Big Blue Tech and BSAC Thailand completed Skill Development Courses for Ash Dunn and Mark Slinn during a workshop in Koh Tao on the 23rd of December to ehnace their abilities as scuba diving instructors.

A SDC is a course that teached instructors the ability to deliver different or signature courses. For example, a nitrox course could be considered a SDC because it delivers a specific skill set rather then enhancing day to day diver skills.

BSAC Thailand took Mark and Ash through the  BSAC Oxygen Administrator Instructor and BSAC Compressor Operator Instructor SDC during the day long workshop. During this time the students had to demonstrate their overall knowledge and ability in both disciplines to the instructor examiner.

After a written and practical exam they were issued their certification cards and received authority to begin teaching the courses.

Andy Cavell, our other intern, missed this event because he was teaching a PADI Deep and Nitrox Specialty Course. He will complete this workshop on the 29th of December.

The rest of the SDC will be earned in February with titles such as Gas Blender Instructor, Mixed Gas Diver Instructor and various other accompanying disciplines like service technician skills.

For more information or to attend our next cross-over, sdc workshop or instructor course please contact us or www.bsacthailand.com

Today Mark Slinn (intern) and Andy Cavell (intern) completed their TDI O2 Service Technician Course. This would be the most recent service and technician related course after completing their TDI Visual Inspections course last week.

The o2 Service Technician builds on servicing regulators and cylinders but to a “oxygen clean” level. The students began by stripping and cleaning an Scubapro Mk2 1st stage and R295 Second stage and cleaning it removing any source of hydrocarbons. After a full clean and inspection the regulators we re assembled and tested. After full assembly the regulators were marked and recorded to be used in future training when breathing oxygen underwater. You can read more about this unique course here.

As the internship progresses the interns will be required to attain the SDI Divemaster certification and later the TDI Technical Divemaster certification. Since they are already PADI Divemasters all they had to do was cross over their skills and fill the gaps in the training.

One of these gaps is the most unpleasant swim tests and “surface recovery” or “ditch and don” exercise. The swim test are similar to other organizations with slight differences and the ditch and don exercise is rarely in a divemaster program in any official capacity (although many introduce it). At lunch we hit the water to cover these skills and stamina tests. The ditch and don is described as sinking your scuba gear, freediving down to it and assembling it underwater in about 3m. There are more steps to it but that’s the general description.

All of them did really well except Mark. Mark is a former soldier from the Parachute Regiment and is considered rather tough, however a cold got in his way and he couldn’t get down. He spent the remainder of the day blowing his nose and generally moaning on the surface with the instructor. He’ll get another chance in a few days.

In the afternoon the students cleaned their lean decompression mix cylinder while Ash cleaned twin set in preparation for our epic diving adventure in January. Once the practical work was finished the students sat a written exam and put all the tools away to prepare for the TDI Compressor Operator Course (distinctive) tomorrow.

Today Mark Slinn (intern), Andy Cavell (intern) and Ash Dunn (staff) attended a DAN (Divers Alert Network) O2 (oxygen) provider course. The course was conducted by the experienced dive medic technician and DAN O2 Provider Instructor Steve Reid. Steve took a break from his busy schedule as the owner of the new resort Sea View Koh Tao to conduct the course for Big Blue Tech and other diving schools in the area.

The course is described as:

DAN´s Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Provider Course was designed to fill the void in oxygen first aid training available for the general diving public.

This course represents entry level training designed to educate the general diving (and qualified non-diving) public in recognizing possible dive related injuries and providing emergency oxygen first aid while activating the local emergency medical services (EMS) and/or arranging for evacuation to the nearest available medical facility.

In DAN´s most recent dive accident record, less than 33% of injured divers received emergency oxygen in the field. Few of those received oxygen concentrations approaching the recommended 100%. DAN and all major diving instructional agencies recommend that all divers be qualified to provide 100% oxygen in the field to those injured in a dive accident.

For countries like Australia, this course is required for all scuba diving professionals. For us on Koh Tao, this course is included and required for all staff and internship candidates.

The course was completed using theoretical examples, study of local and international law and practical assembly and administration of oxygen and oxygen related equipment.

This would be the perfect course leading up to their O2 Equipment Service Technician Course on the following day.

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.

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

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.

Today began the slow and steady process of creating Compressor Operators and Gas Blenders for Dive Master Interns Corey, Colin and Simon.

Today’s main goal was to get them familiar with the basics of compressed air systems including cylinder visual inspection, regulator servicing and compressor operator whch is above and beyond the standard gas blender course.

The morning started out by emptying 3 of the twin sets for cleaning and servicing. The lads stripped every part down, cleaned it in ultrasonic fluid and inspected it for wear and tear. The cylinders had a bit of build up around the neck but nothing to worry about. The cylinders were re-asembeled ready for filling tomorrow during the air compressor portion.

Unfortunately the first aid kit had to be broken out a few times as corey kept slipping off the wrenches and slicing his knuckles. Only one way to learn.

While this was going on, Oskar was replacing the bungees on some OMS wings getting the extra gear ready for high season.

We even got a Suunto Favor working, we found sitting at 30m at a dive site. Some before and after servicing pictures.

Below are some pictures from today, tomorrow we’ll be on the boat discovering the benefits to twin compressors, air bank systems, compressor theory and compressor maintenance.