Breaking the Barrier: Why Your Next Move Should Be Tec Diving in Bohol
As a recreational diver, you have tasted the beauty of the coral reefs down to 40 meters. You’ve mastered buoyancy, navigation, and the art of relaxation underwater. But what if you knew that just beyond the limits of your recreational certification lies a world of pristine, unexplored beauty? What if you wanted to stay longer at the spectacular deep walls of Balicasag, or finally unlock the secrets of those deeper wrecks?
The answer is Technical (Tec) Diving, and there is no better place in the Visayas to make this profound leap than with the expert team at Sierra Madre Divers in Bohol.
Tec diving is the pursuit of exploration that goes beyond the conventional recreational boundaries. It involves extending your depth limits, using specialized equipment (like double tanks or sidemount configurations), and planning mandatory decompression stops. It is a serious undertaking that demands skill and discipline, and Bohol offers the perfect combination of world-class instruction and an ideal underwater environment.
Here is why you should consider making the commitment to a PADI TecRec course while you are diving with us in Bohol.
The Perfect Natural Classroom: Bohol’s Vertical Walls
Technical diving requires real-world application, and Bohol’s topography is uniquely suited for Tec training.
- Deep, Sheer Walls: The dive sites around Balicasag, Pamilacan, and Doljo Point feature dramatic, near-vertical walls that plunge well past 50 meters. These walls serve as the ideal training grounds for deep dives. You can practice your gas switches, staging decompression cylinders, and maintaining perfect trim and buoyancy while suspended against a stunning, living backdrop—not just a lonely downline in the blue.
- Predictable, Warm Conditions: Unlike colder water environments where training can be physically taxing, Bohol offers warm water and excellent visibility. This allows students to focus entirely on the complex skills, gear configuration, and meticulous planning required for Tec diving, without the added distraction of cold or limited vision.
- Real-World Application: Once certified, your new skills will immediately unlock deeper, less-explored areas of these famous dive sites, giving you the unique satisfaction of seeing Bohol in a way very few divers ever will.
A Progressive, Structured Pathway (PADI TecRec)
The journey from recreational to technical diver is a step-by-step process designed for safety and confidence, and Sierra Madre Divers, as a PADI TecRec Center, offers the full, internationally recognized progression:
| PADI Tec Course | Max Depth & Focus | Your Goal |
| Tec 40 | 40 meters / Limited Decompression | The first step! You learn technical gear setup (sidemount or doubles) and how to use a single decompression gas (like EANx) to extend your bottom time. |
| Tec 45 | 45 meters / Accelerated Decompression | You build on your skills, plan more complex, repetitive decompression dives, and continue to fine-tune your buoyancy in full technical gear. |
| Tec 50 | 50 meters / Advanced Decompression | The culmination of core Tec training. You gain the competency to use up to two different decompression gases, demonstrating mastery of the skills required for deep, planned dives. |
Each course builds logically upon the last, turning you from a confident recreational diver into a highly skilled, meticulous technical explorer.
The Sierra Madre Dive Shop Commitment: Expertise and Meticulous Safety
Venturing into the world of technical diving is a serious undertaking, and the quality of instruction is paramount.
- Expert TecRec Instructors: Our PADI TecRec Instructors are seasoned professionals with a deep passion for exploration and an unwavering commitment to safety. They provide the focused, personal mentorship required to instill the discipline and precision necessary for technical diving.
- Specialized Gear and Logistics: As a dedicated PADI TecRec Center, we provide all the specialized equipment necessary, including twinset/manifold systems, technical sidemount gear, and dedicated decompression cylinders. We ensure all gas blends (Nitrox and Trimix) are meticulously mixed and analyzed in-house to the highest safety standards.
- Small Class Sizes: We maintain extremely small instructor-to-student ratios for our Tec courses. This guarantees that you receive the critical one-on-one attention needed to master the complex emergency procedures and gas management skills before moving on to the next level.
Gaining Mastery and Self-Reliance
More than just depth, Tec diving is about achieving mastery over yourself and your environment.
The skills learned in a Tec course—like advanced buoyancy, meticulous equipment redundancy, and complex gas management—will fundamentally transform your recreational diving, making your standard fun dives safer, easier, and more relaxed. You will learn to think like a technical diver, prioritizing planning, redundancy, and teamwork, which translates into becoming a more responsible and self-reliant diver anywhere in the world.
Are you ready to explore the deeper, less-traveled parts of the ocean? Your journey beyond the recreational limits starts with the PADI Tec 40 course at Sierra Madre Divers in Bohol.
