What is a trimix diver?
Trimix is a breathing gas consisting of oxygen, helium and nitrogen and is used in deep commercial diving, during the deep phase of dives carried out using technical diving techniques, and in advanced recreational diving.
What does a technical diver do?
Tec divers are able to visit reefs and wrecks at depths well below the 40 metre/130 foot recreational limit. With specialized training, they can explore underwater caves and other places well beyond the reach of mainstream sport diving.
When was technical diving invented?
Technical diving emerged in between the mid-1980s to the mid-to-late-1990s, and much of the history of its development was recorded in “aquaCorps, The Journal for Technical Diving” (1990-1996), started by Michael Menduno to provide a forum for these aspects of diving that most recreational diving magazines of the time …
How long can a technical diver stay underwater?
Based on personal experience, an average open-water certified diver using a standard aluminum 80-cubic-foot tank on a 40-foot dive will be able to stay down for about 45 to 60 minutes before surfacing with a safe reserve of air still in the tank.
Why do divers breathe trimix?
And, finally, there is the so-called “helium penalty.” Current decompression theory suggests that breathing trimix increases decompression obligation. This is due to helium’s propensity to enter body tissues quickly (due to its lightness) and exit them quickly on ascent.
How deep can you dive on trimix?
The Tec Trimix Diver course takes experienced tec divers and turns them into extreme divers who go deeper and visit pristine sites where few others will ever go. During the course, you’ll make dives as deep as 90 metres/300 feet, but once you earn this tough certification, there are few limits.
How long does it take to be a tech diver?
PADI TECREC TEC 40 COURSE – 4 DAYS / 4 DIVES The Tec 40 is the entry point into technical diving, the transition from recreational diving. During the course you will be using the full technical diving equipment configuration of twin banded tanks and carrying up to one stage tank to a maximum depth of 40 meters.
How deep can a technical diver go?
170 feet to 350 feet
While the recommended maximum depth for conventional scuba diving is 130 feet, technical divers may work in the range of 170 feet to 350 feet, sometimes even deeper.
What do tech divers breathe?
For the most part, deep divers will always be breathing some mix of these three elements (Oxygen, Nitrogen and Helium). Two other gas mixes which are less common but still in use are Heliair (Helium mixed with normal air, maintaining the normal ratio of Oxygen : Nitrogen) or Heliox (only Oxygen and Helium).
How deep can you dive without decompression?
130 ft
A diver at 6 metres (20 ft) may be able to dive for many hours without needing to do decompression stops. At depths greater than 40 metres (130 ft), a diver may have only a few minutes at the deepest part of the dive before decompression stops are needed.
How long does it take to dive 100 ft?
For instance, the time you can spend SCUBA diving at 100 feet is 20 minutes whereas if you limit your dive depth to 35 feet, you could stay for 205 minutes (if you had enough air).
Why do SAT divers use helium?
Benefits of helium for divers In some dives, both nitrogen and oxygen can induce a state similar to drunkenness. Adding helium to the mix reduces this so divers can think more clearly. Using helium can also mean divers can take fewer stops on their return to the surface, without suffering decompression sickness.