Technical diving (sometimes referred to as tec diving) is a form of scuba diving that exceeds the conventional limits – especially depth and bottom time – of recreational diving. Technical diving exposes the diver to significantly higher risks than recreational diving, including permanent illness and death, and therefore requires extensive experience, advanced training, and specialized equipment. Technical diving also often involves breathing gases other than air or standard nitrox.
The term technical diving has been credited to Michael Menduno, who was editor of the (now defunct) diving magazine aquaCorps Journal. The concept and term, technical diving, are both relatively recent advents, although divers have been engaging in what is now commonly referred to as technical diving for decades.