Tech or rebreatherr?

[MprDoc]

So I am at a crossroads. My dive buddy is getting rebrether certified and I have been contemplating doing some tech stuff for the main purpose of more bottom time and being able to dive deeper wrecks. Which TECH courses corelate directly to rebreather? Basically, I am going to work towardsa rebreather system but until I can afford one and afford the course I would still like to advance be able to use the new training while diving.

For example, if I do advance nitrox will that corelate directly to rebreather later on.

 

[Paulmal]

You will need advanced Nitrox for RBI training. I looked at getting a breather before my wife told me NO. But what I have gathered is that it is good to learn trimix on OC before moving to RB, other people will disagree.

Some food courses would be Adv. Nitrox & Deco procedure. Trimix would be good as it will get you the depth you want and gain experience with multiple bottles that will help when you have to bail out from the RB.

 

[wedivebc]

I would suggest doing advanced nitrox ( required anyway) and deco procedures, get some dive experience on OC then when you go to CCR your instructor will likely be able to certify you directly as a deco procedures air diluent diver. I can't speak for other agencies but with the TDI system there is really no benefit to progress beyond deco procedures on OC if you see CCR and an inevitable path.

 

[Karl_H]

Easy question,

Go as far in OC as you intend to go in CCR. If everything goes wrong on the CCR you'll be bailing out in OC, if your comfortable with getting back in OC you should be fine, if you're not then it would be very foolish to be where you are without the OC training.

Advise your friend not to skill the OC courses either and don't stop at AN/DP if you want to go onto deep or trimix dives on CCR.

 

[Deep Thought]

While I would never talk a diver out of gaining more o.c. experience, if you see your future diving a rebreather then invest the money in ccr and more ccr training. At this time the industry is still stuck on the ancient technique of open circuit for bailout, and you ccr instructor should drill on the skills of bail out appropriate to each level you take. When the bail out rebreather becomes standard, then the game will change. So yes, take the Adv Nitrox and perhaps Deco, then go straight into ccr….

 

[w ripley]

It really doesn't matter, IMO, which way you go. If you know you are going the RB route, and really have a good reason for going that route, then spend your money going in that direction. Your instructor is going to take you thru all the OC & CC skills you are going to need anyway.

Also, there is a growing trend to require specific courses for the RB. For instance, you may spend the money to get trimix certified on OC just to have to spend it again on a RB trimix course. The same applies to cave certs, etc. Ridiculous, IMO, but there it is.

Doesn't matter which way you go, as it's going to require time in the water, spending money for equipment + training + travel (unless the instructor & dive sites are local), etc. There just isn't a short cut one way or the other.

Still, if you're driving from NY to FL, why drive by way of CO? Same for your training (i.e., college, scuba, flying, etc.). Go the most direct route.

 

[HowardE]

Advanced Nitrox - Yes ... it helps understand the more advanced concepts of PO2, which are essential for diving constant PO2 like on a CCR.

Everything else is optional, and quite frankly redundant.

CCR Trimix is a similar concept, but the training requirements are different, and it's a completely different way to dive.

Often times, its the most advanced OC divers that end up getting themselves in trouble on CCR because they think they're such advanced divers on OC that they can do anything. Rebreather diving is different, yet at the same time, it's also just diving. So at the end of the day. If you think that you are going to dive rebreathers, then do that, and don't feel like you have to do a ton of OC training, then train all over again on rebreather. I actually know a few people who completed basic OC certifications, and then immediately went to rebreathers. You don't have to be a technical diver to dive a rebreather, as you'd find out if you took rebreather training.

YMMV

 

[MprDoc]

Hey thanks for the info everyone! Appreciate the help! Think I will probably persue the advanced nitrox course and take it from there.

 

[Doppler]

A couple of post above might be interpreted as stating that Advanced Nitrox certification is a PRE-REQUISITE for a CCR course. No longer the case... The air-diluent user CCR course (entry-level) now covers all the material contained in the traditional advanced nitrox course.

Just saying.

 

[wedivebc]

A couple of post above might be interpreted as stating that Advanced Nitrox certification is a PRE-REQUISITE for a CCR course. No longer the case... The air-diluent user CCR course (entry-level) now covers all the material contained in the traditional advanced nitrox course.

Just saying.

Oooops, when did it change?