I remember the dive that I realized I wanted to become a decompression diver. I was diving for a week in the Florida Keys, seeing all the shipwrecks I could. I was using nitrox to get longer bottom times and surface intervals, I had steel cylinders for maximum air volume. I got down to the wreck for our second dive, excited to explore the other half of it and looked at my computer – I had 10 minutes of no decompression time left. That’s when I realized I needed to figure out how to stay longer.
Maybe that’s your inspiration too, seeing more of the shipwreck. Maybe you want to learn what “no decompression time” actually means. Maybe it’s the first step for you to reaching new depths with trimix.
Learning to plan and execute dives with mandatory decompression will change all of your diving and open the door to new dive sites and opportunities. It’s the gateway into “technical diving”.
There are 4 major elements to a decompression course. These elements are the focus of the training program and all decompression diving after the course.
Fun
Decompression diving is a hobby. It’s meant to be enjoyable. Having fun has to be the focus of the activity. If we’re exposing ourselves to unnecessary risk, getting hurt, or being so task loaded we can’t see the wreck then we are missing the ultimate goal of the activity.
Procedures
The best way to mitigate risk in decompression diving is using team based procedures. This includes dive planning, pre-dive checks, gas switch procedures, and debriefs. Learning and implementing these procedures is the mark of diver who understands the risks of the activity and is focused on enjoying the hobby.
Equipment
There is equipment that is inappropriate in the decompression environment. Developing the knowledge of what makes things work and not work for decompression diving is the hallmark of a competent diver.
Understanding
All decompression divers need to understand the risk of the activity. They also need to have a good grasp on the “why” for procedures. It’s important that divers can back up their decisions because the alternative – blind trust of an anecdote – is not appropriate when diving at this level.
