With a good instructor it's a great class. I learned more in this class than any other single class.
You can use a single tank with an H or Y-valve and a BC for this course. Know going in with this setup that you are essentially rigging recreational gear to be used for tech purposes. If you were to do a deco dive with this gear you would be limited with time certainly based on your SAC rates. (Part of this course includes exercises to calculate your three SAC rates). In terms of class details I have pasted the course description below.
I am an intro to tech diver as well. My experience from this class was that students were most challenged with the significant increase in gear worn for the dive and valve drills. Gear configuration should be a significant 'event' in the course. With our course everyone brought in their rig and the instructor went around and indicated/assisted everything that would need to be changed. It will take time for you to get used to wearing the recommended gear. It will also take time to best configure your rig/system to allow valve drills. Valve drills require you to open/close the valves on your tank and switch regulators. If you are using a single with H (or Y) valves you will have just two valves to manipulate. Take note as to what the students in doubles are doing. Should you upgrade to doubles you will need to be able to do the same exercises with that gear.
I completed the class in a single/bc rig but soon realized it was just inadequate for the dives I would be doing. When I upgraded to doubles (etc.) I immediately began to practice the necessary skills. Almost ironically my first deco dive (after the course) I had a free flow at 118' in 40 degree water. As I was shutting down my post I was thinking....what are the chances....right after I finish a course I need to use a skill learned in class??? It was reassuring to know I knew exactly what to do to resolve the problem.
If you start deco diving you will soon learn how benefical the Advanced Nitrox course is as well. You can really shave off deco time with a higher % of EAN. Many students combine these courses into one.
Good luck and have a great class. Find an instructor who is a real practicing tech diver with lots of experience. Get recommendations from people in your area. If you want to venture up to Mass I can highly recommend a few instructors.
--Matt
>>TDI Decompression Procedures
This course examines the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. It is designed as a stand-alone course or it may be taught in conjunction with such TDI courses as Advanced Nitrox, Advanced Wreck, or Extended Range.
The main objective is to train divers how to plan and conduct a standard staged decompression dive not exceeding the maximum depth of 150 fsw unless taught in conjunction with the TDI Advanced Nitrox, Extended Range or Advanced Wreck courses. The most common equipment requirements/configurations, gear set-ups, decompression techniques and decompression mixtures are presented.
Prerequisites:
Minimum age 18
Minimum of 25 logged open water dives, or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor, in the environment in which the course is being presented.
The instructor has final approval authority on accepting anyone into the class even though minimum prerequisites have been met.
Course minimums:
Classroom/briefing - approximately 6 hours
Open water dives - 4
Required Equipment:
Primary cylinders- Cylinder volume appropriate for planned dive and student gas consumption and with reserve gas.
Decompression Mix Cylinders- Cylinder volume appropriate for the planned dive and student gas consumption with gas reserve. SPG's required on stage cylinder/regs. Cylinders labeled in accordance with TDI standards.
Depth gauge and automatic bottom timer and/or dive computer. (Back up bottom timing and depth gauge highly recommended).
Regulators-Primary and alternate second stage required on all primary cylinders. SPG's are required on all cylinders.
BCD adequate for equipment configuration.
Jon-line and other rigging lines as dictated by site conditions.
Ascent reel with lift bag/surface marker buoy. Line on reel adequate for planned depth. Minimum 50lb lift bag.
Exposure suit adequate for maximum planned depth. Argon may be used for dry suits.
O2 analyzer (may be supplied by the instructor)
Underwater slate.
If using doubles/twin tank kits: isolator manifold with two regulators. 7' hose to be on the primary regulator. DIN valve manifolds preferred.
Required Subject areas:
Overview of decompression "safety stops" compared to required stops.
Physics-pressure review, formulas for solving dive planning, MOD, Best Mix, etc.
Physiology-Mechanics of bubble formation, Oxygen toxicity (whole body-out's and CNS), advantage of hyperoxic mixes for decompression, Nitrogen absorption and elimination, Carbon Dioxide Toxicity, Ascent/Descent rates, Hyperthermia, Hypothermia, Psychological aspects-task loading, stress, panic, time management, equipment.
Decompression Options- air, nitrox, oxygen, air breaks during deco
Equipment considerations-twin cylinder or single cylinder option, valve options. Stage cylinder options, regulator options, harness/BCD options, computer, depth gauge, bottom timer options, ascent and navigations reels, lift nags/surface marker buoys for drifting or free deco, jon-lines or Garvin clips, proper weighting and buoyancy control during dive phase and deco.
Dive tables vs. Computer-Intro and review of different models, proper use of electronic multi level computers for dive planning and deco, mix adjustable, O2 integrated, Deco planning software use.
Dive planning-standard operation, gas requirements, oxygen limitations, and nitrogen limitations. Emergency planning-omitted deco, oxygen toxicity, DCS/DCI, equipment failure.
Procedures
Primary and decompression gas-normal operations, failure, loss or inadequate emergency procedures. Analysis and logging. Safeguards and deco supply regulators. Rigging and deployment of deco gear.
Descent-Methods of entry, down lines or free descent. Organization of equipment carried by a diver.Ascent-variable rates. Trim and buoyancy compensation.
Fixed or Drifting Deco methods- up lines fixed to bottom. Reels and lift bags/surface marker buoys. Free drifting stages or live boat supply. Self contained versus surface supply/rendezvous gas cylinders.
Support-From shore. From descent line or fixed platform. From live boat.
Required Open Water Skills:
The students must complete the following open water skills during open water dives. The recommended maximum depth for this course is 130 fsw unless combined with other TDI courses where more advanced depth techniques are incorporated into the program.
Properly analyze all gas mixtures and label cylinders accordingly.
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning-Limits based on personal and team gas consumption. Exact dive and decompression profiles.
Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits- Assembly of diver carried equipment. Proper descent/ascent rates. Proper staged stop procedures. Monitoring of decompression status equipment (tables, computers, other equipment).
Contingency Situation & Problem Solving-Omitted decompression. Extended bottom time profiles with increased decompression and re-calculated schedules. Failure to deploy lift bag and reel. Missed up-line or missed boat anchor. Loss of decompression gas.
A safety stop of at least three minutes shall be conducted on all no-decompression dives and proper staged decompression stops whenever and wherever mandated.
Demonstrate the correct deployment of a lift bag using a dive reel and/or up-line.
Demonstrate (simulated) emergency gas sharing at a stationary depth not to exceed 100 fsw or a PO2 of 1.6ATA.
Demonstrate emergency deployment of a backup regulator or bailout scuba system containing bottom mix at a depth not exceeding 100 fsw or a PO2 of 1.6ATA.
Demonstrate the proper deployment, management and use of the bottom mix; decompression mix and travel mix if used. Conservative gas management. Depth control to avoid descending to deep for mix. Show appropriate and timely responses to instruction/signals form the instructor and demonstrate buoyancy control and awareness throughout the dive.
Graduation requirements:
Satisfactorily complete the TDI Decompression Procedures Course written exam. Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution.
Support materials:
TDI Decompression Procedures Diver manual
<<
