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Objective
- This Program is designed to
train those who wish to dive to depths between 130 fsw (39 msw) and 200 fsw
(60 msw) on OC and to a maximum depth of 170 fsw (51 msw) on rebreathers,
but who do not wish to breathe air below 130 fsw (39 msw). Trimix affords a
means of reducing narcosis on dives to such depths.
Prerequisites
Must be qualified as an IANTD
Advanced EANx Diver. Divers qualified as Technical Diver, see note below under
Program Content section.
Must provide proof of a minimum
of 100 logged dives, of which at least 30 were deeper than 90 fsw (27 msw). If
doing the course on a rebreather must have 20 dives and 25 hours on the
rebreather being used
Must be a minimum of 18 years of
age.
Requisites
- Texts
IANTD Technical Student
Workbook or equivalent text(s) approved in writing by the Board of
Directors (written approval will be issued by IAND, Inc./IANTD World
Headquarters). Rebreather specific materials
IANTD Technical Diving
Encyclopedia or equivalent text(s) approved in writing by the Board of
Directors (written approval will be issued by IAND, Inc./IANTD World
Headquarters).
- Program Content
All academic portions of
the Technical Diver Student Workbook and appropriate specific
rebreather materials and reference text material from the IANTD
Technical Encyclopedia.
This Program must
include a minimum of three Air or EANx or Normoxic Trimix gas or
diluent dives in OW (or overhead environments if the diver is already
qualified or if taking this Program in conjunction with a cave or
wreck course) to depths not to exceed 130 fsw (39 msw.. On all of the
dives the student must manage one stage cylinder.
This Program must also
include a minimum of three dives in OW (or overhead environments if
the diver is already qualified or if taking this Program in
conjunction with a cave or wreck course) on Trimix using one gas
switch. These dives may be performed at depths between 130 fsw (39 msw)
and 200 fsw (60 msw) on rebreathers the maximum depth is 170 fsw (51
msw). All divers must make one dive to at least 170 fsw (51 msw) and
no dives deeper than 200 fsw (60 msw) All dives must follow or use as
backups, the IANTD Tables using one gas switch. One dive may be made
on custom software (all dives may be backed up by custom software
generated tables provided it is a Program approved by IANTD).
This Program must
include a minimum of 300 minutes of run time, including Air, EANx and
Trimix dives.
To complete the course
within the minimum specified dives students must have an average of 8
points (out of 10) on the watermanship evaluations. With 2 or more
additional dives the student may graduate from the course with an
overall average score of 6 points
NOTE: Divers
who are already qualified as Technical Divers or Technical Cave or
Technical Wreck may have the three air or EANx dives credited and only
need to do the 3 Trimix dives between depths of 130 fsw (39 msw) and 200
fsw (60 msw).
Equipment Requirements
- Fulfill all Equipment
Requirements as specified in the general Technical Diver Programs
overview. These courses may be taken with a student on a rebreather.
Program Limits
There may be no more
than 4 students per Instructor. This ratio may be increased by 2
students (for a maximum of 6 students) with an assisting IANTD Trimix
Diver Supervisor. If the course is conducted in conjunction with a
Cave or Wreck Programs, the limits for those Programs will prevail.
No dives may be
conducted to depths greater than 200 fsw (60 msw). Or no greater than
170 fsw (51 msw) on rebreathers
Oxygen partial pressure
may not exceed 1.40 (1.3 on rebreather) during the working portion of
the dives, nor exceed 1.60 (1.4 on rebreather) ATA during the
decompression portion of the dives.
Trimix dives must be
conducted using a mixture containing at least 20% oxygen (± 1%), and
no more than 30% helium (± 1%).
Equivalent Narcosis
Depth (END) may not exceed 120 fsw (36 msw).
Surface oxygen must be
available for use in the event of Decompression Illness (DCI).
All dives must be
performed as a single dive team.
All appropriate safety
or required decompression stops must be performed.
Waterskills
Development
A
confined water session must be completed before conducting any OW
dives.
Swim
with full underwater equipment (except stage cylinders) for at least 5
minutes.
Become
proficient in the following propulsion techniques: modified flutter,
modified frog, modified dolphin and standard shuffle kicks.
Deploy
lift bag in less than 1½ minutes, and repeat at least 5 times during
the Program.
Swim
a distance of at least 75 feet (23 meters) without wearing a mask.
Practice
removing and replacing a stage cylinder both at rest and while
swimming.
Have
2 divers swim side-by-side, in full equipment, simulating an
out-of-gas situation (without breathing, and exhaling slowly), for a
distance of 60 feet (18 meters), then stop and begin breathing with
one diver handing-off the long second stage hose to the other diver.
Divers should remain a rest for 3 breaths, then swim at an average
pace for at least 10 minutes. On rebreathers this drill should be done
with the diver breathing from the stage cylinder.
Remove
the harness and cylinders from a simulated unconsciousness diver in
less than 1½ minutes. (Students who exceed the time limit on this
skill must have a quick-release added to their harness).
Divers
using a quick-release on their harness or backpack must, in confined
water, swim the system while the instructor disconnects the
quick-release to simulate a failure. The student is to swim the system
demonstrating control of buoyancy and body positioning with the quick
disconnect released for sufficient duration to satisfy the instructor
that this type failure may be managed by the student.
Demonstrate
an ability to respond to a single-bladder BCD failure by the two
methods listed below. (Students using gear configurations that prevent
accomplishment of these two skills will be required to wear a
redundant BCD. Students who already have a redundant BCD or dry suit
may use one of these alternates after attempting perform the methods
without the use of the alternative.)
- Completely
deflate BCD and swim while maintaining buoyancy control for at
least two minutes.
- Completely
deflate BCD, ascend safely to the surface, and remain afloat for
at least 3 minutes.
NOTE:
If at any time the student starts to over-exert, or if it is obvious
that the skill cannot be accomplished, the instructor is to ensure
that the BCD is inflated.
In
confined water, have a student lose buoyancy by deflation of the BCD
and then attempt to utilize a lift bag or other secondary buoyant
device as a BCD.
NOTE:
This skill is to demonstrate how effective these devices are and to
reinforce that even if not suitable for a redundant BCD they still
provide an option for self rescue in an emergency situation.
Following
a means of reference (pool wall, guide line, ship railing, etc.) with
eyes closed, remove stage cylinder and swim a distance of at least 15
feet (4.5 meters). Reverse direction, return to stage cylinder and
replace it on correct side.
Two
divers approximately 60 feet (18 meters) apart, with blacked-out masks
or eyes closed, and while simulating an out of air situation, locate
each other (using side of pool, rail on wreck, guide line, etc. for
orientation) and begin gas sharing via long hose. On
rebreathers this drill should be done with the diver breathing from
the stage cylinder
Prior
to dives, students must use IANTD Gas Management Charts to match gas
turn points. (OC only).
Open
and close tank valves at least once on all dives.
Remove
and replace stage cylinder(s) on each dive.
At
least once on each dive, Instructor is to signal to student(s) that
one of their regulators is malfunctioning and the student is to take
the corrective action (OC only).
Perform
gas sharing in one form or another on at least 3 of the air dives. It
is recommended that the Instructor do this at times when it surprises
at least one of the divers, and at a point when there is a reasonable
distance between the divers. On rebreathers this drill should be done
with the diver breathing from the stage cylinder
Determine
RMV and demonstrate ability to calculate and perform gas matching. (OC
only)
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