What are the
differences between Sport Divers & Technical Divers?
Technical diving is a
form of SCUBA diving that exceeds the scope of
recreational diving.
Technical divers require
advanced training, extensive experience, specialized
equipment,
dedication & self discipline.
Common
Equipment.
All divers use a mask ,
fins, thermal protection, & a weight belt of sorts.
Sport Divers
Sport divers use a single
cylinder, first stage regulator, second stages & a BC of
sorts.
The sport diving range should not exceed the 39 meters
of sea water (msw) on Air or Nitrox.
The reason for this Nitrogen Narcosis.
Sport divers also do not have deep diving training, and
should avoid decompression.
Migration from Sport to Technical
Sport divers who
would like to progress to the technical arena must
already have mastered the skills
of a sport divers. The first step is to make the change to Nitrox.
You should approach a technical dive
instructor, for advice, orientation & training.
It is imperative that you purchase the correct equipment
and training!
Purchasing the incorrect equipment can
not only be dangerous, but also costly.
Technical divers
A technical diver is a
normal man or woman with specialist training , skill,
experience & equipment,
to dive safely beyond the limits of sport divers.
The most popular ranges
are the 40 to 80m range, beyond 80m team effort is
essential.
In technical diving and
with the use of Rebreathers, Twin-sets & additional stage
cylinders are the norm.
The use of Rebreathers is
becoming more popular, especially in areas where deco &
other overhead
environments exist, because of its optimal gas
management. Beyond
the 40m mark a variety of safety issues make it unsafe
to dive, using recreation diving (sport) equipment and practices,
& specialized training and equipment are required.
Tech divers also use
a number of gas blends to achieve these depths and deco
commitments.
These include the use of Nitrox mixes
from 22% to 100% medical O2.
The use of high grade
Helium in varying concentrations depending on depth
profile.
Tech Divers also to a
certain extent break away from the buddy- buddy system
and become more Self-sufficient
and self rescue-able.
The equipment requirements are therefore far more
redundant than Open circuit sport SCUBA equipment.
Nitrox Diver
This program provides recreational divers a
safer breathing medium for enjoying dives in 40
fsw (12 msw) to 130 fsw (39 msw) depth range.
The diver may elect to dive the mix on EANx
tables or conservatively using their dive
computers or air tables with an added diver
safety margin. The IANTD Nitrox Diver
certification is adaptable to being taught as a
single program or by combining it with a variety
of advanced or specialty diver courses.
Deep Diver
This program has been developed to provide
responsible training to divers who plan to dive
to 130 fsw (39 msw) on air. The IANTD Deep Air
Diver program trains divers in skills,
performance, theory and planning of deep dives.
This program remains within the commonly
practiced depth of 130 fsw (39 msw). It is the
first sanctioned program to provide proper
international training in safe deep diving
skills and performance. It is recommended that
this program be taught in conjunction with the
IANTD EANx Diver program.
Advanced Nitrox Diver
This program is designed to extend the divers
knowledge with O2
mixes of 22 to 40% and up to 50% for
decompression. It further develops diving skills
and provides a greater understanding of the
Nitrox diving concept.
Normoxic Trimix Diver
The IANTD Normoxic Trimix Diver program is aimed
at those who wish to dive in the zone between
130 fsw (39 msw) and 200 fsw (60 msw) but are
not
comfortable doing so on air. The course uses
Normoxic mixtures and consists of 12 dives and
one three (3) hour confined water session. Six
(6) dives are on air to depths between 100 fsw
(30 msw) and 130 fsw (39 msw) and six (6) dives
involve practicing specified skills at depths
between 30 fsw (9 msw) and 90 fsw (27 msw).
All
dives will be
performed with two (2) stage cylinders. Four (4)
Trimix dives are also made in the course with
two (2) at depths
up to
165 fsw (50 msw) and two (2) at depths
up to
200 fsw (60 msw). This is an intense seven (7)
day program enabling the graduate to be
qualified to dive Normoxic Trimix to 200 fsw (60
msw). It does
not
qualify the diver
to use hypoxic mixtures to participate in dives
deeper than 200 fsw (60 msw). The text for the
course is IANTD's Technical Diver
Encyclopedia, associated Technical Diver
Workbook, Slides and newly developed
Water-proof Tables.
Trimix Diver
The IANTD Trimix Diver program is dedicated to
those individuals already involved in deep
diving activities. The Trimix course is not
designed to be used as an enticement to divers
who are content to remain in normal recreational
or Nitrox diving limits. Trimix affords a safer
method for deep water exploration for divers who
must dive deep or perform with a clear head in
intermediate depths. The IANTD Trimix program
establishes the need to be self-sufficient.
Introductory Cave Diver
The design of this program provides an
introduction to the cave diving environment of
recreational divers.
Technical Cave Diver
This program is designed to provide advanced
training in cave diving skills. This multiple
disciplined program covers survey diving,
stage/multi-stage diving, DPV diving and
side-mount diving.
Technical Wreck Diver
This program trains divers in safe wreck
penetration diving and the technical utilization
of Nitrox for wreck exploration and the use of
Nitrox and oxygen for decompression.
Cavern and Wreck
The Cavern and Wreck training programs develop
wreck diving skills and cavern diving skills
within limits of light penetration. These
programs are designed to ensure divers are aware
of self-responsibility and capable of risk
management in overhead environments.
The programs may be taught using either air or
Nitrox.
Dive Master
This program is designed to provide responsible
training for those persons wishing to supervise
standard IANTD divers, including Nitrox Divers,
Advanced Nitrox Divers and Deep Air Divers.
IANTD Nitrox Dive masters may supervise and
assist in all open water IANTD diver programs
but cannot conduct training exercise's unless
under the direction of a qualified IANTD
instructor.
Mixing and Blending Technician
This program is intended to teach detailed
technical information to mixing and blending
technicians. It is intended to explain the
standards, properties, equipment, oxygen safety,
handling and cleaning procedures for mixing or
blending diving gases other than air, such as
Nitrox (EANx).
Trimix Gas Blender
This program has been designed to train
competent personnel in the safe handling of
oxygen and the preparation of Trimix.
