The definition of technical diving varies among scuba diving organizations. In general, technical diving can be considered any sort of diving (that is not commercial diving) that allows a diver to safely exceed recreational dive limits by using advanced procedures and equipment. Examples include:
• dives deeper than 130 feet
• dives exceeding no-decompression limits
• dives not allowing a direct ascent to the surface
There is some ambiguity in relation to dives in an overhead environment such as caverns and shipwrecks. Some dive associations consider any dive into an overhead environment a technical dive, while others allow recreational divers to swim a short distance in from the surface.
Some types of diving that are considered technical are:
• Trimix Diving
• Cave Diving
• Wreck Penetration
• Decompression Diving
The use of enriched air nitrox is not considered technical diving unless it is used to exceed recreational dive limits.
• More scuba diving terms and definitions: A - J . . . K - T . . . U - Z
