Technical Diver Progression

Part one

Advanced Nitrox

Advanced Nitrox  is an entry level Technical diving course and is most commonly taught in conjunction with the  Decompression procedures course, but can be taken as a stand alone  class.  The TDI Advanced Nitrox certification allows a diver to utilize breathing gases containing 21% – 100% oxygen. During this course, we will cover the operational procedures of using high oxygen content gasses for diving as well as the theory behind those procedures.

This course lays the foundation for open water Technical diving by providing the knowledge needed to use high oxygen content decompression gasses.  The use of decompression gasses is arguably one of the most effective tools for extending dive limits beyond the recreational level, but it also increases risk.  Below is a list of some of the skills covered during the course,  both in water and in classroom.

• Analyzing and labeling all cylinders
• Proper gas switch protocols
• Buoyancy control while managing decompression cylinders
• Emergency procedures (loss of deco gas, out of gas scenarios)
• Simulated decompression stops
• Oxygen Toxicity prevention
• Decompression cylinder rigging and use
• Selecting a decompression gas
• Decompression cylinder sizing
• Calculating CNS and Pulmonary Oxygen Toxicity
• Gas Narcosis

The Advanced Nitrox course is a critical stepping stone to technical diving due to the added risk and complexity of introducing high Oxygen gasses into deep diving.  The importance of understanding the theory and mastering the in -water skills can not be overstated.  Much of this course is theoretical and involves mathematical calculations.  Fortunately, with modern dive computers and dive planning software, there is not much math involved post course when executing dives.

If you are interested in this course and would like more information , click here to contact me.  I’m always happy to discuss course details and help you achieve your diving goals.