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The Professional Scuba Association International’s (PSAI) Expedition Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver course is designed for those divers who wish to use a Closed Circuit Rebreather with a trimix diluent during their diving activities. A diver able to dive with a rebreather and two or more off-board bailout cylinders in the company of at least one other certified diver without supervision in conditions similar to those experienced during this course to 100m
We can also supply CCR units from new, cheaper than direct sale and parts for all the Ambient Pressure Units through our trade department.
Course Objectives
The PSAI Expedition Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver Course student will be able to demonstrate proper Rebreather care and maintenance, both pre and post dive. The student will also demonstrate proficiency in the skills outlined below Skill Requirements, of this outline.
Course Qualifications
A diver able to dive with a rebreather and two or more off-board bailout cylinders in the company of at least one other certified diver without supervision in conditions similar to those experienced during this course.
Prerequisites for Course Entry
Course Minimums and Standards
Classroom Hour
This level requires review of specific information and techniques taught at PSAI Fundamentals Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver level. This level will require the completion of a specific written examination. Approximately 8 to 12 hours for classroom and practical demonstration (oxygen analysis, helium analysis, equipment marking and equipment rigging) are required to complete the PSAI Fundamentals Mixed Gas CCR Diver course.
Confined Water Dives
Confined water exercises should be conducted to familiarize the student with equipment rigging and placement, etc. should there be a long duration between courses. Any additional dives will not count as course dives.
Open Water Dives
Planned stage decompression dives will be included in the course.
A maximum depth for certified divers up to a maximum of 100 metres. Students shall have experience of at least 70% of the specified maximum working depth during this course.
Breathing Gas
a. The maximum PO2 during the dive is 1.4 bar.
b. A maximum PO2 of 1.6 bar can be used during the decompression phase of the dive or for emergency open circuit bailout.
c. On-board diluent gases must have a maximum PO2 of 1.1 bar at the expected maximum operating depth.
Course Instructional Materials Requirements
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Course Equipment Requirements
Standard Rebreather diving equipment appropriate for the environment of the CCR Mixed Gas dive. For all oxygen concentrations in excess of 40% by volume, or as specified by the individual equipment manufacturer or local regulation, all regulators and high-pressure equipment shall be appropriately oxygen cleaned.
Oxygen Analyzer equipped with an appropriate flow restrictor assembly/interface. An additional oxygen analyzer without an appropriate flow restrictor assembly/interface may also be shown, but only as an adjunct. The instructor should demonstrate how these secondary devices, if used, may result in inaccurate measurements.
Helium Analyzer with appropriate interface assemblies. An instructor may use a combination analyzer that has the provision to measure both oxygen and helium in the same unit.
Nitrox cylinder(s), appropriately cleaned, marked and maintained appropriately rigged as stage/decompression cylinders with an appropriately cleaned and serviced regulator and pressure gauge.
Two Delayed Surface Marker Buoys (DSMB) and appropriate main reel and backup reel or spool. One DSMB to be in fluorescent red and one in fluorescent yellow.
Redundant regulator/ADV, redundant time and depth monitors and redundant line cutting devices. Appropriate back-up tables and run-time schedules shall be used even in conjunction with dive computers.
Curriculum Requirements
By the end of the course the candidate shall have an appropriate knowledge of the following concepts for rebreather diving (course content should include all the following concepts unless inapplicable for the rebreather model used):
A. All of the theory competencies outlined in the PSAI Expedition Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Diver standard
B. Additional equipment required to be able to conduct decompression dives
C. Planning for redundancy of key life-support equipment
D. Techniques to be able to conduct decompression diving
E. Ensuring adequate bailout gas available for safe exit at any point during dive
F. Staying within maximum limits to avoid central nervous system (CNS) oxygen toxicity
G. Effect of gas density on breathing resistance
H. Planning and conducting decompression dives
I. Manual operation of a functioning rebreather
J. Manual control options to manage a malfunctioning rebreather
K. Managing hypoxic bailout gas mixtures
1. Removing and replacing two bailout cylinders at the surface and underwater
2. Exchanging a bailout cylinder with another diver while stationary in mid-water and maintaining neutral buoyancy
3. Exchanging a bailout cylinder with another diver during a simulated open circuit bailout ascent
4. Diluent flush
5. Use of CCR in SCR mode
6. Manual oxygen control
7. Manual diluent control
8. Manual setpoint control during ascent
9. Off-board plug-in to a CCR of oxygen and diluent gas supplies
Skill Requirements
Land Based -
A PSAI Expedition Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver student shall:
Confined Water -
There are no specified confined water skills for the PSAI Expedition Mixed Gas CCR Diver course.
Open Water - A PSAI Expedition Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver student shall, in addition to confirming abilities required of previous courses:
Conduct the dive according to their plan, as approved by the PSAI instructor.
Monitor gas pressures and surface with an acceptable safe margin.
Not to exceed any Maximum Operating Depth or Oxygen exposure limitations.
Correct setpoint choice.
Not to exceed any absorbent limitations.
Successfully Conduct and lead a dive to 72 meters (240 feet) or deeper with the Instructor or Divemaster as a buddy.
Successfully complete an emergency open circuit bailout and decompression phase from a dive of 61 meters (200 feet) or deeper where there is a
commitment to >20 minutes of stops.
Conduct accurate ascents and safety stops using both sidemount and staged
cylinders.
Practical Skill Requirements
The student shall have experience of at least 6 dives/water sessions and at least 360 minutes total open water time during the course. By the end of the course the candidate shall be able to perform the following skills (course content should include all the following items unless inapplicable for the rebreather model used):
Course Completion Performance Requirements
To be awarded the Professional Scuba Association International’s Expedition Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver certification, the student must:
The PSAI Instructor is responsible for ensuring that the Expedition CCR Mixed Gas Diver student has demonstrated the appropriate respect and understanding for diving with helium-based diving gases as well as the various decompression gases. If the student fails to maintain proper depth control, gas management awareness, etc., the instructor must require additional training until the appropriate standards are achieved prior to certification.
A diver that successfully completes the Expedition Mixed Gas CCR diving will be awarded certification credentials that verify their achievement of dives within 3 meters of 100 meters.
All levels of PSAI Rebreather certification cards are Brand & Model specific. The Brand and Model the student was trained on will be listed on the certification card. No “generic” rebreather certification cards will be issued by PSAI at any level.