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After 23 years of diving and pushing the
envelope I decided to do a trimix course and make it all
legal. (Actually I was offered the course for half price and
couldn't resist it.) The course organisers, Deep Blue Diving
are based in Plymouth, South Devon, where they have an
excellent waterfront location.
Trimix is a custom-made gas mix consisting
of oxygen, helium and nitrogen. The benefit of which is to
reduce the narcotic effect of nitrogen on deep dives. The
disadvantage is that a greater decompression penalty is
incurred. Having dived at depth on both air and trimix gasses
I will gladly pay the price of the gas and of the longer
decompression penalty and use trimix - there is no substitute
for a clear head. (Those of you who dive deep on air and think
you are not "narked up" are in for a major shock if
you try trimix.)
What did the course cover?
Diving physiology psychology
Gas mix selection
Equivalent nitrogen depths (narcosis level)
Oxygen toxicity
Emergency scenarios
Dive planning deco planning
Gas mixing |
Under water skills:
Gas shutdowns
Out Of Air drills
Side sling
removal/ refit
Buoyancy control
DSMB launch
Line laying |
What did I think to the course?
Excellent! I highly recommend diving and
training with "deep blue".
What did I get from the course?
Apart from the further knowledge of trimix-
an appreciation of the need to practice and humbling
experience of knowing I am not quite as good as I thought I
was!
What do I think to trimix?
To be able to dive to in excess of 70m and
still have a clear head does it for me!
What I must say to those reading this is
there is no substitute for experience. It has taken me over 20
years to reach this level and deep diving is not to be taken
lightly. If you want any advice please ask.
As for the answer to the question at the top
of this article - Don't be silly!
Brian Smith.
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