ITDA Group International

1. ITDA Group International Trimix Training ITDA International Technical Diving Agency - UK

2. Entry Level TrimixTrimix DiverAdvanced Trimix

3. Entry Level TrimixDiver • Prerequisites: • Advanced Nitrox or Ntech Gold, Minimum of 50 logged dives, for Entry Level 20 dives deeper than 27msw or Equivalent experience of Nitrox certification with 100+ logged dives, 25 dives deeper than 30msw • Manuals • ITDA Entry Level Trimix Workbook • ITDA Trimix Diver Manual • ITDA Technical Logbook

4. Trimix Diver Program • Complete all theory materials and Quizzes • Confined water session Prior to OW dives • Five open water dives: • Two dives must be between 40 meters and 55 meters) • No depth increases between dives greater than 10msw. • Assessment and Evaluation with Workbook and written Quiz.

5. Normoxic Trimix DiverCourse Content • Must complete the Technical Diver and Normoxic Trimix Diver Modules of the Student Workbook • Confined Water Session prior to OW dives • Open Water dives - total of 5 • The dives more shallow than 120 feet may us either air or EANx or Trimix with a FO2 at or greater than 21% • Three dives on a Trimix mixture; deeper than 130 feet (39 meters) • One dive to a least 170 feet (51 meters)) • No dives deeper than 200 feet (60 meters • No depth increases between dives greater than 33 feet (10 meters)Written Exam

6. Certification • Training is purchased upon enrollment in an ITDA course • Certification is earned by the student demonstrating adequate skill, knowledge and attitude suitable for the qualification • Completion of a program signifies one has the foundation to develop into a more skilled diver - It does not imply one is a master of the type ofdiving the course is about

7. TECHNICAL DIVER A Part of The International Technical Diving Agency Trimix Entry Level Program Module 1

8. EQUIPMENT LIFE SUPPORT

9. Equipment Redundancy • Primaryequipment • Redundancy means carry back-up equipment • Any equipment failure that may endanger life must be backed-up • Secondary equipment • Lights • Net/line cutters • Signaling buoy • EPIRB • Strobes • On non-essential equipment - Reduce, Reduce, Reduce

10. Cylinders • Manifolded double cylinder set-up • with sufficient gas capacity to complete bottom time requirements • DIN fittings recommended • Isolator valve recommended • Correctly labeled for breathing gas • Two primary regulators • One with an 5 + foot (1.5 + meter) second stage hose • Delayed surface marker buoy and reel (OW) • All diving equipment suitable for the environment

11. EquipmentCylinder Labeling Primary Cylinders Stage Cylinders Content Tape Decal Contents Decal CAUTION! BREATHING MEDIA OTHER THAN AIR Maximum M Operating I Depth X _________________ Date____/____/____ ITDA, Inc. Initials _______ CAUTION! BREATHING MEDIA OTHER THAN AIR Maximum M Operating I Depth X _________________ Date____/____/____ ITDA, Inc. Initials _______ Nitrox Caution Breathing Gas Other MOD Decal MOD 30 VIP Decal *Stage Cylinders have option of either MOD or Caution Decal

12. Stage Cylinders • Neatly configured • Adequate volume for planned use • Correctly marked/labeled • Neck and base clips • DIN pillar valves recommended • A decompression regulator that is oxygen service rated with some form of mouth piece cover

13. Cylinder Labeling Nitrox Stage Cylinders Content Tape Decal Contents Decal CAUTION! BREATHING MEDIA OTHER THAN AIR Maximum M Operating I Depth X _________________ Date____/____/____ ITDA, Inc. Initials _______ CAUTION! BREATHING MEDIA OTHER THAN AIR Maximum M Operating I Depth X _________________ Date____/____/____ ITDA, Inc. Initials _______ Nitrox Nitrox MOD Decal Caution Breathing Gas Other MOD 30 VIP Decal

14. Cylinder Labeling Decompression Cylinders Greater than 49% Greater than 89% CAUTION! BREATHING MEDIA OTHER THAN AIR Maximum M Operating I Depth X _________________ Date____/____/____ ITDA, Inc. Initials _______ (Recommended) CAUTION! BREATHING MEDIA OTHER THAN AIR Maximum M Operating I Depth X _________________ Date____/____/____ ITDA, Inc. Initials _______ Content Tape Decal Contents Decal Oxygen DECO MIX MOD6m MOD MOD Decal 18 VIP Decal

15. Diving Suits • Cold water - use of dry suits • Membrane/crushed neoprene suits are best due to minimum buoyancy loss • Close fitting to reduce drag • Abrasion resistant • Undersuits • Thinsulate is best • Good thermal protection even when wet • Low bulk • Argon • Warm water - use of wet suits

16. Buoyancy Devices • Backmounted BC (wings ) • If diving wet and the configuration is negative without a BC redundant wings are required • surface marker buoys and other auxiliary flotation are not considered as redundant or bailout options • Inflator hoses should be compatible

17. Depth, Dive Timers and Decompression tables • Digital dive timers • Always carry two, more is not needed • Dive computers with gas switching capability are recommended • Deco tables should always be carried • Backup tables recommended • Slates used for communication

18. Breathing From The Long Hose • Long hose breathing is simple to configure • It is easy to hand off • It ensures a functioning regulator is given to a stressed diver • In theory an out of air diver will go for the regulator in the mouth

19. Breathing From The Short Hose • Short hose ensures the control diver has a working system, thus it will not produce two stressed divers in the event of a problem • It is desirable as a monitor of valve status • Many modern day divers have been trained to go for the alternate regulator not the one in the mouth • Some prefer breathing short hose due to risk of contagious diseases

20. Primary Lights • Hand carried • Cylinder-mounted • Back-plate/backpack mounted • Butt-mounted • Waist/hip-mounted

21. Back-up Lights • Cylinder Mounted • Exposure suit utility pockets • Mask • Chest Strap • Pocket on waist strap • Shoulder Harness • Next to or attached to backplate /pack

22. Reel Storage • Cylinder Storage: A greater potential for loss of reel and entanglement • Crotch Strap: Low drag area with ease of deployment • Waist D-Ring Storage:Ideal location with the least drag and entanglement probability • Shoulder Strap D-Rings: The least desirable, creates more drag and entanglement possibilities

23. Lift Bag Storage • Waist Strap:Presents dangles and an un-clean configuration • Between Cylinders: Used with large uplines • Pockets:Used with smaller liftbags and safety sausages • Side of Cylinders: Easy to lose the bag • Base of Backplate/Backpack: The most universal accepted. Features ease of access and replacement, low drag and virtually zero entanglement • Side of Backplate/Backpack: It is in an out of way location and is still easy to retrieve - it cannot be replacedNote!Lift bags are not used in cave diving

24. Long Hose Storage • Cylinder storage: • Bungie around cylinder • Manifold storage: • Stored at base of manifold • Backplate/Backpack Storage: • Stored along side of backplate/backpack • Wrapped storage: • Hose goes under arm and light canister or waist strap and then across body with 1/4 turn around neck

25. Stage Cylinder Rigging • Rigged with fixed neck D-rings • Rigged with open end neck D-rings • Rigged by metal or plastic hose clamp at neck • Rigged by tying around neck • Travel rigging • Correctly labeled

26. Determining The Logic Of Your Configuration • Item location logic and advantage/disadvantage: • Regulator • Hose breathed from • Hose storage • Backplate or backpack rigging • Wings • Lights • Back-up lights • SMB • Other

27. Configuration Survey • From a survey of ITDA instructors in 2007 • 78% breath from the long hose • 84% connect the long hose to the right post to prevent roll off • 71% use a back plate 29% soft pack • 56% use a quick release on the shoulder • 77% attach BC inflator hose to the regulator on the left post again to warn of roll off • 84% waist mount (hip) canister light on right side

28. Configuration Survey • Survey continued • 92% use a single SPG vs. a console • 97% use wrist mounted depth gauge /timer device • 91% use a dive computer • 90% attach SPG to BCD • 92% do not think there should be a single type of configuration required • 97% prefer steel cylinders as doubles • 51% like steel stages

29. Summary • The key component in a life support system is a knowledgeable, thinking diver • Equipment must be configured in a streamlined, safe and comfortable manner • Equipment needs to be configured to suit the style of diving performed • Redundancy as needed - avoid over redundancy

30. Dive andOperational PlanningDiving Safely

31. Dive PlanningPrimary Points • Information gathering • Group planning • Self preparation • In-water update

32. Dive PlanningInformation Gathering • Establish dive objectives • Discovery of data pertinent to dive site • Determine equipment needs • Provide overview of risk associated with the dive • Remain within abilities of the least capable diver • Consider fitness level of divers

33. Dive PlanningPersonal Planning • Risk analysis • Personal comfort • Individual what ifs • Responsibility • Personal gas management

34. Dive PlanningRisk Management/“What ifs” Risk Benefit Action Value List all risk(s) known and complete evaluation Repeat the same process dealing with all “what ifs”

35. Responsibility • Be self-sufficient • Be dependable • Be aware • Remain sharp on self and buddy rescue • Solve problems on site • Stay within your own abilities • Be able to control your gas consumption in emergencies Remember: Only You can breathe, swim or think for yourself - be fit - be responsible

36. Group Planning • Establish gas management procedures • Decide on best gas mixture • Track oxygen risk • Decide on the limits of the dive • Determine team size/responsibility • Ensure team compatibility • Be aware of equipment configuration • Plan for “what ifs”

37. Gas Management • Refer to (SAC) and convert gas usage from one size cylinder to a different size cylinder, repeat as double cylinders • Work examples using (SAC Rates for Depth) • Refer to (SAC) and see the pressure volume relationships of common size cylinders used in SCUBA diving • DO NOT FORGET DECO!

38. Gas Management Rules Rule of Thirds You must surface with 1/3 of YOUR gas supply • All dives requiring decompression stops • Dives below 130 fsw (40 msw)

39. Gas Management Rules • Know your own gas consumption • Calculate your one third point • whichever comes first, your gas turn around point or ½ of the planned bottom time, turn the dive around (Except Caving? 1/3rd T/A) • Always plan to gas match with your partner or worst team member

40. Application of Gas Management Modifications are due to: • Current patterns • Other environmental considerations Gas management requires you to function consistently: • Normal swim pace • Normal respiration

41. Dive PlanningGas Supply Must Be Matched • Gas supply plan based on diver with highest RMV • Matching is by cubic footage (free liters) converted to psig (Bar) Work some examples from the ITDA Trimix Diver Manual

42. When To Match Gas • Any time a two person dive team uses cylinders of different sizes if the diver who breathes the most gas is diving the larger capacity cylinders • In larger teams if there are restricted areas • If there is a variation in team members RMV’s of double or more gas consumption

43. Dive PlanningWhen Not To Match Gas • When diving in a three person or larger team • When diving with cylinders of equal capacity • When the diver who has the lowest RMV is using the cylinders with the largest capacity

44. How to Match Gas • The SAC represents true turn pressures for divers with different SAC rates • If you have a higher SAC rate than your buddy, the Rule of Thirds works fine - When you have consumed 33% of your gas, it’s time to turn the dive • However, if your buddy has a higher SAC than you, this would not allow enough gas

45. Gas Management • Work example of problem where on exit two divers have a slow exit pace down to ½ of the in-going pace (gas sharing from maximum point of penetration on dive) • Work example where same divers swim normal pace but out-of-gas diver increases gas consumption by 40% while sharing gas due to stress

46. Key Points to Gas Management From these examples, it is apparent that for Gas Management Rules to apply: • The gas must be matched between divers when applicable During emergencies: • The divers must maintain normal respiratory rates • Divers must swim at the same pace

47. Planning Oxygen Exposures • Must consider both the CNS and whole body oxygen risk • Must take into account the oxygen accumulation (CNS & OTU) at all levels of the dive • Must track residual effects of oxygen exposure • Even with detailed tracking, if you feel unusual switch to a lesser mix or ascend to a more shallow depth

48. Oxygen Exposures • Work through these problems with your Instructor… • Calc. PO2 of an EANx mixture at depth • Calc. PO2 Tracking • Calc. OTU Tracking (UPTDs) • Calc. CNS% & OTU Tracking • Chart CNS % Half Time . • Calculate; ITDA EAD of 4.5 @70m

49. Review of ITDA Dive Tables • Understand how custom mixes work • Depth - times - ascent rates - stops - residual inert gas tracking from one mix to another • Compare a dive with decompressions on bottom mix and an elevated PO2 decompressions • Explanations of usage and time constraints of decompression stops on high 02

50. Dive PlanningWorking Custom MixesInclude CNS % & OTU + gas needed • Work an example of ITDA Deco Stop Time with repetitive dives. • 70m for 5min / 50m for 15mins and 40m for 20mins • Calculate you required gas? (Inc. Deco) and you best SIT….