Vikki started diving in the nineties and knew she wanted to become a PADI instructor. She also discovered a passion for cave diving and moved into trimix diving and then CCR as she explored further and deeper into caves. In 1999 Vikki and her partner started Eau Zone PADI Five Star IDC Centre, opening EAU2 Technical Diver Training a year later. Vikki became a PADI Course Director in 2005 and has been a technical consultant PADI’s newly revised TecRec program.

See how Vikki’s passion and experience led her to achieve her goals and eventually consult on tec diving.

Q: How did you first get into diving?

I fell in love with the freedom of movement, the peace of being underwater and the challenge of mastering diving techniques.

A: I’ve been fascinated with the sea since I was very young. While on holiday in Key Largo, Florida, I had my first snorkeling experience with my Dad. We floated–mesmerized by the underwater world. Suddenly, we heard the recall horn from the boat and looked up to see everyone else was on the boat, dried and dressed. We’d been so entranced we didn’t notice that we were the only ones left. A few years later, I tried scuba in Kenya. As soon as I surfaced, I knew I’d become an instructor. The underwater life was amazing and I fell in love with the freedom of movement, the peace of being underwater and the challenge of mastering diving techniques.

Q: Where did you take your PADI Open Water?

I got certified in the cold waters of England – and I loved it!

A: I took my PADI Open Water Diver course in England, UK in the winter! I was so desperate to learn that it didn’t occur to me to wait until it was warmer. I devoured the Open Water Diver manual in one sitting and loved every minute of my training, even though the water was cold and we dived in an inland dive site without very much to see. 

Q: When did you decide to take PADI Tec diving training?

I got into cave diving with a rebreather and learned all I could with tec.

A: I became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor in 1997 and worked in a coastal dive center. Diving in the UK offers the challenging opportunity many wrecks with challenging depth and dive profiles. So, I learned to make simple decompression dives and then just kept going in tec diving. In 1999 I became a passionate cave diver. I wanted to learn to dive with a rebreather because it’s an optimal tool for deep, long cave exploration. Then I started teaching tec, and, eventually, teaching tec instructors too. 

Q: What appeals to you most about tec? Why?

I love a challenge and always learning something new!

A: Although I like the relaxing side of scuba diving, I’m most passionate about the challenge of tec diving. I love always learning something new like new techniques to master or new equipment to try. Having thee tools allows me to explore new dive sites.  I’ve also discovered a tremendous sense of camaraderie among tec divers. We enjoy the amazing sense of accomplishment after a tec dive has been carried out well, even if it’s a training or practice dive.

Q: What led you to consult on PADI’s Tec Diver program?

After owning a dive center, I worked at PADI Bristol and helped launch the PADI TecRec program and most recently revise it.

A: Between 1999 and 2009, I was an avid cave diver and owner of a PADI Five Star IDC Centre with a focus on tec diver training. I enjoyed as many exploration projects as possible. In 2010, I joined PADI’s Bristol team (now PADI EMEA) where I helped develop and launch the PADI Rebreather and Tec CCR Diver courses, Sidemount and Tec Sidemount Diver courses and the Tec Deep Instructor Trainer program. I was also a part of the Technical Diving Division, a global role supporting our tec members.  After a break to have children, I worked on the PADI Tec Diver program revision. This project has been the most exciting so far to work with the team using their vast depth of tec experience and create a program that will set a new benchmark in tec diver training. 

Q: What are you most excited about with the new updates?

I’m excited about the new Trimex diver options.

A: There are so many exciting aspects to the updated Tec Diver program! The most exciting change for me is the addition of a trimix option at each of the core levels, Tec 40, 45 and 50 Diver. The ability to use trimix at these levels gives divers the option to include factors such as the potential for narcosis and gas density when choosing their gases.

Q: What would you say to someone about tec diving?

Start slowly and expand your horizons gradually.

A: Start slowly. Even if you already know you’ll love it, tec diving is a journey and the best tec divers are cautious and expand their horizons gradually. Discover Tec is a great place to start if you’re “on the fence” because you can try tec equipment in a pool or other sheltered shallow water environment. Tec Basics Diver is another good option. This short course teaches you to use basic tec diving equipment and master basic tec diving skills and procedures without needing to extend your depth or do actual decompression dives.

Q: What’s your next diving goal?

A: After focusing on my children, my recent goals have been more about refreshing skills than extending them. In 2024, I want to learn to use a new CCR. I’ve got my eye on a new “toy”. Learning to use a new CCR should keep me busy for a while! I am also enjoying introducing my daughters to being in the water and plan to run a PADI Discover Snorkeling experience for my oldest daughter this year.

Like most PADI Pros, I can’t wait until they are old enough to learn to dive.

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