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PADI SDI TDI SCUBA

TDI Technical Foundations



For the diver who has recently crossed over into the technical realm and is looking to improve their fundamental skills, TDI's truly comprehensive and personal course, Technical Foundations is designed to fully evaluate your skills as a diver in preparation for all other Tech classes. 
No eLearning is provided for this class- all classroom sessions and in-water critique of skills. TDI Technical Foundations course is designed as a preparatory course for the TDI Advanced Nitrox and TDI Decompressions Procedures Course. 


Objective of the course:

  • Develop student skills with technical equipment configurations
  • Expand on gas planning techniques within a no-decompression profile
  • Build on the Intro to Tech's allowance of +/-3ft to then meeting all other TDI classes' allowance of 0-1ft variance

Student Prerequisites:
  • Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
  • Minimum certification is TDI Intro to Tech/TDI Sidemount or equivalent
  • Proof of 25 logged open water dives

Course Requirements:
  • Minimum of 6 dives must be conducted, none deeper than 40feet/12meters
  • No overhead environments

Required equipment:
  • Sidemount or Doubles setup configured properly (completed in Intro to Tech for backmount and TDI Sidemount for sidemount)
  • Dive computer (additional backup dive computer or depth gauge and bottom timer recommended)
  • Appropriate Exposure protection for environment
  • Slates/Wet notes
  • Primary and Backup Mask
  • Primary and Backup Light
  • Line cutting device
  • Primary and Backup ascent reel with surface marker buoy (Ascent reel- suitable for depth, Surface marker buoy- suitable lift and size for diving environment)

Skills to be covered:
  • Land drills: Equipment preparation, Team Skills (tandem marker buoy deployment, gas matching, hand signals, dive planning)
  • Pre-Dive drills: S.T.A.R.T. drills, Stress analysis and mitigation
  • In-Water drills: Weight & Buoyancy check/control, Anti-silt kicking techniques, Emergency skills and procedures without losing positional control
  • Situational Awareness

PLEASE NOTE: Actual class date is determined by both student and instructor.  Class size is limited to 4 students in order to allow for maximum student-instructor contact time. BACKMOUNT AND SIDEMOUNT STUDENTS WILL NOT BE COMBINED TOGETHER FOR INSTRUCTOR SKILLS DEMO; MAY BE COMBINED FOR FINAL OPEN WATER CHECKOUT DIVES.  Training may require travel and hotel which are not included in the cost of the class.


Skill Level: Beginner
Skill Details:
Materials Included: Classroom, in-water skills evaluation, and assistance with setup of gear (if purchased thru South Jersey Scuba)
Instructor: Kevin Pang
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Personal skills development, in store review session, open water dives, and assistance with equipment assembly (if purchased thru South Jersey Scuba)

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Included Materials


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This class cannot be purchased online. Please contact the store for more information.