This blog was written by Peta King and originally posted on the TecRec blog on April 29, 2018.

There is no question that technical diving opens up a whole new underwater world to divers. With so much of our planet covered in water, it is no surprise Earth is teeming with incredible diving only accessible to technical divers. From deep ocean walls and sunken shipwrecks to stunning caves and famous blue holes, there is no shortage of adventures one can partake in.

Well-known technical dive sites are becoming more and more established, equipment is rapidly evolving, training is becoming more accessible, and explorers are discovering an exponential number of new locations to dive each year. Divers have never been in better position to participate in technical diving.

More and more dive centers are now catering for the technical diving market, and to fuel the demand for TecRec courses, the need for Instructors with TecRec qualifications is growing.

So, what opportunities does a PADI TecRec Instructor have?

PADI Tec 40 Instructor and Tec 40 Trimix Instructor

PADI Tec 40 Instructor and Tec 40 Trimix Instructor is the first level of open circuit TecRec Instructor. Qualified to teach the Tec Basics Diver and Tec 40 Diver course and conduct Discover Tec experiences, a PADI Tec 40 Instructor has the opportunity and responsibility to train divers taking their first step into technical dive training. Tec 40 Trimix Instructors can also teach the Tec 40 Trimix Diver course.

The Tec 40 Diver course introduces divers to limited decompression diving within recreational depth limits. Some may argue that this is the most important course as fundamental skills are developed that will form the basis of future training. Tec 40 Trimix Divers also learn to use trimix within this depth range.

Opportunities for Instructors at this level are plenty. Virtually anyone who has walked through the dive center’s doors with a diving license, moderate experience and a desire for adventure is a potential candidate for this technical diver program. New customers, club members, loyal customers, in-house Divemasters and recreational diving Instructors could all find value in participating in a Tec Basics or Tec 40 Diver course. A PADI Tec 40 Instructor would be a great benefit to a dive center looking to grow in the market of entry level technical dive training.

PADI Tec 45 Instructor and Tec 45 Trimix Instructor

In addition to the courses Tec 40 Instructors teach, Tec 45 Instructors can also teach Tec 45 Diver courses. Tec 45 Diver expands the divers experience into full technical diving with the mandatory use of double cylinders and unrestricted decompression. PADI Rescue Diver is a prerequisite, so plan courses to give Tec 40 Divers who are not already Rescue Divers the opportunity to complete Rescue Diver before the Tec 45 Diver course. Tec 45 Trimix Instructors can teach everything a Tec 40 Trimix Instructor teaches plus Tec 45 Trimix Diver.

PADI Tec 50 Instructor and Tec 50 Trimix Instructor

Tec 50 Instructors can teach everything a Tec 45 Instructor can teach, plus Tec 50 Diver, and Tec 50 Trimix Instructors can teach everything a Tec 45 Trimix Instructor can teach plus Tec 50 Trimix Diver. 

A Tec 50 or Tec 50 Trimix Instructor is a valuable asset to any Dive Center. They are equipped to teach students from their first steps in tec diving all the way to becoming extended range technical divers ready to explore tec diving sites few divers will ever visit.

Tec Trimix Instructor

The highest level of technical open circuit Instructor level in the TecRec range is the highly regarded Tec Trimix Instructor. Qualified Tec Trimix Instructors can offer both the subset Tec Trimix 65 Diver course, as well as the Tec Trimix Diver course. Both these courses appeal to the extreme end of the spectrum for divers – with training dives in the Tec Trimix Diver course reaching up to 90m/300ft deep, this course is for serious divers only! These courses are the top of the pyramid, so there are less divers seeking this level of training, but many dive centers offer the full range of open circuit TecRec courses, including Tec Trimix Diver, making a Tec Trimix Instructor a very valuable asset to any dive operation.

Tec 40 CCR Instructor & Beyond

With a growing rebreather market, the need for recreational Rebreather and Technical Closed Circuit Rebreather Instructors is also growing. The future of deep technical diving belongs to CCRs, and PADI TecRec offers a full range of recreational Rebreather and Technical CCR courses to support this growth. Just like the open circuit range of TecRec Instructors, PADI Rebreather Instructors and Tec CCR instructors are in high demand and are enormous assets to any dive operator.

As the technical diving market continues to grow, it goes without saying that dive operators may likely favor an Instructor with more qualifications. So adding some technical instructor ratings to your credentials is a great way to stand out.

For more information on how you can gain TecRec Instructor qualifications, please get in touch with your Regional Training Consultant who will be happy to assist by providing a suitable pathway.

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Technical Diving, instructor development, tec diving, TecRecPADI Pros