Technical Divers explore further inside the ‘Sea Chart 1′ shipwreck

Khao Lak, Thailand - Big Blue Tech continues their exploration of the ‘Sea Chart 1′ shipwreck off the shore of Khao Lak in Thailand. The dives conduced today were to begin penetration of the inside of the shipwreck including it’s engine room, wheel house, stern hold and bow compartment. These penetrations were conducted in groups with exterior support and conducted over 2 technical dives.

Penetration of the ‘Sea Chart 1′ shipwreck is complicated by the unstable cargo of large hard wood logs which are held in place by steel cable which is slowly rusting and will eventually break under the immense weight applied by the sideways position of the boat.  While many logs have spilled out into the sand, many remain applying a great deal of pressure which restricts penetration to only a few areas.

Additionally the current and visibility improved today alowing further exploration outside the wreck which allowed the team to look at the propellers and hull.

During our dives we found signs that a fire might of contributed to the sinking. Although no actual fire damage could be seen there was fire fighting equipment in use in some areas including fire blankets and a full face mask or BA set used to fight fires. As more dives are conducted more information is revealed about this wreck and it’s condition.

Today Big Blue Tech started a Full Face Mask course on Koh Tao. The Full Face Mask course from TDI is designed to get divers comfortable using a full face mask and understanding the benefits and advantages. The divers who joined the course was Ash Dunn (staff) and Mark Slinn (Intern). Andy Cavell was supposed to join us but instead took his girlfriend fun diving in the afternoon and then he’s leaving to take her back to Bangkok.

The full face mask we use for training is the AGA Divator mask. These masks are the most popular choice of full face mask for public safety divers around the world. One of them came from a dive in the Canadian navy who was kind enough to bring it to Thailand for us.

These masks are perfect for cold water, television or film work, low visibility or chemically sensitive water. The mask covers your entire face allowing you to breathe through your nose or mouth, additionally it helps people who have a cold or any kind of dental, nose or eye problems.

While we were working in shallow water getting used to the skill of removing and replacing the mask other staff were busy loading up for the afternoon of diving and even Emily (big blue staff) came by to give the mask a try.

In the afternoon the staff and interns were busy cleaning the Apeks regulators (xtx 200 series with environmental series) and assembling new equipment recently purchased for the upcoming busy season.

Although today is Thursday, we’ll be closing for a long weekend as Andy Cavell is away in Bangkok, Mark moves into a new flat and Ash is celebrating his Divemaster Graduation (pictures coming).

Big Blue Tech starts again on Monday with the TDI Intro To Tech and Advanced Nitrox Course followed by a trip to Khao Sok National Park for a TDI Cavern Course just before Christmas break.

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.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Guardian Full-Face Masks

Units: About 900

Manufacturer: Undersea Systems International Inc., dba Ocean Technology Systems, of Santa Ana, Calif.

Hazard: If significant pressure is applied vertically to the top and bottom of the visor clamp, the clear plastic visor may dislodge causing the mask to flood.

Incidents/Injuries: Ocean Technology Systems has received three reports of visors dislodging. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the Guardian full-face mask which is a scuba diving mask that incorporates the second stage regulator into the mask allowing it to cover the diver’s full face.

Sold by: Direct sales and diving equipment retailers nationwide from March 2009 through August 2009 for $800.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the diving masks and contact Ocean Technology Systems to receive a free repair. Ocean Technology Systems is providing consumers stainless steel clamps to secure the plastic visor.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ocean Technology Systems toll-free at (877) 270-1984 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.otscomm.com. Consumers also can email the firm at OTSrecall@otscomm.com

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

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

Diving with a full face mask has many advantages. It protects the diver from cold, increases communication, protection from environmental hazards and most importantly you can chew gum and dive at the same time.

For our tropical environments there’s no real point in wearing one unless you dive on a rebreather or in water recompression. But it is a lot of fun for the first time. One of the more enjoyable points is you can talk clearly if you but the mask beside someones head. With the built in communications systems you can also use the microphone.

The most challenging part of the course is the removal and replacement of the mask, the minute the seal is broken it purges making it a positive pressure system. This means when you remove it you have a good chance of loosing a lot of air until it’s under control.

In the end you use a lot more air than normal and it takes a long time to get used to it. But for people with recent oral or nose injuries they can continue diving without pressure in that area.