Technical divers progress to decompression diving techniques.

Koh Tao, Thailand
Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Magnus Baer from the TDI Decompression Procedures course conducted over 3 days and 4 dives. This course continues from the TDI Advanced Nitrox course and trains the diver on the skills, procedures and methods for mixed gas decompression using enriched air nitrox to accelerate the natural process of decompression.

As sport divers planned decompression is not something that we do or have been taught. The TDI Decompression Procedures course prepares you for planned staged decompression diving. With a maximum operating depth of 45m/150 feet, this course is your first step beyond the normal sport diving limits. Your TDI Instructor will provide you with valuable information and skills, among the topics covered are

• Kit set-up
• Equipment requirements
• Decompression techniques
• Decompression breathing gases
• Gas management
• Contingency planning

The TDI Decompressions Procedures course combined with the TDI Advanced Nitrox course form the foundation of all other technical courses.  After these two courses and some additional experience, the stage has been set for you to move onto additional technical levels. Some of the materials you will be using include the TDI Divers Guide to Decompression Procedures, US Navy or Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables (made of vinyl for easy in-water use and storage)

Over the 4 dives Magnus was exposed to different conditions including overhead, current, large swells, chimney formations which all concluded on a full day trip to Sail Rock, a local favourite dive site.

After a few days off Magnus will continue to his TDI Extended Range course which will take him to 55m.

TDI Advanced Nitrox

Advanced Nitrox

The objective of this course is to train the divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for utilising EAN 21 through to 100 percent oxygen for dives not requiring staged decompression. To a depth of 40 msw (130fsw) this course can be combined with Decompression Procedures at the discretion of your instructor.

Student Prerequisites:
• Minimum age of 15
• Minimum certification of TDI Nitrox Diver or equivalent
• Proof of 25 logged open water dives

Duration:
This course is run over three days if taught stand alone or five days if combined with the TDI Decompression Procedures course. Students looking at moving into further technical diving courses will need Advanced Nitrox certifications to enroll on the higher technical dive courses.

Download the full course outline in PDF

Decompression Procedures

Decompression Procedures

Duration:
This Course examines theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. The objective of the course is to train divers how to plan and conduct standard staged decompression dives not exceeding a maximum depth of 150 fsw / 45 msw. During the course students will look at the most common equipment requirements, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and dive planning. Students are able to use EAN and Oxygen for decompression provided the gas mix is within their current certification level.

Student Prerequisites:
• Minimum age of 18
• Minimum certification of open water diver
• Proof of 25 logged open water dives

Duration:
This course is run over three days if it is taught stand alone or over five days if combined with the TDI Advanced Nitrox course. Consisting of two days theory, equipment workshop and three full days boat diving. Students taking the combined training will also require a basic nitrox certification to enroll onto the Advanced Nitrox course. See our main price list which shows you the course saving when combining the Advanced Nitrox course with the Decompression Procedures course.

Download the full course outline in PDF

Cost: 25,000 THB when booked online.

SSS NETWORK & DDRC PRESENT
DDRC DIVER MEDIC TECHNICIAN
At the SSS Recompression Chamber in Koh Samui, Thailand
On 2nd November 2009
A trained Diver Medic Technician (DMT) is a person who will be expected and capable of performing a range of advanced medical techniques in an emergency.  The DMT might be expected and be capable to assist in the initial diagnosis and care of a patient as well as being able to take control of the situation until a Diving Doctor arrives.

This course will cover areas such as diving physics and physiology, gas laws, diving related illnesses and injuries and is an excellent course for those interested in dive medicine as well as being an introduction for physicians and nurses looking to specialize in hyperbaric medicine.
The DDRC (Diving Diseases Research Centre) course consists of 60 hours theory and around 30 hours practical work. Subjects to be covered include:
•    Respiratory & cardiac arrest and advanced airway management
•    Use of the external automatic defibrillator
•    Wound management, including fractures and burns
•    Oxygen administration and shock management
•    Caring for casualties on site and during transportation
•    Diving accidents – DCI and emergency chest decompression techniques
•    Intravenous infusion, theory of catheterisation
•    Care and treatment of the patient in the hyperbaric environment
•    Medical record keeping and liaison with medical services
•    Use of medical equipment in remote sites
The course also covers many internationally recognized first aid in the workplace syllabi.

Professionals from their specialist areas are sourced that have first hand knowledge.   Books and course materials are good quality industry standard and the equipment & facilities are state of the art.

The DMT Certification is valid for a period of 3 years, prior to expiry of the three year period a refresher course can be undertaken rather than being required to complete the full DMT course.  For the full DMT course the training takes place over 10 working days.  The DMT Refresher course takes place over 5 working days.
Course Costs:

Diver Medic Technician   10 Days (2 – 13 November)
Diver Medic Technician Refresher 5 days (9-13 November)

(Approximate cost in Thai Baht Full DMT Course 60,000 baht – Refresher 37,000 baht)

Today Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Matt Payne and Emily Billingham from their TDI Decompression Procedures course on Koh Tao, Thailand.

The course began with advanced decompression techniques with running schedule with required stops along with buoyancy, gas switching methods, lift bag deployment, while on the small wreck at Japanese Gardens dive site. Emily had completed her Advanced Nitrox over a month ago and required a minor refresher but Matt had just completed his course the following day and was rolling through the curriculum with ease.

After 2 hours of diving we returned to the dive shop to plan the following days diving at Chumpon Pinncale with a dive profile of 45m for 30 minutes. Because the students excelled in their buoyancy control we allowed them to use pure oxygen for decompression for stops 4.5m and shallower.

This morning Big Blue Tech cruised to Chumphon Pinnacle and jumped in to the water early in the morning. Descending to 45m the visibility was in excess of 30 meters. Cruising down to depth we could see the recreational divers above pointing frantically out into the blue. Looking out in the direction they were point we could see a large bull shark skimming the thermocline. Moving away from the shark area Emily pointed out two lion fish huddled at the base of the pinnacle. The students followed their schedule bringing them safeyly to the surface in just over an hour. The students were also given a Suunto Vytec gas switching computer as a backup to their slates.

Finishing their accelerated decompression the divers were met by a Box Jellyfish which has been reported stalking divers around the pinnacle for a few weeks now.

Matt continues on to Khao Sok for his TDI Cavern Course and Emily returns to teaching recreational diving for Big Blue with plans to continue on to Extended Range in the Similan Islands.

Level 2 - Tech Diver

Advanced Nitrox

The objective of this course is to train the divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for utilising EAN 21 through to 100 percent oxygen for dives not requiring staged decompression. To a depth of 40 msw (130fsw) this course can be combined with Decompression Procedures at the discretion of your instructor.

Student Prerequisites:
• Minimum age of 15
• Minimum certification of TDI Nitrox Diver or equivalent
• Proof of 25 logged open water dives

Duration:
This course is run over three days if taught stand alone or five days if combined with the TDI Decompression Procedures course. Students looking at moving into further technical diving courses will need Advanced Nitrox certifications to enroll on the higher technical dive courses.

Download the full course outline in PDF

Level 3 - Tech Diver

Decompression Procedures

Duration:
This Course examines theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. The objective of the course is to train divers how to plan and conduct standard staged decompression dives not exceeding a maximum depth of 150 fsw / 45 msw. During the course students will look at the most common equipment requirements, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and dive planning. Students are able to use EAN and Oxygen for decompression provided the gas mix is within their current certification level.

Student Prerequisites:
• Minimum age of 18
• Minimum certification of open water diver
• Proof of 25 logged open water dives

Duration:
This course is run over three days if it is taught stand alone or over five days if combined with the TDI Advanced Nitrox course. Consisting of two days theory, equipment workshop and three full days boat diving. Students taking the combined training will also require a basic nitrox certification to enroll onto the Advanced Nitrox course. See our main price list which shows you the course saving when combining the Advanced Nitrox course with the Decompression Procedures course.

Download the full course outline in PDF

Cost: 25,000 THB when booked online.

This Course examines theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. The objective of the course is to train divers how to plan and conduct standard staged decompression dives not exceeding a maximum depth of 150 fsw / 45 msw. During the course students will look at the most common equipment requirements, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and dive planning. Students are able to use EAN and Oxygen for decompression provided the gas mix is within their current certification level.

(more…)