Write your own standards - Rec Deep Diver, 130' max

[in_cavediver]

Since there has been quite a bit of debate about the deep diver class, PADI bashing and an incident in an Ohio quarry, I figured it might be fun to create a list of what we would like the standards to read.

Here's a start:

Prerequisites: 50 logged dives of which 15 must have been within the last 6 months

Classroom Topics:
- Review Dive Planning, Dive Tables and Gas management. Remediate skills
as needed

- DCS-Oxygen toxicity, Review signs, symptoms, treatment and responses to
Embolisms, DCI and Oxygen toxicity issues.

- Dive equipment and redundant options including spare air, pony bottles,
independent doubles and manifolded doubles. Must include practical
bailout procedures and calculations. Also should include discussion of
unplanned decompression obligations and bailout.

- SAC and gas management for deeper diving. Include Rock bottom method,
1/2+200 and the rule of thirds. Discuss the theory behind each method and
where each may be appropriate.

- Physiology and decompression models.

- DSMB use

- Exam
Dives (4) over minimun 2 days. I dive must be below 100' :

Dive 1) Shallow skills, max depth 60ft. Review of propulsion techniques,
hovering, mask removal and replacement, OOA swims and ascents and trim.
-Do a 35ft UW exhale swim then commence air sharing with your buddy
-Simulate a stuck BC inflator. All appropriate exposure protection should
be in place such as hood/gloves
- Simulate free flow regulator at depth. Diver should ascent while maintaining
neutral buoyancy
- DSMB deployment
- Dive 1 may be repeated as needed. Students cannot go on to dive 2 until
all criterea in classroom and dive 1 are met

Dive 2) Max depth 100' (min 75')
- orientation and tour dive at depth. Divers will be evaluated on buddy skills
- At Safety stop, deploy DSMB

Dive 3) Max depth 130' (min 90')
- Dive team plans and executes this dive. Evaluate planning and execution
- At depth, deploy DSMB

Dive 4) Max depth 130' (min 90')
- Dive team plans and executes this dive. Students will be evaluated on
thier planning, execution and overall skills.
- This dive may be repeated to pass the in-water evaluation.

 

[do it easy]

Without getting into too many three letter acronyms, how about a criteria about maximum depth, planned depth, and the stigma of exceeding these. I think it is implied in the evaluations of the dives, but I think it should be explicit.

While we are at it, rather than hovering, how about more emphasis on buoyancy control- 1) while descending, 2) while stationary, and 3) while ascending. Yes buoyancy control should be taught in OW, but hey guess what!

 

[elmo6s]

Simulate a stuck BC inflator?????? Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen....

 

[do it easy]

Simulate a stuck BC inflator?????? Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen....

During my deco class, we simulated a tank o-ring extrusion- the DM swam up to me with a slate that read- your tank o-ring just blew, and then timed me until I dealt with it properly. There are ways to simulate it without adding much more risk.

 

[RiverRat]

I just saw it done in my last class (a custom class, not your standard stuff) in the pool. You hit the inflate and the deflate at the same time to keep venting gas while you pop the hose. No big deal.

 

[nereas]

Since there has been quite a bit of debate about the deep diver class, PADI bashing and an incident in an Ohio quarry, I figured it might be fun to create a list of what we would like the standards to read.

Here's a start:

Prerequisites: 50 logged dives of which 15 must have been within the last 6 months

Classroom Topics:
- Review Dive Planning, Dive Tables and Gas management. Remediate skills
as needed

- DCS-Oxygen toxicity, Review signs, symptoms, treatment and responses to
Embolisms, DCI and Oxygen toxicity issues.

- Dive equipment and redundant options including spare air, pony bottles,
independent doubles and manifolded doubles. Must include practical
bailout procedures and calculations. Also should include discussion of
unplanned decompression obligations and bailout.

- SAC and gas management for deeper diving. Include Rock bottom method,
1/2+200 and the rule of thirds. Discuss the theory behind each method and
where each may be appropriate.

- Physiology and decompression models.

- DSMB use

- Exam
Dives (4) over minimun 2 days :

Dive 1) Shallow skills, max depth 60ft. Review of propulsion techniques,
hovering, mask removal and replacement, OOA swims and ascents and trim.
-Do a 35ft UW exhale swim then commence air sharing with your buddy
-Simulate a stuck BC inflator. All appropriate exposure protection should
be in place such as hood/gloves
- Simulate free flow regulator at depth. Diver should ascent while maintaining
neutral buoyancy
- DSMB deployment
- Dive 1 may be repeated as needed. Students cannot go on to dive 2 until
all criterea in classroom and dive 1 are met

Dive 2) Max depth 100'
- orientation and tour dive at depth. Divers will be evaluated on buddy skills
- At Safety stop, deploy DSMB

Dive 3) Max depth 130'
- Dive team plans and executes this dive. Evaluate planning and execution
- At depth, deploy DSMB

Dive 4) Max depth 130'
- Dive team plans and executes this dive. Students will be evaluated on
thier planning, execution and overall skills.
- This dive may be repeated to pass the in-water evaluation.

If you are planning a dive to 130 ft then your best mix would be TMX 25/35. You really should not be diving air deeper than 50 ft. And I would not dive nitrox deeper than 100 ft.

The PADI methods fall apart at depths beyond 100 ft because they are not a trimix agency.

 

[nolatom]

If you are planning a dive to 130 ft then your best mix would be TMX 25/35. You really should not be diving air deeper than 50 ft. And I would not dive nitrox deeper than 100 ft.

The PADI methods fall apart at depths beyond 100 ft because they are not a trimix agency.

"Not diving air deeper than 50 ft.?" That seems a bit harsh, that's the prime depth for air. Deeper than 100 feet, I understand the limitations of air, though technically it's valid to about 200' if you don't stay too long...

130' is doable if you don't stay longer than a couple of minutes, then ascend to 80' or so for the bulk of your dive...

 

[do it easy]

I guess you'll have to add some part to physiology to cover reasonable narcotic limits- you can pick those.

 

[Notso_Ken]

During my deco class, we simulated a tank o-ring extrusion- the DM swam up to me with a slate that read- your tank o-ring just blew, and then timed me until I dealt with it properly. There are ways to simulate it without adding much more risk.

Actually had an o-ring extrude on me once. Wasn't even in the water, nobody within 30 feet of the gear, and just a pop-hisssss sound. Didn't take long to get to the gear and take care of it.


Ken

 

[RiverRat]

"Not diving air deeper than 50 ft.?" That seems a bit harsh, that's the prime depth for air. Deeper than 100 feet, I understand the limitations of air, though technically it's valid to about 200' if you don't stay too long...

Yeah that's just unrealistic. Many places only provide air. You either use it or you don't dive. Nitrox is ideal. Hopefully someday it'll become the norm and we won't be charged as much for it. I don't see trimix in the recreational mainstream anytime soon.