Advanced Nitrox

[MxDiver]

For those of you familiar with both courses which one would you recommend and why?

IANTD Advance Nitrox or
DSAT Tec Deep Diver

I like to keep the discussion centered on the courses, rather than generalizations of the agencies. Also consider the instructors equally competent to teach the courses.

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by MxDiver

For those of you familiar with both courses which one would you recommend and why?

IANTD Advance Nitrox or
DSAT Tec Deep Diver

I like to keep the discussion centered on the courses, rather than generalizations of the agencies. Also consider the instructors equally competent to teach the courses.

First, the classes aren't equivalent. Advanced nitrox teached the basics of staged deco using 2 gases (max 50/50 withing rec limits (or 140', can't recall). The Tec Deep is closer the IANTD's tec nitrox class where you do full staged deco dives to 165'ish using O2 for deco.

Now, for which to do. A few questions:

How many dives in doubles do you have?
Do you own your doubles and tec rig?
Have you ever done a valve drill?
Have you ever used a reel underwater?
Have you ever used a lift bag underwater?
Any other advanced training - DM/OWSI or Cave?
Do you dive dry? (and own a drysuit)

The idea is to gauge your relative expierence. If it a lot of no's, I think you'll get more from Advanced Nitrox. If you've done most of this before, you might be ready for DSAT Tec.

My path was Advanced Nitrox - Normoxic Trimix from IANTD and I didn't have to go below 130 on air. (did it on trimix)

There is one other point to look at. Read some of the materials and start looking at the philosophy of the training. Technical Diving is a lot more mental than physical (though the physical stuff seems to beat you up more). Team concepts and indivual responsibility is highly stressed. Make sure you agree with some of the guiding philosophies. This is a purely personal decision you will have to make and it will evolve as you move forward into technical diving.

[MxDiver]

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

First, the classes aren't equivalent. Advanced nitrox teached the basics of staged deco using 2 gases (max 50/50 withing rec limits (or 140', can't recall). The Tec Deep is closer the IANTD's tec nitrox class where you do full staged deco dives to 165'ish using O2 for deco.

I did not find any reference to an IANTD’s tec nitrox class, I tried to match the two as evenly as I could, if you have a link to this course it will be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

Now, for which to do. A few questions:
How many dives in doubles do you have?

None

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

Do you own your doubles and tec rig?

Yes, twin steel 72s, and a Zeagle Ranger with a Manta wing

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

Have you ever done a valve drill?

Not on doubles, but I have switched over from my main tank to a pony opening and closing the valves, does that count?

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

Have you ever used a reel underwater?

Yes

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

Have you ever used a lift bag underwater?

Yes

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

Any other advanced training - DM/OWSI or Cave?

Yes, see this thread

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

Do you dive dry? (and own a drysuit)

No and no, but I own a shorty 3/2, full 3/2, and a 5mil, I live in Mexico, all of my diving takes place in tropical waters so I never had the need for a dry suit at any depth

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

The idea is to gauge your relative expierence. If it a lot of no's, I think you'll get more from Advanced Nitrox. If you've done most of this before, you might be ready for DSAT Tec.

I do not plan to take either course for the next 10 months, I’ll use this time to practice and develop my skills, including diving in doubles. I’m just doing my homework in advance, IANTD and PADI are the two choices I have to continue with my education thus I’m asking for opinions from more experienced folks.

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

My path was Advanced Nitrox - Normoxic Trimix from IANTD and I didn't have to go below 130 on air. (did it on trimix)

I am considering trimix after Tec deep/ nitrox, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

There is one other point to look at. Read some of the materials and start looking at the philosophy of the training. Technical Diving is a lot more mental than physical (though the physical stuff seems to beat you up more). Team concepts and indivual responsibility is highly stressed. Make sure you agree with some of the guiding philosophies. This is a purely personal decision you will have to make and it will evolve as you move forward into technical diving.

I have the Tec Deep manuals on the way; I have yet to find the IANTD literature.
I have also interviewed couple of instructors to see whom I feel most comfortable with and ask for tips as to prepare better for the class.

[texdiveguy]

Originally Posted by MxDiver

For those of you familiar with both courses which one would you recommend and why?

IANTD Advance Nitrox or
DSAT Tec Deep Diver

I like to keep the discussion centered on the courses, rather than generalizations of the agencies. Also consider the instructors equally competent to teach the courses.

IMO.....I am not overly familiar with the full IANTD programs....I do know about the DSAT ones though....they are good. I persl. found that the TDI programing was better suited for me.....it was broken out in stages of progression....DSAT from start to finish is 3 core courses which I find a bit much to cram into a technical class. With TDI you can if you want take an Intro Tech class....then proceed to Adv. Nitrox,,Deco Proc.,,Extended Range,,Trimix,,Adv. Trimix....and of course Adv. Wreck-Cave-Rebreather programs. I would highly recommend if you have not already done so complete a rec. Rescue course.

http://www.tdisdi.com/index.php?site=2

[MxDiver]

I'm not taking the course locally, I will be taking a week off to do it, and so I want to take it all at once. I just followed the link and found out TDI offers the courses I'm looking for in Coz, which is where I'm going. I guess I can add them to the list of options. Thanks.

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by MxDiver

I did not find any reference to an IANTD’s tec nitrox class, I tried to match the two as evenly as I could, if you have a link to this course it will be greatly appreciated.

I just looked at IANTD's current site and its now just technical diver.

Lastly, with the drysuit. Technical divers sometimes use large, heavy steel tanks where the drysuit is used as much for redundant buoyancy as it is for thermal protection.

Any way you go, make sure you are comfortable with your instructor. Its like everything else, its the actual instructor who teaches you the skills.

[MxDiver]

I really can’t see spending $1000.00+ on a dry suit to use it as redundant buoyancy. Instead I will invest in a wing with two independent bladders.
As for the instructor I definitely want to be confident on his abilities and philosophy. I already ruled one place out because I saw them filling thanks identified as nitrox with regular air, when I questioned this they just said “Oh we don’t use these for nitrox anymore”, then I asked how come the stickers weren’t removed, they said they would do it later, for me that is lack of discipline, something that in my book doesn’t mix with tech diving.

[RECDiver]

I am IANTD Advanced Nitrox. You might also consider the NAUI Advanced Nitrox course. Both are good courses.

[CompuDude]

If you're doing technical diving in a wetsuit, I would consider doubling up some Al.80s rather than trying to do steel tanks without a drysuit, double wing or not.

Master Diver is a nice rating, but it's not the same as DM/OWSI or Cave, which is what in_cavediver asked about.

I could consider moving over to a bp/w rig. The Ranger is almost there, and you could probably add the Zeagle backplate and use the rest of your existing gear.

You need to do a bunch of dives in doubles, and learn doubles valve drills. I would do this before going further. Intro to Tech might be a good way to get exposure to the skills you're going to want to have dialed in, before continuing on to the Advanced Nitrox or deco classes.

[texdiveguy]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

If you're doing technical diving in a wetsuit, I would consider doubling up some Al.80s rather than trying to do steel tanks without a drysuit, double wing or not.

Technical diving with steel tanks in the appropriate 'mil' wet suit with either a dual bladder wing or redundant stacked wing as I prefer is perfectly safe and very common. I never have understood the logic in those whom warn against it.....I have persl. with other technical divers executed a number of st. cylinder/wet suit dives fully protected as much as one can in a redundant inflation system.