Technical - Open Circuit

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OPEN CIRCUIT - Technical and Decompression Diving

Open Circuit Technical Diving

All recreational divers are familiar with open circuit scuba equipment. You may have qualified to use Nitrox in your recreational diving to extend your no decompression limit.
At a technical level you will learn to use redundant/duplicated safety systems to become self sufficient.
You will also learn to "gas switch" to allow the use of the optimum Nitrox blend for different portions of the dive. You will learn gas management skills to ensure that you have adequate supplies of the appropriate gas mixes to safely complete the dive. You may continue your technical training to include staged decompression stops and the use of high oxygen Nitrox mixes to accelerate the decompression process.

So what is Technical Diving?

Well it sounded like a good idea in the bar! And now I just wait for the tide to come in?
No, this isn't it!

Technical diving is any of the following:
  • Any decompression diving / required stage decompression.
  • Dives below 40 metres.
  • Dives in an overhead environment beyond 40 linear metres of the surface.
  • Multiple gas blends (gas switching) for a single dive.

We currently offer technical training in conjunction with both DSAT/PADI and TDI.
DSAT (Diving Science and Technology) is the technical branch of the PADI organisation and TDI (Technical Diving International) is one of the larger training agencies supporting technical diving.

What is covered in the courses?



For full course outlines please follow the course links below.

DSAT Tec Deep Diver Level 1

The goals of Level 1 of the Tec Deep Diver course are:

  • To qualify you to make gas switch, extended no decompression dives to 40 metres using air and enriched air with up to 60% oxygen, using technical diving equipment & procedures.
  • To train you in the motor skills required for technical diving.
  • To ensure that you understand and acknowledge the hazards and risks involved with technical diving, as well as the limits to the training received in the course.
  • To train you to prepare for and respond to reasonably forseeable emergencies that may occur in this type of diving.
  • To provide the foundational skills and knowledge for completing the entire Tec Deep Diver course.


The prerequisite qualifications for Level 1 of the Tec Deep Diver course are:

  • Certified as a PADI Advanced Open Diver or equivalent.
  • Minimum age: 18 years.
  • Certified as a PADI Enriched Air Diver or equivalent.
  • Certified as a PADI Deep Diver or equivalent.
  • Have a minimum of 50 logged dives, of which at least 10 were made with enriched air nitrox, 12 dives were deeper than 18 metres and at least 6 dives were deeper than 30 metres.


The course consists of:

  • The first four Knowledge Development sections from the DSAT Tec Deep Diver manual including one exam.
  • Four Practical Applications from the DSAT Tec Deep Diver manual.
  • Seven Training Dives.

From £395.00
Course costs are based upon the shallow training dives being made in Wraysbury lake & the remaining deep dives in the National Diving Centre at Chepstow. Prices are based upon a minimum number of two students with a course duration of 3 days. Alternative arrangements to include the dives into one of our scheduled technical trips or a foreign dive holiday are available at extra cost.
DSAT Tec Deep Diver Level 2

The goals of Level 2 of the Tec Deep Diver course are:
  • To qualify you to make gas switch, extended no decompression dives, decompression stop dives and accelerated decompression dives using air, enriched air and oxygen to 50 metres, using technical diving equipment and procedures required to manage the risks involved.
  • To train you in the motor skills required for technical scuba diving
  • To ensure that you understand and acknowledge the hazards and risks involved with the above types of technical diving, as well as the limits of the training received in the course.
  • To train you to prepare for and to respond to reasonably forseeable emergencies that may occur in this type of technical diving.
  • To provide the foundational skills for further training in technical diving.


The prerequisite qualifications for Level 2 of the Tec Deep Diver course are:
  • Certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent.
  • Certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent.
  • Minimum age: 18 years.
  • Certified as a PADI Enriched Air Diver or equivalent.
  • Certified as a PADI Deep Diver or equivalent.
  • Have a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which at least 20 dives were made with enriched air nitrox, 25 dives were deeper than 18 metres and at least 15 dives were deeper than 30 metres.


The course consists of:
  • Six Knowledge Development sections from the DSAT Tec Deep Diver manual including two exams.
  • Eight Practical Applications from the DSAT Tec Deep Diver manual.
  • Twelve Training Dives.

From £895.00 Upgrade from Level 1 Tec Deep £500.00
Course costs are based upon the shallow training dives being made in Wraysbury lake and the remaining deep dives in the National Diving Centre at Chepstow. Prices are based upon a minimum number of two students with a course duration of seven days. Alternative arrangements to include the dives into one of our scheduled technical trips or a foreign dive holiday are available at extra cost.
DSAT Tec Trimix Diver

The goals of the Tec Trimix Diver course are:
  • To qualify you to plan and make dives using open circuit scuba with various trimix blends, air, enriched air and oxygen, using the technical diving equipment and procedures required to manage the risks involved.
  • To train you in the cognitive and motor skills required for technical trimix diving.
  • To ensure that you acknowledge and understand the hazards and risks of technical diving in general and trimix diving in particular, as well as the limits of training received in this course.
  • To train you to prepare for and respond to reasonably forseeable emergencies that may occur in this type of technical diving.
  • To provide skills applicable to further training and experience in technical diving


The prerequisite qualifications for enrolling in the Tec Trimix course are:
  • Certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or have a qualifying certification in diver rescue and accident management from another training organisation.
  • Minimum age: 18 years.
  • Certified as a DSAT Tec Deep Diver or have a qualifying certification in technical enriched air/air deep decompression diving from another organisation.
  • Have a minimum of 150 logged dives.


The course consists of:
  • Four Knowledge Development sections from the DSAT Tec Trimix Diver manual including one exam.
  • Five Practical Applications from the DSAT Tec Trimix Diver manual.
  • Eight Training Dives

From £845.00 + gas costs.
Course costs are based upon the shallow training dives being made in Wraysbury lake and the remaining deep dives in the National Diving Centre at Chepstow. Prices are based upon a minimum number of two students with a course duration of six days. Alternative arrangements to include the dives into one of our scheduled technical trips or a foreign dive holiday are available at extra cost.
DSAT Gas Blender & Oxygen Cleaning

The goals of the DSAT Gas Blender course are:
  • To train you in the safe handling of oxygen and the techniques of oxygen cleaning.
  • To train and qualify you to blend Nitrox breathing gases to the precise mix required.


The prerequisite qualifications for enrolling in the DSAT Gas Blender course are:
  • Certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent
  • Certified as a PADI Enriched Air Diver or equivalent
  • Minimum Age: 18 years


The course consists of:
  • Knowledge Development sections from the DSAT Gas Blender manual including one exam.
  • Practical exercises filling cylinders to desired mixes.

£165.00
Course can be run over one day and may include a free Nitrox fill of your own cylinder, if included as part of the training exercise.
Gareth Jones' GAS WIZARD

Gareth Jones' excellent Gas Wizard for technical diving gas mix calculations, including:
  • Nitrox
  • Trimix
  • HeliAir
  • Topping Off Partial Fills
  • Decanting Between Cylinders
  • Gas Usage
  • Equivalent Narcotic Depths
  • Cost of Fill Calculator

TDI
COURSES.

 www.tdisdi.com

For full course outlines please follow the course links below.

TDI Advanced Nitrox

The Advanced Nitrox course examines the use of EAN21 through 100% oxygen for optimal mixes to a depth of 45 metres. The objective is to train divers in the benefits, hazards & proper procedures for utilising EAN 21 through 100% oxygen for dives not requiring staged decompression. Decompression Procedures may be combined with this course.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE

The pre-requisite certification level for this course is:
  • Minimum age 15 (18 If Decompression Procedures combined with course)
  • Verified log of 25 dives
  • TDI Nitrox certification (or equivalent)

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classroom theory tuition 6 hours
Topics covered in the course include:
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Formula Work
  • Equipment Considerations
  • Dive Tables
  • Dive Computers
  • Dive Planning
  • Common Mixing Procedures
  • Decompression
Open water training 4 Dives/100 minutes
All Open Water dives include practice of the following skills:
  • Properly analyse gas mixtures
  • Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
  • Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits

COST

3 day course £ 275.00
TDI Decompression Procedures

The Decompression Procedures course examines the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving.
The objective is to train divers to plan and conduct a standard staged decompression dive not exceeding a maximum depth of 45 metres unless taught in conjunction with the Extended Range course. Students are permitted to utilise Enriched Air Nitrox mixes or oxygen for decompression provided the gas mix is within their current certification level.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE

The pre-requisite certification level for this course is:
  • Minimum age 18
  • Verified log of 25 dives
  • Open Water Diver certification

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classroom theory tuition 6 hours
Topics covered in the course include:
  • Overview of decompression "safety stops" compared to required stops
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Decompression Options
  • Equipment Considerations
  • Dive Tables vs Computers
  • Dive Planning
  • Procedures
Open water training 4 Dives/100 minutes
Open Water dives include demonstration by the student of the following skills:
  • Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
  • Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits
  • Contingency situations & problem solving
  • A safety stop of at least 3 minutes will be conducted on all No-Decompression dives and proper staged decompression stops whenever & wherever mandated
  • Demonstrate the correct deployment of a lift bag using a dive reel &/or up-line
  • Demonstrate (simulated) emergency gas sharing at a stationary depth not exceeding 30 metres
  • Demonstrate emergency deployment of a backup regulator or bailout scuba system containing bottom mix at a depth not exceeding 30 metres
  • Demonstrate the proper deployment, management & use of the bottom mix, decompression mix & travel mix (if used)

COST

3 day course £ 275.00
TDI Extended Range

The Extended Range course provides training & experience to competently utilise air for dives up to 55 metres that require staged decompression, utilising Nitrox mixtures or oxygen during decompression,
The objective of the course is to train divers in the proper techniques, equipment requirements and hazards of deep air diving to a maximum of 55 metes utilising Nitrox mixtures or oxygen for staged decompression.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE

The pre-requisite certification level for this course is:
  • Minimum age 18
  • Verified log of 100 dives of which 25 must be deeper than 30 metres
  • TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver & TDI Decompression Procedures certification (or equivalents)

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classroom theory tuition 8 hours
Topics covered in the course include:
  • History of deep air diving
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Decompression Options
  • Equipment Considerations
  • Dive Tables
  • Dive Planning
  • Procedures
Open water training 6 Dives/100 minutes
Open Water dives include demonstration by the student of the following skills:
  • Properly analyse all gas mixtures to be used
  • Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
  • Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits
  • Demonstrate the proper procedures for switching and isolating a malfunctioning regulator
  • Demonstrate the proper navigational techniques for the specific dive
  • On two dives, demonstrate an ascent with ascent reel and lift bag. Perform staged decompression
  • On one dive, tow a simulated unconcious diver, while at depth, 10 metres to ascent line and simulate an emergency rescue ascent technique

COST

4 day course £ 395.00
TDI Entry Level Trimix

The Entry Level Trimix course provides the training to competently & safely utilise breathing gases containing helium, for dives that require staged decompression, utilising Nitrox and/or oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth of 60 metres.
The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards amd proper procedures of utilising custom oxygen/helium/nitrogen mixtures as breathing gases.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE

The pre-requisite certification level for this course is:
  • Minimum age 18
  • Verified log of 100 dives
  • TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and TDI Decompression Procedures certification (or equivalents)

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classroom theory tuition 8 hours
Topics covered in the course include:
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Decompression Options
  • Equipment Considerations
  • Dive Tables
  • Dive Planning
  • Procedures
Open water training 4 Deco Dives/100 minutes
Open Water dives include demonstration by the student of the following skills:
  • Properly analyse all gas mixtures to be used (Min O2 content 21%)
  • Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
  • Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits
  • Demonstrate the proper navigational techniques for the specific dive
  • On two dives, demonstrate an ascent with ascent reel and lift bag. Perform staged decompression
  • Demonstrate the proper procedures for switching and isolating a malfunctioning primary regulator

COST

4 day course £ 450.00
TDI Advanced Level Trimix

The Advanced Level Trimix course provides the training to competently and safely utilise breathing gases containing helium, for dives that require staged decompression, utilising Nitrox and/or oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth of 91 metres.
The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards & proper procedures of utilising custom oxygen/helium/nitrogen mixtures as breathing gases.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE

The pre-requisite certification level for this course is:
  • Minimum age 18
  • Verified log of 100 dives
  • TDI Extended Range Diver or TDI Entry Level Trimix Diver (or equivalents)

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classroom theory tuition 8 hours
Topics covered in the course include:
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Decompression Options
  • Equipment Considerations
  • Dive Tables
  • Dive Planning
  • Procedures
Open water training 4 Dives/100 minutes
Open Water dives include demonstration by the student of the following skills:
  • Properly analyse all gas mixtures to be used
  • Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
  • Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits
  • Demonstrate the proper navigational techniques for the specific dive
  • On two dives, demonstrate an ascent with ascent reel and lift bag. Perform staged decompression
  • Demonstrate the proper procedures for switching and isolating a malfunctioning primary regulator

COST

4 day course £ 450.00
TDI Nitrox Gas Blender

The course provides the training required to allow candidates to competently and safely blend Nitrox gas.
The objective of this course is to train candidates in the proper techniques, equipent requirements and hazards involved in blending Nitrox gases for recreational scuba.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE

The pre-requisite certification level for this course is:
  • Minimum age 18

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classroom theory tuition 2 hours
Topics covered in the course include:
  • The Responsibility of the Gas Blender
  • Gases of Diving
  • Oxygen Handling
  • Gas Production Equipment
  • Mixing Techniques
  • Oxygen Analysis
  • Cylinder Handling and Sign Out
Examination Practical/Theory
Graduation requirements include demonstration by the student of the following skills:
  • Blend & Analyse 5 cylinders of Nitrox gas.
  • Successful completion of the TDI Nitrox Gas Blender written exam

COST

1 day course £ 80.00
TDI Advanced Gas Blender

This course enables the successful candidate to engage in the preparation of high quality scuba gases.
The objective of this course is to train candidates in the proper procedures needed for the preparation & blending of high quality gases.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE

The pre-requisite certification level for this course is:
  • Minimum age 18
  • TDI Nitrox Diver (or equivalent)
  • TDI Nitrox Gas Blender (or equivalent)

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classroom theory tuition 6 hours
Topics covered in the course include:
  • The Responsibility of the Gas Blender
  • Gases of Diving
  • Oxygen Handling
  • Gas Production Equipment
  • Mixing Techniques
  • Oxygen Analysis
  • Cylinder Handling and Sign Out
Examination Practical/Theory
Graduation requirements include demonstration by the student of the following skills:
  • Blend & Analyse 5 cylinders of Nitrox
  • Blend & Analyse 3 cylinders of Trimix
  • Satisfactorily complete the TDI Advanced Gas Blender written exam

COST

1 day course £150.00


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