Technical Diving Equipment & Gear Rental
We offer top-tier equipment rentals for deep, cave, wreck, and rebreather diving, featuring sidemount, twinset setups, and advanced decompression gear to meet the demands of technical divers.
Advanced Dive Expeditions & Exploration
Our dive expeditions venture to remote and challenging locations, such as deep wrecks, caves, and technical reefs, providing unique opportunities to explore uncharted underwater environments.
Technical Diver Training & Certification
Dive Subculture offers training in technical diving, covering trimix and decompression techniques, designed to help divers achieve advanced certifications and expand their skills.
About Dive Subculture Technical Dive Center
Dive Subculture Technical Dive Center offers advanced technical diving training and exploration in Khao Lak (Thailand), Malapascua (Philippines), and Yangon (Myanmar). They emphasize not just skill development, but also mental resilience, teamwork, and physical conditioning. The center designs unique travel experiences to some of the world’s best underwater locations, allowing divers to practice in real-world environments. Inclusivity is central to their philosophy, welcoming divers of all backgrounds, certifications, and levels. Their mission is to foster a community of divers dedicated to learning, pushing boundaries, and exploring the depths together.
Reasons to Dive with Dive Subculture Technical
Expert Instruction
Our certified instructors prioritise your safety and provide personalised training tailored to your skill level, ensuring the highest quality instruction and adherence to safety protocols.
Diverse Courses
We offer a wide range of courses for all levels, from beginner to advanced technical diving, including sidemount, wreck, and cave diving, to help you achieve your diving goals.
Stunning Locations
Dive in destinations like Khao Lak (Thailand), Malapascua (Philippines), and Yangon (Myanmar), where you can explore marine life and underwater landscapes.
Supportive Community
Join a passionate diving community that fosters camaraderie and ongoing education, providing you with resources and support both underwater and above.
About Our Courses
Where We Dive
Join the Dark Side
Unleash the Depths: Dive Beyond Limits
Frequently Asked Questions
Technical diving refers to diving that goes beyond the boundaries of recreational diving, which includes mandatory decompression stops, exploring overhead environments like caves or wrecks, and diving deeper than 40 meters to extend bottom time. It often involves using gas mixes other than air, such as Nitrox, Helitrox, and Trimix, along with various diving techniques like sidemount,twinsets, and rebreathers. This advanced form of scuba diving demands greater knowledge, specialized equipment, and additional training.
You don’t need extensive scuba diving experience to begin technical training; in fact, technical diver training can enhance your comfort, confidence, and skills as a diver. However, it’s important to have a solid foundation in fundamental diving skills before starting a course, including breathing, buoyancy, trim (body position in water), and propulsion (finning techniques). Our instructors are available to help you improve and refine these skills throughout your training.
Course structures are designed with a gradual learning curve, increasing in depth and complexity as you become more comfortable with new equipment, techniques, and procedures. Minimum prerequisites for each course are provided, but keep in mind that everyone learns at different rates, so it’s essential to evaluate your own diving comfort level when considering this question.
If you’re still uncertain about your readiness, we offer excellent introductory courses like the TDI Sidemount Diver or Intro to Tech, which can give you a taste of the world of technical diving.
As with any sport, advancing in technical diving means you’ll want to invest in your own equipment to enhance your comfort and confidence underwater. Most gear should be tailored to your body shape for proper fit, requiring some customization for each diver and discipline. However, the variety of options on the market can be overwhelming for new technical divers, with many items not suitable for technical purposes.
The best guidance on equipment choices will come from your instructor, either before you arrive or during the course. We offer a full range of technical equipment for rent during your training, allowing you to “try before you buy,” and we’ll teach you how to configure these elements for future purchases. See the equipment rental section for more details.
While we don’t expect beginners to have all the necessary equipment, we do anticipate that you, as a diver, will possess some of the basic items outlined below:
– Notebook: You’ll be introduced to a lot of new information during your courses, and taking notes will help you reference it later.
– Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB): You should have at least one DSMB with sufficient lift capacity (12 kg recommended). It should be self-sealing, ideally red for primary use, and capable of inflation from a one-way valve. A second emergency DSMB, preferably yellow, is recommended but can be provided by us for a rental fee.
– Reel(s): Bring one reel that is long enough for the maximum depth of your course (e.g., 45m for Decompression Procedures). A backup reel of similar length is advisable.
– Wetsuit: A long wetsuit in the range of 3mm to 5mm is recommended. The water temperature around the Gilis varies seasonally between 25-29 degrees Celsius, and you may experience thermoclines or extended deco times that can make you feel colder than during a typical recreational dive.
– Fins: Choose fins that provide suitable thrust for moving more weight through the water and are stiff enough to support various propulsion techniques. We suggest ‘jet fin’ style open-heel fins with booties.
– Cutting device: A knife or line cutter is acceptable.
– Primary and backup mask: You will need two masks for your courses and should feel comfortable wearing your backup throughout the dive.
– Wrist slate and pencil attachment: This is invaluable for calculating Surface Air Consumption (SAC) rates and complex underwater communication.
– Tech pocket shorts: These are optional but highly useful for carrying your backup mask and other items; they will last you a long time if you can obtain a pair.
– Dive computers: You should have already invested in a dive computer. While it may not be suitable for planning and executing technical dives, it can serve as a backup during your course. Investing in a computer designed for technical diving is a wise first step, and we understand this can be a significant investment, so we offer rentals for students. We stock Shearwater dive computers, which we highly recommend to our students.
We typically suggest that students arrive a few days before starting the course to finish their independent study. However, if you’re pressed for time or prefer not to study during your stay, we strongly recommend TDI’s e-learning options.
E-learning allows you to complete your study prior to your arrival, register your details on the website, and take the exams online, which means less time spent in the classroom and more time underwater. Rest assured, your instructor will still cover all the theory with you during the course.
We recommend that most students interested in technical diving start with the combined TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures courses. Together, these courses form the foundation of your technical training, covering advanced theory, dive planning, and the essential techniques needed to embark on your technical diving journey. They also emphasize developing a solid base of fundamental diving skills, including breathing, buoyancy, trim, propulsion, and situational awareness.
If you are relatively new to diving but want to explore what technical diving entails within your current depth limits in a no-decompression environment, we highly recommend the TDI Sidemount Diver or Intro to Tech courses.
Introducing Diver Alert Network (DAN)
Its primary mission is to enhance dive safety by offering 24/7 support for divers experiencing emergencies, such as decompression sickness, and providing vital information on dive medicine and safety protocols.
Through its extensive network and resources, DAN has become a trusted ally for divers worldwide, ensuring that they are prepared and supported both in and out of the water. Dive Subculture Technical Dive Center highly recommends the purchase of DAN insurance to ensure divers are protected in case of unforeseen accidents or medical emergencies during their underwater adventures.
The Tech Diver's Corner
Brands We Love
EXCELLENTBased on 15 reviewsVerifiedYaz2023-05-08Best Open Water Certification I did my Open Water Certification with Jeremy Asher and I could not have been more happy with it. I learnt so much more than the material and he had a good balance of prioritising safety and fun with his love for the ocean. He was extremely patient and really emphasised key areas, ensuring we had the tips to help us succeed and tailoring his training style to each student. I am really satisfied with the robustness of this course provided by Dive Subculture - thanks Jeremy for making this such a memorable experience and introducing me to the world down under! 🐠🤿💯VerifiedNay Lin H2023-01-29Who love to dive I was so excited of having the experiences of diving during the Open Water Course training. Even though, it is my first experience, I have successfully performed by my excellent instructor Mr.Darren. I would rate the training as 5 stars as the instruction and guidances provided not only during the pool training and open water course was really encouraging and stimulating. Thanks so much Mr.Darren, Mr.Jeremy, Mr. Alex and Dr.Ant who took care and welcomed me during the course of the training. Last, not least, I thanks Mr.Aamir for all the administrative arrangements for the course. I strongly recommend SDI and Dive Subculture Myanmar for those who love to dive.VerifiedEugene2022-11-23Amazing Open Water Dive Course in Myanmar One of the most well planned dive open water course. Even though my flight was delayed to Thandwe, Ngapali , they manage to fit me in. Training was done in the pool professionally by Mr Darren at Amata Resort. Equipment was well checked before passing to a student. Open water was planned well. It was a strenuous day but they manage to cover it . The open water was conducted very strictly but safely. Safety came first for all students. Some had to repeat the task if not completed correctly. Thumbs up to this organization. From hotel, boat arrangements, equipments, assistance, instructors, meals. I will dive with them again and will not hesitate to recommend them to newbies to diving. Big Thanks to Jeremy, Darren, Sven and Arnt for training and taking care of us.VerifiedDarren S2022-11-22A thrilling time in the beautiful seas of Myanmar I did from Open Water up to Dive Master it DSC - one of the best dive centres I've been to anywhere in the world and by far the best in Myanmar. They now offer courses all the to instructor and for recreational and technical diving also.Recently had another trip with DSC for fun diving - amazing dive sites, lots of wildlife and coral and exciting locations. Their approach to organisation and safety is fantastic and the instructors and guides are great hosts and company. They are the only 5 star SDI IT training centre in Myanmar so I was already confident in their standards.If you want to learn diving in Myanmar, or want to do some fun rec or tec dives, this is the place to go. Big thanks to all at DSC! Will definitely be back again - see you underwater soon!VerifiedTara2022-09-11Best dive centre in Myanmar! I did three scuba diving courses (Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue Diver) with Dive Subculture since 2021. At the beginning, I was uncertain about learning to dive in Myanmar, but Dive Subculture had made it enjoyable and made me feel confident as a diver. The instructors are very experienced and always have high standards when it comes to their teaching and divers’ safety. Compared to my experience diving with some dive centres in Thailand, Dive Subculture is top notch in terms of their standards and quality. I highly recommend Dive Subculture for anyone who wants to learn diving whilst in Myanmar. The dive centre is conveniently based in Yangon with its own pool and a dive shop where one can find a wide range of diving equipments. In the high season, the dive centre organises regular trips to Ngapali and Ngwesaung for both courses and fun dives.VerifiedDrArnt_Htoo_Aung2022-09-06Safe and Fun Diving in Myanmar When it comes to Scuba Diving, be it for recreation or for other purposes, safety is the first priority. Safety measures are practised by following standards and procedures!!! All that can be found in DiveSubculture Myanmar - the first 5-stars SDI/TDI dive centre in Myanmar. Whenever you find time to go for Scuba Diving as an certified diver, who is responsible for our Mother Nature, DiveSubculture is the place I would strongly recommend. Not a certified diver, no problem at all. DiveSubculture offers new diver certification training by 7-stars experienced Instructors during your stay. Rental gears all serviced and maintained properly. So, what are you thinking of? You can get your feet wet whenever and wherever you want in Myanmar.VerifiedSridhar R2021-03-20Open Water Course I did my open water course dives with Dive Subculture last week and completed the required dives and pool sessions at Ngapali, Myanmar. Amazing experience and was very impressed with the standard of instruction, guidance and equipments. The instructor who is from Singapore, spoke in good English and ensured that standards were not compromised in learning, safety and comfort to newbies to this sport. I am very impressed and have extended my stay at Amata Resort for another week to pursue my advanced diver program. Will complete by this weekend, confidently with the instructor. Never knew life under water is so beautiful. Thanks to Dive Subculture.VerifiedKo Win2020-12-27my best diving time really happy place to learn diving very nice foreigner teachers and everyone very friendly. im so surprised to see in my country so professional. happy for dive subculture and encourage everyone to try. also shop is really nice for mask an snorkel and thingsVerifiedKhin Linn2020-12-27Amazing times with Dive Subculture I had a great time, instructors are very patient and they let me learn more about how to dive without feeling scared. I got more confidence now and I can’t wait to do diving again. Really enjoyed and have fun. Thank you