Going Deeper: A Guide to Tec Diving in Bohol (Training, Requirements & Sites)

For the recreational diver, the ocean is a playground that ends at 40 meters. It is a world defined by “no-decompression limits,” single tanks, and the nagging beep of a dive computer warning you to ascend just as the reef starts to get interesting.

But for a select group of divers, that 40-meter limit isn’t a wall; it’s a doorway.

Technical (Tec) diving is the “Formula 1” of the scuba world. It is a discipline that requires precision, redundancy, and a completely different mindset. It allows you to stay longer, go deeper, and visit wrecks and walls that recreational divers will never see.

If you have ever looked down into the abyss at Balicasag and wondered what lies in the deep blue below the schooling jacks, Tec diving is your answer. And with its plunging walls, warm water, and accessibility, Bohol is rapidly becoming one of the Philippines’ premier destinations for technical training.

Here is your complete guide to the PADI TecRec paths, the prerequisites you need to start, and the specific dive sites in Panglao that serve as the perfect classroom for the deep elite.

The Training Path: PADI TecRec Breakdown

At Sierra Madre Divers, we follow the PADI TecRec curriculum. Unlike recreational courses where the focus is on “fun,” Tec courses are performance-based and demanding. They are designed to transform you into a self-sufficient diver capable of solving catastrophic problems underwater.

The journey is broken down into three distinct steps, allowing you to build experience gradually.

1. PADI Tec 40: The Bridge

This is the transition course. It bridges the gap between recreational diving and full technical diving.

The Goal: You transition from standard recreational gear to a technical configuration (either a twinset/doubles or sidemount). You learn to use decompression software to plan dives with up to 10 minutes of total decompression.
The Limits: Max depth 40 meters (130 ft). Use of up to 50% Oxygen (EANx50) for added conservatism during deco.
Why take it? It is the perfect way to “dip your toe” into Tec without committing to the full deep training immediately.

2. PADI Tec 45: The Technician

This is where you become a “real” tec diver. You move beyond simple conservatism and start using equipment and gases to accelerate your decompression.

The Goal: You will master the skills to plan and execute repetitive decompression dives. You will learn to handle a stage cylinder (a third tank) containing high-oxygen gas to shorten your deco stops.
The Limits: Max depth 45 meters (145 ft). Use of 100% Oxygen for accelerated decompression.
Why take it? This qualification opens up a huge number of deep wrecks and walls that are just out of reach for recreational divers.

3. PADI Tec 50: The Master

The culmination of the deep diver level. As a Tec 50 diver, you are competent to perform extended decompression dives using two different decompression gases.

The Goal: You refine your mission planning, gas management, and contingency thinking to an expert level.
The Limits: Max depth 50 meters (165 ft). Use of two deco gases (e.g., EANx50 and 100% O2).
Why take it? You possess the skills to dive places few humans ever visit, with the training to handle complex emergencies at depth.

Do You Have What It Takes? (Prerequisites)

Tec diving is not for everyone. It requires a level of maturity, discipline, and in-water comfort that goes beyond the average holiday diver. Before you can enroll in the PADI Tec 40 course at Sierra Madre Divers, you must meet the following entry requirements:

Certification Level:
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent).
- PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver (or equivalent).
- PADI Deep Diver (or proof of at least 10 dives to 30 meters).
Experience:
- A minimum of 30 logged dives to start Tec 40.
- (Note: To progress to Tec 50, you will need a minimum of 100 logged dives).
Medical Fitness:
- You must have a medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months. This is non-negotiable for technical diving.
The “Unwritten” Requirement:
- Buoyancy. You must have solid, instinctive buoyancy control. If you are still struggling to hover or using your hands to swim, we recommend taking a Peak Performance Buoyancy clinic with us before attempting Tec.

Bohol’s Best Tec Diving Sites

One of the reasons Bohol is such a fantastic training ground is the topography. We have sites that offer “infinite” depth just minutes from the shore, but with warm water (27-29°C) and great visibility—a luxury compared to the cold, dark quarries where many people learn Tec.

Here are the specific playgrounds where we conduct our training and exploration dives:

1. Doljo Point (Panglao North)

The Profile: This is widely considered the best technical dive site in Panglao. The reef starts at 10 meters and drops into a sheer vertical wall that plunges well past 60 meters.
Why it’s Tec Heaven: The deep section of Doljo is a forest of giant seafans and massive barrel sponges that recreational divers rarely see. Because it is on the northwest tip, it often has great visibility and moderate currents, perfect for drift-deco practice. It’s also quieter, meaning you rarely have to worry about other diver traffic during your decompression stops.

2. Napaling Reef

The Profile: Famous for the Sardine Run, Napaling is also a fantastic training wall. It features a steep drop-off with ledges at 30m, 40m, and deeper.
Why it’s Tec Heaven: The conditions here are often predictable, making it an excellent classroom for skills training (like valve drills and gas switches). Plus, doing your long decompression stops at 6 meters is never boring when you are surrounded by a massive ball of millions of sardines!

3. Balicasag Island (Black Forest & Cathedral)

The Profile: While usually crowded with recreational divers at 15 meters, the deep walls of Balicasag (50m+) are pristine and untouched.
Why it’s Tec Heaven: Descending past the recreational limits at Cathedral allows you to see the “roots” of the island. You can find massive black coral bushes (Antipathes) that give the Black Forest its name, but at a size and density that shallow divers never witness. Note: We schedule Tec dives here carefully to avoid the peak recreational traffic.

4. Arco Point (Hole in the Wall)

The Profile: After passing through the famous tunnel, the wall drops away into the blue.
Why it’s Tec Heaven: This is a great site for simulating complex dive plans. You can plan a deep descent to inspect the lower wall and caves, then execute a multi-level ascent profile, finishing with a long shallow drift along the vibrant soft corals of the upper reef.

Why Choose Sierra Madre Divers for Tec?

Technical diving requires equipment and support that standard dive shops simply cannot provide. You cannot teach these courses with a single aluminum tank and a jacket BCD.

As a PADI TecRec Center, Sierra Madre Divers is fully equipped to support your journey into the deep:

Specialized Gear: We have a full fleet of technical equipment, including twinsets (doubles) with isolation manifolds, technical BCDs (wing and backplate systems), and rigged stage cylinders for decompression gases.
Gas Blending: We have in-house gas blending capabilities to provide the specific Nitrox blends (up to 100% O2) required for accelerated decompression.
Expert Instruction: Our Tec Instructors are not just teachers; they are active technical divers. They teach from experience, ensuring you learn the practical realities of deep diving, not just the theory.

The Deep Awaits

Technical diving changes the way you see the ocean. It changes the way you think, plan, and move underwater. It transforms you from a tourist into an explorer.

If you are ready to accept the challenge and see what lies beyond the 40-meter line, contact Sierra Madre Divers today. Let’s start planning your Tec 40 course.