SSI XR Technical Extended Range (Trimix Optional)
SSI XR Technical Extended Range at a glance
- SSI XR Technical Extended Range at a glance:
- Prerequisites
Have logged at least:
• 70 total dives
• 20 dives deeper than 30 meters
• 10 dives requiring staged decompression with at least one (1) gas switch (not including training dives)
Have at least one (1) of the following SSI certifications or an equivalent from a recognized training agency:
• Extended Range
• Full Cave Diving
• Technical Wreck Diving - online learning
- 5 days -1 Confined & 6 Open water dives
- All Course Equipment (see FAQS), Nitrox / O2 and diving included!
- Additional charge for Helium
So now you’re comfortable at the SSI XR Extended Range level and you’ve gained some experience it’s time to look at the SSI XR Technical Extended Range Course. This course will need you to be at the top of your game as we add another layer of skills and an additional tank to your configuration, unlimited deco and two deco stages will challenge you but the extra procedures will make it all worthwhile. Getting to explore more advanced dive sites is a privilege earned during the SSI XR courses, shipwrecks, caves, and deeper open water dives mean decompression stops.
Taking you to 50m on air the SSI XR Technical Extended Range Course can also be taken using TRIMIX (Oxygen, Helium & Nitrogen) to offset narcosis with students on TRIMIX certifying to 60m.
SSI XR Technical Extended Range gallery
Itinerary
Your SSI XR Technical Extended Range course starts with meeting your Big Blue Tech Instructor, grabbing a coffee from our beachside restaurant and settling in for the morning, initially we complete paperwork and commence Instructor lead academics which will be conducted every morning, along with a review of your online learning. Topics covered include History of deep air diving, Physics/gas law review with practical applications, Physiology, decompression options, Equipment considerations, dive planning and procedures.
Following a lunch break we head out up to our pool for a practical training session in either twinset or sidemount configuration. Skills to be conducted whilst maintaining buoyancy and trim in a fixed column of water include gas switching between back gas, Eanx50 and 100% O2, blind ascents, tired diver tow, breath-hold swim, unconscious diver rescue along with recapping all SSI XR Extended Range course diver skills
Then its back to the restaurant for a debrief whilst enjoying a cold drink and watching the sunrise
With coffee in hand and enjoying the beach view, your instructor will continue academics and make any equipment adjustments required from the previous day. Then its time to analyses gases, label tanks and after lunch head out for your first 2 dives.
This afternoon will focus on mastering the skills conducted in the pool session the previous day, with great emphasis on team led gas switches, rescue scenarios and blind ascents
Back to land and with a cold drink in hand a debrief of the afternoon’s activities will be conducted.
Today’s morning activities will focus on land drills, buddy checks, team SMB deployment and gas switching, rescue and toxed / unconscious diver drills. Along with a continued review of academics, a decompression dive greater than 30m will be planned.
After lunch it is out on the boat for dives 3 and 4.
These dives will be conducted at a depth greater than 30m and skill mastery must be shown including appropriate responses to equipment failure, safe team led gas switches and execution of a decompression ascent.
As always back on land sunsets are admired whilst your debrief is conducted.
All online academics should now be completed and will be reviewed and any incorrect answers analysed and discussed. Final land drills will be conducted, gas analysed, tanks labelled, and your deep decompression dives planned.
This afternoon the wait will be over and you will experience 2 deep decompression dives between 40 – 50m (60m on Trimix) dependant on conditions whilst showing mastery of the previous 3 days of training.
Back on land after a debrief from your instructor you can reflect on your SSI XR Technical Extended Range course and after successful completion have a celebratory beer while watching the sunset.
This is a flexible day that can be utilised as required e.g. an additional training day may be required after day 2 or 3 prior to your decompression dives. If however the course has been successfully completed in 4 days. 2 fun deco dives can be taken with one of our Technical instructors.
FAQs
What can I expect to learn?
The SSI Technical Extended Range program will provide divers with the training necessary to independently plan and conduct two-gas switch, multiple-stop decompression dives to depths of up to 60 meters, using specialized diving equipment and procedures with an equally-qualified dive buddy. Some of the subjects we cover are listed below
- Gas planning
- O2 Exposure calculations
- EAD & END planning
- Switching Deco to Deco
- Equipment selection and configuration
- Emergency ascents
Will I be able to dive this certification with Big Blue Tech after the course?
Absolutely, We encourage all of our newly certified students to get back in the water and enjoy their new certifications. With a healthy number of Technical divers on the staff and a dedicated Tech boat, we offer unequaled Tech fun diving opportunities here on Koh Tao.
What's included (or not) in the course?
Included
- All materials and certification costs on successful completion
- Sidemount or Twinset (Regs, Harness & Tanks)
- Fins (Students are required to have boots if they wish to use our open heeled tech fins)
- Exposure suit
- Back up mask / light / bottom timer / cutting device
- SMB and primary line
Not Included – Divers taking a course at this level should have some of their own primary equipment (any of which can be purchased on arrival):
- Primary Mask
- Primary Dive computer
- Wrist slate
- Boots (If you wish to use our open heeled tech fins)
- Compass
- Primary cutting device
SSI StandardsOK, let's do this... How do I book?
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