Recreational scuba divers discover the benefits of Nitrox

Koh Tao, Thailand

Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Ana Pinto and Mark Barham from the TDI Nitrox Diver course.

The TDI Nitrox Diver course is the most complex and difficult Nitrox course of all those on offer. It’s mandatory that students understand SAC rates, complex dive planning with tracking of both CNS Oxygen Toxicty and OTU’s, the use of equipment for oxygen systems, safety measures and many more topics that have long been discarded in the process of making Nitrox diving more accesible and easy to do.

The course includes a 50 question exam which takes approximately 1 hour. This course gave Ana and Mark who are HSE Scuba Divers a true challenge and a valuable education.

With 2 nitrox dives completed and an afternoon of theory Ana and Mark both move on to their Rescue Diver Course.

Divers advance their theory and dive skills in Thailand.

Koh Tao, Thailand – Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Magnus Baer from the TDI Advanced Nitrox course which was conducted over 2 days with 4 technical dives.

Continuing from Magnus’ Intro To Tech course this course builds on those skills with the introduction of using high mixes of nitrox and using nitrox to manipulate the absorption of nitrogen. Big Blue Tech decided to introduce the use of a sling or stage cylinder to help get Magnus ready for his Decompression Procedures course which would follow the next day.

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.   The course cover topics like

• Equipment requirements
• Dive planning
• Oxygen tracking
• Blending methods

The 4 dives was a team effort by Technical Instructors James Thornton-Allan, Andy Cavell and assisted by Technical Divemaster Thomas Halstrom.

Three months of renovation reveal new facilities for technical divers.

Koh Tao, Thailand – What started as a 2 week project in November of 2009 developed into many months of painting, building, digging and drilling to build a dedicated technical diving facility which would host all the comforts and necessities for all our diving activities and staff.

One of the major problems experienced in November of 2009 was a lack of space for all our equipment and divers which came from an increase in popularity and reputation. As the major of the work was completed while we were closed during the monsoon season in November it was the small touches that took a long time.

These small touches including the continuous flow trimix system, private bathroom with shower, out door patio and facilities to accommodate 10 fully kitted technical divers along with class rooms space, wifi internet, fridge and surround stereo to create the perfect atmosphere for our way of doing things.

With the signs finally hung on the outside of the doors and the landscaping completed today we could finally put our feet up and enjoy the end of the extension of the “tech shack” Next month begins the expansion of the administration offices which don’t effect our divers and the re-opening of our 25 room accomodation facility which received a face lift recently including new beds and surfaces.

Entry level technical diving course completed today in Thailand

Koh Tao, Thailand – Big Blue Tech celebrates the graduation of Magnus Baer from the TDI Intro to Tech Diver Course which is the first element in the 4 course technical diver program.

The TDI Intro to Tech course is designed to offer students the skills found in the GUE Fundamentals Course which focus on strict buoyancy and trim along with skills in the water without moving. While other organizations allow skills to be mastered sitting on their knees in the sand TDI Courses put emphasis on the ability to remain horizontal without making contact with anything underwater which illustrates control.

One of the more interesting skills to help you take control of your environment is the advanced propulsion techniques of backwards finning where you remain horizontal but kick in a backwards frog kick style and move away from objects without using your hands. Additionally the practice of bailing to back up mask, out of air, sharing air, gas shut downs and lift bag deployment all while neutrally buoyant gave Magnus the ability to progress on to the TDI Advanced Nitrox course which starts on Monday after the weekend.

Like all our courses, Magnus was issued with his certification because he excelled at the skills in the water and performed above expectation.

Technical divers explore underwater sculptures on Koh Tao

Koh Tao, Thailand – During technical diver training for Magnus Baer the training team explored a new feature on Koh Tao called ‘Buoyancy World’ which is a island wide initiative created with the support for Marine Conservation Koh Tao

Buoyancy world is an alternative dive site and coral nursery designed and constructed by the island’s community and dive schools through the Save Koh Tao group. This island wide project is part of a larger program being enacted by the Save Koh Tao Marine Branch in order to monitor and protect our local resources and ecosystems.

Through this project a new dive site has been constructed which is specially designed to function as a buoyancy training site and coral/fish nursery. By increasing novice diver’s buoyancy skills with obstacles not found naturally on a reef we hope to reduce incidences of personal injury/illness and protect natural reef areas from damage. By also acting as a coral/fish nursery the project will help to restore and improve the abundance and biodiversity of Koh Tao’s reefs and help to offset local anthropogenic impacts. Additionally, this project will further increase awareness and community involvement on environmental conservation projects and improve tourist perceptions of Koh Tao.

The general plan of the site is various features built separately and then set up in close proximity to form one cohesive site. Features include:

• Training Aids
  • Swim-throughs or caves
  • Rings, hoops, and other obstacles
  • Balance beams
  • Hover weights
  • Permanent CESA Lines
  • Navigation check points
  • Search and recovery objects
  • Ecological Monitoring Program/Reef Check Belt Transects
• Coral Nursery Platforms/anchoring points
• Art & Sculptures
• Fish Nurseries/aggregates
• Diverse habitats for Marine Organisms

On this day we used the features of Buoyancy World to help improve the trim and underwater control for Magnus who started his first skills in technical diving gear. These skills will be enhanced with more training leading up to his certification dives tomorrow for the TDI Intro to Tech course.

Technical diver training begins on Koh Tao

Koh Tao, Thailand – Today Big Blue Tech starts a tec course for Magnus Baer who comes from season and has been travelling for the past 4 months on a round the world trip.

Magnus has been to Koh Tao before working on the Island as a diving instructor so this would be a familiar setting for him t o learn more challenging diving.

Magnus’ tech diving course will include the ‘Intro To Tech’ , ‘Advanced Nitrox’ , ‘Decompression Procedures’ and ‘Extended Range’ modules from TDI (Technical Diving International) which is the leading and most recognized technical diving certification agency in the world. TDI’s motto of ‘We lead, Others Follow’ is indicative of their and our style of technical diving.

While Magnus joined us for specifically TDI training it was the small touches provided by Big Blue Tech which made the difference. The equipment provided for use during the course is staggering and top of the line.

Magnus was issued the following equipment today for use for the duration of his course.
-    Boots, OMS Slipstream Fins, 3mm Wetsuit
-    OMS 60lbs Double Bladder Wing with Aluminium Back plate and Comfort Harness
-    Oms Thigh Pocket, 2 lift bags, OMS Cavern Reel, Finger Reel
-    Titanium Knife, Wrist Slate, Primary and Secondary Torch
-    Backup and Primary Mask
-    Uwatec Bottom Timer and Depth Gauge
-    Suunto Vytec Ds, Compass
-    Apeks XTX 20 back gas regulators
-    Scubapro decompression regulators
-    Personal O2 tank, personal twinset, personal lean mix tank and hardware
-    OMS deco clip hardware and rigging

This is the standard equipment issued to all our students and fun divers. The choice to use this equipment has been based on years to testing other types to fail.

In addition to equipment, Magnus was taken through a refresher of his dive theory including basic physics and physiology to help bring him up to speed with the coming theoretic knowledge needed to succeed on this course.

At lunch Magnus was also taken out by James, Ash and Andy from the team for his 800m swim test which was completed under the required time of 10 minutes.

Tomorrow would be the start of the shallow water skills with his Intro to Tech course which focuses on buoyancy, trim and water control, which is a required foundation for all future technical diving.

One of the busiest months on Koh Tao starts off with a bang.

Koh Tao, Thailand – Big Blue Tech was very busy today with the combined effort of most staff working around the clock with different activites.

Dean Jenkins was out taking the divemaster interns out for a dive on one of our local wrecks and tooks some time out for some diving in tech gear. Ash and Andrew were working together to complete a Search and Recovery Specialty for Felix including search patterns, lift bags, knot tying and scenarios. Helen is teaching advanced level courses and spent most of the day in tech gear and analyzing nitrox.Thomas was out on the rebreather. Duncan and James had the day off so played football on the beach.

This might not seem very hectic but tomorrow is the start of a tech course from beginner to extended range followed by more technical diving leading up to a trip at the end of the month.