The PADI/DSAT Tec Rec blog reports the graduation of PADI Course Director and DSAT Tec Instructor Trainer Rod Abbotson who completed his TDI (technical diving International) CCR Instructor course for the Pelagian DCCCR.

The blog reports that Mark Elyatt, who held the world record deepest dive to 313m, visited Jordan this month to train Rob to be an instructor on the Pelagian Rebreather. The Pelagian Rebreather is manufactured in Koh Samui, Thailand by Big Blue Tech Samui former Manager Andy Fritz who is owner of Rebreather Lab.

TDI - Technical Diving International is the leading certification agency for all things relating to technical diving, rebreather diving and related courses like scuba technician certifications. Currently DSAT/PADI have only Semi-Closed rebreather courses in their technical curriculum but rumors swirling in the community  indicate a change to introduce a course based on the Poseidon Discovery rebreather in 2010.

More on this event can be found on the Tec Rec Blog and on the Dive Aqaba Website

On Friday December 11th Big Blue hosted a “Divemaster Challenge” celebrated the graduation of our most recent interns by creating a mock “pop idol” style event with games and events.

The graduates included Big Blue Tech’s Ash Dun who received his PADI Divemaster certification along with Yan and Karen who received her SSI DiveCon certification.

The theme behind the event was based on “pop idol” where the graduates have to compete for best dancer and singer while the judges decide what their prize or punishment should be.

Now that ash has officialy graduated (he received his actual divemaster rating over a month before) he can go on to better a brighter things.

These divemaster challenges replace the more common practice of “snorkel challenge” and are common around dive centers worldwide for various certification levels. Big Blue host divemaster challenges monthly.

Today Big Blue Tech says goodbye to Andy “Candy” Holdaway who is heading back to the United Kingdom after completing his technical diving internship.

Andy is good friends with James Thornton-Allan (Director of Technical Diving) from their time together in the Royal Marine Commandos and started his internship on July 16th commemorating his 3rd trip to Koh Tao over the past few years.

Andy’s presence was felt immediately as a friendly and outgoing person and quickly was accepted both professionally and socially.

Andy’s initial goal was to complete his PADI Divemaster course but quickly found himself in love with deep as he cruised through his technical training. His training was completed when he was awarded the TDI Technical Divemaster certification.

Andy plans to return in December to tackle his technical diving instructor course and start working for Big Blue Tech. Although we’ll miss Andy, we’re sure he’ll soon find himself looking for the first flight back once he get’s to sunny old england in november.

Below is a collection of pictures from andy’s time here.

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

The TDI Advanced Nitrox course is designed to train the divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for utilizing Enriched air nitrox through to one hundred (100%) percent oxygen for dives not requiring decompression To a depth of forty (40) msw, one hundred thirty (130) fsw.

The popularity of this course can further be illustrated with the recent shift in PADI’s technical diving arm DSAT to adopt the TDI style of courses which is to be released September 1st.

The course in itself gives the student many great new abilities as a diver. Of those include certification to 40m, above 40% nitrox use and the ability to dive in technical diving gear.

Yesterday Big Blue Tech completed such a course for Andy Holdaway , Panos Iosifoglo and Jean-Louis Rocheron. This course was also assited by Christos Kardana who was documenting the event with his under water camera.

The students excelled at the new gear and learning that extra buoyancy skills was introduced to help improve their confidence in the gear, these skills are typically found in the TDI Intro to Tech or GUE Foundations courses. This is essential for Panos and Andy who are continuing on to their TDI Cavern Course in a few days and later to more progressive technical diving course, they will use their new certification diving with twin tanks in the fresh water caves of Khao Sok National Park. Jean-Louis benefited from the extra skills and time to practice because he returns to work in France and might not have much time to dive again until next holiday.

Below are some pictures of the course.

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.

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.

Heeding customer feedback and finally bowing to market pressures, PADI’s DSAT technical diving arm is preparing an overhaul of its TecRec Deep and Trimix courses that will lower the entry barriers to the course and give instructors more flexibility.

Although final course outlines have not been finalized, the Tec Deep course will be broken into three parts, tentatively called “Tec 40,” “Tec 45″ and “Tec 50,” signifying the depth in meters students will be certified to dive. The current Tec Trimix course will be similarly broken into two parts, dubbed “Trimix 65″ and “Trimix 75.” DSAT hopes to introduce the courses by the end of the year.

Speaking at DSAT’s forum in Pattaya, Thailand June 21, PADI Instructor Examiner and TecRec Instructor Trainer George Wegmann stressed that the final look of the revamped TecRec program has not been finalized, but that DSAT now had a “strong direction” for 2009. The organization formed the basis for the tiered technical program from feedback at previous DSAT roundtables in Australia and the U.S. While still soliciting input from PADI professionals, the agency is now traveling around the world with its “Essential Change ‘09″ presentation…..Continued

On June 1st we will be conducting our signature Gas Blender - Compressor Operator course.

Certification: DSAT Gas Blender / PADI Distinctive Compressor Operator

The course will cover the following.

- Compressor Use
- Compressor Operation
- Air Filling Methods
- Oxygen Cleaning
- Continuous Flow Blending
- Partial Pressure Blending
- Cylinder Visual Inspection
- Oxygen Handling

This is a 3 day course where you will operate a compressor for a total of 6 hours (3 air and 3 nitrox). This is a crucial element missing from the course as many learn the theory but don’t get enough hands on experience. At Big Blue Tech we fill that gap with our in house gas compressing station.

Manual and certification included. Contact us for course price and availability.

April proved to be our busiest month with our biggest cavern course to date with 10 people on a 5 day exploration of the caves and cavers, an enrollment of 3 technical diving students at different stages progressing on to Trimix diving on the west coast and videography internships later. The arrival of new staff, Cory Lewis, to keep up with our nitrox distribution to the local diving community. All during this we had the arrival of “Golden Week” where 50 Japanese customers arrive for 3 weeks of diving on our boats, the overhall of all our compressors (7), Thai New Year, an electricity crisis and the renovation of the tech equipment room.

Unfortunately a few of our tech students hit a bit of trouble, Christos is still out of the water with some awful spider bite infection he got for passing out in the bushes in Khao Sok and John who picked up an ear infection for diving 5 times a day. However, this leaves room for some time off, with current courses on hold and no more planned until a CCR Megaladon Course in the end of May we’ve all decided to do some fun diving, relaxing, working on our tan and enjoying the island we all came here for.

Elsewhere on the island things have been busy. Mv Trident have been in and out of the harbour all month on technical wreck diving trips, PADI gave a discussion about how DSAT are changing their technical courses and another successful group of new instructors graduated from several different schools on the island.

We’ve got some pictures of Cory’s Tech course, he’s about 1/3 the way though and is only certified to dive in tech gear without anything too fancy. He’ll be joining the rest of the lads in mid May.

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.

This is an automated news update. It was written on the 23rd of October as we are away at sea wreck diving returning on the 27th.

New website and new Tech Features!

Tec Deep Diver

The DSAT Tec Deep Diver Course

The DSAT Tec Deep Diver course takes you past recreational diving and immerses you in the world of technical diving.

What You Learn

You learn about and understand the hazards and risks involved in technical diving, as well as how to prepare for and handle reasonable foreseeable technical diving emergencies.

You also learn how to plan, conduct and manage

• Gas-switch extended no-decompression dives
• Decompression dives
• Accelerated decompression dives using air and enriched air to a depth of 50 metres /165 feet.

Get College Credit

You may be able to earn college credit for the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course.

The Scuba Gear You Use

You use technical scuba diving equipment

The Learning Materials You Need

When you’re ready to go where few divers have gone before: begin by calling your Tec Instructor and thoroughly reviewing the Tec Deep course materials. The Tec Deep Diver crewpak will introduce you to Tec Diving lingo, emergency procedures, decompression and stage cylinder handling, and gas planning. The crewpak includes a manual, dive planning checklist and dive planning slate. The optional Equipment Set-up and Key Skills video on DVD is a great tool to help you practice at home in between your tec diving adventures.

To purchase this product, contact your local PADI Instructor, dive shop or resort.

Prerequisites

You must:

• Be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another organization)
• Be a PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another organization)
• Be a PADI Enriched Air Diver (or qualifying certification from another organization)
• Be a PADI Deep Diver (or qualifying certification from another organization)
• Have a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which
  · 20 dives must be enriched air dives
  · 25 dives must be deeper than 18 metres/60 feet
  · at least 15 dives must be deeper than 30 metres/100 feet
• Be at least 18 years old

Today Big Blue Tech accommodated 8 divers on the Trident exploring the Unicorn Wreck. Joining us were 8 certified fun divers and 3 Big Blue Staff Emily, Anna and Ricky who were working with PADI Course Director Jamie Macleod to receive their PADI Wreck Specialty Instructor Rating.

You can read more at www.techthailand.com and www.bigbluediving.com

The diving was superb, limited visibility to about 10m below the thermocline and the surface was calm, hot and sunny.

After 2 great dives the fridge was unlocked and the bar was open. Sailing back to Koh Tao with a cold beer in one hand and a sense of accomplishment in the other.

Electronic Recreational Dive Planner for Multilevel Dive Planning

Features
The eRDPML is the next generation electronic dive planner. Like its predecessor the eRDP, the new eRDPML is not a dive computer but an electronic dive table that allows the user to plan single level and multilevel dives. While the first generation eRDP provided the same information as the Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) table, the eRDPML provides the same information as The Wheel, in an electronic format. The eRDPML helps maximize bottom time by allowing dive planning in two-metre/fivefoot increments.

The eRDPML has a robust design that includes a flip cover to protect the unit when not in use. The general rules and dive planning abbreviations (NDL, ANDL, ML, etc.) are printed on the inside of the flip cover, which provides easy access to information. Like the previous eRDP, the eRDPML is designed solely for use on the surface — It’s WaterProof! it’s water resistant, not waterproof. (why not!!!!?!?!?)

The eRDPML allows you to select either metric or imperial for dive planning and offers the same three modes as before:

Dive Planning – allows you to plan up to five consecutive single depth dives or two- to three-level multilevel dives (similar to The Wheel).
Surface Interval – for finding minimum surface interval between dives
Maximum Depth – for calculating the maximum allowable depth for a given time
The same general rules and guidelines that apply when using The Wheel also apply when using the eRDPML. Like the eRDP, the eRDPML will prompt you to use some of these rules. For example:

Reminding you when a safety stop is required
Warning you when your planned dive is beyond the RDP limits
Reminding you when Special Rules for Multiple Dives (WX and YZ rules) apply
Warning you when your next planned level in a multilevel dive exceeds the multilevel ascent limit (Exceeds ML Ascent Limit)
Incorporating eRDPML in your diver courses
Because the eRDPML replaces the original eRDP and The Wheel, you can use it in any PADI course to plan either single level or multilevel dives. Though your PADI Office will no longer distribute The Wheel or the original eRDP, you may continue to use them in your diver-level courses until your stock is used up.

Beginning 1 January 2009, PADI Divemaster candidates will be required to have and be competent in the use of the eRDPML in addition to the RDP table version.

Now if only they’d make a little hand held technical dive planner… probably not waterproof either.