TDI Deco Procedures Course

[Mr T.]

Dudes,

OK, on the build up to 'greater things' I've gone and done it - I've gone and bought the TDI Deco-Procedures course and will be doing it with Andy Hayhurst at a date to be confirmed soon.

So can you guys please give me your experiences (do's and dont's etc.) and/or suggestions for this gig?

Will I need my own trapeze? And what about a gold lame leotard? Twirling batton?

Seriously folks, any helps gladly received.

Cheers in advance,

[Davey Willo]

The first thing you're gonna need to learn to do mate is exactly the problem I'm having at the moment and that's being able to shut down all three of those bloody valves...

Yoga anyone??  

[Mr T.]

Roger that Davey,

Being-able-to-place-ankles-on-back-of-neck classes will start Monday.

I can do it with a slight loosening of the waist-harness, but just reaching back and sorting it is proving illusive/impossible.  

Ah well, practice and all that. You never mentioned any advice about the lame leotard mate? I'm shocked!

[Mark Scott-Simons]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]being able to shut down all three of those bloody valves...

But not all at the same time as an ex GF once did.. but only once.  

Scotty

[Dr Stevil]

<font color='#0000FF'>I know there's been a bit of interest from others here (Dave, Gav myself etc), any other YD-ers booked on it yet ? Do I detect another troop gig in the offing? I realise date is TBC but any rough approximations of when?
Chee-az
Steve

[Mr T.]

Hey Steve,

You're right, Willo, 2Tanx, Jay, You, Gav, Wee Ben, there is a squad of us who'd like to do the course at various times over the coming year.

You may remember Duncan ('Dunkster') who dived with us at Hodge on the mass Adv Nitrox course weekend? He's currently (as I write) doing the course with Andy Dales.

I'm yet undecided when I'm gonna do it, but sometime in the next coupla months looks likely. You?

[darlodiver]

Bren and yall, as a relative newby allthings diving the whole area of trimix/task loading amazes me (perhaps one day).
But vis-a-vis reaching the valves I've seen guys using inverted rigs I assume for that reason??
tell me to go away!!
darlodiver

[Mark]

<font color='#000080'>Bren,

I did the course last year, combined with Adv. nitrox. It's easy and I found it very usefull at the time. As long as you can hold a stop and can follow runtimes you shouldn't have any major problems.

You say you can't reach your valves. If you set up your harness as they discribe on that BAUE site (main points to bare in mind are:

1. The top of the backplate should be level with the 2nd vertebrate and you should be able to reach back and touch it with your suit/undergarments on. If you can't reach it your suit/undersuit is probably restricting your movement and you will have problems.

2. The shoulder straps should be pretty tight as they will stop the tanks from moving down (and away from your hands). When they are correctly adjusted it will be awkward to get out of the rig.

3. When doing a valve drill keep your head jammed back against the isolator and try to squeeze your shoulder blades together. Do not look down or arch your back as you will be pushing the valves out of reach. Also, stay horizontal as gravity will pull the tanks away from your hands if you loose trim and go at all vertical.

It works for me.

HTH.

Mark.

[Mr T.]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (darlodiver @ Mar. 13 2003,14:28)]Bren and yall, as a relative newby allthings diving the whole area of trimix/task loading amazes me (perhaps one day).
But vis-a-vis reaching the valves I've seen guys using inverted rigs I assume for that reason??
tell me to go away!!
darlodiver

Hey Darlo,

You are right in one respect, inverted twins (or 'Twinverts') are used by a goodly number of divers (Hobby, Steve W, Andy2Tanx from these very boards being day-to-day practitioners of the 'art') are used for a number of reasons - here's a couple:

* Personal choice - where that diver has tried other options including 'standard' config twins, but has found that for them, inverting their rig allows the freedom of movement to enact a shut-down and isolation is a hurry. Some divers are simply not happy or comfortable with the standard twin-rig config.

* Military/RE/Royal Navy Diver - these guys dive to rules that any recreational and some tech divers would find simply anathema. They don't get the option to dive in a recreational dive rig as you and I might understand the term, whilst 'on the job'. Mine-clearance, U/w Ex - when not using their rebreathers - all dive using the modified 'twinverts' on most jobs. If ever you get to see the video of the RN re-setting the White Ensign on the wreck of HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow (a video I can strongly recomment you all watch), then you will see a number of configs used, but mainly the one above.

There are certain schools of diving which might frown on the use of 'twinverts', but then again, the guys actively diving using the rig are passed caring about what any given diving agency might have to say.

HTH.

[Mr T.]

Hey Mark,

Very lucidly put mate.

Indeed, very much worth trying to 're-jig' (a technical term with which not all of you may be familiar &nbsp; &nbsp my rig before my next wet before giving in-water stuff a try-out also.

Thanks very much - very good advice for all in a similar boat to me I feel.