Take your diving beyond recreational limits.
York Region Scuba offers PADI TecRec training for divers who want to develop the skills, knowledge and discipline required for technical diving.
Whether you’re curious about technical diving and want to try it with Discover Tec, or you’re ready to progress through Tec Basics, Tec 40, Tec 45, and Tec 50, our program provides a structured path from recreational diving toward deeper, planned decompression diving.
Train locally. Dive deeper. Build the skills to explore more of Ontario’s wrecks, walls and technical dive sites. Contact Us To Start Tour Tec Adventure Now!
What You’ll Learn in PADI TecRec Training
Technical diving is about much more than going deeper. TecRec training develops the equipment, buoyancy, gas-management, planning and team-diving skills required to conduct increasingly complex dives safely and deliberately.
Technical Equipment Configuration
How doubles, sidemount systems, stage/deco cylinders, regulators, wing/harness systems and redundant equipment are configured for technical diving.
Buoyancy and Trim
Developing stable horizontal trim and precise buoyancy control while managing additional cylinders and technical equipment.
Gas Management
Learn how technical divers plan breathing gas, decompression gases, reserves and contingencies.
Decompression Planning
Understand how planned decompression affects dive profiles, gas requirements and emergency planning.
Emergency Procedures
Practice procedures for equipment failures, gas-sharing, regulator failures, cylinder/manifold problems and other technical-diving contingencies.
Team Diving
Technical diving is highly team-oriented. Training should emphasize communication, positioning, equipment familiarity and standardized procedures.
What Course Is Right For You?
Not sure what’s right for you? Send us an email!
Check Out Our Courses!
Discover Tec
Tec Basics
Tec 40
Tec 45
Tec 50
2026 Pricing
Discover Tec – $225
Tec Basics – $450
Tec 40 – $895
Tec 45 – $995
Tec 50 – $1,095
Tec 40, 45 and 50 combo – $2,985 – $2,695 – SAVE $290!
What’s Included?
Pricing includes PADI eLearning course and instruction. Gear, pool fees, fills, travel, accommodations, site fees, charter fees, etc. are not included.
Why Train With YRS?
Experienced Technical Divers
Learn from instructors with extensive technical-diving experience. Matt has over 25 years of diving experience, including 15 years of teaching.
Ontario-Based Training
Develop your skills in the same type of challenging cold-water environment in which many Ontario technical divers ultimately dive. Training dives can be done on several of our Summer Trips.
Complete TecRec Progression
Discover Tec → Tec Basics → Tec 40 → Tec 45 → Tec 50.
More Than a Certification
YRS is a dive club, so your training can lead into ongoing technical dives, wreck exploration, trips and continued skill development. Our goal is to keep you diving in Ontario and beyond!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Tec Basics before taking Tec 40?
No. Tec Basics is an optional course, not a prerequisite for Tec 40.
Tec Basics is designed to help divers become comfortable with technical equipment, buoyancy, trim and fundamental technical-diving procedures before progressing to Tec 40. However, Tec 40 can be your first full PADI TecRec certification if you meet the course prerequisites and are ready for the additional demands of technical diving.
For divers who are new to technical equipment or who want to build confidence before beginning decompression training, Tec Basics can be an excellent stepping stone.
Do I need Rescue Diver before taking Tec 40?
PADI currently lists Rescue Diver as recommended for Tec 40, rather than as an enrollment prerequisite.
However, YRS strongly recommends that divers have solid rescue skills before undertaking technical diving. PADI’s current Tec 40 requirements also specify that a Diver Medical Form signed by a physician within the previous 12 months is required.
If you’re unsure whether your current certifications and experience are sufficient, contact a YRS Tec Instructor before registering.
Can certifications from another training agency count toward the prerequisites?
Potentially, yes.
PADI states that qualifying certifications from other diver-training organizations may apply to several TecRec courses. The specific equivalency needs to be reviewed by the appropriate PADI Tec Instructor.
If you hold certifications from another agency, don’t assume you need to repeat courses you’ve already completed. Send YRS your certification history and logged-dive experience and an instructor can determine what may apply.
Do I need to own doubles to take Tec 40?
You will need access to the technical equipment required for the course, but you don’t necessarily need to purchase everything before contacting YRS.
Technical configurations can include backmount doubles or, where appropriate, sidemount systems, along with redundant regulators, buoyancy systems, computers and other technical-diving equipment.
Your instructor should confirm the specific equipment configuration required for your course before you make any major equipment purchases.
This is particularly important for someone just entering technical diving. Equipment configuration is part of the training, and buying equipment before discussing your configuration with your instructor can result in expensive purchases that don’t suit your needs.
Do I need a drysuit?
Not necessarily for every PADI TecRec course, but for Ontario technical diving, a drysuit is highly recommended.
Technical dives can involve extended bottom times, decompression stops and significant exposure to cold water. In Ontario, where cold-water diving is common, appropriate exposure protection is an important part of dive planning.
Your instructor will determine the exposure protection appropriate for the course, training site, conditions and individual diver.
If you don’t currently own a drysuit, talk to YRS before purchasing one. Your instructor can help you determine what configuration makes sense for your technical-diving goals.
How long does Tec 40 take?
Plan on several days rather than a single weekend.
The PADI Tec 40 program consists of seven knowledge-development sections, four practical-application sessions and four training dives.
The actual calendar time can vary depending on your experience, equipment familiarity, weather, water conditions, instructor availability and how quickly you demonstrate the required skills.
YRS will provide the specific schedule when you register for the course.
Where does YRS conduct technical-diving training?
YRS conducts technical-diving training at appropriate Ontario locations based on the course, conditions and training requirements.
Training locations can include Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay, with deeper/advanced training and graduation dives potentially taking place in the Rockport / St. Lawrence River area, including shore or charter operations where appropriate.
Training sites are selected based on the skills being taught, environmental conditions, logistics and diver readiness.
Looking for a private or destination course? We can do that!
What is included in the course price?
YRS’s published course pricing includes PADI eLearning and instructor-led training.
Additional costs may include:
- Technical diving equipment
- Equipment rental, where applicable
- Pool fees
- Breathing-gas fills
- Travel
- Accommodation
- Site fees
- Boat or charter fees
The exact additional costs will depend on the course, equipment configuration, training location and schedule.
Your instructor will explain the expected additional costs before training begins.
Can I start with Discover Tec?
Yes — Discover Tec is specifically designed for divers who are curious about technical diving but aren’t ready to commit to a full technical-diving course.
It is a short, confined-water experience that introduces divers to technical equipment and basic procedures. PADI says Discover Tec may also provide credit toward Tec Basics or Tec 40, depending on the applicable course requirements.
The current PADI prerequisites are:
- Open Water Diver
- At least 10 logged dives
- Minimum age 15
If you’re wondering whether technical diving is right for you, Discover Tec is a great place to start.
Book your Discover Tech NOW and start your technical diving journey!
What equipment do I need?
Technical diving requires redundant equipment and a configuration appropriate to the course being undertaken.
Depending on the course and configuration, equipment may include:
- Backmount doubles or sidemount cylinders
- Redundant regulators
- Technical BCD/wing and harness system
- Appropriate dive computers
- Stage/decompression cylinders
- Exposure protection
- Primary and backup lights
- Reels and DSMBs
- Cutting devices
- Appropriate gas-management equipment
The exact configuration should be determined with your Tec Instructor.
We strongly recommend speaking with your instructor before purchasing technical equipment. Different equipment configurations can work very differently, and your training configuration should be selected with your intended diving and future progression in mind.
Is technical diving dangerous?
Technical diving involves greater complexity and additional risks compared with recreational diving.
Technical divers may conduct planned decompression dives, use multiple breathing gases and carry additional equipment. These dives require careful planning, appropriate training, redundant equipment, disciplined procedures and effective emergency planning.
The purpose of TecRec training is to develop the knowledge, skills and experience required to manage those additional demands.