added complexity of a rebreather, or would prefer more open circuit training prior to switching to a rebreather.

The Technical Diver Level 1 course requires a certification at GUE Technical Fundamentals level and a minimum of 100 experience dives. Divers embarking on a technical path must be prepared to handle emergencies and execute dives during which they will not be able to make a direct ascent due to decompression obligations. This type of diving requires an increased level of physical fitness, as there is more equipment to handle, and decompression stress is increased.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Technical Diver Level 1 is a six-day class designed to prepare you to dive to a maximum of 170’ using trimix and a single nitrox decompression gas (either 50% nitrox, or 100% pure oxygen). We’ll cover the theory and in-water skills essential for technical diving — dives where the surface is no longer an immediate option. We’ll build on your knowledge and skill from GUE Fundamentals and improve your ability to plan dives and anticipate gas needs in emergency and non-emergency scenarios. You’ll learn how to manage failures using a double-tank configuration with the isolation manifold. We’ll cover the three major risks of technical diving (running out of breathing gas, exposure, and decompression illness) and how to mitigate each.

The first two days of this course are focused primarily on introducing critical in-water technical diving skills; the gas switch, manifold failure management, reel use, entanglement resolution, etc. Then, we’ll spend days four and five building your ability to perform precision ascents, and reinforcing the skills we’ve already introduced. The first four days are essential in order to prepare for your experience dives.

The final two days of the class are focused on building real-world technical diving experience. On day five, we’ll perform two shorter, relatively conservative trimix dives. On day six, we’ll do a single trimix dive to the limits of the class. Upon successful completion of the final trimix dive (provided you’ve passed the exam and the swim test), you’ll earn a GUE Technical Diver Level 1 certification.

WHAT NEW EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED?

Applicants for the Technical Diver Level 1 course will need to supply several pieces of equipment that aren’t used in GUE Fundamentals:

• At least one 80 cubic foot aluminum cylinder (Al80), rigged and marked for use with 50% nitrox. The configuration, marking, and rigging of this tank will be covered in detail before class.

• A properly configured stage regulator for use with your decompression cylinder.

• A separate drysuit inflation system consisting of a small inflation bottle (typically a 6 cubic foot aluminum cylinder), an inflation regulator, and rigging (a small strap and length of bungee).

• Two backup lights.

• A reel (optional, but recommended). All divers in the course will learn to use the reel, even if they don’t own one.

PREREQUISITES AND DURATION

Applicants for a GUE Technical Diver Level 1 program must:

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age.

• Be physically and mentally fit.

• Be a non-smoker.

• Be able to swim.

• Obtain a physician’s prior written authorization for use of prescription drugs, except for birth control, or for any medical condition that may pose a risk while diving.

• Have earned a GUE Fundamentals - Technical certification.

• Have a minimum of 100 logged dives beyond autonomous entry-level scuba diver.

• For a full list of course prerequisites, click here.

The Technical Diver Level 1 course is normally conducted over six days. It requires a minimum of seven dives (including three trimix experience dives) and at least 48 hours of instruction, encompassing classroom lectures, land drills, and in-water work.

COURSE SCHEDULING & COSTS

Please see the Course Scheduling & Costs page for more information about how to schedule a class and costs related to taking a GUE course.