Expedition Mixed Gas Rebreather Diver 61-100m

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Inspiration - Expedition Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver 61-100m - 3 days

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

  • The student shall be at least 18 years old at time of course entry.
  • Certification - student shall have graduated from a PSAI Fundamentals Mixed Gas Rebreather Diver course or equivalent (RTC Level 2).
  • Prior Dive Experience - The diver must have at least the competencies described in the PSAI Advanced Rebreather Diver (Decompression Diving) standard. In addition, they shall have logged 100 hours of experience since previous quailfcation with a CCR with at least 50% of them logged on the same configuration of CCR to be used in the course.
  • Medical Screening
    Documented evidence shall be obtained that the student has been medically screened as suitable for recreational diving by means of an appropriate questionnaire or medical examination. In any case of doubt, or at the instructor’s discretion, students shall be referred to proper medical resources. If the student is not examined by an appropriate medical professional (e.g. physician) the student shall be obliged to confirm by signature that he or she has understood written information given by the instructor on diseases and physical conditions which may pose diving-related risks.


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

  1. In this Advanced Mix Gas Closed Circuit Diver Program there are six (6) dives required of 60 minutes minimum duration each dive (at least 360 minutes of total open water time during the course). To achieve certification all dives are using a trimix, heliair or heliox diluent and one dive in each phase must be within three 3 meters of the desired certification level. Oxygen percentage is no lower
    than 10% (+/- 1%).

  2. Planned stage decompression dives will be included in the course.

  3. For any training dives that do not include required decompression stops, safety stops are required.

  4. 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

  1. Acceptable Gas Mixtures
    Course participants must be trained in the use of heliox and normoxic trimix mixtures with a recommended END of 30 metres or shallower and an absolute maximum END of 40 metres. Air may be used as a diluent for shallower training dives.
  2. Maximum Oxygen Partial Pressures

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

  • All students will use the PSAI Mixed Gas Diver manual and Closed Circuit Mixed Gas Diver manual and appropriate dive planning materials.
  • All students will use the manufacturers recommended documents or instruction manual for the chosen Rebreather.
  • PSAI Rebreather instructors will use this Standard and the PSAI Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver Course Guide, as a minimum.

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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:

  • Plan Mixed Gas CCR dives based on specified gases, setpoint and dive depths.
  • Properly pack and repack an absorbent canister using granular fill absorbent material. If pre-packed absorbent canisters such as “Extend-Air” are available, ensure these are fitted and used also.
  • Properly assemble and test a Rebreather prior to every dive.
  • Properly conduct pre-dive and pre-breathe checks prior to all dives.
  • Properly conduct all maintenance.
  • Verify equipment suitability and markings.
  • Assist with all gas preparation for the group. Where there is no prior blending experience the Instructor will ensure the student understands how gases for differing situations are decanted from larger cylinders safely using a suitable oxygen clean decanting whip.


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):

  • All of the practical competencies outlined in the Technical Rebreather Diver Level 2 standard
  • Remove and replace two or more bailout cylinders at the surface and underwater
  • Exchange bailout cylinders with another diver while stationary in mid-water and maintaining neutral buoyancy
  • Exchange bailout cylinders with another diver during a simulated open circuit bailout ascent
  • Manual operation of the functioning rebreather
  • Use an off-board plug-in diluent gas supply to diver's CCR
  • Use an off-board plug-in oxygen gas supply to diver's CCR
  • Manual setpoint control during ascent
  • Manual response(s) to the following rebreather malfunctions (if applicable to the specific rebreather):
    1. Hypoxia
    2. Hyperoxia
    3. Hypercapnia
    4. Cell problems
    5. Loss of diluent
    6. Loss of oxygen
    7. Other rebreather warnings/alarms as appropriate
    8. Use of CCR in SCR mode
    9. Conduct of decompression or safety stops
    10. Switching to off board bail out and conducting an ascent


Course Completion Performance Requirements

To be awarded the Professional Scuba Association International’s Expedition Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver certification, the student must:

  • Attend all academic sessions.
  • Successfully master all academic and in-water skills.
  • Correctly set-up all electronic monitoring parameters fitted to Rebreather.
  • Correctly perform all dry land-based checks and maintenance.
  • Complete the PSAI Advanced Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver written examination with a score of at least 80%. All questions shall be correctly answered or remediated and explained. Each level will have a separately reviewed exam.
  • Conduct the open water dives with appropriate skill and attention to all dive parameters and requirements, including maximum operating depths and adherence to decompression stop depths.
  • Perform a minimum of two (2) DSMB deployments for the purpose of decompression depth reference. The student will demonstrate the skill necessary to deploy the DSMB in an expeditious manner, completing the deployment in less than one (1) minute. Other dives may be performed utilizing anchor line reference or other natural references as long as the instructor has verified the competence of DSMB deployment from depth and correct use on ascent.
  • Demonstrate the procedure to identify and isolate a malfunctioning decompression gas regulator. This skill shall be conducted on the bailout dive.
  • Demonstrate navigational techniques appropriate for the CCR Mixed Gas dives performed.
  • Tow a simulated un-conscious diver to an up-line, shotline or anchorline for a minimum of 10 meters while at a depth in excess of 60 meters.
  • Conduct an accurate post-dive de-brief.
  • Correctly plan, execute, and log the required dives.


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.


Course Cost 

  • £924


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