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Objective
- This Program is designed to
train divers to conduct dives to depths between 100 fsw (30 msw) and 170 fsw
(51 msw) using custom blend breathing gas mixtures; and to provide greater
understanding of custom blend breathing gas mixtures, a complete knowledge
of the limits of any EANx mixture, and the use of EANx and oxygen for
decompression.
Prerequisites
Must be qualified as an IANTD
Advanced EANx diver or equivalent.
Must provide proof of a minimum
of 100 logged dives, of which at least 30 were deeper than 90 fsw (27 msw).
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).
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 lectures and theory
in the Technical Student Workbook up to the section on normoxic
trimix and materials in the Technical Diving Encyclopedia.
This Program must
include a minimum of 300 minutes of open-water run time completed
within at least 6 dives.
Two of the dives must be
to depths between 130 fsw (39 msw) and 170 fsw (51 msw). For students
who need additional training dives, the remaining two dives may be in
any depth between 40 fsw (12 msw) and 170 fsw (51 msw).
At the
Instructor’s discretion and as specified in the Standards, previous
dive experience may be credited. The maximum credited dives from other
Technical Programs (e.g., Cave, IANTD Wreck, etc.) and/or other dive
experience is 4 dives, at least two of which must have been deeper
than 130 fsw (39 msw). Even with maximum crediting of previous dive
experience, this program must include a minimum of 4 dives, and 240
minutes of run time .
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.
Equipment Requirements
Fulfill all Equipment
Requirements as specified in the general Technical Diver Programs
overview.
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
Technical Diver Supervisor or Advanced EANx Instructor who is also
qualified as a IANTD Technical Diver. The Instructor must be in
control at all times.
No dives may be
conducted to depths greater than 170 fsw (51 msw).
Oxygen partial pressure
may not exceed 1.40 during the working portion of the dives, nor
exceed 1.60 ATA during the decompression portion of the dives.
All appropriate safety
or required decompression stops must be performed.
Decompression stops must
be made using oxygen or EANx.
Waterskills Development
A confined water session
must be completed before conducting any OW dives.
Swim with full
underwater equipment required in Program for at least 5 minutes.
Swim in a simulated
out-of-air situation (without breathing, and exhaling slowly) for a
distance of at least 60 feet (18 meters) with full gear, then commence
breathing. Repeat previous drill with 2 divers swimming side-by-side,
but have one diver hand-off the long-hose second-stage regulator to
the other diver and commence gas sharing. After remaining at rest for
3 breaths, continue swimming at an average pace for at least 10
minutes.
Remove and replace
equipment during confined water training (doubles and stage[s]), first
on the surface, then on the bottom, in less than 2 minutes.
Remove the harness and
cylinders from a simulated- diver in less than 1 ½ 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 disconnected
for sufficient duration to satisfy the instructor that the student is
capable of managing.
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.
Two divers approximately
60 feet (18 meters) apart, with blacked-out masks or eyes closed, and
while simulating an out of air situation (without breathing, and
exhaling slowly), locate each other (using side of pool, rail on
wreck, guide line, etc. for orientation) and begin gas sharing via
long hose. After taking 3 breaths at rest, continue swimming while
sharing gas for at least 3 minutes. This drill may be accomplished by
having one student swim 30 feet (9 meters) to donor, and repeat for
other diver.
While two divers are
swimming side-by-side, the Instructor signals one to remain stationary
while the other continues swimming for at least 3 more kicks. The
stationary diver then simulates an out-of gas situation by swimming
(without breathing, and exhaling slowly) to the other diver and
commences gas sharing for at least 2 minutes. The instructor may
substitute this skill by starting the drill at some time when the
students are apart from each other by a comparable distance as would
be achieved by 3 kicks.
Simulate gas failure
with valve shutdowns for both primary and secondary regulators. The
entire drill must be completed in less than 1 minute.
Close eyes, remove and
replace stage cylinder, make regulator switch to stage cylinder, then
switch back to primary gas supply.
Gas shutdown at least
once per dive. (It is not necessary to remove mouthpiece.)
Remove and replace stage
cylinder on all dives with as little buoyancy change as possible.
Demonstrate use of a
safety reel and deploy a lift bag while maintaining a stable depth.
Demonstrate good dive
technique and swimming (SCUBA) abilities combined with correct
buoyancy control.
Determine RMV and
demonstrate ability to calculate and perform gas matching.
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