Tech Diving for Seniors?

[rsingler]

Definitely worth a trip to Key Largo to get your training in some warmer water. I'm sure others will chime in with their own recommendations, but Dan Dawson at Horizon Divers is tops!

 

[joebob24]

If weight is a big consideration, wouldn't it make sense to take Advanced Nitrox and Deco at the same time as the rebreather training? That way you could avoid the doubles all together if there are any agencies that still let you do that. I heard that some of them are moving away from combining courses.

What kind of diving are you thinking of doing and how high is your SAC rate? If you are just thinking a few minutes of deco and have a low sac rate, you might be able to get away with a small set of doubles and a AL40 for deco. Somewhere around 100lb all loaded up. My full kit weighs around 170 lb, which is pretty demanding for just about anybody.

Sidemount might help as well. I have seen sidemount divers carry their tanks into the water one at a time, then clip them all on at once in the water to reduce weight. On a boat, you would have to hand the tanks to someone on the boat.

 

[ABay Diver]

Definitely worth a trip to Key Largo to get your training in some warmer water. I'm sure others will chime in with their own recommendations, but Dan Dawson at Horizon Divers is tops!

I dove the Spiegel Grove with Horizon last year. Great shop. Im based in Syracuse NY and try to get to South Fla. as often as i can. How long a time commitment would this training require? A week, more?

 

[RyanT]

If weight is a big consideration, wouldn't it make sense to take Advanced Nitrox and Deco at the same time as the rebreather training?

This doesn't make any sense. Open circuit and rebreather training are different beasts.

 

[Marie13]

If weight is a big consideration, wouldn't it make sense to take Advanced Nitrox and Deco at the same time as the rebreather training? That way you could avoid the doubles all together if there are any agencies that still let you do that. I heard that some of them are moving away from combining courses.

It doesn’t work that way. If you’re not already OC tech trained, you won’t be doing a deco class for your first CCR class.

First CCR class-air dil, no deco, 100ft limit

Then:
Air dil deco - air dil, deco, 130ft limit
Helitrox-up to 35% helium trimix for dil, deco, 150ft limit

Some go from air dil no deco to Helitrox.

 

[rsingler]

How long a time commitment would this training require? A week, more?

Logistically, you could do CCR MOD1 (air diluent with no deco) in your first five days and play with your toy on your own that weekend. You could take AN/DP on open circuit the next week. You could go home to build the 30 CCR hours required to come back and do CCR Helitrox (35%He/150ft).
I won't say you should do that, and there are experience-related reasons maybe not to, in terms of building proper habits. But logistically, that's possible, and Dan might do that if your skills were up to par. It all depends.

 

[joebob24]

First CCR class-air dil, no deco, 100ft limit

Then:
Air dil deco - air dil, deco, 130ft limit
Helitrox-up to 35% helium trimix for dil, deco, 150ft limit

Ok, so not necessary concurrently, but would it be possible to take the basic rebreather training with the OPs current certification level, then take AN and Deco with the rebreather? That just makes more sense to me if a diver couldn't physically carry a large set of tanks.

I agree that for most people it probably makes sense to take them first. I think it was somewhere on the Revo site that I read that you could take the air diluent course and advanced nitrox at the same time, but I can't find it anywhere now.

 

[Marie13]

Ok, so not necessary concurrently, but would it be possible to take the basic rebreather training with the OPs current certification level, then take AN and Deco with the rebreather? That just makes more sense to me if a diver couldn't physically carry a large set of tanks.

I agree that for most people it probably makes sense to take them first. I think it was somewhere on the Revo site that I read that you could take the air diluent course and advanced nitrox at the same time, but I can't find it anywhere now.

You need to have 50 hours minimum on the unit before you can go onto the next level after basic CCR class.

I went to a lighter weight backmount unit myself due to severe osteoarthritis in both knees. Even smaller doubles hurt too much. Sidemount doesn’t work for Great Lakes wreck diving. I dive sidemount exclusively for OC now. I have LP50s for fun dives people would do single tank. They’re also good for CCR bailout for shallower dives.

 

[joebob24]

You need to have 50 hours minimum on the unit before you can go onto the next level after basic CCR class.

I went to a lighter weight backmount unit myself due to severe osteoarthritis in both knees. Even smaller doubles hurt too much. Sidemount doesn’t work for Great Lakes wreck diving. I dive sidemount exclusively for OC now. I have LP50s for fun dives people would do single tank. They’re also good for CCR bailout for shallower dives.

I found where I got the info about taking AN with the rebreather training. It was here: rEvo Training | East Coast Wreck Diving

 

[ABay Diver]

You need to have 50 hours minimum on the unit before you can go onto the next level after basic CCR class.

I went to a lighter weight backmount unit myself due to severe osteoarthritis in both knees. Even smaller doubles hurt too much. Sidemount doesn’t work for Great Lakes wreck diving. I dive sidemount exclusively for OC now. I have LP50s for fun dives people would do single tank. They’re also good for CCR bailout for shallower dives.

Why doesn’t sidemount work for great lakes wreck diving? If thats true why do you dive it exclusively for OC?