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COURSE OPTIONS
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OPEN CIRCUIT vs CLOSED CIRCUIT is it worth it? IS TECHNICAL DIVING FOR YOU????
What makes technical diving more demanding than recreational diving?
The single greatest safety factor in open water recreational diving is that, no matter what happens (equipment malfunction, loss of breathing gas supply, loss of buddy, etc.), divers always have the option of making a direct ascent to the surface. Two factors make this possible:
By keeping well within the no stop limits and shallower than the recommended depth limits of 30 meters from the surface and never more than 40 meters. Never going into an overhead environment. Be it into a cave or wreck or going into decompression.
With the exception of certain recreational-level specialty diving activities open water divers are never under overhead obstructions that would prevent them from making an immediate and direct ascent to the surface.
Obviously, any time divers do place a barrier between themselves and the surface, they compromise their ability to make an controlled ascent to the surface. Thus, by entering overhead environments, incurring a decompression obligation, or venturing deeper into the water column they deprive themselves of recreational diving's greatest safety factor.
Divers choosing to engage in these more advanced technical dives must prepare themselves, with this in mind, with the proper training, a rigid awareness of their equipment and higher levels of personal fitness.
While casual recreational diving may be an activity for the masses available to the majority of interested individuals; safe technical diving is limited to certain individuals willing to commit to more extensive levels of preparation. This type of diving is certainly not for everyone but experienced divers willing to extend the effort will be justly rewarded with some of the word’s most unique diving activity.
Are you ready for advanced diver training?
Many experts estimate that less than 1% of the recreational diving population possesses the knowledge, skills, attitude and judgment needed to be as safe as necessary in demanding environments. Most divers are not willing to invest the energy to develop skills that are crucial for success in more aggressive diving environments. Could you be among this group? Other than Rescue Diver certification, there are few commonly recognized prerequisites for the rigors of technical diver training. However, the fact remains that students who successfully complete more rigorous training curriculums typically have the following commonalties:
So Why get trained with Dive T.E.C.?
Pete Mesley is New Zealands most accomplished Technical diver and the most experienced. With over 1000 hours underwater at depths deeper than 50m Pete is no stranger to the vigor's of technical diving. He has lead many deep expeditions diving challenging sites all round the world, so teaches from experience. Whether you want to learn basic decompression procedures, advanced wreck penetration techniques, Advanced Trimix or Closed circuit rebreather training you will receive the very best training money can buy. Remember:
If you are after experience — then COUNT on Experience!
What level of experience should I achieve before taking a technical diving course?
The rigorous demands of certain environments are best managed by divers with more experience. Divers not yet adept at fundamental skills often find the burden of aggressive environments overly taxing. A significant number of students who participate successfully in technical diver training are Divemasters or Instructors, or have comparable leadership-level training. None of the training for these levels of certification is necessarily relevant to the curriculum at hand, it is simply that those students who successfully complete this type of training have a high level of commitment to diving. However, the dedication and awareness of many leadership divers may be found in individuals from all ranks. Being Rescue Diver Trained is a definite must, and other basic fundamental skills like Buoyancy, proper finning techniques, navigation, and a good understanding of physiology will only help you be a safer technical diver.
Diving Experience Successful course participants typically have made and logged at least 100 scuba dives over the past 48 months for early levels of technical training while more progressive levels require several hundred successful dives in different environments.
What Buoyancy Skills Should You Master Before Taking a Technical Diving Course?
Have a look at the skills outlined in this text. You should be able to master these skills with ease before contemplating enrolling on a program.
Body Position: Students should also be able to position themselves, by shifting tank and weight system height, so that they can achieve a perfectly horizontal hover. Students can test this by seeing if they can view everything that is going on behind them simply by tucking their chins to their chests.
Helicopter Turn: While in the position just described, students should be able to complete a 360 degree turn, simply by sculling with their ankles and fins. The rest of the body, including and especially the hands, should remain motionless throughout the turn.
General Diving skills: Mask removal/replacement whilst hovering, gear removal/replacement, gas sharing, hovering at any depth, controlled ascents and rescue skills must be well rehearsed.
How Important is Physical Fitness to the Technical Diver?
Technical DIVING is a physically demanding activity. In an emergency, personal fitness can literally make the difference between life and death. Fitness is also a key factor in reducing the risk of decompression illness. Also there is a lot more equipment for you to handle weight wise. You should be physically fit with good reasonable stamina.
How Did You Stack Up? If you can honestly say, "Yes, that's me," you may be ready for the more demanding world of technical training. If you meet some of the criteria outlined, but not all of them, you are likely better contacting us to establish your level of preparedness. A skill evaluation can be arranged before the start of the course to see how you get on.
TDI Decompression procedures COURSE $1200nz (combined with Adv EANx)
Overview This program is designed to increase the awareness of divers who dive to depths of up to 40 meters. Most recreational diving organizations discourage diving past the 45 meter mark, but TDI realize that many divers venture to these depths and beyond the no stop limits. This course covers additional equipment considerations and the aspects needed to safely plan and conduct limited decompression dives to 45m. The TDI Advanced Nitrox diver program is strongly recommended to run in conjunction with the TDI Decompression procedures program as it is a prerequisite for all other courses involving diving below the 40 meter mark or going into decompression.
Water Skills üWork out your air consumption RMV (Respiratory Minute Volume). üBecome efficient in a variety of fining techniques. üDemonstrate buoyancy control by: üA timed ascent of 6 meters per minute. üHovering at depth for three minutes. üSwim 25 meters in full equipment without mask. üDeploy lift bag in under 2 minutes. üGas sharing skills: üWithout breathing swim 15 meters underwater in full gear and at that point commence gas sharing with buddy. Rest for at least three breaths. Swim at normal pace for 4 minutes. üRepeat the above step with out of gas buddy with fully flooded mask or removed mask. Swim for 2 minutes while sharing gas.
ü Gas shutdown with regulator switch. Student is to simulate gas failure. Change regulators and shut the valve off primary regulator, then reopen valve and repeat as if the other regulator had malfunctioned. Repeat until shill is done in under 2 minutes. üOn all dives open and close tank valves. üOn at least 2 occasions deploy lift bag. üOn at least one occasion, do a surface removal and replacement of BCD. All ascents are to be 9 meters per minute. Course Details
Course Overview:
Ø Two Theory sessions Ø Confined water skill training session. Ø 4-6 Open Water Dives with at least 2 dives between 30 -45 meters (100 minutes of bottom time must be reached)
Prerequisites:
Ø 18 years old Ø Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) Rescue diver preferred Ø Current diver medical (within 12 months)
Materials Included:
Ø TDI Decompression Procedures manual Ø Certification card
Required Equipment:
Ø Standard Dive Gear Ø U/w Slates Ø Twin Cylinders, Pony Bottle, or Dual Outlet Valve (this can be hired) Ø 22.5 kg Lift bag and reel
This program is the FOUNDATION to all your technical diver training. Get this wrong in the beginning then it is the poorly learnt skills that are the first lost in a crisis!
This program utilizes the proper use of using the best possible EANx mix for a given dive. With the proper use of EANx as a bottom mix and higher percentages of oxygen (up to 100%) to maximize your time underwater This program goes hand in hand with the Deco Procedures prorgam.
Water Skills Development
üDemonstrate proficiency in a variety of dive techniques and employ precision buoyancy control. üGas sharing skills: Without breathing swim 15 metres underwater in full gear without mask and at that point commence gas sharing with buddy. Rest for at least three breaths. Swim at normal pace for 4 minutes. üOn an Open Water dive, demonstrate dive planning abilities, thus avoiding CNS exposure risk. üPerform blue water gas sharing ascent on the alternate second stage. üOn all dives open and close tank valves. üDeploy lift bag on at least two occasions, using it as an essential platform. üDemonstrate a safe attitude and awareness. üAt a depth greater than 6 metres remove and replace all scuba gear. üSurface removal and replacement of all scuba gear. üDemonstrate accident management control techniques. üBecome proficient with deco gas bottle attachment and positioning.
If entering the course based on previous experience you must complete all: üThe Deco procs waterskills and relevant theory knowledge. üOpen water dives have a minimum of 160 minutes bottom time to be included within 4-6 dives. 4 dives must be made between 30-40 metres
Please note that no boat charges or gear hire are included in the price Course Details
Course Overview:
Ø 2 Theory sessions Ø Confined water skill training session (if needed). Ø 4-6 Open Water Dives with at least 2 dives between 30 -40 meters. All dives are to be conducted using any mix of 22-40% O2 as a bottom mix. 50-100% O2 can be used as a decompression gas.(at least 100 minutes of bottom time must be reached)
Prerequisites:
Ø 15 years old (18 If taken with Deco procs cse) Ø Show proof of 25 logged dives Ø TDI Nitrox diver (or equivalent). Ø Current diver medical (within 12 months)
Materials Included:
Ø TDI Advanced EANx Student Workbook Ø Certification card Ø Wall certificate
Required Equipment:
Ø Standard Dive Gear Ø U/w Slate Ø Twin Cylinders, Pony Bottle, or Dual Outlet Valve (this can be hired) Ø 22.5Kg Lift bag and reel Ø 1.5 meter alternate air source hose.
TDI ADVANCED WRECK DIVER $1150.00nz Imagine this…...
Swimming down a corridor, through a lobby, down a flight of stairs, through a set of swing doors and into a massive luxurious restaurant. All this being done way beyond the natural light zone. There is an explorer in all of us and there isn't any better feeling than exploring a sunken ocean liner!
This course provides training and experience to competently conduct advanced wreck dives. Including training in the different types of penetration skills and techniques. The objective of this course is to train divers in the proper techniques, equipment requirements and hazards of advanced wreck diving.
This is not for the faint hearted and utter most comfort is essential in ones basic skills. The majority of the course is completed INSIDE a wreck. Gas sharing emergency skills, loss of lines, progressive penetration techniques siltouts.
If you want to venture inside wrecks then this course is more than essential. Your life will depend on it!
This program is normally carried out on the world famous Mikhail Lermontov situated at the top of the South Island. For those that want to stay local the wreck of the Waikato is also perfect. Half of the wreck lies on its side offering unique training perspectives of wrecks that lie on their side. Either way you will gat a lot out of this program.
You will also learn how to read maps deciphering where you have been, where you want to go and where all the great stuff is to look at!!
Course Details
Course Overview:
Ø Theory sessions Ø Gear configuration ØOpen Water - 100 minutes of bottom time made within four to six dives.
Prerequisites:
Ø 18 years old Ø Certified rescue diver or higher
Materials Included:
Ø TDI Adv Wreck manual Ø Certification card (upon successful completion of training) Ø Training
Not Included:
Ø Boat costs Ø Gas Ø Gear TDI EXTENDED RANGE DIVER $1150nz
This program is designed to train divers to carry out dives up to depths of 55 msw using custom blend mixes and to provide greater understanding of utilizing them, a complete knowledge of the limits of any EANx mixture, and the use of EANx and oxygen for decompression. This program develops a working relationship of tracking oxygen uptake at all levels of the dive (bottom time, ascent time including decompression stops), how to plan OTU / CNS values to allow for maximum dive safety, equipment cleanliness levels and maintenance, and field operational procedures. TDI Extended Range Diver is a prerequisite for the TDI Advanced Trimix Diver program. You will also go through dual stage deco rigging for multiple gas changes during the dive to optimize deco time.
Course Structure and Duration
Open Water Execution:
ü 6 dives with a minimum accumulated bottom time of one 100 minutes. ü All dives must be deeper than 30msw with 4 dives deeper than 40msw. ü No more than 2 dives may be credited from previous training. Course Details
Course Overview:
Ø Theory sessions Ø Gear configuration ØOpen Water - 100 minutes of bottom time made within four to six dives. Two dives must be made between 40-50 msw).
Prerequisites:
Ø 18 years old Ø Certified TDI Deco procedures and Adv Nitrox (or equivalent) with 100 logged dives, 25 deeper than 30msw
Ø If being accepted in the program based on equivalent experience a log or proof of 150 dives, including at least 50 dives deeper than 30msw must be presented. (instructors discretion)
Materials Included:
Ø TDI manual Ø Certification card (upon successful completion of training) Ø Training
Not Included:
Ø Boat costs Ø Gas Ø Gear REBREATHER COURSE (INSPIRATION CCR) $2000nz SCR vs CCR?
Closed Circuit Rebreathers (CCR’s) have revolutionized the way we enter the water for ever. CCR’s are not a new invention by any stretch of the imagination! They surfaced onto the recreational market over the last 6-8 years. So whats the big difference between open circuit and closed circuit? Closed Circuit Advantages: ü 200 times more efficient on gas saving than open circuit (up to 20 times more efficient than SCR!) ü Optimum O2 being breathed all the time. With a constant partial pressure setting this means that you are breathing the very best mix of O2 a ALL depths. This means less time spent in the water decompressing and less cylinders to carry. ü Streamlined. Having such huge gas savings you can complete huge bottom times (not necessarily deep) and still come out of the water having only used a fraction of your gas. This means that you don’t have to worry about filing your cylinders on weekend trips!! ü COMPLETELY SILENT! Jaque Cousteau stated that it was the ‘silent world’. How wrong he was!! On open circuit your bubbles ring out like crashing bin lids in the water. On a CCR you are TOTALLY silent. The only thing that you can hear is your heart beating!!! This means getting very close to aquatic life and being a silent visitor in their world.. ü TOTAL Flexibility: With a CCR you can have total flexibility in your dive planning. Whether you want to spend hours on end in the 16-20 area or planning a massive deep expedition. The Inspiration is the only piece of kit you will ever need for the rest of your diving career. ü Back Up and Service: AP Valves, an English company have over 5000 of these units distributed world wide catering for all requirements. Here at Dive HQ Greenlane we are the NZ agents for these units so you can guarantee the usual level of back up from us! Imagine completing a 2 hour dive on the Waikato wreck, not going any where near your NDL and only consuming 30 bar of gas? Well believe it!! Once you have purchased your unit your only regret will be— That you didn’t get one sooner!!! We offer discovery dives at the facility at a cost of $150. It goes into the basics of rebreathers, what they are, what benefits you are going to get out of them and a pool session. Book know!
COURSE OBJECTIVES The objectives of the course is to train recreational divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for rebreather diving on the Inspiration CCR and to develop basic rebreather diving skills appropriate to diving within the normal recreational depth limits of 40 meters using an air diluent for minimal decompression diving.
QUALIFICATION OF GRADUATES Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities utilizing the Inspiration rebreather to a maximum depth of 40 msw, utilizing an air diluent (20-21% Oxygen) with decompression stops at 6 metres to a maximum of 5 minutes duration.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS In order to complete the course and achieve the Basic Inspiration Rebreather rating the student must: ü Satisfactorily complete the written examination with a pass mark of greater than 80% ü Complete to the Instructors satisfaction all confined and open water skill development sessions. ü Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution. ü Course must be completed within 4 weeks from the starting date. ü Complete a CCR refresher Course if there has been a period of 3 months diving inactivity following certification as a Basic Inspiration diver.
Cant afford the expenditure? Why not ask about our Rebreather timeshare. Fantastic savings and gets you in the water with a rebreather! Course Details Prerequisites: Ø Adv O/W Diver or equivalent with 50 dives Ø Adv EANx Nitrox certification Ø 15 Years of age or older Ø Up to date divers medical within the 12 months
Course Duration: Ø Theory Sessions Ø 3 hrs Pool/Confined Water Session Ø Min 8 open water dives CLOSED CIRCUIT VS OPEN CIRCUIT?
Which way do you go? This is a great question and one you should really be asking yourself when wanting to get into this sort of diving. Below I have tried to give as unbiased approach to the pros and cons of deciding which way you should go. Having spent years diving on open circuit and the last 8 years on closed circuit I have a pretty good idea of both sides of the discussion - but at the end of the day you and only you will make the decision. Hopefully this will open your mind and answer questions you may have regarding breathers.
RATIONALIZING! A lot of people ask themselves the wrong questions when inquiring about getting into rebreathers. The first obstacle is "I dont do enough diving to justify the expense!" - Sound familiar??? I come across this all the time. This always reminds me of the average Kiwi who owns a boat. Average expenditure people have on boats is around $30-60K. What I want to know is on average how long does that boat spend in the garage each year? Most of the time it is tucked away for 10 or more months of the year. Does that "Justify" the expenditure? HELL NO but we love just getting into our boat and heading out with no worries dont we!!!! I am married with 2 kids so I dont get out as much as I want to so when I do get out it is a special event that I want to maximise my time on. On an average recreational days diving that I do ( NO decompression) I spend about 100minutes per dive on a two dive day. Thats 200 minutes for a days charter. Most people will do about 45 - 50 minutes in the water each dive on open circuit. Thats 50% more value I just got out of my trip! Whats more I didnt need two tanks and two fills for that either!!!! So you should be asking yourself - AM I PASSIONATE ABOUT MY DIVING?
another one is.... "I am not into technical diving I am just a recreational diver. Rebreathers are for technical divers arent they?"
OPEN CIRCUIT (OC) COST Well at first glance open oc is far cheeper initially below is a list of what the average kit set up costs you all in NZ$$ Assuming you have your own drysuit/wetsuit, mask etc etc BC Wing - $1200-1800 2 sets of regs - $900 - 1400 each HP hose - $399 Deco computer (VR3) - $2300 Back up bottom timer - $499 Set of manifolded twins $ 1300 Total $8000.00 There are other gear needed, hang tanks, deco regs, reels, marker buoys etc etc, but this is the direct cost of the gear. CLOSED CIRCUIT (CCR)
Buddy inspiration $16, 000.00
ADVANTAGES OPEN CIRCUIT Firstly it is something that you already possess the most experience in. You are well tuned to the operation and procedures in open circuit. It is predictable and easy to use. AIR in tank - air to breath NO AIR in tank - NO air to breath!! That simple. Cost wise you might have some of the gear already so you can simply add to your kit to get you to the desired configuration. You can go out and do relatively advanced dives after a long period of inactivity ( although not recommended you still have the experience to be able to get out there and go and do it) There are more open circuit people than rebreather divers. Underwater problems are more definitive and immediate and you dont have to use too much brain power to solve problems - gas leaking, isolate leaking reg/valve. Reg has problem, switch to the other, etc etc. This leaves you to be able to dive a lot sooner to deeper areas than breathers. Predive checks are more simpler and less time consuming.
ADVANTAGES OF REBREATHERS OVER OPEN CIRCUIT I will talk about the inspiration rebreather for the advantages. First of all probably one of the biggest ones is that you are the closest to nature than you ever thought possible! With OC diving you are loud as hell, scaring fish in all directions. On the breather you really are in the silent world, so if you are into photography or videography you will be amazed how a part of the underwater world you really become and all teh fish just go about their business for you to capture on film. From a gas usage point of view hands down kicks ass!!! On the CCR you are using one litre (on average) of oxygen a minute regardless of depth. Your Diluent you would use about 20-30 bar out of a 3 litre tank per dive. SO that means that you have roughly 500 minutes of dive time one one tank of Oxygen. Comparability tests with OC is roughly 200 times more productive. Nitrogen management - On a CCR you are basically breathing the optimum gas mix CONSTANTLY on a dive. For example if you are at 30meters you would be breathing a EAN32 mix. You ascend to 20meters you are automatically breathing a EAN43 mix, 16 meters EAN50, 12 meters EAN60 so basically you are offgassing using the best mix all the time. This can only be done on OC by carrying about 8 different gasses with you!!! Here you can spend huge amounts of time at 20-30m with ridiculous NDL times!!!!
TRIMIX applications - A lot of people are nowadays wanting to spread their wings and explore deeper sites, wrecks and need helium to be able to get them there (and back). But with Helium costing 12-15c per litre this could prove expensive if you want to pursue this sport (that's on average about $250 for a 75m dive and about $320 for 100m dive in GAS ALONE!! Remembering that a breather only uses the diluent to equalize the breathing counterlungs and after that no more gas is used. I have completed about 15 dives to 85 meters on a single 10litre tank of about 25-35 minute bottom times and the tank is STILL at about 150 bar!!!!! So if you are wanting to get into trimix then you will pay for your breather in no time if you are worried about dollars!!! Flexibility - A standard inspiration can go out and do 100m dive by simply adding side slung tanks. If you dont do a trimix dive you simply dont take the sideslung tank!! Now if you just filled your set of twins with trimix ($250 bucks later) if the dive was called off you would be stuck with that gas in your tank. So you could not do anything else with it.
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Dive T.E.C.
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Lermontov expedition
Solomons Aaron Ward dive!!
Poor KNights NZ
Lermontov expedition
Doing Deco after Niagara Dive
Childrens playroom Lermontov
bottles of booz in the many bars on the Lermontov
Lermontov schematic
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