As described earlier here, here and here, PADI’s DSAT technical diving division is overhauling the Tec Rec program, chopping up the Tec Deep and Tec Trimix courses into smaller, easier to digest pieces.

The Tec Deep course will be broken into three parts, called “Tec 40,” “Tec 45″ and “Tec 50,” signifying the depth in meters students will be certified to dive. The current Tec Trimix course will be similarly broken into two parts, dubbed “Trimix 65″ and “Trimix 75.”

PADI announced earlier this week that the new courses will rollout Sept. 1. Today it released the flowchart below, showing the route to becoming a Tec Rec diver. The chart will appear on the PADI website next month. (more…)

While executives from the DSAT technical diving arm of PADI have been doing roadshows — like this recent one in Pattaya — informally describing plans to change its Tec Rec program, there have been, until now, no official word from the agency itself other than to say DSAT was considering various bits of feedback.

Today, however, in DSAT Chat, we get the first “official” acknowledgement that changes are coming. (more…)

Heeding customer feedback and finally bowing to market pressures, PADI’s DSAT technical diving arm is preparing an overhaul of its TecRec Deep and Trimix courses that will lower the entry barriers to the course and give instructors more flexibility.

Although final course outlines have not been finalized, the Tec Deep course will be broken into three parts, tentatively called “Tec 40,” “Tec 45″ and “Tec 50,” signifying the depth in meters students will be certified to dive. The current Tec Trimix course will be similarly broken into two parts, dubbed “Trimix 65″ and “Trimix 75.” DSAT hopes to introduce the courses by the end of the year.

Speaking at DSAT’s forum in Pattaya June 21, PADI Instructor Examiner and TecRec Instructor Trainer George Wegmann stressed that the final look of the revamped TecRec program has not been finalized, but that DSAT now had a “strong direction” for 2009. The organization formed the basis for the tiered technical program from feedback at previous DSAT roundtables in Australia and the U.S. While still soliciting input from PADI professionals, the agency is now traveling around the world with its “Essential Change ‘09″ presentation. (more…)