Tri-Mix Agencies?

[RichBolduc]

I was wondering who out there does Tri-Mix that's worth going to. I got all of my certifications so far through PADI (OW/AOW/Deep/Wreck/Cavern/Nitrox) and am hoping to get TriMix done next summer.

I asked the shop I go through about the PADI Tec-Rec classes and he said they're pretty much a joke and recommended I get TriMix and full Cave through IANTD, even though he knows I have 0 desire for Cave. He says the skills I would learn in Cave are invaluable though.


So who else out there offers a good, reliable Tri-Mix classes, or should I just take the $600 IANTD Tri-Mix class they offer?

 

[Rainer]

If you really have less than 50 dives, don't worry about trimix (at all). Just go out and gain more experience (and have fun) within your current training. Probably best to *stop* taking classes and just dive for a bit.

FWIW, I did my trimix training with GUE. I found it quite good.

 

[Blackwood]

Telling someone with no interest in cave to take full cave seems ridiculous. You can learn and hone the same skills in open water.

I wouldn't be taking advice from this guy, but that's just me.

Off the top of my head, PADI, SSI, GUE, UTD, IANTD, TDI, and PDIC offer Trimix. There are undoubtedly more I'm missing. As Rainer notes, just getting out there and diving is often better than running through the training mill.

 

[TSandM]

First off, I think you are better off doing technical training through the curriculum of an agency that focuses on it. There are a few of them, of which IANTD is only one.

The second decision you need to make is where in your education you would like to get access to helium. Some agencies put that off until you are well into the training sequence, doing their Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures classes on air and Nitrox only. It was my decision to add helium at the beginning of my training, because I knew how stupid I am deep on air or 32%, so I went with an agency that does that (UTD).

And, in the end, when you get to this level of training, it's greatly about the individual instructor. One would think that all tech instructors ought to be good -- after all, THEY went through technical training, do technical dives, and got certified to teach others to do so, right? I wish it were true. Individual skills vary enormously between instructors, and the standards to which they hold their students do, too. Agencies apparently vary quite a bit in how much training in HOW to teach is given to their instructors (this is one place where I think GUE and UTD are out in front). When you go to select an instructor, go talk to several -- see if you can get in the water with them, before you commit to classes (they should want this, too) and see if the person is a diver you want to emulate. Also see if it's a person you want to spend a good deal of fairly intense time with. Tech training is not, and should not be a cakewalk, but if the instructor is short-tempered or profane or abusive, you won't enjoy any of it -- and this is a recreational activity, even at this level.

 

[RichBolduc]

If you really have less than 50 dives, don't worry about trimix (at all). Just go out and gain more experience (and have fun) within your current training. Probably best to *stop* taking classes and just dive for a bit.

FWIW, I did my trimix training with GUE. I found it quite good.

I'm actually at like 50 dives now and should be around the 75 mark by the time I plan on actually taking TriMix classes. Just doing the research for now really.

 

[Rainer]

My point still stands. Just go diving. More than half your dives have been in classes...

Trimix training will be there when you eventually "need" to go deeper.

I'm actually at like 50 dives now and should be around the 75 mark by the time I plan on actually taking TriMix classes. Just doing the research for now really.

 

[Amphiprion]

I thought the IANTD standard was a minimum of 100 dives with at least 20 below 100' before trimix.

I assume you know that you will need multiple regulators, doubles, deco bottles, a bp/w etc for your trimix class. You will need at least advanced nitrox if not technical nitrox and have a class in decompression procedures.

From what I can tell, the two biggest agencies in this game are TDI and IANTD. DSAT(padi), Naui, GUE and perhaps ANDI teach trimix as well. I have not heard of SSI teaching trimix.

 

[RichBolduc]

I thought the IANTD standard was a minimum of 100 dives with at least 20 below 100' before trimix.

I assume you know that you will need multiple regulators, doubles, deco bottles, a bp/w etc for your trimix class. You will need at least advanced nitrox if not technical nitrox and have a class in decompression procedures.

From what I can tell, the two biggest agencies in this game are TDI and IANTD. DSAT(padi), Naui, GUE and perhaps ANDI teach trimix as well. I have not heard of SSI teaching trimix.

Yeah I know about the extra regulators and doubles. I actually have a open water setup and a double set up already too. Pretty much all Zeagle for both. Have 2 Dive Rite backup lights with a Dive Rite Canister for my primary. I'd have to buy or rent the bottles though as I just have a couple of 120's not in a double configuration.

As for the classes, that's why I was first looking in to the PADI ones as the Tec-Rec 45 (which I qualify for now) slowly works up to their Tec-Rec TriMix and goes over the deco stops and everything.

When I did my deep classes and wreck classes, my instructor actually had us do deco stops and then swim around with pony bottles and what not. He actually went more on the technical side of things for the Deep and Wreck and aren't covered in the standard PADI courses.

 

[Kevin Carlisle]

My point still stands. Just go diving. More than half your dives have been in classes...

Trimix training will be there when you eventually "need" to go deeper.

Well you tried. Hope he will listen.

 

[padiscubapro]

Yeah I know about the extra regulators and doubles. I actually have a open water setup and a double set up already too. Pretty much all Zeagle for both. Have 2 Dive Rite backup lights with a Dive Rite Canister for my primary. I'd have to buy or rent the bottles though as I just have a couple of 120's not in a double configuration.

As for the classes, that's why I was first looking in to the PADI ones as the Tec-Rec 45 (which I qualify for now) slowly works up to their Tec-Rec TriMix and goes over the deco stops and everything.

When I did my deep classes and wreck classes, my instructor actually had us do deco stops and then swim around with pony bottles and what not. He actually went more on the technical side of things for the Deep and Wreck and aren't covered in the standard PADI courses.

ANDI has been teaching trimix since around 1991.. a full trimix diver requires a minimum of 200 dives before being allowed to enter the class.. we do have a program that has much lower cert limits and can be entered in with much less dives, but the majority of our divers only do the full trimix class..