Merry Christmas
For us divers Christmas usually signifies the storage of diving equipment, the rush to buy new and exciting diving toys for summer or traveling to tropical destinations on your diving holiday. Christmas is also a chance to catch up with old friends and distant relatives to celebrate the season of giving and benevolence to each other.
This Christmas Big Blue Tech celebrates with a family dinner on Koh Tao Island bringing together friends and colleagues to create our own little tropical family this season. The Koh Tao community is particularly festive with the strong western culture decorating the island in fake snow, Christmas trees and bright lights.
In Big Blue Khao Lak a few select and lucky individuals will be enjoying Christmas dinner on-board our luxury liveaboard the Mv Pawara in the Similan Islands
With all the new toys and gadgets coming out in the diving trade shows and exhibitions it’s important to remember that experience and training is what counts. Get off the sofa and go diving whenever you can where ever you can. Practice makes perfect!
And after all those extra Christmas pounds have been piled on you can visit Impact Fitness in Mae Haad, Koh Tao to get back into shape.
From all of us at Big Blue Diving, Dive safe and Merry Christmas
Nitrox and Technical Diver Training
Sport divers discover new diving opportunities with a nitrox and intro to tech diver course.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech celebrates the successful completion of a TDI Nitrox Diver and TDI Intro to Tech Diver course for Sergey Baranov, Marina Sergacheva and Ivan Shomnikov by TDI Technical Instructor Ash Dunn and assisted by Divemaster Ian Jordan. This course was conducted over 4 days at Big Blue Tech on Koh Tao Island off the coast of Thailand in the Gulf.
The TDI Nitrox course is unique amongst other courses with the emphasis placed on knowing and understanding the theoretical formulas and physics behind mixed oxygen gas diving. As Nitrox diving is becoming easier and easier to get into, the TDI Nitrox diver course creates the foundation for technical diving insuring that the in water skills and complex dive planning is completed at a high level of proficiency. One skill we particularly like is testing the students underwater to see if they will follow their instructor beyond a determined maximum operating depth. The maximum operating depth in nitrox is the tolerable oxygen level for any given depth and divers exceeding this depth is a leading cause of accidents relating to enriched air nitrox.
The divers, who are from Russia but live in New Zealand enjoyed the training and the dive so much the enrolled in a TDI Intro to Tech course.
Technical diving has been seen in a mysterious light for many years, with participants being secretive about their actions and often showing unhealthy affection for their gear, of which there is always a lot.
To get into technical diving, previously you needed to know what you wanted to do and you had to make a huge decision right from the beginning. The step from sport diver to tech diver was a huge one, with a huge cost and learning curve to climb. Some of us were lucky and could ask for guidance from friends and club mates, some were less lucky and were given far from balanced advice.
TDI, the worlds leading Technical Diving Training agency has recently announced a new course in their range; the Intro to Tech course. We cover details such as equipment configuration for twins, how twins work, in water buoyancy skills plus more advanced dive planning considerations such as gas management as well as using tables and computers to efficiently plan a dive.
The course is an ideal way to determine whether you wish to extend your diving beyond Sport diving, or simply to improve your skills.
This course was conducted over 4 days and combined to give the divers a long dive on twinsets filled with enriched air nitrox. Their final dive was in excess of 80 minutes around some of the less frequented dives sites on Koh Tao.
Sidemount.. It’s not just for Cave Divers Anymore
For a generation, sidemount diving has been a staple for serious cave divers.But these days, more and more cavers, and even non-cavers, are wearing their bottles at their sides.
By Steve Lewis
There are probably a handful of things happening in the dive industry that we could peg as the latest and greatest idea or innovation. I’d add developments in lighting technology, dive computers, and thermal protection to my list, but surely the hottest trend right now has to be sidemount diving (wearing a totally independent cylinder and regulator system slung on each side of the diver’s body). Any technical diver old enough to remember Friends as a new television series may also remember when sidemount was a very specialized technique with a small and almost cliquish fellowship restricted to England’s Mendip Hills and North Florida’s Karst Country. Finding sidemount training and uncovering a mentor to help you progress in the technique was a lot like joining a medieval secret guild; you had to know someone, or have a solid recommendation from an existing initiate; and those outside the circle suspected witchcraft.
In the early days, gear was centered on mostly hand-sewn adaptations of the classic open water stab-jacket style BCD, a few welded bolt-snaps, and lots of bungee cord. And the application was ALL about exploring small silt passages; what a good friend of mine describes as “a mighty tight squeeze.” But that was then and this is now. Times and attitudes have changed. After all, back when NBC first aired Friends, the largest sport diving agency had branded TDI’s popular nitrox courses as too complex for the average diver and decompression diving was totally verboten. Now of course, nitrox is the usual choice for most divers regardless of which flavor C-Card they earned as an open-water diver, and most weekend charter rosters include at very least a couple of divers planning staged deco; and often a full boatload of weekend warriors all planning for a deep, long dive. These days, it seems that sidemount really has come out of the closet. To begin with, gone are the hand-wrought BCs. Mainstream manufacturers such as Armadillo, Dive Rite, Hollis, OMS and Oxycheq are producing beautifully crafted harness, butt-plate, wing combination’s specifically for sidemount diving. Cam bands – used to convert regular tanks to sidemount tanks in an instant – are in several manufacturer’s catalogs. And plenty of stores sell “regulator conversion kits” – essential an assortment of custom-sized hoses and 90 degree fittings designed to help make the transition from traditional backmounted doubles to sidemount a one-step process. Perhaps best of all, sidemount instruction is readily available and several agencies, SDI and TDI among them, offer specialty ratings and sidemount options for their existing curriculum from Intro-to-Tech to Advanced Trimix, in addition to the more traditional cavern and cave.
The real kicker perhaps is that sidemount divers are beginning to pop up on dive boats and at open-water sites. On a brilliant Saturday morning at a popular quarry in Ohio this past summer, there were a handful of “tech divers” wearing sidemount kit. On local charter boats too, sidemount divers are starting to make a showing, especially among divers who are trained to execute wreck penetration. It’s not just for cave divers anymore. Lamar Hires, head of Dive Rite and one of the early promoters of sidemount diving, files the reasons for using sidemount into two main categories – Lifestyle and Mission Specific. Let’s use Lamar’s definitions as a starting point to explore the overall features and benefits of SM diving.
The ubiquitous North Florida Cave Diver’s Rig consisting of a backplate, simple harness, wing and manifolded doubles, began to establish itself as the gold standard for technical divers sometime in the early 1990s. By the time TDI opened its doors in 1994, this kit configuration, with long hose on the right post, backup regulator and SPG on the left, and a generally minimalist approach to gear selection was what technical divers wore almost universally. But its one-size-fits-all approach and promotion as the universal solution to all dive applications, has lost some of its lustre over the years and technical divers have looked at other options with an open mind. With a sidemount configuration, the tanks are carried independently of each other and can be attached to the diver in the water or near to the water. This makes pre- and post dive prep easier on the diver’s back and knees, since the strain of one tank is about half of the strain of two. A good buddy of mine swears that diving sidemount has helped her enjoy dive trips more and use aspirin less! “There’s no way to describe how good it feels to take all my tanks off in the water, attach them to an equipment line and then walk up that boat ladder wearing nothing heavier than my harness and drysuit,” she says.
Also, the sidemount diver’s gas supply is fully redundant and carried in completely separate systems each with a first and second stage plus an spg (and usually a LP hose). This offers similar gas management options as a set of doubles (some argue more options than doubles) but the valves and first stages are within full sight at the diver’s side rather than behind her back. This obviously makes options during either simulated or real situation shutdowns very simple! There is never any guessing which first stage is giving the diver grief… real or otherwise. This alone has many SM divers arguing that theirs is the safer option in the case of a free-flowing second stage, runaway wing inflator, runaway drysuit inflator or other gas leak. Which is a stance I agree with. The final “lifestyle” benefit revolves around the easy of travel and sidemount diving. Number one: A SM harness has no heavy backplate and therefore helps keep luggage within airline baggage allowance. Number two: renting “bottles” at one’s destination is easy since standard scuba cylinders can be got ready for service as sidemount primary tanks quickly and with a minimum of fuss and very little extra gear. The addition of a couple of cam straps to the traveler’s luggage, makes conversion of almost any sized scuba cylinder the work of a few minutes; in fact standard stage bottle kits can be made to work in a pinch
Going back to the genesis of sidemount diving, we arrive at the original reason to move one’s primary cylinders from one’s back to one’s side; low ceilings and flat bedding planes. While this reality has informed the decision making of cave divers for more than a generation, more and more wreck divers feel that sidemount offers real advantages inside a wreck. The interior of most wrecks, even those intentionally sunk and cleaned out ahead of time, present special challenges because of the likelihood of entanglement with overhead cables and other debris. The possibilities of “unfriendly interaction” with all this mess are pretty high, and a staple of the traditional Advanced Wreck class is a session learning the best techniques to free oneself or a buddy from the clutches of a couple of metres of electrical wire and rotting wood caught in the traditional manifolded doubles. Not to say that entanglement in this sort of situation is a non-issue in sidemount, but if we look at it logically, there simply is not the number of potential line-traps behind the diver’s head when he is wearing sidemount kit. I also find the inherent lateral stability against the effect of roll wearing a sidemount setup is a huge benefit when scootering; but perhaps that’s a story for another day.
All this said, it is important to remember that no single kit configuration is right for ALL applications. Sidemount is not the silver bullet and is certainly not the best option always and everywhere. However, a growing number of tech and sport divers are finding SM an interesting and enjoyable way to dive in many different environments. A good workshop is a great way to learn the technique and to find out the best ways to route hoses, hang lights, and configure deco bottles, but having a very flexible alternative to the traditional tech diver’s kit for many divers is worth the extra effort.
Steve Lewis is an active instructortrainer for TDI and a strong advocate for the application of sidemount configuration for ALL open circuit divers who venture into an overhead environment. In addition to running SM courses and clinics on a regular basis, Steve is currently working on a new book about technical diving called Twelve Dialogues with Doppler.
Originally published in the Underwater Journal – Download your free copy now.
How using helium can reduce narcosis
It is becoming increasingly popular for divers to use helium based mixtures, usually called trimix, for deeper dives. The main reason for this is to reduce narcosis.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Of all the physiological factors that affect us as technical divers narcosis is the most common but also the most widely misunderstood. Narcosis occurs as we dive deeper and becomes more severe the deeper we go. It has several side effects all of which serve to impair our ability to carry out basic tasks. Narcosis was most famously described in Jacques Cousteau’s book, The Silent World, where Cousteau describes the symptoms and named it the “Rapture of the Deep.
Many divers incorrectly consider narcosis to be a black and white issue, either they are suffering from narcosis or they are not. Furthermore many divers claim that they have never suffered from narcosis. This shows a misunderstanding of the properties of narcosis and a lack of understanding of the symptoms. Those divers who claim never to have experienced narcosis have just never noticed the effects.
There are many effects of narcosis. The two most widely known are the extreme feelings of either euphoria or panic. In many ways the diver who experiences these feelings of panic and doom is lucky in that this type of narcosis is acting as a failsafe and preventing them going deeper and experiencing more narcosis. The diver who experiences euphoria is potentially at more risk as they are more likely to take risks or act dangerously. However, these two symptoms are not the only effects of narcosis.
There is a wide range of other effects. These may not always be as obvious as a feeling of overwhelming panic. Their symptoms can be much more subtle and so are not always immediately obvious. Divers suffering from narcosis often show a lack of judgement. They don’t always make the best decisions or in some cases take an inordinate amount of time to make what should be a simple decision. I once watched a diver on a wreck penetration course take several minutes deciding which of two points to use to make a tie off. Until pointed out later they didn’t realise that they had taken this long to make the decision.
Narcosis appears to affect our memory. Divers who report no other symptoms of narcosis frequently show a lack of memory of certain parts of the dive. I spoke to a diver a few years ago who had just done the same dive as me. I was on trimix and they were on air. They confessed that despite a 20 minute bottom time they couldn’t remember any specific detail of the dive.
Tasks which are easy in shallow water for some reason tend to become more difficult at depth. Loss of dexterity or motor control is a frequent symptom of narcosis. On many occasions I have seen someone send up a DSMB from 10m in just a few seconds only to have exactly the same task take several minutes at depth.
Narcosis often causes perceptual narrowing or task fixation. Divers become obsessed with completing the task they have begun, even when other tasks have obviously become a much higher priority. Divers suffering from narcosis often respond slower than they would in shallower water. These extra seconds can make a vital difference at depth.
It is interesting that many of these additional symptoms of narcosis are not noticeable unless a problem or emergency occurs. If everything is going well then the fact that tasks take a little longer is no problem, especially as both parties are likely to forget many of the details of the dive anyway. However, narcosis become much more of an issue if a problem occurs. In this case the diver now has to assess the situation, make a judgement and act on it. All three of these are things that may be affected by their levels of narcosis. This means they are much less able to deal with a problem due to their level of narcosis.
We are lucky that the vast majority of dives do not involve an incident of any kind. During the dives that go well we can tolerate the level of narcosis that we experience. It is only when dives don’t go well that that level of narcosis becomes dangerous. Unfortunately I still haven’t been able to reliably identify in advance the dives when things will go well and those when an incident will occur. Until then I will remain wary of narcosis.
Helium is considerably less narcotic then nitrogen and so if we replace some of the nitrogen with helium we are reducing the overall narcotic effect of the combined gas. This reduction in narcosis introduces a number of advantages. A clearer head allows the diver to enjoy the dive and actually remember what they see down there. There is little point in exploring a wreck if you don’t remember the experience afterwards.
In addition the reduction in narcosis removes the lack of judgement, loss of coordination and inability to resolve problems. This can give the technical diver a huge safety advantage. As they go deeper, and the risks increase, they can help to reduce those risks by reducing their level of narcosis. With trimix relatively easily available these days there is really no reason for divers to risk diving deep on air and inducing symptoms of nitrogen narcosis.
When we add helium into our breathing mix we can get a different set of gases. Commercial divers sometimes use a mixture of helium and oxygen which is known as heliox. However, cost considerations mean that, outside of the commercial world, divers will usually use a combination of oxygen, nitrogen and helium, known as trimix. In the same way that the general name nitrox can be used to describe any mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, the term trimix is used to describe any combination of oxygen, nitrogen and helium. Specific types of mixes are also given names as the characteristics of each are very different.
A trimix which has between 18 and 21 per cent oxygen is referred to as normoxic trimix. The term normoxic refers to ‘normal’ levels of oxygen. In other words, a similar level of oxygen to normal air. The helium content in normoxic trimix is likely to be between 21-45 per cent. This type of trimix is used to reduce narcosis in the 45-60m depth but does not change the oxygen levels significantly and so is limited to 60m by oxygen toxicity considerations.
For deeper dives the amount of oxygen in the mixture needs to be reduced and for this a hypoxic mixture is used. Hypoxic means a reduced level of oxygen such that the mixture will not sustain consciousness at the surface. Oxygen levels below 18 per cent are usually considered hypoxic for diving. The helium levels in a hypoxic trimix will be much higher as it is being used to reduce the amount of oxygen as well as being used to reduce the amount of nitrogen and so helium levels between 40-60 per cent are common.
In recent years it has become increasingly popular to add helium to the breathing mix for dives between 30-45m. In this case it is possible to use a weak normoxic trimix but it is also possible to have a higher level of oxygen, just as if diving nitrox, but with the addition of some helium. This would be called hyperoxic trimix, due to the higher than normal levels of oxygen, but this name is not commonly used in order to avoid confusion with hypoxic trimix. Hyper means high levels and hypo means low levels. Any trimix with a higher level of oxygen than air was originally called helitrox when NAUI launched the first training course into its use and TDI has stuck with this name. Other training agencies have used the term triox or Recreational Trimix to refer to the same thing. Helitrox will typically contain between 10-30 per cent helium.
There are, however, some downsides to use helium. These mostly stem from the physiological aspects of helium. Helium is a very small molecule and is a very light gas. Amongst other things this means that it conducts heat much faster then air. As a result, a diver using a helium based gas will feel colder than a diver using air or nitrox. For small helium percentages this is not too noticeable but as the helium percentage increases this becomes more and more noticeable and so for helium mixes above 20 per cent it is recommended that a separate suit inflation cylinder is used specifically for filling your drysuit. This suit inflation cylinder is usually worn either mounted on the side of the twinset, attached to the backplate or on the waistband. A simple first stage provides an inflator hose for suit inflation. No second stage is attached but instead an over pressure relief valve is attached in case of a problem with the first stage.
The physical propertied of helium also make decompression more complicated. This doesn’t necessarily mean that trimix decompression is longer or shorter, better or worse than nitrox, just different. The reason for this is that with trimix we are dealing with two inert gasses rather than just one. There may be times when the body is taking in one inert gas while releasing the other. In addition, the small size of the helium molecule meant that is a fast gas, in other words it on-gasses faster than nitrogen but also off-gasses faster. All of this combines to make trimix decompression more complicated than air or nitrox decompression.
When it comes to dive planning using trimix there are a number of options. It is possible to buy trimix decompression tables but there are so many possible combinations of trimix together with combinations of deco gasses that it is not a very practical option. Until recently many divers have used PC planning programs such as V-Planner, Proplanner or Decoplanner to plan their dives. These tools allow the diver to calculate a decompression schedule together with gas requirements and oxygen toxicity levels. A range of plans can be generated which can be used to cover a number of alternative scenarios as well as providing backup plans in case the dive is deeper or longer than anticipated. Together with a bottom timer this is a very easy and cost efficient way of planning trimix dives.
Increasingly we are seeing a range of dive computers that can handle trimix as well as air or nitrox. The VR3 was the first successful commercial trimix computer and this has now been joined by computers from a range of other manufacturers. Some manufacturers focus on the extreme end of the technical diving market whilst other manufacturers have produced computers aimed at those divers using normoxic trimix or helitrox. Suunto’s HeloO2 has brought trimix computers to the mass market and has done much to popularise this type of diving. These computers can be programmed with the details of your mixture together with any decompression gasses and will work out your decompression based on the combination of helium nitrogen and decompression gasses.
The last disadvantage of using trimix is the cost. There is no doubt that a trimix fill is more expensive than nitrox but when compared against the cost of the boat fees, petrol to get to the dive site, accommodation and a few drinks in the pub it becomes less significant. Many divers will happily spend £30 in the pub but would not spend the same amount on trimix. If that £30 can help you remember the dive then it seems good value and if it can help you deal with a potentially dangerous situation then it becomes incredibly good value.
SSI Twinset Specialty Course Released in Thailand
Technical dive college released another technical distinctive specialty pushing the industry forward.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech is proud to announce the recent approval of SSI (Scuba Schools International) to release in January the new SSI Twinset Specialty written by our own Technical Diving Instructor Helen Artal.
The SSI Twinset Specialty fills the gap in training for people who want to utilize technical diving equipment or a twinset but don’t want to commit to the cost or responsibilities for technical diver training.
Helen who is also part of the Divecon / Divemaster internship mentor program plans to integrate the twinset specialty with other popular programs like deep diver and nitrox diver giving the students essentially more breathable gas during the deeper more enjoyable parts of the course. This comes in a line of other related courses like the TDI Intro to Tech course, Padi Tec Basics Specialty and GUE Twinset Diver course.
This course has been in a long list of many popular courses written by Big Blue Tech including the TDI Compressor Operator, SDI Sidemount Diver and now the SSI Twinset Diver Specialty.
Authoring courses can be a fun but long process of approvals and edits, however the end result is a course designed by people with experience to suite our environment and is exclusively available through Big Blue Tech.
For more information feel free to contact us for an outline or details. Good work Helen!
Technical Diving Internship in Thailand
A month long internship trains one lucky female diver in the all aspects of technical diving.
![[L-R] Ash Dunn, Manuela Agbaba, James Thornton-Allan](http://bigbluetechnews.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/technical-diving-internship.jpg "technical-diving-internship")
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech is happy to announce the conclusion of the internship of Manuela Agbaba who over the past month has been training and diving with Big Blue Tech in Koh Tao with the combined teaching and leadership of Ash Dunn and James Thornton-Allan
Manuela comes from Switzerland where she works for an investment bank and as an avid sport diver decided to make a move to the dark side of scuba diving with a combination of events and training to make her a very capable and experienced technical diver.
The technical diving industry is typically male dominated and it’s great to have some girl power added to the ranks of deep ocean divers which shows anyone can become a technical diver if you have the right motivation and determination.
Manuela has experience several different conditions from monsoon darkness waters with 1-2 meter visibility in koh tao to 40m visibility in the similan islands. She’s dived in fresh water lakes and salt water pinnacles. Several different ship wrecks, fresh and salt water caves and caverns and night diving conditions. Manuela has traveled to both sides of Thailand during the road trip part of her training and experience life in the technical diving industry by being part of the gang for that time. Manuela even experienced typical divers ear and got an infection in her foot from a small cut, all in part of the experience.
Manuella’s training covered all types of skills from open circuit diving, closed circuit rebreather, decompression diving, solo diving, multiple overheads including wreck and caves and also experienced hours of theoretical theory. Manuela extended her internship to include more service technician oriented skills like compressors, gas blending and repair skills.
Most memorable moment for Manuela was he swan dive on the slippery tiles when the tech office flooded during a rather aggressive rain fall. Thankfully she saved the camera she was holding at the time.
Included in Manuela’s internship was the following.
TDI Intro to Tech
SDI Solo Diver
TDI Advanced Nitrox
TDI Decompression Procedures
TDI Extended Range
BSAC Sports Mixed Gas Diver
TDI Helitrox Diver
BSAC Explorer Mixed Gas Diver
TDI Trimix Diver
TDI Advanced Wreck Diver
TDI Cavern Diver
TDI/BSAC Compressor Operator
TDI/BSAC Nitrox Gas Blender
TDI/BSAC Advanced Mixed Gas Blender
SDI Equipment Technician
TDI O2 Service Technician
These were completed during the following:
Local Diving around Koh Tao
Unicorn Wreck
Mv Trident Wreck
Japanese Gardens Wreck
Khao Sok National Park Expedition (caves and caverns)
Mv Pawara Liveaboard in Similan Islands
Mv Seachart 1 Wreck
Premchai Wreck
We wish Manuela safe diving in the future and hope to see her again for her next venture.
Scuba Equipment Service Technician Course
Manuela continues her technical diving internship to service and repair scuba diving regulators.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech is happy to announce the graduation and certification of Manuela Agbaba from her SDI Equipment Service Technician and TDI O2 Service Technician Course focusing on underwater breathing regulators for scuba diving activities. This course was conducted by Ash Dunn and James Thornton-Allan on Koh Tao Island in Thailand.
All equipment used by divers underwater or in the provision of their breathing gases is fundamentally life support equipment. Scuba regulators and compressors work at extremely high pressures and use innovative engineering design techniques to function correctly.
The repair, adjustment and testing of this equipment is not intuitive even for the mechanically minded or those with formal engineering training in other disciplines. The service information, custom spare parts and special custom tools are usually difficult if not impossible to obtain outside the trade.
Only formal training in the repair and maintenance of div e equipment such as that received during these courses can ensure the continuing safe and reliable operation of life support equipment.
Although Manuela has no aspirations on becoming a scuba diving professional these skills would certainly enhance her employ-ability and skills in the scuba diving industry. Additionally Manuela is certified to conduct service and repair of her own regulator giving her access to spare kits back home and essentially saving her a great deal of money in the long run.
For those seeking specific training courses for regulators like ScubaPro, Apeks and Aqualung you can contact us to find out when these events are happening in Thailand.
Exploration diving trip discovers new caves in Koh Tao
Technical divers explored new regions of Koh Tao Island in search of dive sites.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech headed out on the first day of sunshine after the monsoon on board our Mv Big Black Boat to search for new diving locations in areas that are not dived frequently or explored.
The dive gang included Ash Dunn, Dan Bolton and Manuela Agbaba along with members of the divemaster team who invited some nitrox diving customers for this unique opportunity.
The first dive revealed a region in the north that had a cavern / swimthrough which was new for these divers and enjoyed exploration into the cavern as certified cavern divers.
The second dive site was around the famous biorock where a structure with mild current is in place underwater to help spur the growth of coral and study it’s effect. Unfortunately visibility was reduced considerable since it’s located close to shore. However this crossed two dive locations off the list of searching areas.
If you would like to join our next exploration trip to discover some hidden gems on Koh Tao feel free to contact us.
Try Dive an APD Inspiration Closed Circuit Rebreather CCR
Are you an experienced leisure diver looking to try something new in the diving World? Have you been interested in diving on a Rebreather but not wanted to commit to a full course? Then a try dive on an APD Inspiration Closed Circuit Rebreather with Big Blue Tech in Koh Tao, Thailand could be the answer for you!
Koh Tao, Thailand
This experience with Big Blue Tech will introduce you to the basic theory of closed-circuit rebreather diving and the practical considerations of its use. You will also have a try dive on the closed circuit rebreather with our experienced technical Instructors.
Utilizing the APD Inspiration closed-circuit rebreather, our experienced TDI trained staff at Big Blue Tech in Koh Tao, Thailand can introduce you to the world of extended scuba diving freedom. Welcome to the World of diving with no bubbles!
Recently Big Blue Tech took 7 eager divers to experience the thrill of closed circuit diving in our deep swimming pool design specifically for diving activities.
The 3m pool was a perfect environment for trying the unit giving the divers a chance to try buoyancy differences and get their picture taken for a souvenir of their time.
A theory session was given to the students to understand how rebreathers work and also how to properly assemble and check the unit prior to diving. Rebreathers are complicated and expensive units but it only took the divers a few moments before they could control themselves underwater.
To enjoy a Closed Circuit Rebreather CCR Diver Try Dive with Big Blue Tech divers must be:-
- 15 years or older
- Open Water Diver or Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent.
- Enriched Air Diver or equivalent
The experience with Big Blue Tech in Koh Tao, Thailand includes:-
- One theory tutorial on rebreather theory and preparation
- One pool training dive and,
This is not a TDI certification course – it is an introduction to diving on rebreathers. If you enjoy it, then take the TDI Closed Circuit Rebreather course with Big Blue Tech in Koh Tao.
If you’d like to book your Closed Circuit Rebreather CCR Try dive with Big Blue Tech then please contact us at info@bigbluetech.net
You can view past events here and here
Technical diving gas blending technician course
Mixing elements of Nitrogen. Oxygen and Helium in gas form to create a safe breathable gas requires strict training.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech celebrates the certification of Anton Chichvarkhin and Manu Agbaba from their BSAC and TDI Compressor Operator, Nitrox Blender and Advanced Gas Blender course conducted over a week on Koh Tao Island off the course of Thailand by BSAC and TDI technical instructor Ash Dunn.
Gas blending or gas mixing is the filling of diving cylinders with non-air breathing gases such as nitrox, trimix and heliox.
Filling cylinders with a mixture of gases has dangers for both the filler and the diver. During filling there is a risk of fire due to use of oxygen and a risk of explosion due to the use of high pressure gases. The composition of the mix must be safe for the depth and duration of the planned dive. If the concentration of oxygen is too lean the diver may lose consciousness due to hypoxia and if it is too rich the diver may suffer oxygen toxicity. The concentration of inert gases, such as nitrogen and helium, are planned and checked to avoid nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness
here are several hazards with gas mixing:
- cylinders are being filled with high pressure gas. If there is any damage or corrosion in the pressure vessel or valves of the cylinder, this is the occasion when they are most likely to fail structurally.
- oxygen supports combustion; if it comes into contact with fuel and heat the three ingredients for a fire exist. Fires in the presence of high concentrations of oxygen burn more vigorously than those in air. A fire in the presence of high-pressure gas may cause cylinders to fail.
- other high pressure equipment such as whips, compressors, gas banks and valves are being used, which can cause injury if the pressure is released
- there are dangers of fire from the fuel and electric power supplies of the compressor
- there are dangers of injury from the moving parts of the compressor
- there is the possibility of asphyxiation due to the presence, in a confined space, of large volumes of gases that contain no oxygen
It is possible for gas blenders to create toxic and dangerous gas mixes for divers.[1][2] Too much or too little oxygen in the mix can be fatal for the diver. Oxygen analysers are used to measure the oxygen content of the mix. In good blending sites, the contents are analyzed in the presence of the diver who acknowledges the contents by signing a log.
It is possible that poisonous additives, such as carbon monoxide or hydrocarbon lubricants, will enter the cylinders from the diving air compressor.This is generally a problem with the compressor maintenance or location of the air input to the compressor though it can be from other sources
Poisonous additives can also get into the breathing mix if any material inside the blending valves or pipes burns, for instance when adiabatic heating occurs when decanting oxygen.
In the presence of large volumes of high-pressure oxygen, one corner of Fire Triangle exists in good measure. It is vital the other two corners are not allowed to exist.
Internally, the blending equipment and diving cylinders must be oxygen clean; all fuels and particles which could be sources of ignition must be removed.The materials chosen for use in the valves, joints and compressors must be oxygen compatible: they must not burn or degrade readily in high oxygen environments.
In gas blending, high temperatures are easily produced, by adiabatic heating, simply by decanting high-pressure gas into lower pressure pipes or cylinders.The pressure falls as the gas leaves the opened valve but then increases when the gas encounters obstructions such as a cylinder or a bend, constriction or particle in the pipe-work.
One simple way to reduce the heat of decanting is to open valves slowly. With sensitive valves, such as needle valves, the gas can slowly be allowed through the valve so that the pressure increase is slow on the low pressure side. The pipe-work, joints and valves in the blending system should be designed to minimize sharp bends and sudden constrictions. Sometimes 360 degree loops are present in the pipe-work to reduce vibration.
Spaces where gas is blended or oxygen is stored should be well ventilated to avoid high concentrations of oxygen and the risk of fire.
With nitrox there are several methods of gas mixing
- Mixing by partial pressure: a measured pressure of oxygen is decanted into the cylinder and cylinder is “topped up” with air from the diving air compressor.
- Pre-mix decanting: the gas supplier provides large cylinders with popular mixes such as 32% and 36%.
- Mixing by continuous blending: measured quantities of oxygen are introduced to the compressor inlet.
- Mixing by density (weight): oxygen is added to a partially full cylinder that is accurately weighed until the required mix is achieved.
- Mixing by gas separation: a nitrogen permeable membrane is used to remove smaller nitrogen molecules from the mix until the required mix is achieved.
With trimix, measured pressures of oxygen and helium are decanted into a cylinder, which is “topped up” with air from the diving gas compressor, resulting in a three gas mix of oxygen, helium and nitrogen.An alternative is to first decant helium into a cylinder and then top it up with a known nitrox mix.
With heliox, measured pressures of oxygen and helium are decanted or pumped into a cylinder, resulting in a two gas mix of oxygen and helium.
With heliair, a measured pressure of helium is decanted into a cylinder, which is “topped up” with air from the diving gas compressor, resulting in a three gas mix of oxygen, helium and nitrogen.
To avoid oxygen toxicity and narcosis, the diver needs to plan the required mix to be blended and to check the proportions of oxygen and inert gases in the blended mix before diving.Generally the tolerance of each final component gas fraction should be within +/-1% of the required fraction.
When blending mixes with pressures less than 250 bar / 3600 psi, the Ideal gas law holds and simple equations can be used to calculate the pressures of each component gas needed to create the mix. Above this pressure, the composition of the final mix is difficult to predict using simple equations but needs the more complex Van der Waals equation.
Increases in temperature when filling make it difficult to accurately decant or pump a measured quantity of gas. When cylinders are filled with gas quickly, typically in 10 to 60 minutes at a dive filling station, the gas inside gets and still stays hot, which increases the pressure of the gas (corresponding to its mass). But, when the cylinder cools an hour or two later, the gas pressure falls showing the reduced volume of breathable gas available to the diver.
There are several solutions to this problem:
- fill the cylinder to the required pressure, let the cylinder cool and measure the gas pressure and then repeat the process until the correct pressure is achieved. The cooling interval needed depends on the ambient temperature.
- fill the cylinders in a water bath. The higher thermal conductivity of water compared to air means that heat in the cylinder is more quickly removed from the cylinder as it fills.
- fill the cylinders with 5 to 20% more gas (as pressure readings) than required. If the overfill (in pressure while hot) is well judged, when the cylinder cools the final pressure will be within the tolerance of the required pressure.
Before a gas mix leaves the blending station and before the diver breathes from it, the fraction of oxygen in the mix should be checked. Usually electro-galvanic fuel cells are used to measure the oxygen fraction.[2][5] Helium gas analysers also exist, although they are expensive at present, which allow the Trimix diver to find out the proportion of helium in the mix.
In the United Kingdom, oxygen and helium is bought from commercial industrial and medical gas suppliers and typically delivered in 50 litre “J” cylinders at a maximum of 200 bar. In addition to the cost of the gas, charges may be made for cylinder rental and delivery.
The “cascade system” is used to decant economically from banks of storage cylinders so that the maximum possible gas is removed from the bank.This involves filling a diving cylinder by decanting from the bank cylinder with the lowest pressure that is higher than the diving cylinder’s pressure and then from the next higher pressure bank cylinder in succession until the diving cylinder is full. The system maximizes the use of low pressure bank gas and minimizes the use of high pressure bank gas.
Pneumatically powered booster pumps, such as the Haskel pump, are used to scavenge the remnants of expensive gases in nearly empty cylinders allowing low pressure gases to be pumped safely into cylinders already containing gas at higher pressure.
New Technical Diving Products for 2011
Our online shop is exploding with new cave and technical diving products for the new year.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech has already started stocking some new and exciting items for the new year. These items received raving reviews from DEMA address a shift in more technically advanced products to suit the digital consumer.
New RX2 LED Slimline Canister Light
The RX2 LED debuts this week at DEMA. One of the most exciting features on the light is the switching mechanism. We have designed a rotary magnetic switch on the head; the switching is integrated into the board for stability and function. Full and half power modes are at your fingertips, no reaching for a canister switch. This allows multiple mounting options for the diver. The two previous blog entries give some ideas.
This light represents the latest in LED lighting innovation. The RX2 is the product of months of development with US-based companies and all production is made in USA. Our design team engineered the product and feature set – this light is not a “me to” product from a Chinese supplier. The LED boards are the latest in technology and RoHS compliant for European standards. The new polymer boards dissipate head better than conventional boards so we have over 93% efficiency with power consumption to light output. This means we were able to give you more light using the same battery power source as its predecessor the LUX while maintaining the 4 hour burn time at full power.
New Liquidvision XEO Trimix Computer
We owe the inspiration for the Liquivision Xeo to our customers. Whether they dive shallow reefs or deep wrecks, our customers told us what they wanted in a computer and we’re proud to give them what they’ve been hungry for… an affordable, well-made dive computer with a highly readable color OLED display.
The Liquivision Xeo is a wrist-mounted air, nitrox, and OC/CCR trimix computer that can serve divers of all levels. Designed with input from both physicians and highly-respected divers, the Xeo offers maximum readability, ergonomic comfort, and compact convenient size. It features Liquivision’s patented tap-interface, a bright full-color OLED display, user-replaceable battery, robust ceramic pressure sensor, two mounting options (high quality strap or bungee-cord), and the proven Buhlmann-GF (ZHL16C) algorithm. We’re proud to add the Xeo to the Liquivision “Dive Enlightened” series.
Brilliant design, brilliant display… brilliant under pressure.
New Liquidvision XEN Bottom Timer Computer
For two years, divers have been asking for an affordable OLED bottom timer. That day has arrived. No longer will you buy a computer only to put it in “gauge mode” right out of the box.
The Liquivision Xen is, simply put, the bottom timer that offers everything you want and nothing you don’t. Designed with functionality input from respected gauge-only divers, and with readability and ergonomic input from physicians, the Xen is the ideal gauge for everyone from the open water enthusiast to the most advanced record-setting technical and cave divers.
All this and more can be view on our online shop – http://www.bigbluetech.net/shop/
Technical Advanced Wreck Course in Thailand
Technical Divers learn how to penetrate deep ocean shipwrecks in the tropical waters of Thailand.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech celebrates the successful certification and graduation of Manuela Agbaba from her TDI Advanced Wreck Course conducted over 2 weeks in various locations throughout thailand by TDI Advanced Wreck Instructor James Thornton-Allan.
The TDI Advanced Wreck course is the next step for any diver that has taken a wreck diver course. During this course, your TDI Instructor will teach you the proper techniques for locating and planning a penetration dive. The advanced wreck course is commonly taught with other popular TDI course such as advanced nitrox, decompression procedures, extended range, closed circuit rebreather, and trimix. This course was combined with a TDI Helitrox and TDI Trimix course for the deeper dives where narcosis impaired the absorption of skills.
This course provides training and experience to competently conduct advanced wreck dives. This program includes penetration skills and techniques at depths that shall not exceed 55msw, but limited to the level in which the diver is already trained. The objective of this course is to train divers in the proper techniques, equipment requirements and hazards of wreck diving.
Divers will inevitably want to delve into a wreck that appeals to them, the enticing gloom and lure of the unknown is ever present. It can be complex to put into words the magnetism that can take a hold on you for wanting to explore within a wreck, it goes to the core of what it is to be a diver and push back another frontier within oneself.
Wrecks come in different shapes and sizes, some wrecks are so open and dispersed that a rookie diver would be safe drifting around it, others are so enclosed, dark and dangerous that even professional wreck divers may of perished exploring them. The marine encrusted tight hatches and doorways tend to be designed for sealing compartments off and can be quite small, a challenging obstacle for a fully equipped diver.
It is wise to try and remind the adventurous divers spirit to temper the need to go forth and roam freely with common sense and a realistic outlook when it comes to this aspect of wreck diving. If the surface is not directly accessible from a penetration point on a wreck then the necessary precautions should be taken and be aware that now you are entering a serious level of responsibility. Its a level of responsibility that can mean your very life is at stake if you don’t proceed wisely. A diver roped to a buddy on stand-by at the wreck entry point is a lifeline in every sense of the word and should be considered a minimum. Within some wrecks collapsing structures, dead-end corridors that divers can only exit backwards and an almost sinister way that loss of direction occurs can be many hazards and challenges they entail.
The wreck-diving mavericks who learned from experience may scoff at such things, afterall they may often pioneer into the unknown and self-rescue themselves sufficiently with no problems. It must be argued in their favor that a cool head and slick dive skill is a key factor in escaping from underwater danger
Appropriate training, experience and equipment is essential for wreck penetration to be undertaken, it cannot be stressed enough that rookie divers should not undertake a wreck penetration without this.
Danger factor is a subliminal but ever-present threat. Some of the greatest trauma and tragedy I’ve noticed comes from a wreck or cave diving fatality. Having to leave behind a trapped or missing diver will leave lasting damage to rescuers, both physical from possible DCI (due to rushed ascents, decompression and repeat dives) and mental anguish.
While many instructors offer these skills or elements in their training it’s essential that you undertake training from a certified and experienced instructor prior to any technical wreck diving.
This course was conducted on the following wrecks.
Mv Seachart 1 wreck – Khao Lak – 40m
Premchai Wreck – Khao Lak – 20m
Mv Trident Wreck – Koh Tao – 35m
The Unicorn Wreck (Hishidaiaya Maru) – Koh Tao – 50m
Cavern and Cave Diving in Khao Sok National Park
Technical Divers explore the best in overhead diving in the jungles of Thailand.
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Manuela Agbaba from her TDI Cavern Diver course conducted over 3 days in Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand by TDI Cavern Instructor James Thornton-Allan and assisted by TDI Instructor Ash Dunn.
Khao Sok National Park in Southern Thailand is an amazing place. It is covered by the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world, huge limestone mountains shooting straight up in the air, deep valleys, breathtaking lakes, exciting caves, wild animals and much more. .
Khao Sok is a fantastic place to go on vacation. Elephant trekking, trekking on foot, canoeing and jeep safaris are all possible activities, which will give you the experience of a lifetime. Khao Sok is perfectly situated on the mainland between Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak and Koh Samui, the most popular destinations in southern Thailand.
The team spent 3 days on the floating hotels of PlenPrai resort which features a restaurant, kayak rental and fan accomodation. This is the perfect staging point for cave and cavern diving. Big Blue Tech used their own portable compressor to provide air fills in the jungle.
The fresh water diving created by the creation of a hydro electric damn gives a great variety of conditions including caverns, caves, submerged buildings and forests.
The course started with an open lake dive to get used to buoyancy change of fresh water followed by 4 training dives in Pa Daeng Cave, Peter’s Cave and finally Temple Cave which are the best caves in Khao Sok National Park for diving.
Manuela had already completed the first few dives of the Advanced Wreck course so her reeling and penetration skills were above average for the cavern diver student. This allowed the team to explore more complicated sections typically reserved for experienced divers.
The Khao Sok National Park is open year round to cavern and cave divers however trained guides are needed, you can contact us to plan your own cave diving trip.
Monsoon Expedition – Similan Islands & Khao Lak
Big Blue Tech returns for the third year for technical diving in Khao Lak and the Similans!
Khao Lak, Thailand
Big Blue Tech celebrates the successful graduation of Manuela Agbaba, Peirre Peigne and Kelli Bennet from their TDI Extended Range course conducted over 4 days and 4 nights in the Similan Islands on the Mv Pawara by TDi instructors James Thornton-Allan and Ash Dunn.
Manuela, Pierre and kelli had previously completed their Advanced Nitrox and Decompression procedures course earlier in the week and their training culminated with a luxury liveaboard on the Similan Islands to explore the depths of the best diving in Thailand.
The liveaboard departed in the evening and spent the 4 days diving in the Similan and Surin Islands. The highlight of these islands is Richeleau Rock, Elephant Head, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai which provide divers with the best in diverse marine life possible in tropical waters.
The similan islands is a controlled marine park so marine life is far abundant as compared with other diving destinations which are not governed by funded park rangers.
Life on the Mv Pawara was very easy, the on board nitrox, en suite bathrooms, large dive deck, sorb for rebreathers and private diving area provide the luxury technical divers often seek for their diving. Mv Pawara had previously stocked up with oxygen to provide enough gas for all the technical and rebreather divers on this trip.
Mv Pawara is privately owned but operated by Big Blue Diving – Khao Lak Branch where Big Blue Tech also operate out of during their season of November to April.
The highlight of the trip was decompression diving with Manta Rays which were circling the technical divers long after the recreational divers had to ascend.
Pierre and Kelli leave the group to return to work as full time diving instructors for Big Blue and the rest of the team including Ash Dunn, Manuela Agaba and James Thornton-Allan take a day off then continue with a TDI Advanced Wreck course off the coast of Khao Lak on the Mv Sea Chart 1 Wreck and Prem Chai Wreck.
Monsoon Technical Diving Expedition
Thailand has many great things to offer the technical diver who wants something different.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech begins training today for the “Monsoon Expedition” which will run from November 14th until December 5th allowing 3 weeks to explore the best Thailand has to offer in technical diving and training.
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by seasonal changes in precipitation,but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea.Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally-changing pattern, although technically there is also a dry phase. For us in Thailand on Koh Tao Island Monsoon is the month of November.
The goals of the expedition is to train Manuela Agaba through her Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, Extended Range, Advanced Wreck, Solo Diver, Cavern Diver and Trimix Diver course along with a week of experience dives on top of training to provide extra time to master the skills she has learned.
The Expedition is being led by James Thornton-Allan and Ash Dunn who are both very grateful to be getting off Koh Tao Island and away from the rain and flooding.
The Expedition begins with basic technical diving training on Koh Tao. The team then heads to Khao Lak and onto our luxury liveaboard the Mv Pawara for 4 days and 4 nights of technical diving in the similan islands. Returning to Khao Lak we enjoy 3 days of diving on the Sea Chart 1 wreck where penetration and technical skills will be combined before heading off to Khao Sok National Park for a cavern course and some exploration of the surrounding environment before returning to Koh Tao where the weather would of improved and we can conclude with wreck trips to the Unicorn, Torpedo and Big Blue Wreck all in the 40-60m range.
Manuela joins us from Switzerland and as an experienced recreational diver is excited and keen to get into the training and learn to become a better, safer and confident diver.
Technical Diving – How safe is it?
Big Blue Tech explains the safety regarding technical diving.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Deep (100m) heliox bounce diving in the oil industry was briefly fashionable in the 1960’s, before it was realized that upwards of 20% of dives resulted in decompression illness (DCI). Even earlier (the 1920’s) the US made the first helium dives but again, a high incidence of DCI resulted. So what has changed now that many thousands of divers seemingly make safe and uneventful deep technical dives annually? Is it as safe as the technical training agencies purport it to be?
Technical diving as we know it had it’s origins with the cave divers of Florida and Europe. Bill Hamilton, the well known decompression modeler, produced schedules which enabled US cave divers to dive to over 70m using trimix (a mixture of oxygen, helium and nitrogen) and return safely to the surface breathing different “deco” mixes on the way up. This practice forms the basis of all deep technical diving today.
Technical diving, whilst still being a recreation, is clearly different to the hundreds of thousands of recreational SCUBA dives performed for pleasure around the world every year. Technical divers plan to dive beyond what are normally accepted as recreational limits, use gas mixtures other than air, frequently undergo prolonged staged decompression, often dive in an overhead environment (caves, wrecks and under the ice) and employ more sophisticated technology to fulfill their objective (such as closed circuit rebreathers, dive propulsion vehicles and other redundant safety equipment). The nature of the dives they undertake means that self sufficiency and equipment redundancy is crucial, so that in the event of mishap or accident the surface can be reached without assistance from another diver. So although the buddy system is still strongly advocated by most, there is a strong belief in the ability to save ones self in the event a problem arises. In the overhead environment, or when an artificial overhead is in place due to decompression obligation, it is crucial that problems can be sorted out underwater without recourse to an emergency ascent. Such diving requires good understanding of diving and decompression pathophysiology and a sound understanding of dive equipment and the diving environment.
Hence many technical divers appear to be highly motivated, focused and dedicated individuals. The equipment, training and gas costs are not insignificant, so as a group they are older on average than recreational open water divers i.e. many have reached a point in their lives where this type of diving is affordable to them. In this time, they have also gained sufficient diving experience to be comfortable enough in the water. The technical diving community also contains at one end of the spectrum, a small group who are constantly pushing the limits of the sport by diving further into caves, deeper onto wrecks and trying new equipment technologies often modified to meet their specific needs. No one would argue that this group whilst pushing the limits of the sport is certainly incurring significant risk to do so. Like the pioneer cave divers of the ‘70s, deaths in this group are not uncommon, but for those who follow the lessons have been hard learned and make it much safer. Nowadays, the majority of “technical” divers perform countless dives with out incident.
But despite the well trodden path that today’s tech divers follow, despite the high quality of training and equipment available and the almost obsessive nature of many of these divers, just how safe is it compared with standard recreational air diving? Many would suggest that the risks remain too great, because when things go wrong during a technical dive, the surface is just too far away to hope for a good outcome. To try and find a measure of the risk, I have looked to several sources. Various websites delight in naming the ten most dangerous adventure sports. The following are consistently mentioned although the basis for some of the claims is not clear: Base jumping (probably a clear winner!), free diving, cave diving, bull riding, mountain and ice climbing, big-wave surfing, rock fishing, street luging and extreme snow skiing. Activities involving bicycles also rate highly. “Technical” diving per se doesn’t rate a mention. Base jumping sources in the USA suggest from 5-15 participants die per annum in the USA, however the number involved in the sport is not known. In 2002, 24 individuals died whilst rock climbing in the USA. An Austrian source revealed that 1170 people died in the mountains from 1986-1997, giving a risk of 6.7/100 000 participants or 0.007% for rock and ice climbing. Since 1960, over 500 divers have died in caves in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean which averages out to around 11 deaths per annum, although one would suspect that many more occurred in the early days of the sport before good training and equipment advances were established. As the denominator is not known, a percentage risk cannot be given. In the UK, the overall estimated risk of dying whilst diving is 1:200 000 or 0.0005%. The BSAC have maintained excellent records on diving incidents and fatalities for many years, published each year in the NDC Diving Incidents Reports by Brian Cumming(1). The UK averages 16.3 fatalities per annum, of which a high percentage regularly involve deep diving. This quote from the 2003 report seems representative of most years: “The number of incidents reported in the greater than 50m range is 11 and this is lower than previous years. However 5 of these 11 were fatal incidents, clearly indicating the risks associated with deep diving. There has been a moderation in the number of incidents related to very deep diving, but there is still a clear and very strong correlation between increasing depth and increasing risk. 4 incidents involved depths of greater than 60m and 3 of these were fatalities.” And from 2002: “However the number of incidents reported in the greater than 50m ranges continues to grow. 22 incidents involve dives to greater than 50m and this is the highest number ever recorded in this category. Of these 22, 6 (27%) were fatalities. The message is very clear – Diving at depth brings much greater risk and deep incidents are far more likely to be serious ones”.
More data comes from the 2004 edition of DAN’s “Report on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive Exploration” (2), which reports on the year 2002 and some 5 year trends. Project Dive Exploration (PDE) collects data from recreational dives performed with specific types of computers, whether or not the dives result in injury or fatality. Some 70000 dives have been collected since 1995. In this database (2002 only), about 3% of the divers held a technical diving qualification. 2% of dives were performed with trimix or heliox. The exact number of technical dives performed is not known, but may be inferred to be around the 2-3% mark. Overall, 9-10% of divers dying were making technical dives i.e. technical dives are over represented in the fatality figures. I would emphasise that because of the lack of a denominator, these significance of these figures remains unclear.
The final area of interest is that of closed circuit rebreathers (CCRs). CCRs are complex pieces of equipment which demand great diligence, discipline and respect to dive safely. They are enabling tech divers to push back the boundaries of exploration even further, and allow the “average” tech diver to perform dives that were previously too complex or difficult. The most widely used electronic CCR in use is the Inspiration made by Ambient Pressure Diving which was released in 1999. Because it was the first readily available CCR and because of its huge popularity (estimated around 6000 units now worldwide), it has also been involved in the largest number of accidents and fatalities (23 according to one source (3), but possibly more). The unit itself is highly regarded by most in the technical diving community and is CE approved, however by virtue of the number in the marketplace; it has been involved in the most incidents. Should another of the popular CCRs be the market leader, it is likely they would be in the same unenviable position. The 23 fatalities from some 6000 units give a risk of 0.4% or 1 in 240 per owner. Compare this with the 0.007% for Austrian Rock climbers or 0.0005% from UK divers overall.
So what factors may make rebreather diving so dangerous? Closed circuit rebreathers (compared to semi closed rebreathers which are generally not used for deep diving excursions) represent fairly new technology in recreational diving. Breathing gas is recycled around a loop so that exhaled oxygen is available for reuse, so only oxygen required for metabolism is consumed. Carbon dioxide is removed by a soda lime scrubber and metabolized oxygen is replenished into the loop by mechanical, electronic or manual means. A diluent gas is required to maintain volume in the loop on descent, and expanding gas is vented during ascent. All very simple in principle. However the control over the crucial levels of the 2 important gases in the loop (oxygen and carbon dioxide) must be precise or the diver courts disaster. If the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) stays consistently above 1.4, the risk of convulsion and drowning increases. If the PO2 in the loop falls to hypoxic levels, unheralded unconsciousness (and drowning) may result. Exhaustion of soda lime or a problem with gas flow through the scrubber will cause a disabling rise in carbon dioxide levels. Any loss of integrity of the unit may cause flooding which will render the unit completely unusable (a situation far less likely to occur on SCUBA). Without meticulous pre-dive checks and adherence to procedure, these life threatening occurrences may occur in any CCR unit. Hence the primary safety feature of all rebreathers, is the comprehensive checking of the equipment before a dive. Most fatalities arise because of a problem in checking or maintenance, rather than some inherent fault of the unit.
All of us accept risks on a daily basis. Every year many more than 100 000 people are killed by snakes(4), 960 by crocodiles, 14 by ostriches and 7 by sharks(5). Compare the paranoia about shark attack with the worry over ostriches! Keep it in perspective in other words! However, the (scanty) facts available at present do suggest that technical diving whether deep, wreck, cave or rebreather diving, does have an increased risk of death compared to recreational open water diving. This kind of diving is not for everyone, and to do it safely requires a large investment in time, training, personal fitness and attention to detail. In its present form, it should not become an inevitable progression of advanced open water training following a basic OW course. Certain individuals should never take up technical diving, and most will never wish to. Training agencies must continue to make potential tech divers aware of the risks and maintain standards to the highest level, to avoid the growing tendency for outsiders to over-regulate the sport. Dive shops should be clear at the outset that enrollment into technical dive training will not guarantee successful completion if a high standard is not met.
For the record, I am a passionate cave and rebreather diver. The acceptance of risk is a very personal decision, and for me I cannot imagine a life without diving. But, like all prospective tech divers should do, I have attempted to fully inform myself of the dangers in order to dive safely.
(1) Cumming B. NDC Diving Incident Reports. BSAC website www.bsac.org/techserv/index.html
(2) DAN Report on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive Exploration: 2004 edition (Based on 2002 data). Divers Alert Network. ISBN 0-967 3066-5-5
(3) Personal communication, Stephen Hawkins. See www.btinternet.com/~madmole/DiverMole/DMDanger.htm
(4) Chippaux J-P. Snake-bites: appraisal of the global situation. Bull WHO 1998; 76(5):515-24.
(5) Stark, P. (2001). Last breath: Cautionary tales from the limits of human endurance. Ballantine.
Movie Trailer: ‘Sanctum,’ A Cave Diving Adventure Produced by James Cameron
‘Sanctum’ the movie, a James Cameron 3D extravaganza, will be released in the cinemas come February 2011. For now, we can get a glimpse of what lies ahead by watching the just released Sanctum movie trailer. Sanctum is a movie about cave divers and the thrill of exploration and adventure inside cave systems. It investigates the psychological strains on team members of an expedition when it all goes horribly wrong.
The basic plot line is that a bunch of cave divers get stuck in a cave due to a torrential downpour and the only way out of the situation is to delve further into the cave system in the hope of finding an alternative exit. They fight raging water, deadly terrain and creeping panic as they search for an unknown escape route to the sea.
Too dramatic… too Hollywood I hear you say? Well, I have to disagree with you. Underwater, inside caves, whatever can go wrong often does go wrong… and when it all goes pear shaped, it does so in a most spectacular fashion. The room for error is small indeed when it comes to cave diving and a serious mistake can cost you your life.
We, as cave divers, all like to think that cave diving is a safe sport and that nothing will harm us down there but the reality isn’t quite so rosy. A lot can go wrong underwater and inside a cave. We tend to assume that if we follow the cave diving rules, grab three of everything and get proper training we will be saved from certain demise. Indeed, a diver with proper cave training and the right equipment has much better chances for survival than an open water diver who ventures into the underwater cave environment with little to no idea of the hazards. But cave diving is not the same as going for a walk in the park, there are risks involved and if you for one second think that you are completely safe, you are in complete and total denial and an accident waiting to happen.
Any of the cave divers involved in the making of the movie can reel off stories of close calls and misadventure when diving inside caves. Perhaps none are more spectacular and definitive however, than Andrew Wight’s experience out in the Australian Nullarbor Plains in 1988. Andrew was part of a team exploring Pannikin Plains cave when a freak storm caused the cave to collapse trapping 13 people.
The Nullabor is an arid, desert like environment and yet on that faithful day the storm was so severe it dumped a year’s worth of rain in just 20 minutes. The cave acted as a drain and all that water poured into the hole and caused the cave entrance to collapse. Thousands of pounds of rubble descended on the team and they lost a whole lot of gear that was buried underneath the avalanche, but miraculously no one was hurt. Eventually, after a couple of days the team was able to dig their way out – they were extremely lucky. It is no surprise that the experience has left a lasting impression on Andrew Wight and as such, it is not surprising that he was the producer of the Sanctum movie.
If you still think that the idea of divers being trapped inside a cave is too far fetched, you only have to look back a few weeks to realize that danger in caves is ever present. Early in October, a French diver Eric Establie was trapped inside the underground gorges of the Ardèche by a cave collapse and he, unfortunately, did not make it out. Accidents in caves do happen and to think otherwise is simply ignoring reality.
Getting trapped inside a cave is probably many people’s worst nightmare; no matter how you look at it, it is not an appealing concept. In the case of Sanctum, once the dive team is trapped, what then? Well, sometimes you just have one of those days. The characters of the movie have to push themselves beyond the limits of endurance in order to survive. When things go wrong cave diving, they go dramatically wrong. We all know about the snowball effect; what starts out as a series of small problems can often snowball into a more serious and catastrophic problem if left unchecked. In diving accidents it is never just one thing that gets you, it is often a number of consecutive small errors that eventually leads to your demise. The movie stays true to this idea.
The main character, Frank McGuire, is the leader of the expedition and when it comes to cave diving and pushing new cave systems he is the best there is. Arguably it is Frank’s unrelenting drive, his determination and his decision to keep pushing the cave regardless of the costs and the risks involved that lead the team into trouble. The ambition he displays, his single mindedness, his passion for cave exploration; these are not uncommon traits within cave diving circles and in fact are necessary within those who push the envelope of cave exploration. When watching Frank on the big screen, you see a reflection of many cave diving explorers of today and yesteryear.
Personally I don’t just identify other cave divers within Frank’s personality and persona, I also see myself. So this leads me to an interesting and by the way, rhetorical thought; will my willingness to sacrifice everything and my drive for pushing cave systems one day endanger the lives of fellow team members? Well, let’s hope I have less in common with Frank than I think. The big question remains, will Frank’s willpower, experience and leadership be enough to get his team safely out of the cave? To find out, well, you just have to go see the movie.
Seeing it on the big screen in 3D will be one hell of a ride and any cave diver should make this a must see flick – I can’t wait till February 2011!
You can view the Sanctum movie Trailer on the official Sanctum site: http://www.sanctummovie.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Agnes_Milowka
OZTeK 2011 Advanced Diving Conference & Exhibition
Technical Diving Company Big Blue Tech is heading down under to Sydney in March
Sydney, Australia
Maintaining the passion and putting the thrill-factor back into diving, the internationally acclaimed OZTeK Diving Conference and Exhibition is a clearly targeted event aimed at those whose thirst for knowledge and a better understanding of diving is matched only by their spirit of adventure.
Offering an inspirational voyage of discovery into all of diving’s future possibilities the seventh OZTeK event, OZTeK’11, is much more than just a focal point for technical diving enthusiasts; it’s for everyone – regardless of experience and qualifications – who’s ever looked at the ocean’s surface, considered all of its possibilities …. and dreamed
Featuring a meaningful exhibition showcasing the very best that the world of diving has to offer, an international cast of speakers and presenters, (drawn from the among the world’s most accomplished diving authorities) plus non-stop workshops and seminars, OZTeK’11 is again poised to push back the boundaries of underwater knowledge and establish a new standard of excellence for Dive Events.
Excitement without limits for divers who want more, OZTeK’11 will once more prove that.
Big Blue Tech instructors James Thornton-Allan, Yvonne Fries and Chris Haslam will be in attendance joining their colleagues and friends Ben Reymenants and Jamie Macleod who will be speaking and representing Thailand as a technical diving destination.
Fact File
| Event Name: | OZTeK’11 – Diving Technologies Conference & Exhibition |
| Date: | 12 – 13 March 2011. |
| Opening Times: | Saturday 12th March 2011: 09.00 – 18.00 Sunday 13th March 2011: 09.00 – 17.00 |
| Venue: | Australian Technology Park Bay 4 Atrium & Auditorium, Locomotive Workshop Eveleigh, NSW 1430 Sydney, Australia |
| Exhibitor Profile: | Training Agencies & Organizations · Dive Equipment Manufacturers & Distributors (Compressors, Computers, Drysuits, Regulators, Rebreathers, ROV.’s, Helmets, Hardware, Software, Accessories, etc.) · Clubs & Diving Associations · Safety Organizations · Dive Travel & Resorts · Dive Stores & Retailers · Live-aboard Dive Operators · Dive Charter vessels · Dive Media · Underwater Photographic Equipment · Leisure Clothing · Marine Conservation · National Tourism Organisations · Lifestyle Companies · Accessory Manufacturers. |
| Speaker Profile: | Internationally respected authorities in their respective fields of diving expertise, including: Recreational, Technical & Exploration diving · Diving Physiology & Medicine · Construction & Salvage Diving · Scientific and Military diving · Underwater Photography, Videography and Film-making · Equipment Designers · Wreck-Hunters & Underwater Treasure Seekers. |
| Audience Profile: | A qualified and clearly targeted audience consisting of dive industry personnel and dedicated diving consumers representing every facet of diving. |
| Number of Stands: | 57+ |
| Workshops/ Seminars: | Breakout workshops and special-interest seminars will run continuously throughout both days in meeting rooms adjacent to the main auditorium. (Advance booking by exhibitors wishing to use these facilities is essential.) |
| Associated Events: | Gala AWARDS Dinner: (To be announced). Underwater Photographic Competition: (Details to be announced.) |
| Organisers: | OZTeK – Australian Diving Technologies Conference PO Box 1128 Dee Why, NSW 2099 Australia Tel: (02) 9971-2559 Fax: (02) 9981-2950 E-Mail: admin@diveoztek.com.au Website: www.diveoztek.com.au Contact: David Strike |
Technical Diving In … England?
The united kingdom offers excellent technical diving opportunities as branch opens in the north of England.
Leeds, England
Big Blue Tech have gone global and launched a UK branch with the support of Tech Instructor Andrew Cavell, James Foleher and Technical Divemaster Duncan Tyler.
The UK Tech Crew previously worked for the Thailand branch and have spearheaded technical diving in the north of England by organizing trips to Scapa Flow and training options throughout the United Kingdom, Scotland and wales.
Big Blue Tech UK already has an active dive club scene where we regularly organize diving trips to the coast of England or maybe one of the many inland sites which all offer different challenges and attractions.
Even though they are a dive club they are not limited to diving activities, this enables loved ones and friends to become involved and brings a real sense of community to Big Blue Tech UK. They organize many different events, some of which can be:
* Evenings out
* Multi-activity weekends
* Days to theme parks
* Paint-balling
* And many more
They run diving trips to destinations abroad several times a year to areas such as Malta, Egypt, Thailand, Norway, plus lots more and we are always open to suggestions for places to go and things to do.
In April of 2011 Big Blue Tech UK will running their first Scapa Flow liveaboard with the option of combined training and supervised technical diving.
In May of 2011 Big Blue Tech UK have a TDI Full Cave Course planned for the mines and caves of England.
They offer courses from the following agencies and are able to teach all the way to a professional level in each of the agencies.
* BSAC – British Sub Aqua Club
* PADI – Professional Association of Diving Instructors
* TDI – Technical Diving International
* SDI – Scuba Diving International
For information about technical diving in the Uk contact info@bigbluetech.net and be part of Big Blue Tech UK
PADI Rebreather Courses
At the recent Eurotek conference in the UK, PADI released more information about its plans with rebreathers.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Mark Caney, Vice President, Rebreather Technologies in the PADI Technical Diving Division gave a presentation on the coming range of courses. The courses will be introduced at some time during 2011 and consist of both recreational courses under the PADI name, and a range of technical courses which will form part of the TecRec range.
Caney emphasized that courses were still in development, and so subject to change, however indicated the likely layout of the courses would be as below.
Although some credit will be given for anyone who has completed the recreational courses before entering the technical range, there is no requirement for them to do so, as PADI is treating the two styles of diving quite differently.
When asked which units would be approved for these courses, Caney explained that PADI would be designating two categories of rebreather; a Type R for recreational diving, and a Type T for technical diving. A Type R unit will have a high level of automation but relatively limited diver controls. (The Poseidon MkVI Discovery was mentioned as the only unit in production at present meeting these requirements). A Type T will have a wider range of controls for the user but will require significantly more discipline and training on the part of the diver in order to use them in the technical diving envelope. (Most of the current production units could meet the Type T requirements; however, PADI is considering requiring some form of third party testing of rebreather designs prior to approval as this technology is so new and relatively complex).
Caney suggested that if any instructors are planning to take advantage of these new courses that they should start to gain experience with rebreathers, as PADI will be expecting new instructors to show that they have acquired a significant amount of experience diving a given rebreather before they can teach others how to use it.
TechLab – From Rec to Tec: Tech BCD’s and Wings
TechLab delves into the ABCs of technical diving, then offers a sampling of some of the hottest tec gear on the market.
The traditional tec BC is a metal backplate, an air cell — also called a wing — and a harness made from 2-inch webbing. This configuration is still preferred by many techies, but adjustable shoulders with quick-release buckles and integrated weight systems are now common on modern tec rigs. There are even soft backpack designs built to carry the load while providing more comfort. Here are five systems that run the gamut from basic to Cadillac.
Apeks WTX Series
The WTX system is modular, and our test system consisted of a WTX harness, stainless-steel backplate, WTX4 air cell and a pair of SureLock integrated-weight pouches. The WTX Harness is made of tough 1,050-denier ballistic nylon reinforced with 2-inch webbing, and an internal sleeve accepts the backplate for bolting on doubles. A thick back cushion attaches with Velcro and six 2-inch and eight 1-inch D-rings provide attachment points for extra gear. The WTX4 air cell is a double-bag design with the abrasion-resistant outer bag is made of 1,000-denier Armorshield Cordura. It provides 45 pounds of lift and offers a lower-left exhaust valve and optional right exhaust port. Performance: Test divers used the WTX system with doubles using the backplate, with a single using the backplate and with a single without the backplate, proving that you can take this rig from full tec to tropic and anywhere in between. There’s a wide range of easy adjustment in the harness, allowing you to change from wetsuits to drysuits. The SureLock weight system fits neatly on the waistband and brings one of the best integrated-weight systems from recreational diving into the tec world. WTX Harness, $345; stainless-steel backplate, $174; WTX4 air cell, $325; SureLock system, $135 www.aqualung.com
Dive Rite Nomad EXP
While this rig is tailor-fit for side-mount configurations and rebreathers, we found it works just fine with a set of doubles or a single cylinder. Our test unit came with a 60-pound-lift single bladder and the semirigid backpack extends downward to include a butt plate that offers attachment points for side-mount cylinders and a crotch strap. Grommets in the center of the backpack offer easy bolt-on mounting of doubles with optional stability plates, or a single cylinder can be worn with dual soft-tank bands. Bungee cords keep the top of the air cell streamlined, and shoulder straps are routed over the top of the air cell to further control air volume. Eight 2-inch D-rings provide ample attachment points. Performance: Back-mount or side-mount, singles or doubles, you can dive them all. When we mounted up our double 100s, we were surprised at how stable they were. The semirigid backpack, reinforced with 2-inch webbing, is definitely up to the task. The shoulders are wide and supportive, and the retention system of bungees and straps keeps the air cell well contained. It’s an excellent choice for divers who use a variety of tank configurations. $699 www.diverite.com
Hollis Backplate System
Of the systems reviewed here, the Hollis Backplate is the most basic and for purists perhaps the best choice. It consists of a stainless-steel backplate with grommets for mounting doubles and slots to accommodate bands for a single tank, a 45-pound wing and a solo harness system. It comes with padded shoulder covers that slip over the webbing for increased comfort, eight 2-inch stainless-steel D-rings and a crotch strap. The air cell is from Hollis’ new C-Series, designed with a 360-degree bladder for streamlining and balance. The air cell is made with an outer shell of 1,000-denier Cordura and a 15-millimeter-thick urethane internal bladder. It has a centrally located inflation hose elbow and an exhaust valve on the lower left. Performance: While it takes a little time to get the rig adjusted just right, once you dial it in, it stays there. Initial test dives were with double 100s bolted to the backplate, followed by dives using soft bands for a single cylinder. In both configurations the rig felt snug, stable and completely free of any bulk or clutter in the torso. Inflation control was smooth and efficient too. In short, going simple still works pretty darn good. Stainless-steel backplate, $157; C-45 wing, $273; Solo harness, $89 www.hollisgear.com
OMS B.Y.O.B.S (Build Your Own Buoyancy System)
This rig is modular and customizable. We started with the IQ Pack harness and a 32-pound-lift air cell for use with a single cylinder. The IQ Pack is made of 840-denier nylon and reinforced with 2-inch webbing. The backpack provides a sleeve to accept a metal backplate for doubles. A thick pad covers the mounting hardware and provides extra comfort. Shoulders are overlaid with 2-inch webbing that can be easily opened to add additional D-rings or adjust length. The system also has quick-release adjustable buckles, a dual-adjust sternum strap and a crotch strap. The air cell is made of 1,000-denier nylon with a 210-denier nylon bladder. Performance: We set it up as a soft pack with a single tank and in minutes could have added a plate, a larger wing and bolted on a set of doubles. The harness is secure and comfortable, and the 32-pound air cell is compact. Shoulder adjustments are quick and easy with weight keepers used to secure webbing and D-rings. The OMS system seems well suited for the tec diver who also occasionally goes rec, because it’s so easy to switch out components to match the mission. IQ Pack, $361; 32-pound air cell, $392 www.omsdive.com
Zeagle Tech-10
The Tech-10 is a new soft backpack BC designed for “extreme duty,” according to Zeagle. Made of rugged 1,050-denier ballistic nylon, the Tech-10 comes with dual soft bands to accommodate a single tank, as well as mounting grommets for doubles. The rear air cell provides 65 pounds of lift, and its ripcord integrated-weight system holds 36 pounds in front pouches and 20 pounds in rear trim pouches, all ditchable. The rig has an extrawide waist panel with dual waist straps that provide a lot of midsection support. It also comes with a split-saddle-style crotch strap and utility pockets. The inflation system comes with a streamlined power inflator plus two lower dump valves. Performance: We like the travel possibilities of the Tech-10. As a soft backpack system, it travels lighter than a backplate rig yet still gives you all the attachment options for hooking on additional gear. We tested the Tech-10 with both a single tank and a set of doubles, and it supported both loads well, and you can also rig for side-mount. The wide waist section with twin double-pull buckles makes the rig supersupportive and extremely stable underwater. Tech-10 with standard BX-Inflator, $789; with an Octo-Z (Inflator/Alternate Air), $929 www.zeagle.com
Monsoon Madness Sale
With the strong Baht it’s time to give our divers a break!
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech announced today a drop in prices across the stream of courses available for the months of monsoon leading up to February of 2011.
The drop in price comes as a result of the low dollar, euro and pound against the Thai Baht which has grown significantly in the recent months.
In addition the strength of the Baht has reduced operating costs with the price of electric and gasoline dropping due to imported resources. We’re giving the savings back to our students.
To take advantage of the price changes in your own currency you have to transfer the funds to a local account. For example, to pay in euros you have to transfer the funds into a European bank account.
In addition to the discount we’re also implementing club and group ratings giving friends the chance to come and learn or dive together.
More details can be found on our bookings page: http://www.bigbluetech.net/technical-diving-bookings.php
As for equipment, all our DiveRite gear in our shop – http://www.bigbluetech.net/shop/ is being cut by 15% for online sales between these dates!
For more information contact us at info@bigbluetech.net
SDI Sidemount Open Water Diver Course
Side mounted cylinders provide technical range and access with perfect trim and control.
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech recently completed the first SDI Sidemount Dive Course after receiving approval from SDI/TDI to conduct the course (authored by Big Blue Tech Staff) and finally getting the shipment of Nomad sidemount BCD’s from DiveRite.
Big Blue Tech is the only Diverite dealer in Thailand so we have been eager to get the new sidemount gear and see how it performs in our environment.
Sidemount is a scuba diving configuration which has tanks mounted alongside the diver, below the shoulders and along the hips, instead of on the back of the diver. It is a popular configuration with advanced cave divers, as smaller sections of cave can be penetrated and tanks can be changed with greater ease. Sidemount is also growing in popularity with divers who have difficulty handling the heavy double tanks commonly used by cave divers. Shortcomings of this diving style include a greater difficulty in sharing air while diving with team members using backmounted tanks.
Sidemount diving began in England, where it was originally used in partially submerged caves. It was an easier method of transporting diving gear between totally submerged sections of the cave (sumps). Americans began using sidemount in the mid seventies for the same purpose. In the early eighties, Wes Skiles, and other Florida cave divers began to use sidemount to explore cave passages that were too low for conventional back mounted tanks. They quickly found that the British style of sidemount didn’t work well in low passages, and slowly developed a “Florida style” form of sidemount. Today, the British refer to this “Florida style” diving as “American sidemount”.
Most sidemount rigs used to be home-made as there were no commercial production of kits like there were for standard scuba rigs. One of the later “pioneers” of sidemount diving was Bill Rennaker, who started making kits available with sidemount accessories such as a custom butt plate.
he SDI Sidemount Diver Course is designed to train certified divers how to safely utilize side-mounted primary cylinders as an alternative to the traditional back mounted configuration.
Diving in sidemount configuration basically means you take one or two cylinders and place them on either side of your body, rather than mounting them on your back, which is traditionally known as backmounted. So is it just a change in equipment configuration then? That would be correct; however you will find that with the right training it will be much more than that.
Compressor Operator and Nitrox Gas Blender Course
Mixed Gas Operation and Diving Compressor Operator course completed in the tropics
Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Pierre Piegne, Dennis G. and Anthony Sillwood from their BSAC Compressor Operator and TDI Nitrox Gas Blender Course conducted over 3 days on Koh Tao Island off the coast of Thailand by TDI & BSAC Instructor Ash Dunn
The BSAC Compressor Operator course enables the successful candidate to engage in maintenance and operation of compressed air systems for scuba diving. The student will learn to pack filters, maintenance, servicing and operation of a variety of compressors and air bank systems.
The TDI Nitrox Gas Blender 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, equipment requirements and hazards involved in blending Nitrox gases for recreational scuba.
In the TDI Nitrox Gas Blender Course, you will receive a foundation of skills and knowledge that is needed to blend enriched air nitrox for recreational divers. After covering academic subjects including, Responsibilities of the gas blender, Oxygen handling and Gas production equipment and oxygen analyzing You will demonstrate proficiency in blending enriched air nitrox and the proper labeling of nitrox cylinders.
Dennis and Pierre will use their certification right away as they head off to Khao Lak to work at our office there where our liveaboard has a continuous flow nitrox panel on board. Anthony is currently enrolled in a dive master internship course and will be able to gain extra work as a blender in our shop.
