| IANTD used to be the only agency that promoted eanx throughout all levels of training in this sense:
Eanx Diver max 40%
Advanced Nitrox max 50%
Normoxic (when I did the course) 100% (think it used to be 80%)
Trimix 100%
So you used to get a better stepping stone affect along with the depth limits. But with competition with other agencies they changed the advanced nitrox to 100% in Dec 2006 when they updated the standards.
In fact I think the Advanced Recreational Trimix course is much better suited to people wanting to progress slowly, think about your average diver does OW, AOW, Rescue there is no decompression diving techniques taught, so the first time they meet it will be in this course. The BSAC have moved stance and now offer Sports Mixed Gas which I would love to see as a prerequisite to the depth progression in Diveleader since you only need be a sports diver to do the course.
So the adv rec mix course is equivalent to bsac adv eanx(theory course) + extended range + sports mixed gas(50m) except the decompression obligation problem so its a lot of course in one course hence the hefty materials and NEW manual. But 15mins(in the standards not on the back of the card) is more than enough for someone wanting to get into decompression diving, and after that you can progress your diving how want there are no dive police.
But as it has been said many times before choose the instructor that will develop your diving the way you want to go, and more importantly someone you trust. if you ask no questions you'll get no answers.  |