NAUI Training Course

Decompression Techniques

OVERVIEW

This course is to provide the diver with a working knowledge of the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. As a part of the course, students will plan and conduct a standard stage decompression dive not exceeding a maximum depth of 40 metres. Equipment requirements, team requirements and NTEC configurations, decompression breathing gas mixtures (including oxygen, NAUI Helitrox and EANx) and decompression techniques are to be presented. (This course may be combined with Technical EANx Diver or Helitrox Diver. The resulting course require an additional four open water dives for certification).

QUALIFICATIONS OF STUDENTS

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are considered competent to plan and execute dives that require stage decompression utilising air and EANx 28%+ to 100% oxygen for decompression without direct supervision provided the diving activities and the rears dive approximated those of training.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE

Minimum age is 18.
Minimum certification of NAUI Master Scuba Diver and Deep Diver Speciality (or the equivalent) and Technical EANx Diver.
Proof of 75 logged dives.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS

At least four of the six required dives are to be made using oxygen or EANx as a decompression gas. The students are to analyse their own breathing gas mixture and to plan and safely execute each dive. Dive planning shall include limits based on gas consumption, oxygen toxicity exposures and inert gas absorption for each dive and breathing gas mixture. If simulated or actual planning decompression stops are intended on any dive, divers will demonstrate simulated or actual stops and use an up line or DSMB and reel. Contingency dive planning and problem solving situations are to include omitted decompression, altered bottom time profile with increased or decreased decompression requirement and recalculation, loss of ascent equipment, i.e. DSMB and reel, stage cylinders, ascent line, loss of decompression breathing gas and gas supply loss with emergency ascent and decompression gas supplied by dive partner. Students shall participate in a diver rescue simulation to include management of a diver experiencing underwater convulsions. Each diver is to demonstrate switching and isolating a malfunctioning regulator, first in confined water and following adequate practice, at a depth between 10 and 20 metres. Each diver is to demonstrate underwater navigation appropriate to the dive pan. On at least two of the required dives, is to ascend with ascent reel and DSMB and perform necessary or simulated stage decompression.