Technical diving in thailand, the new frontier.

A history of technical diving in Thailand as the new frontier in underwater exploration

Koh Tao, Thailand

Thailand has numerous world-class sites for divers of all standards, making it an underwater adventure paradise. While advanced divers are not restricted to normal recreational depth limits and many other constraints, they can only operate safely with professional support both onshore and offshore.

People have been paddling around Thailand’s numerous shallow coral sites with  and snorkels for decades, but it was not until about fifteen years ago that more serious diving with proper underwater breathing apparatus really began to take off. At that time, the majority of dive shops in the kingdom ran businesses teaching basic discover scuba and open-water courses.

As time passed, word spread of Thailand’s superb dive sites, and dive shops became increasingly competitive in the support they were able to offer advanced divers. This included offering specialized mixed breathing gases, larger volume diving tanks, double tanks, auxiliary tanks and underwater scooters. As these resources have become more readily available, seasoned divers have been able to open the door on a whole new world of exploration. An intrepid breed, they are often referred to as technical divers.

Respiration is the over-riding concern in diving. The human body is profoundly affected by the compressed gases breathed underwater. Air normally contains about one-fifth oxygen to four-fifths nitrogen gases which when breathed at surface level are perfectly normal. But once a diver passes beyond normal recreational dive limits, they become potential killers.

A diver who descends to 100 metres may be breathing in compressed form ten times as much nitrogen and oxygen as normal. Too much nitrogen at depth can cause narcosis with similar results to drinking alcohol in excess. If a diver comes up too fast, there is the risk of decompression sickness popularly known as the bends which occurs when the body is not given enough time for the gas to dissipate. This can be extremely painful and result in paralysis or even death.

Oxygen, which is essential for sustaining life, meanwhile becomes toxic beyond 60 metres and this can induce convulsions and drowning if the regulator used for breathing through the mouth falls out.
Mixed gases are essential to extending the depth and duration of dives. Ordinary recreational divers breathe compressed air, and do not have to stop to allow for decompression on the way up. Technical divers use nitrox and tri-mix gases instead. Nitrox has extra oxygen added to the air during compression, and reduced nitrogen, which helps extend dive times and mitigate the risk of decompression sickness.Tri-mix incorporates helium into the mix, an inert gas that reduces the risk of both nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity. For deep dives of more than 60 metres, technical divers use tri-mix to go down, and nitrox for decompression when they come back up.

Two of the most popular new activities in Thailand are wreck diving, mostly in the Gulf of Thailand, and cave diving, mostly along the Andaman Sea coastline. The Gulf of Thailand falls well short of being an Asian Bermuda Triangle, but is rich in sunken wrecks resulting from misadventures in trading, piracy and war. Many stories have been lost in the mists of time but, according to one list, there are at least 179 sunken Japanese ships or marus, as some divers prefer to call them.

Some of the biggest recent discoveries date from the Second World War. In mid-2005, a group of technical divers from Koh Tao came across a US submarine that had been sunk in 72 metres of water by the IJN Hatsutaka, a Japanese minelayer that recorded an anti-submarine action with depth charges at the time.

The Trident, the technical live aboard boat supporting this dive, was owned by Jamie MacLeod, a veteran British wreck diver who is one of the first people known to have dived on the old sub.

Using twin tanks and the right mix, MacLeod was able to reach the lost submarine. Special tanks were staged underneath the boat, and oxygen lines were run down to help the dive team decompress before fully resurfacing. Decompression tanks and gas lines are critical, since it is physically impossible to carry enough decompression gas tanks for the time it takes to get rid of the nitrogen absorbed into the body from such an extended dive.

The wreck turned out to be the remains of USS Lagarto, SS 371, sitting virtually upright on the seabed. The sub was completed in May of 1944 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan a city today twinned with Kamogawa in Japan. The Lagarto was lost on 3 May 1945, taking down 86 crew. Its exact location remains a secret known to very few. A year after its discovery, however, US Navy divers from the Salvor (ARS-520) were able to confirm that the wreck was indeed the Lagarto. Relatives have been informed, and a memorial plaque and flag erected on the wreck.

Although the USS Lagarto lies well beyond the reach of almost all divers, and is a war grave that like all wrecks in Thai waters must not be disturbed or pillaged, there were at least naval records on both sides to cross reference. For many wrecks, nothing of the kind exists and curious divers often fall back on questioning local fishermen. With their special local knowledge, fishermen may have noticed that schools of fish are more abundant or behave differently in the vicinity of wrecks. Wrecks also sometimes get noticed when they snag nets.

The Gulf of Thailand has many pottery wrecks from sunken merchant vessels, some of which date as far back as 700 years. Siam, as Thailand used to be known, had a more inland capital before Bangkok at Ayutthaya that was readily accessible by boat up the broad and majestic Chao Phraya River.
It was therefore a major trading centre in its day, attracting merchants and adventurers not just from Asia but as far afield as Europe. The waterborne traffic ebbed both ways in ancient Siam, and captains often placed pottery items in the bowels of their vessels for ballast and stability. They could never have envisaged the value such items would acquire in the years to come.

Non-divers can get a good idea of the richness of these underwater artifacts by visiting the Underwater Archaeological Museum at Khai Nern Wong, an 18th century fort built by King Taksin on the outskirts of Chanthaburi on the Gulf of Thailand’s eastern seaboard. The collection, which is open Mondays to Saturdays, includes rare Sawankhalok pottery as well some ancient guns.

The museum provides a rich glimpse of the archaeological riches of Thai waters, but it is probably the kingdoms natural treasures that are proving a greater test of diving skills. Thailand has a growing reputation among cave divers due largely to the limestone caves found all along its western coast in the Andaman Sea.
Divers experienced in the use of tri-mix can enjoy some major challenges here. Indeed two of the largest caves so far discovered in Asia are in the vicinity of Krabi province, on the mainland near the island province of Phuket.

Sre Keow was one of the first to be explored. It is accessed through a pond of about 15 metres in diameter that was once mainly used for washing elephants. A small entrance at a depth of ten metres leads into one of the deepest caves so far discovered in Thailand.

Divers use rebreathers to reduce the tanks required for these dives. Rebreathers are a special type of underwater breathing apparatus that involve relatively small tanks. These filter out poisonous carbon dioxide during exhalation, enabling the diver to rebreathe exhaled gas until it is fully depleted.

A small rebreather weighs around 25 kilogrammes and allows a diver to stay underwater for three or four hours. In addition, extra tanks are staged inside the cave at about the 150-metre mark. These facilitate dives to the caves bottom at around 240 metres.

The total dive time required for such an expedition is six to eight hours. A large plastic container the size of a childrens paddling pool is inverted and submerged, and then tied off at a depth of about 4.5 metres. This creates an underwater habitat with an air pocket where the divers can decompress in relative comfort. As the nitrogen dissipates, they drink water to rehydrate and eat if they wish.

It is uncertain how many caves suited to diving exist in Thailand since new ones are being discovered all the time in the south, and also in lakes elsewhere. Another spectacular known cave, Song Hong, is shallower than Sre Keow but offers much deeper penetration into the rock formation. It is accessed through a larger 75-metre pond which sinks to a depth of 110 metres. About twelve metres down, a relatively small entrance provides access into a vast cave so large in fact that a light beam will not reach the cave wall on the other side.

Divers descending into the cave find survey lines fastened securely about every ten metres. They feel their way down along the primary line to a depth of about 120 metres, at which point the passage becomes more horizontal until it reaches a depth of about 140 metres.

The longest penetration of the cave so far from here onwards at the same depth is a remarkable 800 metres. The total dive time for such a feat is about six hours, and it requires a major team effort of typically two or three people. Extra tanks are staged along the route. The bottom diver uses twin rebreathers and a two-man diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) to carry him along.

Support divers are essential to such a dive, and equipment redundancy is a major preoccupation. Two and even three pieces of each type of equipment are often required for such a perilous undertaking. Should a rebreather flood at this depth and penetration, the only way for a diver to survive would be using an open circuit tank that has been specially staged, or a special bailout tank that must actually be carried alongside.

Breathing the wrong gas at the wrong depth can kill you in a matter of minutes, comments Henny Beeber, an American businessman resident in Thailand who is also a highly experienced technical diver.

So why do people take such enormous risks in the name of recreation? “I was the first person to reach a sunken US P-38 bomber in the Gulf, yet thousands of people have been to the top of Everest”, explains Beeber. “I am your average Joe, and the only way I could ever have got up Everest was if three sherpas carried me. Nothing can beat the sense of achievement and adventure diving gives me.”

A custom tailored selection of diving course provides the student with scuba diving industry service technician skills.

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Ian Jordan from his TDI Nitrox, BSAC/TDI Compressor Operator, BSAC/TDI Gas Blender and TDI Visual Inspections course conducted over a week by Instructors James Thornton-Allan and Ash Dunn on Koh Tao Island off the coast of Thailand.

The completed course give Ian the skills to improve his chances of employ-ability in the scuba diving industry giving him the ability to operate behind the scene in scuba diving resorts.The compressor operator course provides Ian with the ability to safely operate and conduct minor maintenance of scuba diving compressors, the gas blender add-on further gives ian the certification to make all mixes of nitrox by partial pressure or continuous flow systems. These courses were preceded by the required Nitrox Diver course and concluded with the TDI Visual Inspections Course which provides the ability to conduct repair on scuba cylinders and valves.

In will progress on to his BSAC Aqualung Repair Technician Course next week where he will learn how to service scuba diving equipment like regulators and bcd’s.

This will provide Ian with the skills and experience to be of an asset when looking for employment in the competitive and luxurious life as a scuba diving professional.

Certified scuba diving instructors cross over to become British Sub Aqua Club instructors.

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the successful graduation of Yvonne Fries, Helen Artal, Beccy Simnet, Andy Evans and Eric Soderlend from their BSAC Instructor Cross-Over Course conducted by BSAC National Instructor Les Skelton and BSAC Advanced Instructor Trainer James Thornton-Allan over 4 days on Koh Tao Island off the coast of Thailand. This course was also attended by Colin Thompson who continues to complete his full BSAC Instructor Rating from the level of Divemaster over additional days of training.

The BSAC Instructor Cross-Over Course requires for attending that you are an Instructor from any agency other than BSAC and working in a centre where BSAC courses are to be offered, Big Blue Tech is a BSAC Technical Centre and Big Blue Diving is a BSAC School of Excelence.

Knowledge of other diving agencies and how they work is useful as it will give you a greater understanding of how elements fit in across the different agencies. It must be emphasized that the crossover course Instructor examiner, is not there to assess your instructing ability but rather to acquaint you with BSAC methodology and knowledge so that you will have the tools to be able to deliver BSAC diving courses; mainly Ocean Diver, Sports Diver and Dive Leader. Decompression theory and Oxygen Administration included.

These students will receive BSAC Oxygen Administration Instructor as part of the 4 day cross-over to ensure they are properly trained to handle any type of emergency which is considered essential for any scuba diving instructor.

Senior scuba diving instructor receives technical diving certification.

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Dean Jenkins from his TDI Intro to Tech course conducted over 3 days by TDI Instructor Ash Dunn off the coast of Thailand on Koh Tao Island.

The TDI Intro to Tech course is the perfect course for divers who have heard about technical diving and want to find out more about this exciting branch of advanced recreational diving. This course walks students through the special techniques, planning procedures and skills that set technical diving apart from traditional sport diving. It will show them how to improve their dive planning methods, in-water skills and streamline their existing gear configuration, in a non-threatening and fun learning environment. The specific skills this course will highlight are:

• Advanced Buoyancy Control
• Gas Management
• Situational Awareness
• Trim
• Gear Configuration and Selection
• Many More!

TDI’s Intro to Tech course is a useful stand-alone course for the diver who wants to become a more skilled, more proficient diver regardless of if he intends to move on to technical diving. The course may also be used as an introduction to the TDI Advanced Nitrox course and the TDI Decompression Procedures course. And finally, it is also a good refresher for certified technical divers who may want to refresh their skills or have them re-evaluated by a TDI technical instructor.

Decompression diving techniques mastered on a wreck off the coast of Thailand

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the successful graduation of Edward Pearl from his TDI Decompression Procedures course conducted by TDI Instructor James Thornton-Allan and assisted by SSI TXR Instructor Chris Haslam on Koh Tao Island off the coast of Thailand.

As sport divers, planned decompression is not something that we do or have been taught. The TDI Decompression Procedures course prepares you for planned staged decompression diving. With a maximum operating depth of 45m/150 feet, this course is your first step beyond the normal sport diving limits. Your TDI Instructor will provide you with valuable information and skills, among the topics covered are

• Kit set-up
• Equipment requirements
• Decompression techniques
• Decompression breathing gases
• Gas management
• Contingency planning

The TDI Decompressions Procedures course combined with the TDI Advanced Nitrox course form the foundation of all other technical courses.  After these two courses and some additional experience, the stage has been set for you to move onto additional technical levels

This course was taught in combination with a day of wreck diving further exposing the student to different elements of technical diving.

The challenge of technical diving proves to be a rewarding endeavor for new students.

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Dive Master Intern Edward Pearl from his TDI Advanced Nitrox Course conducted over 3 days with 4 dives by TDI Instructor James Thornton-Allan off the coast of Thailand on Koh Tao Island.

Edward had previously completed his TDI Intro to Tech course in June with TDI Instructor Andrew Cavell and this was evident because of Edwards Buoyancy and Trim control which was excellent from the beginning.

The TDI Advanced Nitrox Course qualifies divers to use enriched air nitrox from EAN 21 through EAN 100 to a depth of 40 metres/130 feet during dives hat do not require staged decompression. Often taught in conjunction with the TDI Decompression Procedures course, this can be considered the foundation of your technical diving career.  Advanced Nitrox is also a great course for those wanting to extend their bottom times in shallower depths such as scientific diver, and a must for SCR or CCR divers.

Edward continues his new found passion for technical diving with his TDI Decompression Procedures course to follow.

British Sub Aqua Club scuba equipment course completed for Aqualung brand.

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Ash Dunn, Rachel Linnart and Jasmin Kollinger from their BSAC Aqualung Equipment Technician Course conducted by BSAC Instructor James Foleher during a 2 day hands on workshop on Koh Tao Island off the east coast of Thailand.

The BSAC Equipment Technician Course covers the repair, maintenance and service of all aqualung brand regulators from balanced, un-balanced and environmentally sealed to BCD’s and accessories like high pressure gauges and inflation hoses.

The 2 day course gives the students hands on practice and experience using the tools and equipment necessary for servicing these regulators.

This certification gives the students the ability to conduct warranty repair, service and authorized access to Aqualung service kits, tools and schematics.

3 weeks of training brings recreational diver to the pinnacle of deep air diving.

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Etienne De Beer from his TDI Extended Range conducted over 3 days by TDI Instructor James Thornton-Allan off the coast of Thailand on Koh Tao Island.

The TDI Extended Range course is at the pinnacle of deep air diving with training and certification to 55m using multiple mixes and gasses up to pure oxygen to accelerate decompression.

Etienne came to us from South Africa with his family to take the “Tech Diver Package” which included the TDI Intro To Tech, TDI Advanced Nitrox, TDI Decompression Procedures and finally TDI Extended Range. In addition to this package Etienne received the BSAC Extended Range Diver certification when his instructor James fractured his foot and had to remain out of the water for a period of time allowing his colleague Ash Dunn to replace him.

The course taught Etienne all the qualities and skills Big Blue Tech has to offer with over 25 logged technical dives. Etienne overcame some obstacles including the backwards fin kick which he achieved on dive 19 after weeks of practice and the strength of climbing out of the water with 4 cylinders on, a weight of 100kg ( cylinders weight 14kg each before you add all the valves and regulators) which he took in stride.

We’re always proud of our students and the effort that they put in to learn and focus and this course was no exception. in the final test or challenge Etienne excelled and performed above requirements.

5 diving specialties and 50 logged dives make the master scuba diver.

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Erika De Beer, Marike De Beer and Suzanne De Beer from their Master Scuba Diver course conducted over 3 weeks with 50 dives and 5 specialties by Master Scuba Diver Trainer James Foleher on Koh Tao Island off the coast of Thailand.

The Master Scuba Diver certification is a recognition of experience and is the highest non-professional rating available. The De Beer’s completed their Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle Diver (DPV) and Peak Buoyancy Diver along with unlimited diving up to the 50 required for certification.

The Master Scuba Diver course is designed to introduce divers to a vareity of discimplines and challenges to give them a balanced exposure to different elements of what scuba diving has to offer.

The students will receive their certifications back home in South Africa including a wall certificate, iron on patch and a separate Master Scuba Diver card. Congratulations!

Thailand’s caves provide perfect fresh water cave diving conditions

Khao Sok National Park, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrate the graduation of Simone Schuil and Neil Gregory from their TDI Intro to Cave and TDI Full Cave Diver course conducted over 5 days in Khao Sok National Park and Krabi by TDI CCR Full Cave Instructor Ben Reymenants.

This was the first in a unique program where cave diving is combined with mixed gas (See “TDI Advanced Trimix Course in Thailand” ). This option presents a solution to the possibility of bad weather while diving during the monsoon in Thailand. Advanced divers with a weak stomach from the rocking of the open ocean boats could choose freshwater caves to fulfill their training.

This month, Blue Label Diving joined hands with Big Blue Tech in Koh Tao to run such a program. Neil Gregory from Australia and Simone Schuil from the Netherlands did their full cave course is the protected shelter of Khaosok National park. Neil Gregory, already an advanced cave diver , took the chance to combine this highest level of cave diving with the highest level of open circuit mixed gas diving; the advanced trimix course.

The cave training in Khao Sok National park was combined with an advanced trimix course run from Phuket where academics and pool-training was conducted before heading off to the depths around Racha Noi.

Once competent in both Cave and trimix, the team took their steps further to gradually explore the depths of Sra Keow cave system in Aonang, Krabi province. Two resurgences were explored over 4 days to depths of 60m & 80m. The final day, a signed arrow was placed at the 100m mark on the permanent line.
Neil Gregory went proudly home holding the TDI full cave diver cert and the TDI advanced Trimix cert.

Simone Schuil achieved her TDI Trimix certificate and buddied up with Neil Gregory to become a full cave diver as well

Blue Label Diving and Big Blue Tech are planning their next full cave course to Khao Sok starting on 9^th of July. For inquiries look here