Technical divers explore caves and caverns in Thailand

Khao Sok National Park, Thailand - Big Blue Tech completed the cave and cavern diving portion of their expedition with the certification of a TDI Cavern Diver certification for Helen Artal, Thomas Hallstrom, Fanette LeGoarand and James Rickert during a 4 day/ 3 night expedition in Khao Sok National Park which hosts a man made lake with hundreds of undiscovered caves and cavern systems.

The course included all entry level skills including found in overhead diving including how to use a reel, deal with limited visibility and working as a team. In addition they also had to get used to fresh water buoyancy and diving in remote areas.

After certification the divers explored new areas and discovered some new caves in the 10 - 18m range which will be explored at a later date. On one dive a team covered over 1km of submerged limestone wall looking for caves.

On the final day the team departed from Khao Sok National Park and returned to Koh Tao on the 20th.

This morning divers on Koh Tao were treated with the presence of a Whale Shark at the local dive site Chumphon Pinnacle.

Mark Slinn who is enrolled in a technical diving internship with Big Blue Tech was utilizing his SDI Solo Diver Certification this morning when he spent quality time with the whale shark. Mark experienced one on one interaction without any other divers.

This is not the first time mark has dived with whale sharks but it is his first time alone which made this a unique and special diving experience. When he got back to the boat, teh dives on board didn’t believe him and after all there were no witnesses, this remained the case until Yvonne Fries Big Blue Tech Crew arrived on the boat after completing some deep training dives and had also seen the shark.

So congratulations to the divers that saw them and .. sorry, maybe next time to the ones that didn’t.

Here is some stock footage from Ace Marine Images about Whale Sharks of Koh Tao

Today is the official start for the technical diving internship for Andy and Mark. Andy returns a year after completing his dive master course with Big Blue and later becoming a PADI instructor in the Uk. Marl completed his solo diver certification earlier in the year and has decided to just in the deep end head first to become a technical diving instructor.

The 3 month intensive internship includes everything needed to be a technical diving instructor in today’s diving climate. The following certifications will be EARNED in the coming months.

* Gas Blender
* Compressor Operator
* Visual Inspections Procedures
* Equipment Service Technician
* O2 service technician
* Full Face Mask Diver
* DAN Oxygen Provider
* Advanced Nitrox Diver
* Cavern Diver
* Unlimited diving
* Decompression Procedures Diver
* Advanced Gas Blender
* SCR Rebreather Diver
* Solo Diver
* Research Diver
* All Khao Sok Trips
* All Similans Islands Liveaboards
* Extended Range and Trimix Diver
* TDI Technical Divemaster Rating
* BSAC Extended Range, compressor operator and oxygen provider Instructor
* Aqualung Service Technician Instructor

Today started with basic gas laws, dive planning and a review of nitrox and diving terms. In the afternoon the interns started their visual inspection course by servicing their own twin set and cylinders. These twin sets along with diving gear would be their own to use for the duration of the 3 months so it was essential they learned not only how to use them but also the process to troubleshoot and service them. Even Ash joined in for a bit of a theory refresher.

Tomorrow the interns move into advanced nitrox planning along with more visual inspections before the weekend.

Our internships happen every 3 months, the next available space is march 15th.

Big Blue Tech has recently returned from cavern and cave diving in one of Thailand’s National Parks called Khao Sok. Big Blue Tech conducted a TDI (Technical Diving International) Cavern and Extended Range course for Matt Payne, Mike Borneo and Ash Dunn. Matt and Mike who had already completed their Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures with us earlier in the year returned to join this expedition with Ash Dunn who will be joining the tech crew in December as our new facilities manager.

The 4 day expedition in Khao Sok proved to be a text book adventure of challenging dives in stunning surroundings. On this particular trip the water had risen another 5m making the sunken temple out of range for the 55m certification depth.

The increase in water level on the lake was a result of heavy water fall leading up to the trip. Thankfully the rain fall and preceeding weather didn’t effect diving conditions or underwater visibiility leaving nothing but clear skies and sunshine.

The expedition progressed with the required training dives for the Cavern Diver certification followed by exploration for new cave systems and accelerated decompression dives up to 55m.

The students were introduced to new and unfamiliar conditions with diving from a longtail and in fresh water. While most chose the more formal method of backwards roll, others like United States Marine Captain Mike Borneo chose a more uncoventional method.

One of the more interesting highlights of the caverns was the exploration of a dry pool above one of the systems where a dive could surface to see the stalagtites and stalagmites forming above. An interesting spectacle when all the dive computers registered that we were still at 4m while very clearly above the surface of the water.

As the trip concluded, the divers had experienced 10 fresh water dives and combined their previous training with the challenges of overhead environment.

Big Blue Tech would like to tank Prival Raft House and Big Blue Diving for their support and assistance conducting this expedition.

Big Blue Tech returns to the region for more diving in December of 2009.

BSAC Instructor Crossover Course
Why would you want to teach BSAC?
1: Commercial Advantage

BSAC is unique.

Historically BSAC was based on a branch system. Unlike other diver certification agencies, BSAC members enter a local community of divers. This means BSAC members are more active divers, and have greater allegiance towards other BSAC Branches and Dive Centres.

There are large numbers of active BSAC Members in the UK, Middle East, Japan, Korea and Thailand. By becoming a BSAC professional you’ll have unrestricted access to market your training and trips to these tens of thousands of BSAC Members, through channels not available to non-BSAC schools.

BSAC Training is the choice of the UK Armed forces, plus universities in the UK and Thailand. By becoming a BSAC professional you’ll have access to large markets not available to non-BSAC schools.

2. Quality Training and Breadth of Experience

Many hundreds of thousands of divers have trained with the BSAC over more than 50 years.

Diver training has evolved but BSAC philosophy has always been to produce highly competent self-reliant divers with excellent knowledge and practical skills and with safety considerations uppermost.

And BSAC doesn’t stop at diver training. BSAC has a rounded curriculum encompassing all activities of diving and seamanship, such as boat handling, chart work and navigation, oxygen administration, engine maintenance, compressor operation, technical diving and more. The breadth and scope of BSAC Training is unrivaled.

If you want to be the best, you’ll want to be with BSAC.
Course Overview

The requirement for attending the BSAC Instructor crossover course is that you are an Instructor from any agency other than BSAC and working in a centre where BSAC courses are to be offered.  Knowledge of other diving agencies and how they work is useful as it will give you a greater understanding of how elements fit in across the different agencies.

It must be emphasized that the crossover course Instructor examiner, is not there to assess your instructing ability but rather to acquaint you with BSAC methodology and knowledge so that you will have the tools to be able to deliver BSAC diving courses; mainly Ocean Diver, Sports Diver and Dive Leader.

The course duration is 2-days and covers the following elements

6 Theory lessons
2 Practical lessons

The course starts with a series of orientation lessons which introduces the Instructor to, the BSAC and how it operates, Diver grades, BSAC dive tables, BSAC teaching methodology etc.

In the latter, there will be a series of theory classroom lessons. In these lessons, the Course Instructor will demonstrate a typical classroom presentation; showing you how to breakdown the lesson contents into small manageable steps; making complex topics simple to understand. You  then will have a chance to present a 15 -20 minute classroom presentation using the prescribed method
Practical Sessions

The first practical session will be run by the course instructor, who will demonstrate a set of skills and how to progressively break them down.  You may not have seen some of these skills as they may not be in your agency’s training programme.

The second practical session, which will normally take place on day 2, is for you to have a go at a mini-teach of a skill you have seen previously.  It is not uncommon for some of the ‘students’ to have not been in the water for a while and so it is a good refresher and ‘hands-on’ approach.

Typical skills which will be demonstrated in ‘Sheltered Water’ include:

1    Control Buoyant Lift (CBL - some dive agencies do this skill completely differently so a good skill to learn)
2    AS (Alternative Source) using different applications
3    DSMB Deployment (Not taught in other dive agencies)
4    Distance Line Laying    (relocating the shot line)

There will be an emphasis on breakdown of skill, close proximity; double demos where necessary, surface control using SMB.

At the end of Day 1 you will be asked to plan and prepare 2 lessons to give on Day 2 as a confirmation of the course.  The lessons will be short; about 10 minutes.

The types of lesson are outlined below and all will have been taught or demonstrated on Day 1 by the Course Instructor.

1.    CBL (Covered in Ocean Diver training)
2.    PADI CBL (Good for everyone to see a different way of doing it)
3.    DSMB Deployment (Covered in Sports Diver training)
4.    Line Laying (Covered in Sports Diver training)
5.    AS (Covered in Ocean Diver Training)
6.    Rescue Breathing
Materials

Each student will receive their own comprehensive course support pack which will include,

• The Diving Instructor Manual
• Course Instructor Manual CD Rom
• A set of BSAC Nitrox and Air Decompression tables
• Qualification Card
• 1 year Instructor fee
• A set of Ocean Diver - lesson prompt cards
Course Entry Level

All candidates must produce proof of their instructor qualification from one of the following diving agencies

• CMAS
• PADI
• NAUI
• SSI
2009 Promotion

On all 2009 Instructor crossover courses candidates will also receive training and instructor qualifications in two of the BSAC Skill Development Courses. These courses are

• BSAC Oxygen Administrator
• BSAC Nitrox Instructor

PADI have released a statement inviting qualified Cave Diving Instructors from other agencies to write and submit distinctive specialty outlines for PADI. Many in the industry believe this is a move to have experienced cave instructors provide outlines and information to support the move for the technical diving branch of PADI called DSAT to introduce a program without the nessesity of being responsible for the outcome.

In an official release PADI says:

“You can now teach cave diving under the TecRec umbrella through the TecRec Distinctive Specialties process. If you’re a qualified cave diving instructor, you may submit a cave diver course outline for consideration and approval by your PADI Office. Contact a DSAT TDD Technical Consultant for more information about qualifications and the minimum requirements for TecRec Cave Diver Distinctive Specialties.”

In true technical diver tenacity, comments from technical diving forums have been quite sceptical. In one instance “DecoBob” said:

“Why would i write a course outline, risk having my work amalgamated into their structure and pay for it when i already issue a well respected and recognized cave diving certification”

In response PADI has claimed that the benefit come from the respect of the entire brand and marketing support behind the program. In addition to this move in the vast restructuring of the DSAT Tec Rec system has been the invitation to cross over technical instructors for free (pre-requisites apply) and generally change the entire course structure to more resemble their closest competitor TDI (technical diving international)

For more information, you can find the read the DSAT Tec Rec Blog

Today Big Blue Tech will be introducing new diving and diving related courses to our list of programs to help increase the diversity of our school and promote proper industry practices throughout our curriculum. All these courses can be found on our training page in the coming days.

SDI Research Diver
With our in house marine biologists and our relationship with the “Save Koh Tao” environmental awareness group we will be providing this certification to select individuals who meet the pre-requisites. In addition to this course individuals will additionally receive the SDI Solo Diver certification so they can conduct survey and research dives on their own on our resort reef and pinnacles. This course will be an internship option and will include multiple dives over a 1 month period Read More

SDI Visual Inspection Procedures
Big Blue Tech already provide regulator service clinics, gas blending, compressor operation and 02 service technician course but will now add the SDI VIP course to provide potential technicians with the opportunity to be certified in the process of visual inspection of scuba cylinders. The advantage of the student learning this will help increase their employability skills globally and increase their education about scuba cylinders. Read More

SDI CPROX Administrator Course
Learning the safe and valid application of oxygen is a requirement for all our staff and leaders. Normally we did not offer this course to divers unless they were to become a leader. However now realizing the increase in remote diving and team technical diving methods we are now opening this course to the public with the emphasis on technical diving applications. Additionally underwater recompression with a full face mask will be taught to certified technical divers. Read More

For more information about these courses or custom internships please contact us at info@bigbluetech.net

Since its introduction in 1996, the PADI Enriched Air Diver Specialty course has been the most popular PADI specialty certification. This popularity has only been rising and to meet this demand, the PADI organisation has launched the PADI Enriched Air Diver Course online. This online delivery, when combined with course revisions that include a computer-only option, simplifies the teaching process and enables students to get back in the water sooner using Enriched Air. This translates into more Enriched Air student divers – and customers for PADI Dive Centers and Resorts.

“Savvy dive operators know the key to a successful dive operation is to attract and retain new divers,” says PADI Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Kristin Valette. “Continuing education keeps divers coming back for more; the more convenient the course, the more demand increases and business grows. As a matter of fact, results from the 2009 PADI Certified Diver Survey show that divers pursuing continuing education are 49 percent more likely to own a complete dive kit and 41 percent more likely to travel than those who remain at the open water diver certification level.”

The PADI Enriched Air Diver Course online follows the same format used in the highly successful PADI Open Water Diver Course online. Student divers enroll and complete all knowledge development online, including all components of the newly revised PADI Enriched Air Diver Manual and Enriched Air Diving video. Then they complete practical application sessions and open water training (which is still optional, but recommended) with a PADI Instructor at a PADI Dive Center or Resort. PADI Resorts and Retailers receive a revenue share from their PADI Office for each new Enriched Air Diver Course eLearner that affiliates with their business.

Not only is the course available online, the content itself has been revised so it is now based on using a dive computer. Although using the Recreational Dive Planner and DSAT Equivalent Air Depth and Oxygen tables remains an option, divers taking the revised specialty course now focus on learning how to properly set and use an enriched air capable dive computer to plan and execute their dives. The new Enriched Air Diver Manual, video and exam also fully support the dive computer option. To learn more visit the PADI Web site.

Historically BSAC was based on a branch system. Unlike other diver certification agencies, BSAC members enter a local community of divers. This means BSAC members are more active divers, and have greater allegiance towards other BSAC Branches and Dive Centres.

There are large numbers of active BSAC Members in the UK, Middle East, Japan, Korea and Thailand. By becoming a BSAC professional you’ll have unrestricted access to market your training and trips to these tens of thousands of BSAC Members, through channels not available to non-BSAC schools.

BSAC Training is the choice of the UK Armed forces, plus universities in the UK and Thailand. By becoming a BSAC professional you’ll have access to large markets not available to non-BSAC schools.

Many hundreds of thousands of divers have trained with the BSAC over more than 50 years.

Diver training has evolved but BSAC philosophy has always been to produce highly competent self-reliant divers with excellent knowledge and practical skills and with safety considerations uppermost.

And BSAC doesn’t stop at diver training. BSAC has a rounded curriculum encompassing all activities of diving and seamanship, such as boat handling, chart work and navigation, oxygen administration, engine maintenance, compressor operation, technical diving and more. The breadth and scope of BSAC Training is unrivaled.

If you want to be the best, you’ll want to be with BSAC.

Course Overview

The requirement for attending the BSAC Instructor crossover course is that you are an Instructor from any agency other than BSAC and working in a centre where BSAC courses are to be offered.  Knowledge of other diving agencies and how they work is useful as it will give you a greater understanding of how elements fit in across the different agencies.

It must be emphasized that the crossover course Instructor examiner, is not there to assess your instructing ability but rather to acquaint you with BSAC methodology and knowledge so that you will have the tools to be able to deliver BSAC diving courses; mainly Ocean Diver, Sports Diver and Dive Leader.

The course duration is 2-days and covers the following elements

6 Theory lessons
2 Practical lessons

The course starts with a series of orientation lessons which introduces the Instructor to, the BSAC and how it operates, Diver grades, BSAC dive tables, BSAC teaching methodology etc.

In the latter, there will be a series of theory classroom lessons. In these lessons, the Course Instructor will demonstrate a typical classroom presentation; showing you how to breakdown the lesson contents into small manageable steps; making complex topics simple to understand. You  then will have a chance to present a 15 -20 minute classroom presentation using the prescribed method
Practical Sessions

The first practical session will be run by the course instructor, who will demonstrate a set of skills and how to progressively break them down.  You may not have seen some of these skills as they may not be in your agency’s training programme.

The second practical session, which will normally take place on day 2, is for you to have a go at a mini-teach of a skill you have seen previously.  It is not uncommon for some of the ‘students’ to have not been in the water for a while and so it is a good refresher and ‘hands-on’ approach.

Typical skills which will be demonstrated in ‘Sheltered Water’ include:

1    Control Buoyant Lift (CBL - some dive agencies do this skill completely differently so a good skill to learn)
2    AS (Alternative Source) using different applications
3    DSMB Deployment (Not taught in other dive agencies)
4    Distance Line Laying    (relocating the shot line)

There will be an emphasis on breakdown of skill, close proximity; double demos where necessary, surface control using SMB.

At the end of Day 1 you will be asked to plan and prepare 2 lessons to give on Day 2 as a confirmation of the course.  The lessons will be short; about 10 minutes.

The types of lesson are outlined below and all will have been taught or demonstrated on Day 1 by the Course Instructor.

1.    CBL (Covered in Ocean Diver training)
2.    PADI CBL (Good for everyone to see a different way of doing it)
3.    DSMB Deployment (Covered in Sports Diver training)
4.    Line Laying (Covered in Sports Diver training)
5.    AS (Covered in Ocean Diver Training)
6.    Rescue Breathing
Materials

Each student will receive their own comprehensive course support pack which will include,

• The Diving Instructor Manual
• Course Instructor Manual CD Rom
• A set of BSAC Nitrox and Air Decompression tables
• Qualification Card
• 1 year Instructor fee
• A set of Ocean Diver - lesson prompt cards
Course Entry Level

All candidates must produce proof of their instructor qualification from one of the following diving agencies

• CMAS
• PADI
• NAUI
• SSI
2009 Promotion

On all 2009 Instructor crossover courses candidates will also receive training and instructor qualifications in two of the BSAC Skill Development Courses. These courses are

• BSAC Oxygen Administrator
• BSAC Nitrox Instructor