YOUR FIRST STEP INTO TECHNICAL DIVING
Build Your Foundation in Technical Diving
Picture your first technical dive: a clear cenote, your team beside you, and a plan you understand from the surface to the final stop. The PADI Tec 40 course gives you a structured way to begin technical diving. Through hands-on workshops and four progressive dives, build confidence with technical equipment, dive planning, buoyancy, trim and team procedures in Playa del Carmen.


Duration
3 Days
Training Dives
4 Dives
Maximum Depth
40 m / 130 ft
Decompression Gas
EANx 50
SEE THE WHOLE DIVE
Build the Skills for Your First Tec Dives
Configure Your Tec Gear
Set up your chosen technical configuration and learn how each component supports your dive plan.
Plan as a Team
Prepare each dive together, considering the plan, equipment, gas and team procedures.
Control Your Position
Practice buoyancy, trim, propulsion and positioning in cenotes selected for your training.
Manage the Ascent
Build communication and awareness as you practice technical diving procedures with your team.

CENOTE TRAINING IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN
Learn to Lead From the Base to the Boat
PREPARE. PRACTICE. PROGRESS.
Build Confidence Through Practical Training
Complete four hands-on sessions and four progressive dives as you develop your technical diving skills.
PREPARE
Configure Your Equipment
- Set up your chosen technical configuration and understand how each component supports your dive plan.
PRACTICE
Plan and Practice as a Team
- Use practical workshops to rehearse dive planning, communication and procedures before applying them underwater.
PROGRESS
Build Skills Across Four Dives
- Progress from confined water into Playa del Carmen cenotes, practicing team skills and simulated decompression.
Want to build skills beyond your own dives? Explore the Tec Safety Diver course to learn how to support technical dive teams.
A PATHWAY YOU CAN PLAN AHEAD
Combine Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50 Training
Ask about planning Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50 as one progressive training pathway. Training advances one level at a time, and each course’s prerequisites and certification requirements still apply. Tec 45 is required before progressing to Tec 50.
Want to see how the levels build on one another? Explore PADI’s technical diving course overview.
Practice sequence:
- Start with Tec 40: Build your equipment, planning and team skills through workshops and four progressive dives.
- Progress to Tec 45: Build on Tec 40 and meet the next level’s prerequisites before training for dives to 45 m / 150 ft.
- Continue to Tec 50: Advance after Tec 45 to train for dives to 50 m / 165 ft and multi stop decompression.
- Move forward level by level: Your instructor reviews your readiness, and each course’s requirements must be met for certification.

BEFORE YOU APPLY
Check Your Starting Point
- Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver; Rescue Diver is recommended.
- Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver.
- Be a PADI Deep Diver or have proof of 10 dives to 30 m / 100 ft or deeper.
- Have at least 30 logged dives.
- Be at least 18 years old.
Still Building Your Prerequisites?
Missing a certification or logged dives?
I can help you map out the steps to become eligible for Tec 40 and build toward your technical diving goals.