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Annotated Tekkie
How much kit does it take to safely explore the underwater world? We celebrate our innate gearheadedness with British photo phenom Jason Brown.
Text by Michael Menduno, Annotations by Garry Dallas, Vladamir Dontsov, Symeon Delikaris Manias, Marcus Rose and Robert Thomas, Design by Amanda White, Photography by Jason Brown.
The idea for the annotated tekkie project grew out of my fascination with diving technology and how many individual pieces of specialized kit are required to conduct a technical dive safely, or any (compressed gas) dive really. Of course, the deeper and longer the dive, the more equipment and consumables are usually required. Breathing underwater is strictly a technological affair. Accordingly, we share a technology-based culture. Even our breath-hold brethren require a modicum of technology—mask, fins, snorkel, exposure suit—while breathy bearers of the DRD4-7R ‘explorer’ gene are already upping the ante with liquid goggles, freediving computers, timers and alarms, talking oximeters and even a bit of nitrox pre-breathe—watch this space.
My first attempts to illustrate the concept of technology in diving were during my early days at aquaCORPS, when we created a number of spreads annotating gear and configurations for the magazine. Scientific American even paid homage to the concept in its August 1995 issue that sported a cover story on decompression illness. An accompanying piece titled, “Deeper Into the Abyss—and Back Again,” by staff writer and diver Glen Zorpette, featured tech diving pioneer Capt. Billy Deans, dressed out in an annotated, open circuit tech diving rig replete with diapers and pre-Fourth Element thermal underwear.
This year we decided to go BIG and teamed up with British photographer Jason Brown, featured in InDepth’s “Brown in Bardo” to capture the innate gearheadedness of our beloved sport. The idea was to identify every single piece of kit worn by actual tech divers down to pieces of cord placed beneath the wrist seals to equalize dry gloves, in a number of popular configurations—see the navigation tabs below. Our models, with few exceptions, were photographed wearing their own gear. It’s interesting to note that almost every piece of equipment shown below, whether it’s rebreathers, regulators, valves, diver propulsion vehicles, exposure suits, dive computers, p-valves, you name it, is made up of dozens to hundreds of individual components.
As a result, we are literally a walking, err, swimming with a Rube Goldberg-esque galaxy of nuts and bolts; screws and wires, O-rings, hoses, circuit boards, chips, sensors, switches, displays, plastic fittings, fabrics, all attached to our bodies, and supported by a plethora of the requisite tools, accessories, and supplies needed to keep everything in working order. Small wonder that a typical tech diver submerges wearing a sports car’s worth of technology, and that’s before her cameras and housings! Ha!
Here then is InDepth’s celebration of our technology-based underwater culture. We hope you enjoy it. I want to thank our illustrious technology-centric sponsors—DAN Europe, Divesoft, Fourth Element, Halcyon and Shearwater for making this art feature possible. I also want to thank our models, annotators, and set providers (see below) for their participation. Note that in addition to the InDepth story featured here, we have created two downloadable Annotated Tekkie posters that you will be able to print. We will send it out via email to subscribers and providing a download link in this story. Better yet, you will also be able to request a full color printed version from your favorite sponsor shown below. Watch this space.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge that as human divers on deadline, we have likely made errors and omissions, and/or failed to identify important items that our geeky readers will no doubt discover with some relish. Our apologies in advance. If you do find an errors, omissions, or needed tweaks, please let us know, and we will make the corrections—Michael Menduno/M2
Use the following navigation links to dive into your favorite configurations:
Open Circuit Sidemount Cave Diver
GUE-style Closed Circuit Tech Diver
Sidemount Closed Circuit Tech Diver
Open Circuit Tech Diver
The technical diving community has largely standardized its open circuit tech rig, though arguments over hose, light and computer placement persist. Here is tekkie Liam Colleran sporting the GUE open circuit configuration with verve. We’d like to extend our thanks to Ian Taylor at Skindeep Diving Charters Portland, Dorset for generously allowing us access to his 11-meter Catamaran dive vessel Skindeep.
Open Circuit Sidemount Cave Diver
The British Cave Diving Group (CDG) has developed its own sidemount configurations for dealing with the UK’s sumpy caves. CDG diver Robert Thomas, founder of Young Divers International shows the kind of kit it takes to scoop serious booty. Thank you to Christopher Binding and Becca Burne at Wookey Hole Somerset, UK for kindly allowing access to Wookey’s beautiful show caves.
Closed Circuit Tech Diver
An inspired TDI Instructor Trainer Toni Norton geeks out in full tech regalia in the yellow machine that fomented a revolution.
GUE-Style Closed Circuit Tech Diver
Not surprising to anyone, GUE has developed its own closed circuit configuration. Here GUE instructor Marcus Rose, who serves as regional director for Project Baseline UK and GUE’s Community Director, demonstrates the fine points of a well-dressed (CCR) man. And check out the exploded view below, and realize that every piece of kit shown below is a assemblage of tens to hundreds of components. A massive thanks to Mary Harris at Old Harbour Dive Centre, Weymouth, Dorset for kindly allowing us to use X-Dream for the shoot.
FOR AN EXPLODED VIEW OF THE HALCYON HALO [popup_anything id=”12707″]
TO SEE AN EXPLODED VIEW OF THE H-75p 1ST STAGE[popup_anything id=”12712″]
Sidemount Closed Circuit Tech Diver
Whether worn as a primary or as rebreather bailout, sidemount rebreathers are garnering users and applications. Here Sean Connery stunt double (just kidding) cum RAID Instructor Trainer Garry Dallas, Simply Sidemount embodies the proper sidemount style and ‘tude amidst the verdant English countryside.
Supporting Technology
Our tekkies conduct their pre and post dive activities using the appropriate supporting technologies. Special thanks to British explorer and educator Phil Short, Dark Water Exploration, for dropping in, err, down for the stealthy cameo.
Diving Thermals
Our dynamic duo isn’t skimping on skivvies—stay wet, stay warm! A big thank you to Amy and Martin Stanton of Vobster Quay Diving Centre, Somerset, UK for allowing us to use their site.
Tools of the Trade
The right tool for the right job! Oh yeah, there’s lots of jobs! And don’t forget to wee-wee.
Books
Here are a few in-depth volumes—both classics and newerbies—on tekkie bookshelves.
Here are your Annotated Tekkie posters
Connect With Jason Brown, BARDOCreative here:
www.facebook.com/bardocreative
www.instagram.com/bardophotographic
ANNOTATED TEKKIE IS SPONORED BY:
