Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures

Sometimes, making the leap into the world of technical diving and executing skills and techniques not found in recreational diving can prove a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Here at Big Blue Diving, we specialize in the foundational courses that are so important to be a safe and competent technical diver.  And your first step into real technical diving is the TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures courses.

The TDI Advanced Nitrox course and the TDI Decompression procedures course are very often completed together and they form the foundation of all other technical courses.  After completing these two courses and getting some additional experience you’ll be ready to move on to additional levels of technical diving.

The TDI Advanced Nitrox course certifies divers to use enriched air nitrox from EAN21 through to EAN100 within your current certification level to a maximum depth of 40 meters/120 feet, during dives that do not require staged decompression.  Advanced Nitrox is also a requirement for anyone looking to continue on to CCR training.

Advanced Nitrox picks up where the Nitrox speciality course leaves off and offers a more in-depth look at diving with Nitrox. You’ll expand on the physics and physiology relating to diving with gas mixes containing more than 40% oxygen, review gas planning, dive tables, dive computers, oxygen limitations, and nitrogen limitations. You’ll also review equipment considerations, cylinder labelling, analyzing nitrox mixtures, gas blending procedures, and oxygen service ratings to using gases with more than 40% oxygen.

On the Decompression Procedures course you can expect to learn about decompression gas choices, tables vs. personal computers, emergency and contingency planning, equipment selection, pre-dive checks and drills, stress analysis and mitigation, decompression schedules, gas switching, team awareness, and communication, SMB/lift bag deployment, proper trim and fining techniques, emergency procedures, and equipment considerations.

You must be 18 years old, be an advanced diver with Nitrox speciality and have a minimum of 50 logged dives to register for the TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures courses.

Big Blue Tech will provide all equipment and materials necessary to complete the Decompression Procedures course. However, at this level, divers are expected to have a primary mask, computer, and technical wrist slates. These items can also be rented for the entire course at a minimal cost.

The schedule for the TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures courses usually looks like this.

Day 1

8:30-12:00

You’ll meet your instructor at our dedicated tech shack, and begin with some course academics. You’ll also start to go through the special equipment considerations for this new type of diving.

12:45-17:00

You’ll spend the afternoon in a confined water environment practising and perfecting the skills you’ll need for enriched air and decompression diving.

Day 2

9:00-12:00

On the morning of day two, you’ll be introduced to the concept of decompression theory and how it changes how you approach a dive.  You’ll also be introduced to the concept of a START drill; a crucial aspect of decompression diving.

12:45-17:00

In the afternoon, you’ll head out on our big boat and you’ll do dives one and two for the course to start practising your new skills in a real environment.

Day 3

9:00-12:00

Day three starts with some learning about human physiology and how breathing different gas mixtures at various depths can affect the human body.  You’ll also start to learn about the different communication methods that technical divers use to speak to each other underwater.

12:45-17:00

In the afternoon, you’ll hang out in the lounge area at Blue Water running some simulated decompression drills.  We’re going to throw problems at you so that you can start to develop your problem-solving skills in a safe environment.

Day 4

9:00-12:00

Day four is when you really start to put all the pieces of the two courses together.  You’ll spend the morning at Blue Water with your instructor going through some detailed dive planning for dives that you’ll execute that afternoon.

12:45-17:00

You’ll head out on our dedicated tech boat to complete the two decompression dives that you planned that morning.  Your instructor will test your skills underwater, slowly increasing your stress load tolerance to make you a better technical diver.

Day 5

9:00-12:00

Day 5 is generally a duplicate of day four.  Once again, you’ll spend the morning with your instructor planning your afternoon decompression dives in detail.

12:45-17:00

You’ll head out on our dedicated tech boat again to complete the two decompression dives that you planned that morning.  Your instructor will again test your skills underwater and throw problems at you so that you can use your new knowledge in a real-life diving situation.

Don’t forget! Because of the extra nitrogen your body builds up while scuba diving, you cannot fly within 24hrs of your last dive.

Are you fit to dive?

Scuba diving is an activity that requires a certain level of physical health. Read this medical questionnaire. If you can answer yes to any of the questions you may require medical clearance to enrol in a diving course. Contact us for more information.