The Tech fast track

[systematic.entropy]

I'm posting this here, and may end up posting in on another board as well. But, I wanted to mention it here, given that I know for a fact that there are a good deal of people in the area involved.

What I'm speaking of, is the tech diving "fast track". I'll start off by saying, I, myself am very guilty of it, but I have my reasons and rationality. I have noticed a good deal of people, at least in the Milwaukee area, who have jumped into technical diving and really pushed the learning curve in the last couple years. The common view of technical diving is a place divers end up. It's a goal. This is illustrated by the common technical diver seen on most charters in the area. I'll tell you, they're usually in their 30s or early 40s, and have been diving since the dark ages, and may have built unpon experience through the years, with 40 or 50 nitrox dives, a few dozen deco dives, well you get the idea.

Now, up comes a trio of late twenty year old guys all in bright new gear, fresh out of their nitrox/adv. nitrox/deco/trimix weekend at wazee (joking, I don't know of anyone who's made that a package deal... yet).

So, what do people really think? Are things being set up for disaster? Does it really all depend on the diver? Perhaps it's better to start out in technical training, if thats where the beginning diver plans on ending up anyways, to help prevent bad habits in the beginning. I'm pretty sure there are divers on both sides of the table here, so, voice your opinion.