Photo by Teemu Virtanen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Intro to Tech
TIER CORRECTION: Diver-tier introduction to technical diving equipment configurations and open-water diving skill enhancement. Teaches buoyancy, trim, situational awareness, and advanced gas planning techniques within a strictly no-decompression context. Designed as a bridge to Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures, familiarizing divers with technical equipment (twin sets, sidemount) before committing to deeper technical courses. Can be combined with Advanced Nitrox at instructor discretion.
Centres that teach this course
23 dive centres in the directory publish a price for this exact certification, checked Sep 2026. Each centre's own wording is shown beneath its name. Ranges cover whole-course prices only — where a centre charges per day or per dive, its rate is listed separately below, since a daily figure is not comparable with a course total.
- €500total
- €400total
- €395total
- €375total
- €370total
- €400total
- €375total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- €300per day
- $600total
- $1,650total
- $950total
- $395total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- CDT Mexico (Cave Diving Training)MexicoIntro to Tech (twins)1 student$300/day→ $900 for the 3-day minimum$300per day
- Under The JungleMexicoIntro to Tec (Backmount)private$345/day→ $1,380 for the 4-day minimumper diver in a group$295/day→ $1,180 for the 4-day minimum each$345per day
- Under The JungleMexicoIntro to Tec (Sidemount Expert)private$345/day→ $1,725 for the 5-day minimumper diver in a group$295/day→ $1,475 for the 5-day minimum each$345per day
- IDR 5,050,000total
- IDR 5,500,000total
- IDR 6,500,000total
- IDR 7,500,000total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- Air Dive AlorIndonesiaIntro to Tech1 student, privateIDR 3,200,000/day→ IDR 6,400,000 for the 2-day minimum3 studentsIDR 2,400,000/day→ IDR 4,800,000 for the 2-day minimum eachIDR 3,200,000per day
- THB 15,000total
- THB 16,900total
- Tech Dive AsiaThailandIntro to Technical Diving — TDI Intro to Tech, 2 day pool and boat divesone price, several agenciesTHB 16,900total
- THB 23,900total
- ₱25,950total
Same training under a different agency
14 centres
A separate set of centres, teaching Intro to Tech / Essentials under a different agency. These are not the same certification — the standards and the card differ — but they cover the same depth and scope, which is why centres price them alike. Every row here names whose rating it is, and none of them is counted above.
- THB 15,000total
- THB 15,000total
- THB 15,000total
- THB 15,000total
- THB 9,500total
- THB 10,000total
- THB 15,000total
- €375total
- €375total
- €400total
- €400total
- €400total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- Elite Divers InternationalMexicoEssentials / Intro To Tech DiverIANTD$275/day→ $1,100 for the 4-day minimum$275per day
- Third Dimension DivingMexicoEssentials Diver (Intro to Tech)IANTD$295/day→ $885 for the 3-day minimum$295per day
- IDR 6,000,000total
- IDR 5,050,000total
Same tier, agency not stated
7 centres
These centres publish a price for Intro to Tech / Essentials, but their own wording does not say which agency's certification it buys — many teach several and name the card only once you enquire, and some price one course for either agency. The figure is comparable; the certification is not identified, so we do not guess at one.
- $950total
- $600total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- Go Dive MexicoMexicoEssentials / Intro to tecprivate$330/day→ $990 for the 3-day minimum2+ divers$300/day→ $900 for the 3-day minimum each$330per day
- $350per day
- $350per day
- ByMoMoDiveMexicoEssentials Diver1 student$245/day→ $490 for the 2-day minimum3 students$205/day→ $410 for the 2-day minimum each$245per day
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- MX$5,000per day
- THB 10,000total
These prices are not like-for-like. Two centres can charge very differently for the same certification because they include different things. One price may cover twinsets, stages, deco gas and cylinder rental for every training dive, a dedicated classroom for the theory, boat or transport to the site, and the agency's registration and materials; another may be tuition only, with all of that charged separately — or the other way round, with a centre bundling in extras the first leaves out. Class size, whether the course is one-to-one, and how many days are allowed for it move the figure too. Check what each centre's price includes before comparing them, and confirm with the centre before booking.
Consumables are usually extra. Sorb, helium, O₂ and other fills, park and cenote fees, certification fees and rental are commonly charged on top.
Packages combining several certifications, upgrades from an existing one, and open-ended day rates are excluded — none of them is the standalone price of this course, and including them would move the figures away from what a new student can actually book.
Prerequisites
Minimum SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent; proof of 25 logged open water dives; minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent.
Standards
What a diver must demonstrate to pass this course — not always published by the certifying agency.
Divers must complete minimum 3 open water dives (max 4 if combined with Advanced Nitrox) to no deeper than 23m/75ft, demonstrating enhanced buoyancy control, proper trim, technical equipment assembly/configuration, and advanced gas planning skills. All dives must stay within no-decompression limits.
Instructors Teaching This Course
United States
Philippines
Egypt
Mexico
Indonesia
Thailand
Malta
Dive Centres Offering This Course
United States
Mexico
Indonesia
Thailand
Egypt
Philippines
Malta
We're still building out the directory country by country, so this list isn't every instructor or dive centre teaching it in the world — more locations are coming soon.
Common questions about TDI Intro to Tech
How much does TDI Intro to Tech cost?
Published prices for TDI Intro to Tech range across 19 centres in the TecDiveTools directory — roughly US$280 to US$1,650 at current exchange rates. In each centre's own currency: €370–€500 (7 centres), $395–$1,650 (4 centres), IDR 5,050,000–7,500,000 (4 centres), THB 15,000–23,900 (3 centres) and ₱25,950 (1 centre). 4 centres charge by the day instead, which is not comparable with a course total. Prices differ mainly in what they include, so compare the inclusions before comparing the numbers. Prices were last checked in September 2026.
How long does TDI Intro to Tech take?
Between 2 and 5 days, based on the durations 18 centres publish for it. The time depends on the centre's schedule, weather, and how quickly the required skills are demonstrated — agencies set a minimum number of dives, not a fixed number of days.
What are the prerequisites for TDI Intro to Tech?
TDI's standards require: Minimum SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent; proof of 25 logged open water dives; minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent.
What is the minimum age for TDI Intro to Tech?
TDI's standards state: Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent.
How many dives do I need before starting TDI Intro to Tech?
TDI's standards state: Proof of 25 logged open water dives.
What does TDI Intro to Tech training involve?
According to TDI's published standards: Divers must complete minimum 3 open water dives (max 4 if combined with Advanced Nitrox) to no deeper than 23m/75ft, demonstrating enhanced buoyancy control, proper trim, technical equipment assembly/configuration, and advanced gas planning skills. All dives must stay within no-decompression limits.
What is the equivalent of TDI Intro to Tech in other agencies?
At the same tier in TecDiveTools' cross-agency comparison: SSI XR Extended Range Foundations and IANTD Tek Essentials Diver. They cover comparable training, but each agency sets its own standards, depth limits and certification card, so they are comparable rather than interchangeable — check which one your next course accepts.
What course comes after TDI Intro to Tech?
The next step in TDI's progression is TDI Advanced Nitrox.
Where can I take TDI Intro to Tech?
188 dive centres and 363 instructors in the TecDiveTools directory teach TDI Intro to Tech across 7 countries, most in the United States, Mexico, the Philippines and Egypt. Each is listed further up this page.
Does the price of TDI Intro to Tech include gas and equipment?
Not always — it varies by centre. Certification fees, equipment rental and boat or site fees are commonly charged on top of the course price. Each centre's price list on TecDiveTools shows what it notes as included.