50% Nitrox and 45 m Max

The tech advanced nitrox course is aimed at the diver who is wanting to increase their diving knowledge and progress into tech diving. The theory is much the same as the recreational advanced nitrox course with the addition of a lecture and practical session on personal equipment. This will introduce the student to twin sets with manifolds and show the student how to operate the systems and set them up to their own personal specifications.

The practical side of the course is where it really differs from the recreational advanced nitrox course. The course will consist of 8 open water dives. The first couple of dives will be conducted in shallow water and are designed to give the student time to become comfortable with the new equipment and become familiar with some of the new skills they will have to learn. As the course progress’s the dives will become deeper, pushing the students skills. The final 2 dives will be deco dives to a max depth of 45m, these will be planned and executed by the students but monitored closely by the instructor at all times. The idea behind this course is to get the students as much in water time as possible with the instructor so by the end of the course they are comfortable with all the new equipment and skills and confident in their dive planning and execution.

AN example of the course outline can be found below:

Day 1 – Theory and Dry practical

• Introduction
• Pressure and Nitrox Mixes
• Nitrogen and nitrox diving
• Oxygen and human physiology
• Equipment for nitrox diving
• Personal Equipment
• Practical – Personal equipment preparation

Day 2 – Theory and Dives 1 & 2

• Nitrox Mixing and Analyzing
• Dive organization and management
• Dive 1 – Neutral Buoyancy, remove and replace side tank, Shut down drill, Gas switching DSMB and 3m stop
• Dive 2 – Stage and retrieve side tank, shutdown drill, long hose swim, unconscious diver, failed wing, air consumption check, DSMB and 3m stop

Day 3 – Additional Theory class’s and dives 3 & 4

• Any weak areas the students have can be discussed and worked out
• Dive 3 – Stage and retrieve side tank, shutdown drill, long hose swim, unconscious diver, failed wing, air consumption check, DSMB, failed DSMB drill and 3m stop
• Dive 4 – Don tanks in water, Running distance line, stage tanks, retrieving distance line. Shut down drill, long hose swim, DSMB and gas switch

Day 4  – Dives 5 & 6

• Dive 5 – Simulated deco, this dive will be run on a planned bottom time and the student will be expected to complete all the skills within this time prepare themselves to ascend them complete simulated deco on the way to the surface. The skills will include: Bubble check, descent, stage and retrieve side tank no mask, shut down drill, long hose swim, failed bag, deploy DSMB and gas switching at deco stop

• Dive 6 – Simulated Deco, This dive will run the same as dive 5 with the addition of an air consumption check instead of the long hose swim

Day 5 – Theory Exam and Dive 7

• Theory Exam to be completed before the final 2 dives
• Dive 7 – This will be a full deco dive to be planned by the students using a max 50% nitrox and max depth 45m.  During the dive the students will be assessed on their ability to maintain max depths and follow run times

Day 6 – Dive 8

• Dive 8 – This will be a full deco dive to be planned by the students using a max 50% nitrox and max depth 45m.  During the dive the students will be assessed on their ability to maintain max depths and follow run times

***Please note passing the course is not guarenteed. Certification depends on reaching a required standard.