I don't even know why we're talking about Trimix at all -- this thread is about the TDI advanced Nitrox and deco procedures classes, so it's Nitrox only...
KISS is the key to doing well in the class -- three bottles (doubles and one deco) and three regs. You’re not going to be doing long deco, because the class is about the planning and skills required to use high percentage O2 mixes for decompression. Long deco times don’t teach you anything more*. Also short deco for a class is prudent -- if heaven forbid someone screws up and blows off their deco, a short deco obligation makes it far more likely that they won’t have a trip to the 'chamber.
So in addition to no helium in your back gas, the relatively short dives followed by short deco means that argon is unneeded -- use your back gas for dry suit inflation.
As for a computer -- unless you become a heavy duty Trimix diver -- unlikely in Colorado -- you’ll just cut tables for your dives. Your instructor-to-be sold me on the Nitek Duo (no, he’s not a dealer, I bought it from CEE earlier this year) -- two Nitrox gasses and a gauge mode for Trimix dives -- perfect for 95% or more of the diving I do. Plus the display is big enough that my more than half a century old eyes can read it just fine
. A cheap Timex Ironman makes a good backup, for a single example.
The Duo was what was on Tom’s arm when we did Eagle’s Nest in March.
And an observation about being a Colorado diver and technical diving -- when Tom and I hit cave country, we’d rather do two or three dives a day for a long time at an intermediate depth and explore nooks and crannies versus one short, deep dive where we don’t get to see much. So simple Nitrox is our friend, and the intermediate depth caves are our goal when we go to Florida.
This equation changes if you’re heading to the Great Lakes to dive the deeper wrecks, so as is always the case, figure out what you want to do, then pursue the technical training to achieve that goal.
As for me, except for the rare dive, TDI advanced Nitrox and deco procedures covers 95% of my diving (heck, PADI Nitrox covers 80%), and that last 5% are surgical dives that have a specific goal and frankly, don’t come close to the price (time, money, effort) to enjoyment ratio that the other 95% returns. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy those dives!
Roak
*The only thing that’s to be learned by long deco is how you handle the exposure. For this reason you work up your obligation slowly. For example racking up half an hour of deco in the Great Lakes when all you’ve done to date is 5 minutes in a spring is a very, very bad idea.
KISS is the key to doing well in the class -- three bottles (doubles and one deco) and three regs. You’re not going to be doing long deco, because the class is about the planning and skills required to use high percentage O2 mixes for decompression. Long deco times don’t teach you anything more*. Also short deco for a class is prudent -- if heaven forbid someone screws up and blows off their deco, a short deco obligation makes it far more likely that they won’t have a trip to the 'chamber.
So in addition to no helium in your back gas, the relatively short dives followed by short deco means that argon is unneeded -- use your back gas for dry suit inflation.
As for a computer -- unless you become a heavy duty Trimix diver -- unlikely in Colorado -- you’ll just cut tables for your dives. Your instructor-to-be sold me on the Nitek Duo (no, he’s not a dealer, I bought it from CEE earlier this year) -- two Nitrox gasses and a gauge mode for Trimix dives -- perfect for 95% or more of the diving I do. Plus the display is big enough that my more than half a century old eyes can read it just fine
. A cheap Timex Ironman makes a good backup, for a single example.The Duo was what was on Tom’s arm when we did Eagle’s Nest in March.
And an observation about being a Colorado diver and technical diving -- when Tom and I hit cave country, we’d rather do two or three dives a day for a long time at an intermediate depth and explore nooks and crannies versus one short, deep dive where we don’t get to see much. So simple Nitrox is our friend, and the intermediate depth caves are our goal when we go to Florida.
This equation changes if you’re heading to the Great Lakes to dive the deeper wrecks, so as is always the case, figure out what you want to do, then pursue the technical training to achieve that goal.
As for me, except for the rare dive, TDI advanced Nitrox and deco procedures covers 95% of my diving (heck, PADI Nitrox covers 80%
), and that last 5% are surgical dives that have a specific goal and frankly, don’t come close to the price (time, money, effort) to enjoyment ratio that the other 95% returns. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy those dives!Roak
*The only thing that’s to be learned by long deco is how you handle the exposure. For this reason you work up your obligation slowly. For example racking up half an hour of deco in the Great Lakes when all you’ve done to date is 5 minutes in a spring is a very, very bad idea
.
