SKILLS INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
Nitrox Diver Core Skills:
As part of the graduation requirements from this TDI course, your instructor should test your competence in the following areas. Drills to help build your confidence and comfort doing these skills should be taught as part of the regular program.
You will be expected to:
Properly analyze all gas mixes to be used;
Calculate and mark the MOD (Maximum Operating Depth) of each mix appropriately;
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning (Limits based on team experience, gas consumption of individuals and of team as a whole, oxygen depth and time, inert gas depth and time, environment, contingency and so on);
Properly execute a planned dive(s) within all predetermined limits;
Satisfactorily complete TDI written exam;
Demonstrate mature and responsible judgment concerning dive planning and execution;
Maintain a high level of awareness and respect for the environment in which all diving and dive preparation is conducted;
Log all dives
Pre-dive skills
Use TDI tables to plan a nitrox dive taking advantage of EAD calculations
Create a simple written dive plan for a nitrox dive to an appropriate depth (MOD calculated with p02 between 1.3 and 1.6 depending on environmental conditions)
Demonstrate correct use of oxygen analyzer
Demonstrate correct tank management and labeling
Conduct simple pre-dive briefing (may be simulated if dives are not part of program)
Program nitrox computer – if used -- with appropriate oxygen percentage if used.
Advanced Nitrox Core Skills:
As part of the graduation requirements from this TDI course, your instructor should test your competence in the following areas. Drills to help build your confidence and comfort doing these skills should be taught as part of the regular program.
You will be expected to:
Be competent in skills required to graduate from any prerequisite TDI course (or equivalent)
Properly analyze all gas mixes to be used;
Calculate and mark the MOD (Maximum Operating Depth) of each mix appropriately;
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning (Limits based on team experience, gas consumption of individuals and of team as a whole, oxygen depth and time, inert gas depth and time, environment, contingency and so on);
Properly execute a planned dive(s) within all predetermined limits;
Satisfactorily complete TDI written exam;
Demonstrate mature and responsible judgment concerning dive planning and execution;
Maintain a high level of awareness and respect for the environment in which all diving and dive preparation is conducted;
Log all dives
Skills done on land or in the field
Calculate and Log CNS loading for each dive including cumulative exposure where appropriate
Demonstrate correct use of oxygen analyzer including optimal procedure for calibration
Demonstrate understanding of gas labeling
Demonstrate adherence to conventions regarding prep of equipment for Oxygen service
Program nitrox computer with appropriate oxygen percentage if used
Pre-dive skills
Use START* before every dive
Stress analysis and mitigation
Skills during dive
Demonstrate buoyancy control (ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet)
Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices
Demonstrate ability to manage freeflow from primary regulator in controlled fashion (shutdown cycle), and switch to back-up regulator.
Deploy lift bag / or safety sausage correctly while maintaining position in water column (not in contact with bottom features or other structures)
Conduct appropriate safety stop while “hanging” from surface marker (lift bag)
Demonstrate ability to share “air” (back gas) with buddy as both recipient and donor in a controlled manner while maintaining position in water column.
Demonstrate correct body position (appropriate trim, such as horizontal / streamlined when moving forward)
Demonstrate proper stress analysis with self and team mates
*START is Sdrill (OOA drill and Bubble Check), Team (buddy equipment checks), Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater, Tables (depth, duration, waypoints and schedule)
Decompression Procedures Core Skills:
As part of the graduation requirements from this TDI course, your instructor should test your competence in the following areas. Drills to help build your confidence and comfort doing these skills should be taught as part of the regular program.
You will be expected to:
Be competent in skills required to graduate from any prerequisite TDI course (or equivalent)
Properly analyze all gas mixes to be used;
Calculate and mark the MOD (Maximum Operating Depth) of each mix appropriately;
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning (Limits based on team experience, gas consumption of individuals and of team as a whole, oxygen depth and time, inert gas depth and time, environment, contingency and so on);
Properly execute a planned dive(s) within all predetermined limits;
Satisfactorily complete TDI written exam;
Demonstrate mature and responsible judgment concerning dive planning and execution;
Maintain a high level of awareness and respect for the environment in which all diving and dive preparation is conducted;
Log all dives
Skills done on land or in the field
Demonstrate familiarity with basic hand signals
Select and prepare of equipment suitable for soft overhead environment (decompression ceiling)
Conduct team oriented drills for lift bag deployment and gas switching procedure
Pre-dive skills
Use START* before every dive
Stress analysis and mitigation
Skills during dive
Demonstrate buoyancy control (ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet)
Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices
Demonstrate comfort swimming on surface and at depth carrying single decompression stage bottle
Demonstrate ability to drop and retrieve single decompression cylinder while maintaining position in the water column
Demonstrate ability to deploy a lift bag solo and as member of team
Demonstrate controlled / staged ascent on lift bag / emergency ascent line (lost ascent line)
Remove and replace mask (deploy backup mask)
Demonstrate appropriate reaction to gas hemorrhage from manifold or first stage, SPG and primary regulator
React to BC inflator malfunction (disconnect LP hose, dump gas and orally inflate BC/Wing to neutral buoyancy)
Demonstrate ability to confirm gas switch(es) at depth with buddy/team members
Buddy breathing deco gas for at least one minute
Switch to back-up mask (remove and replace mask)
Demonstrate appropriate reaction to free-flowing deco regulator (feather valve)
Demonstrate appropriate (may be simulated) modifications to deco schedule in decompression emergency (over time, over depth)
Demonstrate tired diver tow at depth and on surface (30 meters lateral)
Complete a horizontal breath hold swim at depth for 15 meters
*START is Sdrill (OOA drill and Bubble Check), Team (buddy equipment checks), Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater, Tables (depth, duration, waypoints and schedule)
Extended Range Core Skills:
As part of the graduation requirements from this TDI course, your instructor should test your competence in the following areas. Drills to help build your confidence and comfort doing these skills should be taught as part of the regular program.
You will be expected to:
Be competent in skills required to graduate from any prerequisite TDI course (or equivalent)
Properly analyze all gas mixes to be used;
Calculate and mark the MOD (Maximum Operating Depth) of each mix appropriately;
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning (Limits based on team experience, gas consumption of individuals and of team as a whole, oxygen depth and time, inert gas depth and time, environment, contingency and so on);
Properly execute a planned dive(s) within all predetermined limits;
Satisfactorily complete TDI written exam;
Demonstrate mature and responsible judgment concerning dive planning and execution;
Maintain a high level of awareness and respect for the environment in which all diving and dive preparation is conducted;
Log all dives
Skills done on land or in the field
Demonstrate familiarity with basic and intermediate hand signals
Select and prepare equipment suitable for soft overhead environment (decompression ceiling)
Conduct team oriented drills for lift bag deployment and gas switching procedure
Drills for buddy rescue
Pre-dive skills
Use START* before every dive
Stress analysis and mitigation
Skills during dive
Demonstrate buoyancy control (ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet)
Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices
Demonstrate competence managing two stage cylinders (either two deco gas or one deco and extra bottom gas) including drop and recovery while maintaining position in the water column
Demonstrate ability to confirm gas switches at depth with buddy/team members
Demonstrate lift bag deployment from depth and use of bag as back-up buoyancy device
Demonstrate air-sharing ascent from depth while one member of buddy team is without mask
Create contingency decompression schedule after simulated loss of decompression gas
Demonstrate ability to manage multiple failures (multiple drills simultaneously LIST TO FOLLOW)
Demonstrate tired diver tow at depth and on surface (30 meters lateral)
Complete a horizontal breath hold swim at depth for 15 meters with mask off or blacked out
*START is Sdrill (OOA drill and Bubble Check), Team (buddy equipment checks), Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater, Tables (depth, duration, waypoints and schedule)
Trimix Core Skills:
As part of the graduation requirements from this TDI course, your instructor should test your competence in the following areas. Drills to help build your confidence and comfort doing these skills should be taught as part of the regular program.
You will be expected to:
Be competent in skills required to graduate from any prerequisite TDI course (or equivalent)
Properly analyze all gas mixes to be used;
Calculate and mark the MOD (Maximum Operating Depth) of each mix appropriately;
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning (Limits based on team experience, gas consumption of individuals and of team as a whole, oxygen depth and time, inert gas depth and time, environment, contingency and so on);
Properly execute a planned dive(s) within all predetermined limits;
Satisfactorily complete TDI written exam;
Demonstrate mature and responsible judgment concerning dive planning and execution;
Maintain a high level of awareness and respect for the environment in which all diving and dive preparation is conducted;
Log all dives
Skills done on land or in the field
Demonstrate familiarity with basic and intermediate hand signals (listing to come)
Selection and preparation of equipment suitable for soft overhead environment with long decompression obligations
Conduct team oriented drills for lift bag deployment and gas switching procedure
Drills for buddy rescue
Pre-dive skills
Use START* before every dive
Stress analysis and mitigation
Skills during dive
Demonstrate buoyancy control (ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet)
Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices
Demonstrate competence managing two stage cylinders (either two deco gas or one deco and extra bottom gas) including drop and recovery while maintaining position in the water column
Demonstrate ability to confirm gas switches at depth with buddy/team members
Demonstrate lift bag deployment from depth and use of bag as back-up buoyancy device
Demonstrate air-sharing ascent from depth while one member of buddy team is without mask
Create contingency decompression schedule after simulated loss of decompression gas
Demonstrate ability to manage multiple failures (multiple drills simultaneously LIST TO FOLLOW)
Create contingency decompression schedule after simulated loss of decompression gas
Demonstrate controlled ascent with toxed diver including surface tow at least 30 meters with gear removal on surface (in water too deep to stand in)
Complete a horizontal breath hold swim at depth for 15 meters with mask off or blacked out
*START is Sdrill (OOA drill and Bubble Check), Team (buddy equipment checks), Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater, Tables (depth, duration, waypoints and schedule)
Advanced Trimix Core Skills:
As part of the graduation requirements from this TDI course, your instructor should test your competence in the following areas. Drills to help build your confidence and comfort doing these skills should be taught as part of the regular program.
You will be expected to:
Be competent in skills required to graduate from any prerequisite TDI course (or equivalent)
Properly analyze all gas mixes to be used;
Calculate and mark the MOD (Maximum Operating Depth) of each mix appropriately;
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning (Limits based on team experience, gas consumption of individuals and of team as a whole, oxygen depth and time, inert gas depth and time, environment, contingency and so on);
Properly execute a planned dive(s) within all predetermined limits;
Satisfactorily complete TDI written exam;
Demonstrate mature and responsible judgment concerning dive planning and execution;
Maintain a high level of awareness and respect for the environment in which all diving and dive preparation is conducted;
Log all dives
Skills done on land or in the field
Demonstrate familiarity with basic and intermediate hand signals (listing to come)
Selection and preparation of equipment suitable for soft overhead environment with long decompression obligations
Conduct team oriented drills for lift bag deployment and gas switching procedure
Drills for buddy rescue
Pre-dive skills
Use START* before every dive
Stress analysis and mitigation
Skills during dive
Demonstrate buoyancy control (ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet)
Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices
Demonstrate competence managing three stage cylinders (either three deco gas or two deco and extra bottom gas) including drop and recovery while maintaining position in the water column
Ability to manage multiple failures in adverse conditions
Complete a horizontal breath hold swim at depth for 20 meters with mask off or blacked out
Deploy lift bag while sharing air on buddy’s long hose
*START is Sdrill (OOA drill and Bubble Check), Team (buddy equipment checks), Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater, Tables (depth, duration, waypoints and schedule)
Advanced Wreck Core Skills:
As part of the graduation requirements from this TDI course, your instructor should test your competence in the following areas. Drills to help build your confidence and comfort doing these skills should be taught as part of the regular program.
You will be expected to:
Be competent in skills required to graduate from any prerequisite TDI course (or equivalent)
Properly analyze all gas mixes to be used;
Calculate and mark the MOD (Maximum Operating Depth) of each mix appropriately;
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning (Limits based on team experience, gas consumption of individuals and of team as a whole, oxygen depth and time, inert gas depth and time, environment, contingency and so on);
Properly execute a planned dive(s) within all predetermined limits;
Satisfactorily complete TDI written exam;
Demonstrate mature and responsible judgment concerning dive planning and execution;
Maintain a high level of awareness and respect for the environment in which all diving and dive preparation is conducted;
Log all dives
Skills done on land or in the field
Proper deployment of guideline
Proper technique for following guideline
Use safety spool / reel in lost line procedures
Use safety spool / reel in lost buddy procedures
Proper technique for touch contact communication
Pre-dive skills
Use START* before every dive
Stress analysis and mitigation
Skills during dive
Demonstrate specialized propulsion techniques
Deploy guideline with attention to immediate environment and conditions
Demonstrate lost line and lost buddy drills
Follow guideline (eyes open and eyes closed – or blacked out mask)
Air share with team member(s) while exiting confined space (eyes open and eyes closed – or blacked out mask)
Remove and replace mask while in contact with guideline
Demonstrate light and hand communications with team members
Demonstrate touch contact with team members
Simulate primary light failure and deployment of backup lights
Demonstrate correct techniques for staging deco/contingency gas outside wreck
Demonstrate proper procedure for isolating and switching a malfunctioning regulator (This drill should be conducted no deeper than 40 meters / 132 fsw)
Demonstrate ability to deploy a lift bag from depth as emergency ascent line
Execute simulated emergency blue water ascent with marker deployment from staged stop below 6 meters (simulated or real live boating)
Demonstrate understanding of basic wreck layout and special considerations for navigating wreck
Deal with diver presenting signs of serious DCS at surface (simulated emergency evac.)
*START is Sdrill (OOA drill and Bubble Check), Team (buddy equipment checks), Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater, Tables (depth, duration, waypoints and schedule)
Email doppler@techdivertraining.org for more information