Technical Diving Thailand - Technical Diving Courses at Pro-Tech

I just spent 16 days in Phuket Thailand and went rebreather diving with Pro-Tech Dive College. Before that I emailed Davine for half a year about what rebreather to buy and so on, she was really nice and answered all my good and stupid questions really fast. She also took care of my hotel booking for me and my family. I decided to buy a Megalodon. I took the course a week before my trip in Denmark, so I was very new in the rebreather world. I came down to Phuket and Matt took me to the shop. We found out, of course, that I had forgot some parts in Denmark.shit! But Matt was very fast to tell me that I should not worry he would find a way to get me and my Megalodon in the water, and he did by giving up his own rebreather parts and making some very unique and safe adjustments. Not only a way, but also a way I trusted so no half solutions. Every morning I started half an hour before all others because I was new to the rebreather and that was no problem at all. I was diving with a Swedish guy called Pete, my rebreather dive buddy from Pro-Tech and it was a wonderful experience, he knew a lot of things and could guide me and was very easy to talk to, so thanks a lot. My experience was that Pro-Tech is not a normal PADI shop, where it's just about getting as many divers in the water as possible, but a place where they care about diving and the nature around. I have only nice words to say and if you have any questions before contacting Pro-Tech feel free to write me at
surf_og_games@hotmail.com.

And you can take that to the bank.

Take care and say hello to all

Claus
Denmark

Everything about Pro-Tech was brilliant. From the very professionally presented and run office/shop/classroom facility to the rental equipment which was the best I have ever used. Immaculately maintained and presented, to the logistics of morning and evening movements between accommodation, Pro-Tech dive centre and on to dive boats which was slick and effortless.

Fabulous dive sites, warm water and unlimited visibility.

But, the one thing that really stood out for me was the quality of the instruction. The standard of the instruction and subsequent required standard of students is where all dive centres should be. In my two weeks with Pro-Tech I undertook Advanced Nitrox, Deco procedures and the Extended Range courses, not only am I now a more confident and able diver, I am much safer and far more aware than before.

When I'm ready to take my Tech diving to the next level, I will be back with Pro-Tech.

Tim Baskcomb
Grimsby
ENGLAND

Dear Mathew and Davine,

I don't know where to start? My 2 months in Thailand have been an incredible journey and the month I spent training and diving with you has been a great experience. Not only have you made me a better and safer diver but you have reinvigorated my love of a sport I had left behind.

Without question your staff has been professional beyond reproach. More importantly however I appreciate theirs and your warmth and tolerant guidance. When I return to the states I will begin organizing a charter back to the lovely waters of Phuket. Needless to say we will take advantage of your expertise and world class facilities.

I wish you nothing but the best both personally and professionally.

Warm western regards,
Steve Deyerle Midlothian , VA USA

In January 2006, I attended three courses with Pro-Tech within two weeks; The Drager Dophin SCR course; the AP Inspiration CCR air diluent course and the TDI O/C trimix course.

Despite being a diver since 1990, I did have a hard time but enjoyed it because these courses were a new thing to me. I earned the SCR and the CCR license and the trimix course was sustainable within the next 12 months. I am planning to come back to finish the trimix course and take some new courses this winter.

These courses were all well organized, the equipment and the facility are in excellent condition and the training is to an exceptional standard. Diving with rebreathers is fun and completely silent. The fishes come close within a few cm in front of your mask. May be one shall have more chance to encounter big and shy creature - the whale shark or the devil ray when flying with these rebreather.

Andrew Ma
Hong Kong

"When the student is ready the Master will appear" - I reckon I put a lot of faith in this belief and it was with this thought running through my mind that I boarded a plane bound for Phuket, Thailand. As a Dive Instructor with 10 years of teaching under my belt you often wonder what else there is out there that can challenge and test you as a diver. That's one of my reasons for heading to Pro Tech Dive College to train with Mat Partridge. The other was the incredibly informative and helpful emails sent by Mat's wife, Davine who provided endless explanations of courses, times, dates, transport and accommodation for this would be Tec diver.

On Tec programs every student does their homework on the Instructor. If you want to go deep and come back safely you need to know that your teacher will deliver sound training and always demand the highest standards. So it was with interest that I sat back in my first class at Pro Tech: eyes and ears open, mouth shut ready to absorb the wisdom of the Master. Well as far as my approach I couldn't have been more wrong. After the introductions had passed, which were stunning enough with Mat's substantial experience and numerous technical qualifications, that's when the questions started - and I don't mean me asking the Instructor it was Mat quizzing me: What do you know about Oxygen? What's the PPO2 of this mix at that depth? Tell me about perfusion and diffusion?!!

Wow. Well I must have done ok because I was back the next day for more of the same. It was so refreshing. Instead of regurgitated knowledge Pro Tech's whole teaching philosophy rests upon the student's good understanding, smooth application and total proficiency. And if you can't or won't then it's just "unlucky" because you ain't gonna pass!

I think that for many Dive Instructors once they've mastered their subject matter then the topic is no longer challenging for them to teach and this can make their teaching dry or dull but Mat takes the facts and their significance and creates a living breathing diving reality. At Pro Tech the knowledge you earn is coherent and apply-able and that's by no means limited to the classroom.

Next we were off for a confined water orientation to equipment, equipment assembly and stage deco rigging. All at Kata Big Rock's sun-drenched hillside pool. In between dives we ate gorgeous Thai food while Mat ran us through the briefing for the next sequence of our training.

And the pressure just kept building. Soon we were heading off on huge Liveaboards from Chalong pier to start our ocean training. Beautiful blue warm water that's ideal for skill acquisition and polishing. S-Drills, SMB deployment, extended bottom times, NOTOX gas switches and accelerated deco. And between all of this back to the pristine and executive Pro Tech dive facility for desktop deco planning and gas selection. Oh, and exams.

Not surprisingly Mat's teaching style guarantees retention and the exams were the least of my worries. I am very glad of this as I wouldn't like to have explained myself if I'd failed. However if I wasn't up to scratch I wouldn't be the first but that's what you pay for - quality and professionalism. Oh and if I didn't say it before, it was also fun. Enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from effort and focus. And when it was all over I was immediately nostalgic like a kid at the end of summer - wanting to do it all again. And in a way I did.

Because of the energy and enthusiasm of Mat and Davine I continued to dive with Pro Tech and finally decided to do the DSAT Instructors Course with them because, like I said, when the student is ready the Master will appear!

Alex Boulton
Educational Consultant
PADI Asia Pacific
Sydney , Australia