Deco Procedures

What will you learn?

Theory:

• Overview of Decompression Safety Stops Compared to Required Stops.
• Physics
• Physiology
  • Mechanics of bubble formation.
  • Advantages of hyperoxic mixes for decompression.
  • Nitrogen absorption and elimination.
  • Carbon dioxide toxicity.
  • Ascent / Descent rates.
  • Hyperthermia.
  • Hypothermia.
  • Psychological aspects
• Decompression Options
  • Air.
  • Nitrox.
  • Oxygen.
• Equipment Considerations
• Dive Tables vs. Computers
  • Introduction and review of different models (Bühlmann, DCIEM, US Navy, etc.)
  • Proper use of electronic multi-level dive computers for dive planning and decompression.
• Dive Planning
  • Standard operation.
  • Emergency planning.
• Procedures
  • Primary and decompression gas.
  • Descent.
  • Ascent.
  • Fixed or Drifting
    Decompression Methods.
  • Support.

Land drills:

• Selection and preparation of equipment suitable for soft overhead environment.
• Conduct team oriented drills, buddy checks, for lift bag deployment.
• Conduct team oriented drills, buddy checks, for gas switching procedures.
• Gas matching among buddy team.
• Demonstrate familiarity with basic hand signals.
• Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning.
  • Limits based on personal and team gas consumption.
  • Exact dive and decompression profile

Water skills:

• Use START* before every dive.
• Stress analysis and mitigation.
• Demonstrate buoyancy control; ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet
• Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices
• Demonstrate comfort swimming on surface and at depth carrying single decompression stage cylinder
• Demonstrate ability to drop and retrieve single decompression cylinder while maintaining position in the water column
• Demonstrate ability to deploy a lift bag solo and as member of team.
• Demonstrate controlled / staged ascent on lift bag / emergency ascent line (lost a scent line)
• Remove and replace mask (deploy backup mask)
• Demonstrate appropriate reaction to gas hemorrhage from manifold or first stage, SPG and primary regulator
• React to BCD inflator malfunction; disconnect LP hose, dump gas and orally inflate BCD/Wing to neutral buoyancy
• Demonstrate ability to confirm gas switch(es) at depth with buddy/team members
• Buddy breathing decompression gas for at least 1 minute
• Demonstrate appropriate reaction to simulated free-flowing decompression regulator
• Demonstrate appropriate modifications to deco schedule in decompression emergency (over time, over depth) (to be simulated)
• Demonstrate tired diver tow at depth and on surface, 30 meters / 100 feet lateral each.
• Complete a horizontal breath hold swim at depth for 15 meters / 45 feet.
• Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits.
• Contingency situations and problem-solving, as appropriate by instructor.
• A safety stop of at least 3 minutes shall be conducted on all no-decompression dives and proper staged decompression stops whenever and wherever mandated.
• Demonstrate (simulated) emergency gas sharing at a stationary depth not to exceed 30 metres / 100 feet.
• Demonstrate emergency deployment of a backup regulator or bail-out scuba system containing bottom mix at a depth not exceeding 30 metres / 100 feet
• Demonstrate the proper deployment, management and use of the bottom mix, decompression mix and travel mix, if used.

Included throughout the course:

• Private instructor.
• Classroom sessions.
• Transport to the cenotes or boat from the shop.
• Single, CCR, side-mounted and double tanks.
• Weights.
• EAN 32 fillings.
• Certification card.
• Water and snacks.

Not included:

• Entrance to cenotes (Per day between US$10 and US$15).
• Diving Equipment
• Manual or elearning
• Nitrox or Helium mixes.
• Lunch.
• Diving insurance.

Additional Services

• Equipment rental and/or sale
• Basic diving gear
  • Rental US$ 5 each x day (Wetsuit, Mask, Boots, Fins)
• Gases Example
  • EAN 50, 80 CUF. US$ 21 por tanque
  • O2 100% 13 CUF. US$ 25 por tanque
  • Trimix 21/35 80 CUF. US$ 85 por tanque
• Cave Equipment
  • Sidemount Harness (Rental US$ 20 x day).
  • Sidemount Regulator Set (Rental US$ 25 x day).
  • Twinset Wing / Backplate (Rental US$ 20 x day).
  • Twinset Regulator Set (Rental US$ 25 x day).
  • Stage Regulator and Rig ( US$ 15 x day).
  • Cave Primary Light (US$ 20 x day).
  • Backup Light (US$ 5 usd x day).
• DepuradScrubberor
  • EAC cartridge US$ 85 (4-5 hours of scrubbing approx.)
  • Sofnolime 8 – 12 US$ 12 x lb.

Important Information:

Plan carfully your trip to minimize your enviromental impact, please avoid sunscreen / mosquito repellent or other skin products for all water activities. Whenever possible, choose rechargable batteries and aviod to carring things like disposable razors, plastic bags, plastic water bottels, etc. We are in a very fragil and pristine enviroment and is our responsability to keep it that way.

We will do our best to improve your skills and knowledge, we will also establish the best training plan according to the skills and experience of each diver to help them succeed in the course, but consider that sometimes we need extra days to reach the objectives with a classroom or water sessions and apply extra fee if necessary. We strongly recommend students to plan at least two extra days just in case.

Notes:

Please bring change of clothes & towels for cenote training days.

All courses are available in English or Spanish.