Tech 2 training focuses on critical skills in the bottom failures with a stage and the mid water cultivating, integrating, and ultimately testing the divers blue water skills and their ability to deal with failures not only on the bottom but also during the accent and gas switch – skills which are essential for safe technical diving. This critical training will include problem identification and resolution, and building the capacity for progressively more challenging diving.
Students will continue to use double tanks/cylinders and a single stage bottle and the potential failure problems associated with them. You will also use a deco bottle of Nitrox 50 for accelerated and “on the fly” decompression and will take advantage of the use of Helium to minimize narcosis, and the application and benefit of single decompression stage diving will be thoroughly explored.
Why this class?
Technical Diver 2 helps you to understand the new reality of extending techncial (decompression) diving into the 160'/48m realm and conducting multiple technical dives in one day. With a focus on practical experience, stage use (for multiple dives in a day) with simulated failures, our in-water time will focus on the myriad of issues that can make ascending from a dive more difficult. In the classroom, we'll focus on the planning and execution of technical dives, from the gas planning of deco gas (or loss thereof) to an extended discussion into the new ramifications of stage bottle use and decompression bottle use.
During Technical Diver 1, we focused on developing your mind to address failures along the bottom and midwater with decompression on Oxygen. In this class, we'll focus on the ascent, stage bottle, nitrox 50 and how to get you and your team home safe.
Who is this class designed for?
The Technical Diver 2 is designed for divers who have experience with deeper diving with Helitrox 25/25 and Oxygen for decompression (1 deco bottle), but wish to extend their ability to a depth to 160'/48m on 21/35 and conduct multiple techncial dives in the same day. Adding the Technical Diver 2 component allows you to extend your depth by using 21/35 and conduct multiple dives through learnign to use stage bottle for the dives and backgas for bailout, allowing you to see more, experience more, and do more, whether it's taking pictures, video, or simply enjoying the environment around you.
Class Information
This class is structured around 3 days, involving a minimum of Eight (8) hours of academics and Seven (7) dives, four (4) of which will be critical skill dives and two (2) will be experience dives. All designed to provide a working knowledge of Helitrox, including a discussions centered around gas management including stage bottle and deco bottle, use and understanding of deco tables for accelerated decompression, deco contingency planning including "Deco on the fly", and more. As this course is a decompression class, divers in this depth range must be aware of the potential for entering into decompression commitments and should be prepared.
Day 1. Typically we begin with a 3 - 4 hour initial session consisting of introductions, and dry runs (on land) of the skills and some practice before entering the water. Skills include improving a diver's understanding of ascent procedures, including surface marker buoy deployment, stage bottle use, deco bottle switching, and decompression management. Students then have three (3) - (4) four dives putting these skills and concepts into actual practice. We conclude with a video review and a few more hours of lecture.
Day 2. The second day is much the same as the first, including dry runs on land, and video review and more lecture on Helitrox, decompression history and strategies, table analysis and ratio deco.
Day 3. The third day is centered around gaining experience in the environment. You will conduct two (2) Helitrox dives to a max depth of 150ft (36m), the first using the stage bottle (backgas for bailout) and the second using just the backgas followed by video debriefing and the review and test.
All UTD classes are videotaped for educational review, as we believe this is invaluable for students to visually focus on their individual in-water skills, situational awareness, communication, and team diving. Learning to self evaluate is an important aspect of any class, and video is one of the most important tools we have for instruction.
You will be evaluated during the class to obtain the UTD "Technical 2 Diver" Certification. This Certification will allow you to dive within the Techncial Diver limitation of 160'/48m while using 21/35 or 25/25 for bottom gas and Nitrox 50% or Oxygen (1 Deco Bottle) for decompression and stage bottle use. It will also allow you to continue on to the UTD TriMix 1 Training curriculum. Our focus is the complete dedication to your diving skills, knowledge & in water practice. To help prepare for the rigors ahead, see our Learning Center you can find out more information about the class, the equipment and skills you will be evaluated on.
Requirements
- Minimum age of 18
- Completed UTD registration process
- UTD Technical 1 course or equivalent
- All UTD Classes are Non Smoking
- A minimum of 75 dives beyond OW certification, 25 of which must be non-training dives.
- All participants must be able to swim at least 300 yards in 14 min or must be able to swim at least 600 yards in 18 minutes with mask & fins.
- All participants must be able to swim a distance of at least 50' (15m) on a breath hold or demonstrate an air share swim where the ooa diver swims at least 50' (15m) to the donating diver
- All participants must tow a diver in full equipment, in the environment they will be diving in at least 400 yards in 16 minutes
- All participants must demonstrate a rescue a diver simulating oxygen toxicity.
- The use of prescription drugs must be authorized prior to the onset of diver training by a physician
Getting Started
- Check the Schedule of classes in your area
- Register Online
- Complete the online Knowledge Base course for Technical Diver
- Get a copy and review the "Technical Diving DVD"
Guidelines
- All dives are to maintain a working PO2 of no greater than 1.4
- Minimum Decompression dives, with the max depth during class of 160ft (48m).
- Nitrox 32% & Helitrox 21/35
- Double tank configuration including a 80cft stage bottle of bottom gas and a 40cft deco bottle of Nitrox 50%
- Long hose primary, and necklace style backup regulator hose configuration
- Student to Instructor ratio is not to exceed 6:1 during land drill, surface exercises and Experience Dives but 3:1 during any direct in-water critical skills training.
Equipment Specifications
UTD equipment configuration is designed to be simple, efficient, and consistent. To get the most from your class it is advisable that you take the course in a complete UTD style system. To better assist you in preparing for class, we have listed below our suggested equipment lists for the class. Please check out our Learning Center or consult with us if you have further questions about your equipment needs.
Dir/Hogarthian configuration is required:
- Backplate BC System SS or Aluminum Back plate w/ web harness and hardware
- Back inflate style wing.
- At least one depth-measuring device
- At least one time-keeping device
- Fins: non-split variety
- At least one cutting device
- X-notes or Wetnotes
- One spool with 100 feet of line
- One surface marker or lift bag
- Exposure suit appropriate for the environment you will be diving in
- Regulators & UTD Hose Configuration 5 or 7 ft. Primary Regulator Hose
- 22 or 24" Necklace Regulator Hose
- 24 or 26" SPG hose
- BC-mounted canister dive light w/ Goodman handle or long hose catch such as a knife pouch.
- Cylinders Double tank configuration (1 per day of diving)
- A single stage bottle with a minimum of 80 cuft
- Two decompression bottles with a minimum of 40 cuft of Nitrox 50% in each
