Course Overview
The TDI Deco Procedures / Helitrox Diver Course examines the theory, methods, and procedures for planning staged decompression dives utilizing helium in the breathing mixture to reduce the effects of inert gas narcosis.
The TDI Deco Procedures / Helitrox Diver Course trains divers how to plan and conduct staged decompression dives to a maximum depth of 45 metres/150 feet. The most common equipment requirements, gear set-up, and decompression techniques are also presented during this course. Students are permitted to utilize enriched air nitrox and helium mixes with no greater than 35% helium content, and up to 100% oxygen for decompression diving.
The Ocean Quest Difference…
For over the past 25 years, Ocean Quest is the only dive centre who has actively and consistently conducted technical diver training in the Greater Vancouver area. Like all of our courses, we will add many extras to your technical diver training beyond that of what is outlined in many technical programs.
Outside of the typical tech skills, we will continually focus on the foundational skills – buoyancy, trim, propulsion and awareness and how they apply to the technical diving environment. We are extremely detail oriented and will work with you until you have a solid execution of all the necessary skills of a tech diver. We will test and build upon your ability to problem solve as an individual and as a team member through scenario based failures and drills.
We are experts in decompression theory. All of our technical diving programs include extensive and up to date decompression theory so you have the knowledge and understanding on how to plan and execute decompression dives. We will guide you on how to apply decompression theory to your dive plans so you have full understanding of best practices and strategies for your technical dive planning. We don’t teach you to just blindly follow your computer or decompression software.
We exclusively teach specific team diving principles and “Human Factors” to improve the successful outcomes of your technical dives.
We guarantee that our technical diving programs are unmatched in the industry.
Why Helitrox?
Helitrox is just another name for Trimix. When diving deeper than 130 ft / 40 m, or if you are doing dives that have a higher degree of task loading on dives between 100 ft / 30 m and 130 ft / 40 m, you may want to use a Trimix blend. Trimix will offer you two significant benefits, it will lower narcosis and it will decrease gas density. A decrease in gas density will improve your work of breathing and lower the risk of CO2 retention issues. Narcosis and CO2 retention can dramatically increase the risk of deep diving, especially when task loaded, stressed, or dealing with an emergency. We believe that every tech diver should have Trimix as an available tool available to them.
TDI Deco Procedures vs TDI Helitrox – Why take the TDI Helitrox Course instead of TDI Deco Procedures?
The TDI Deco procedures program introduces divers to advanced diving theory relative to decompression theory, dive planning and executing technical dives. In the program, you will complete a number of dives to demonstrate your competence in a variety of technical diving skills such as Valve Drills, Out of Air or S-Drills, Gas Switches, SMB Deployment, Execution of Decompression Stops and much more. Courses also include dives with simulated failures so students can practice handling potential real world emergencies as a team. Successful TDI Deco Procedures divers are certified to dive to 150 ft / 45 m using and Oxygen / Nitrogen Combo (Air or Nitrox).
The TDI Helitrox diver program involves the same theory and skills practice as the TDI Deco Procedures, however, it also adds additional information related to the use of Helium as a breathing gas. Certified TDI Helitrox Divers can dive to 150 ft / 45 m using the same gases as TDI Deco Procedures divers, but they are also certified to use Oxygen Helium mixes where the O2 content is minimum 21% and the Helium content is maximum 35%.
This course would also benefit divers who are certified as TDI Decompression (Deco) Procedures Divers.
Prerequisites
- Minimum age 18
- Minimum certification of SDI Advanced Diver (with Deep specialty) or TDI Intro to Tech Diver, or equivalent
- Certified as TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver or PADI Tec 40
- Proof of 50 logged dives
Medical Statement
All technical diving students are required to provide a Diver Medical Statement signed by a physician within the past 12 months stating you are fit to dive
Click Here to Download Medical Statement
Price Includes
- TDI Decompression Procedures eLearning
- TDI Extended Range / Trimix Manual
- 2 x Custom Technical Diving Theory Sessions
- 1 x Custom Decompression Theory and Technical Diving Planning Theory Session
- Minimum 6 x Technical Diving Training Dives including 2 x Decompression Dives
- Air Fills
Exclusive to Ocean Quest
- Access to multiple resources including digital books, articles and videos on various technical diving topics
- Instruction in Advanced Decompression Theory and Progressive Technical Dive Planning procedures
- A comprehensive “Decompression Theory and Dive Planning” booklet created by Ocean Quest
- A comprehensive “Technical Diving Student Handbook” created by Ocean Quest
What’s Needed?
- All Standard Technical Diving Equipment – Backmount or Sidemount Configuration – Click here for technical diving equipment details
- 1 x Decompression Cylinder with Regulator – Rentals available
- Nitrox and Tech Fills not included
- Trimix Fills
- Instructor Trimix Fills – the cost of instructor trimix fills will be shared by all students and instructor candidates
Additional Notes
Students are required to possess a high level of buoyancy control while maintaining horizontal trim, advanced propulsion techniques including modified frog kicking, modified flutter kicking, helicopter turns and back finning. The ability to maintain a stable position in the water.
Ocean Quest technical diver training programs adhere to a strong team diving philosophy. Learning Team Diving techniques within your technical training will add a completely new level of skills, awareness, challenge and safety to your technical diving. In order to maintain the quality of training, we require a minimum of two students to be enrolled in most of our technical diving programs.