IDEST – Tech Inspection 1 + 2 + IMCA + Composite Cylinder

The all-in-one route to professional dive workshop skills

If you need end-to-end capability—from visual and hydrostatic cylinder inspection to commercial dive equipment maintenance and composite cylinder know-how—this bundle delivers it in one structured pathway. You’ll train on real rigs and service benches, building practical, auditable processes you can take straight to your centre, club or employer.

What’s included (modules & duration)

• Tech Inspection 1 – Visual Cylinder Inspection (1 day)
  Cylinder ID/markings, rejection criteria, internal/external inspection, neck/thread checks, documentation & labelling.

• Tech Inspection 2 – Hydrostatic Cylinder Inspection (1 day)
  Hydro test setup, safe pressurisation, expansion measurement, pass/fail decisions, drying, stamping and records.

• IMCA Dive Technician (5 days)
  Surface-supplied systems overview, helmets & masks, umbilicals, panels/pneumo, compressors & air quality, gas management, hot-water, testing & fault-finding, workshop standards aligned to IMCA guidance.

• Composite Cylinder Inspection (1 day)
  Identification, service-life limits, unique damage modes (fibre cuts/impact/resin), neck/liner checks, hydro considerations, rejection criteria and records.

Total duration: 8 days (delivered consecutively or modularly—see dates).

Who it’s for

• Dive centre/club technicians seeking full workshop capability

• Recreational techs moving into commercial/inshore environments

• Equipment officers managing mixed fleets (steel, aluminium, composite)

• New starters with mechanical aptitude who want a structured route

Key outcomes (skills you’ll take away)

• Conduct visual and hydrostatic cylinder inspections to UK best practice and IDEST-aligned procedures

• Inspect composite (fibre-wrapped) cylinders confidently, including service-life and rejection criteria

• Apply IMCA-aligned maintenance practices to SSD equipment (helmets, panels, umbilicals, compressors & gas)

• Produce traceable documentation (logbooks, certificates, labels) that stands up to audits

• Implement safe workshop processes: PPE, pressure/chemical safety, tool control and housekeeping

Format, locations & cohort size

• Format: Instructor-led workshops, demonstrations and supervised bench practice

• Locations: Reading, Swindon, Bristol (serving Berkshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire & Hampshire)

• Group size: Small cohorts to maximise hands-on time

Assessment & certification

• Knowledge checks and practical competency assessments within each module.

• Awards: Diving Academy Certificates of Completion per module, confirming training to IDEST-aligned procedures and IMCA guidance/manufacturer best practice.

• Note: IDEST accreditation/test-station approvals and IMCA certification/company approvals are administered by those bodies/employers and are not granted by this course.

What’s included

• Expert tutors & workshop access

• Use of rigs, training cylinders, service benches, tools and consumables

• Course handbooks, checklists and documentation templates

• Refreshments (tea/coffee/water)

Entry requirements

• Minimum age 18

• Mechanical aptitude; basic electrical understanding helpful for IMCA module

• Prior servicing experience beneficial but not essential