Dacorum Sub Aqua Club
Technical Diver Training
This page outlines the technical diver training in BSAC.
BSAC air diving qualifications
BSAC diving qualifications have the following depth and decompression limits while diving on air:
- Diver Leader and above : 50m max, decompression allowed
- Sport Diver : 35m max, decompression allowed
- Ocean Diver : 20m max, no decompression
- Trainee : 6m max, no decompression
BSAC open circuit technical training
There are the three BSAC open circuit qualifications leading to technical diving:
- Basic Nitrox Diver may use nitrox gas of up to 40% oxygen for no decompression stop diving.
- Advanced Nitrox Diver is qualified to use nitrox gas of up to 50% oxygen and do decompression diving.
- Extended Range Diver is qualified to do accelerated decompression using nitrox gas of up to 80 oxygen
Although BSAC has no trimix qualifications of its own, it sanctions the use of trimix by externally qualified Diver Leaders and above to a depth of 70m.
BSAC closed circuit technical training
BSAC has recently introduced its own rebreather qualifications and but it sanctions the use of certain closed circuit and semi-closed circuit rebreathers by externally qualified Diver Leaders.
If using nitrox, the rebreather diver is limited to a depth of 40m with minimal decompression. If using trimix, the rebreather diver is limited to a depth of 70m or the maximum specified by their external qualification, which ever is less.
Getting trimix trained
To become trimix qualified a diver needs these qualifications :
- Dive Leader
- Advanced Nitrox : 2 days and £100
- Extended Range : 3 days and £200
- Normoxic Trimix : 5 days and £500
- Hypoxic Trimix : 4 days and £400
Technical diving requires more training, experience, equipment and diver discipline than Sport Diving. It does not appeal to everyone.
Other training
BSAC also offers these courses :
- Full face mask
- Gas blending
Follow this link to find out what technical diving takes place at DSAC.