Technical divers and deep divers descend of famous dive site.

Koh Tao, Thailand

Today, in combination with the graduation of a TDI Decompressions Procedures course was the graduation of 12 dive master candidates who completed their Deep Diver and Nitrox Diver course with Big Blue Tech Instructors Thomas Hallstrom and Andy Cavell.

Over the 3 dives on the full day trip the students were exposed to 40m and the use of nitrox for the first time. This training is required for anyone wishing to join us on wreck diving trips coming next week.

While Andy and Thomas were in technical diving gear for safety the students, being recreational dive master interns, were in a single cylinder.

The course was combined with several different agencies which was based on the students preference.

On top of the 3 great dives it was also Martin birthday which he spent celebrating at the front of the boat from seasickness. I’m sure he’ll have a repeat performance tonight for his birthday party.

Big Blue Tech are one of the few schools who frequently conduct full day trips and this was the first one of the season after a pause from strong winds. Although the conditions at sail rock weren’t ideal it was different with soft and hard coral not seen on koh tao and an abundance of marine life not seen elsewhere.

In other news Technical Diver Nick was being lead by Technical Divemaster Ash Dunn around the site gaining more experience and continuing his fun diving with us after a day off wreck diving.

Technical Diving allows experienced divers to dive deeper, enter overhead environments such as a wreck or caves or dive for longer bottom times with specialized equipment after gaining expert training.

Big Blue Tech provide this expert training by combining the knowledge and skills from a variety of certification agency taking the best from all theories including hogarth equipment concepts, GUE buoyancy skills, DSAT buddy emphasis, TDI Independence and including BSAC strict adherence to performance to provide a well rounded, confident and experienced technical diver.

For those moving into the technical diving sport for the first time or those who already have experience but want to enhance their skills and education we provide a comprehensive and clear path through our custom education system. We also provide warm safe training environments in our tropical waters with access to challenging conditions as your experience grows based on the idea that if you train hard then you will dive easy.

Our staff stay current and dedicated to this sport and are always learning new and better ways to train technical divers by learning and studying the art of technical diving. Our staff are members of GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) NSS-CDS (National Speleological Society - Cave Diving Society) and follow their philosophy of underwater conduct and training,

All our technical diving education is conducted to strict adherence to diving standards and safety. Alcohol and recreational drugs use is prohibited during diving and training activities through our school.

Enrollment does not mean certification and as instructors we will never carry you through training. We give you the tools to perform but you must perform on your own.

For a more in depth look at our training and courses read our news from past training events and expeditions.

Choose the course your interested by selecting from the list below. For more information contact us at info@bigbluetech.net

TDI
Solo Diver
Full Face Mask Diver
Nitrox Diver
Intro to Tech
Advanced Nitrox
Decompression Procedures
Extended Range
Trimix Diver
Advanced Trimix
Semi Closed Rebreather
Closed Circuit Rebreather - 1
Closed Circuit Rebreather - 2
Closed Circuit Rebreather - 3
Cavern Diver
Intro to Cave
Cave Diver
Gas Blender
Advanced Gas Blender
O2 Service Technician
Technical Divemaster

DSAT
Tec Basics Specialty
Tec Level 1 Diver
Tec Deep Diver
Tec Trimix
Gas Blender
Trimix Blender

BSAC
Advanced Nitrox Diver
Tech Advanced Nitrox Diver
Extended Range Diver
Full Face Mask Diver
Compressor Operator

APNEA FREEDIVING
Freediver Basic
Freediver Advanced

Our technical training team is comprised of skilled and experienced individuals who excel in their own field of expertise across the technical scuba diving industry in Thailand. No one can train divers to do everything, with that we have specialists who focus on their own personal interest in the area they’re responsible for.

Our team work and live in a very small community of technical scuba diving explorers who’s main goal is to train and expose divers to this ever growing style of technical deep water exploration and advanced scuba diving education in Thailand.

We provide technical diving leadership and education in English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Thai and Japanese.

James Thornton-Allan

Director Technical Diving Operations

James is responsible for the day to day operations of Big Blue Tech and the on going quality assurance of technical diving operations including the expanding selection of dive sites and training courses for Big Blue Diving branches across Thailand.

James provides contact and liaison through all facets of technical diving at big blue and provides on going consultation for other technical diving companies and agencies. For all course and diving bookings please contact him directly.

Contact: James@bigbluetech.net

Yvonne Fries

Manager Technical Diving Operations

Yvonne is responsible for supporting the Director of Technical Diving Operations by managing the finances, scheduling and accounts along with all other related activities for Big Blue Tech in Thailand.

Yvonne has been working for Big Blue Tech for several years and is one of the more senior and respected members of the team.

Falls Sie Interesse haben am technischen Tauchen, Hoehlentauchen oder Rebreather Tauchen in oder um thailand herum, bitte kontaktieren Sie mich per Eunter

Wir bieten alle Kurse auch in deutscher Sprache an.

Contact: Yvonne@bigbluetech.net

Ash Dunn

Diving Facilities Manager

Ash is our Advanced Gas Blender, Equipment and Oxygen Service Technician and Technical Divemaster. On top of these skills, Ash is responsible for the logistics and delivery of suppot services for all diving with Big Blue Tech.

Ash provides logistic support and serviced equipment for all our technical diving expeditions across Thailand.

Contact: Ash@bigbluetech.net

Andy Holdaway

Technical Divemaster

Andy is our technical divemaster. He is responsible for leading certified technical divers and conducting skill workshops for divers who have not been current with their diving.

When not diving Andy can be found travelling between Thailand and England or enhancing his education and skills to become a technical diving instructor in the future.

Contact: Andy@bigbluetech.net

Sonia Scott

Hyperbaric Services Manager

Sonia is responsible for the health and safety of all our divers as a dive medic and hyperbaric chamber operator.

Sonia supports technical diving by being an onsite representative for all diving related health concerns while working with other medical facilities and professionals in the region.

Contact: sonia@bigbluetech.net

Panos Iosifoglou

Technical Dive Manager Similans

Panos is our in house technical dive managers who’s responsibility is for the west coast technical diving in the Similan Islands and Khao Lak. He provides logistics, underwater guide, supervision and liaison through our shop in Khao Lak and on our liveaboard the Mv Pawara.

Panos is also responsible for Cave Diving and Gas Blending Facilities for the west coast on Thailand.

Contact: Panos@bigbluetech.net

Simon Garitty

Technical Instructor Trainer

Simon is our SSI (Scuba Schools International) Instructor Trainer providing instructor level course, cross-overs and general course development for the Big Blue Diving franchise. Simon is also heavily involved with the SSI-TXR curriculum of technical courses.

Contact: Simon@bigbluetech.net

Guillaume Fargues

Technical Instructor Development Coordinator

Guillaume is responsible for coordinating instructor development courses and assisting in their application. Regardless of what level you wish to complete be it technical diving instructor or open water instructor Guillaume creates an effortless process and private tutor beyond what is already provided.

Guillaume is also our in house French instructor and is available for translation or entire courses upon request

Contactez-nous pour en savoir plus sur les formations tech, ainsi que la plongee en cavernes et grottes et avec recycleur partout en Thailande. Nous offrons des cours individuels dans de nombreuses langues dont le francais pour tous les niveaux, de debutant a instructeur tech.

Contact:guillaume@bigbluetech.net

Dean Jenkins

Technical Internship Coordinator

Dean is responsible for the ongoing training and development of our Technical Dive Master Program. Those completing their tech dive master program will work closely with dean for all aspects from physics to water skills.

Dean overseas your entire development and insures that all student needs are addressed including accommodation and equipment.

Contact: dean@bigbluetech.net

Congratulations are in order for Simon Garrity who has become a SSI Instructor Training here at Big Blue. Simon has been a member of staff here for many years and has moved into the prestigious role of training future SSI Instructors and Dive Control Specialists.

A big party was held in his honor at Vibe bar on Sai Ree beach with a free BBQ.

Simon immediately gets to work starting SSI Instructor level training from full instructor courses to cross over. He’s even got our recreational dive masters an upgrade from PADI Divemaster to SSI DiveCon so they can teach more and offer more to our customers.

Today Big Blue Tech completed a TDI Decompression Procedures course for Andy Holdaway, Panos Iosifoglou, and Steve Jeffs under the instruction of James Thornton-Allan. Additionally the course was joined by Nathaniel Weiss who is perfecting his skills under supervision of Technical Divemaster Christos Kardana

The TDI Decompression Procedures course, which was combined with TDI Advanced Nitrox, covers a variety of unqiue skills and training to allow the diver to complete decompression dives up to 45m using a variety of oxygen based gas mixes.

The course began with advanced buoyancy skills, equipment orientation, gas planning, task loading and handling advanced mixes of nitrox.

Today the students completed 2 accelerated decompression dives at Chumphon Pinnacle dive site in Koh Tao Thailand. The goal of all dives was to not touch the ground at any point or make contact with any object using their newly honed buoyancy skills. It was also essential to deploy a lift bag on every dive, the lift bag and reel can often lead to problems with loosing depth control or entanglement.

The students final dive exposed them to a 24 minute stop at 4.5m. Although they had already cleared their schedule according to their Suunto Vytec DS gas switching computer (provided as standard on all courses) it was essential for the students to build up tolerance to hanging in water in a controlled manner.

Tomorrow begins the start of the TDI Extended Range course which will begin with advanced oxygen handling, simulated in-water recompression procedures (full face mask), decompression buddy breathing and a variety of unique skills found only in the TDI syllabus. The TDI Extended Range course will then hit the road for Khao Sok where the students will complete their TDI Cavern Course and finish the deep dives on the sunken village in the middle of the national park. This option for training is only open to the most comfortable technical student due to it’s remote and challenging environment.

All images copyright Christos Kardana - Big Blue Tech

Starting in July , Divemaster candidates can complete the academic portion of their education for SDI and TDI Divemaster ratings ONLINE.

SDI™ Group President Brian Carney announced today the release of a completely rewritten and redesigned SDI™ TDI™ Divemaster program including a brand-new 420-page student manual plus a 31-Chapter online program.

“This is one of the most ambitious new product launches in the company’s history,” Carney said. “The whole company including our network of facilities, instructors and dive leaders are really happy and excited to offer SDI and TDI Divemaster candidates the option of completing the study and final exam for their first professional level rating onLine. And we are looking forward to hearing feedback on all the new materials.”

Carney explained that the SDI Group, which includes TDI, the leading tech diving agency in the world, and the public safety training organization, Emergency Response Diving International, has “set the bar” with its onLine DM program. He said the success of SDI’s open water, nitrox, wreck, deep and navigation onLine specialties, prompted an all-out push to launch the new program months ahead of schedule.

“Market research told us that people are extremely happy with onLine training. Diver’s who have used SDI onLine training rather than the traditional classroom and book over the past five years or so, told us it suits their schedule and life-style.” Carney stated that the missing element was Leadership materials.

“Of all the Diver education we currently offer through our SDI™ facility network, the Divemaster program is perhaps the one that is the most suited to the online format,” he noted. “Leadership level academics are the closest thing the scuba industry offers to post-secondary education. It is a tough program and the content is huge. It demands real study and hard work from its participants. Our online system is the perfect format for home study, and gives DM candidates and their certifying instructors and facilities the benefits of real-time feedback on progress and challenges.”

Sean Harrison, VP Training and Member Services for SDI™ explained one of the benefits of the new media version of the company’s DM program. “Often, the instructor who is best suited to develop dive leaders is the one person who has the least time available. The perfect solution is blended learning through SDI’s online training. The proven online system is able to move the divemaster candidate through their academics freeing up valuable instructor time to work hands-on with them to refine their leadership qualities as well as diving, risk-management, and dive business skills.”

Harrison also commented that in light of the length of this new course, and the complexity of the materials covered, online students will also receive a printed Manual and Knowledge Quest to support the electronic version. The student kit, available from SDI, TDI dive facilities, will also include a Hat, Briefcase, SDI sticker and embroidered patch, water-proof USN Tables, Student Record Folder, and set of Rescue Slates.

To learn more about SDI™, TDI™ exciting and profitable new DM program, call your local representative or contact customer service department at SDI, TDI by email at godive@tdisdi.com.

The Big Blue Tech family became a little bit bigger with the arrival of Andy Holdaway to start his technical dive master internship which will take him from a rescue diver to a member of staff as an instructor in a few months time.

Andy joins us from England where he has spent the past few years as a Royal Marines Commando and served with our director James Thornton-Allan over 4 years ago. Andy has been to Koh Tao before but this time he’s staying.

Being as Andy already has a relationship with the staff means there’s been quite a few late nights and shakey mornings. However the celebration of his arrival is over and now it’s time to get to work. Andy will be enrolling in the following courses.

PADI Divemaster Internship
TDI Technical Divemaster
TDI Advanced Gas Blender
TDI Service Technician
TDI Advanced Nitrox
TDI Decompression Procedures
TDI Extended Range
PADI Open Water Instructor
PADI Specialty Instructor - Deep and Nitrox
BSAC Compressor Operator

Once that’s done Andy will be joining us to take over the responsibility for all our specialty course training and freelancing for recreational diving while he builds up experience to take on the ominous role of TDI technical instructor.

Big Blue Tech has been busy again with the completion of a PADI Enriched Air and Deep Diver Specialty Course. Although this course is not specifically technical diving it is a great introduction to it and is a prerequisite for further more challenging diving.

Because of the amount it was also a pleasure to be able to take a boat to ourselves and park at South West Pinnacle for the duration of the morning for 2 back to back dives on nitrox. Later diving was completed again Chumphon pinnacle.

With another great group completed some progressed on to technical diving while others went back to their divemaster internship or fun diving on nitrox.

Below are some pictures from the event.