General Feeling on Deep Air

[Brian of Aquanauts]

I have some friends that are going dowm the technical route and their instructor is encouraging them to do TDI Extended Range for UK diving ie up to 55m on air. He can teach trimix but he seems to push ER before Trimix.

Considering all the local deaths we've had over the years round here on wrecks around that range from divers diving air, and my GUE stand point my viewpoint is a bit biased.

I was wondering what is the general consensus about Deep Air in the UK Technical Arena at the moment, and at what point would most of you switch to a Helium mixture?

(please only answer if you've actually done say at least 25 dives pref more in this depth range.)

[David]

it all sound at bit strange to me, or is it another dollar salesmanship. you could argue that with a trimix ticket you dont need anymore instructions :-) so is he just selling that extra course first.

I can not think of any sane reason to be at 55 meters on air.

David

[stevechesh]

Yep, i dive deep air when i have to. Sometimes it's quite difficult to get trimix if you're diving for a few consecutive days. It's also not necessarily the availabilty either, but the actual timings of the tides/boat versus the shop opening hours and mixing time. etc etc.

Do i think it's unsafe?....Not overly, but trimix is obviously preferable. You certainly have to build up to these dives especially when using air only.

That said i prefer trimix to air for deep dives as i feel much more relaxed and aware of what i'm doing.

Steve

[Richie]

Originally Posted by David

I can not think of any sane reason to be at 55 meters on air.

David

It always used to be fine so why not now???

Is it that we have become wusses or just sensible I wonder

[David]

Originally Posted by Richie

It always used to be fine so why not now???

Is it that we have become wusses or just sensible I wonder

I used to loads of drugs listen to loud music and have sex with as many women as I could. Now I am old I find I have given two them up.... :-)

you calling me a wuss :-)

David

[NotDeadYet]

Originally Posted by Richie

It always used to be fine so why not now???

Is it that we have become wusses or just sensible I wonder

Cigarette companies used to say fags were good for the lungs as well.

It's progress, nothing to do with being a wuss or not.

I don't know if anyone remembers Mike Menduno and AquaCORPS but Mike famously opened the first ever technical diving conference in the early 90's by saying technical diving was invented so we didn't have to dive deep on air. That was about 14-15yrs ago.

Rebreathers today are at a better cost/safety/availability level as trimix was in the early 90's. Maybe it's time we started saying RB's were invented so we didn't have to dive deep on air.

I've spent the last couple of years diving trimix on every dive regardless of depth, I ended up on a wreck at 50m the other week with a topped off dil, so had a narc of probably around 35m. I found it very uncomfortable and did not feel happy being there. I couldn't go back to diving deep on air.

Cheers,

Stuart

[Richie]

Originally Posted by David

I used to loads of drugs listen to loud music and have sex with as many women as I could. Now I am old I find I have given two them up.... :-)

you calling me a wuss :-)

David

No way just older and wiser like me (sometimes)

back to the OP

The approach to diving has changed with a greater emphasis on safety together with the possibility of deeper, longer and more challenging dives open to the non professional.
Air has its place in deeper but secure environments - quarries, warm shiney water but for difficult condition at depth then a clear head is probably useful.

I speak in relative ignorance since I have no Trimix ticket but have done many 50+ dives on air over the years; many of them not secure environments; so shoot me down if you wish - that'll happen anyway

[onthetrain]

I've done a fair bit of deepish dives on air, weak nitrox and now on air diluent.

In decent conditions I would be happy to do 50M on air if I couldnt get any helium. That said is it a good idea? Well IMHO not really. I like some helium in my mix past 40M.

Do your friends meet the criteria for a Normoxic trimix course? If no I expect you could get a recreational trimix ticket for the same cost as an ERD course. I think this is a better route, it's a more sensible progression and prepares you better for deep diving later if you decide to go down that route.



One scouts opinion.

[MATTBIN]

Brian
I am a bit surprised you havent opened this up to those of us that havent dived to those depths, surely we are the ones likely to do one or both of the courses and as such our views may be worthwhile?

I wont express mine until you have indicated that you are seeking less experienced view points.

Matt

[Brian of Aquanauts]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

Brian
I am a bit surprised you havent opened this up to those of us that havent dived to those depths, surely we are the ones likely to do one or both of the courses and as such our views may be worthwhile?

I wont express mine until you have indicated that you are seeking less experienced view points.

Matt

I originally wanted to just get the views of those divers that actually do this sort of diving, as there are a lot of armchair divers out there. It's useful to get a feeling on what the general UK tech dive community feels about deep air these days. People that have done a fair few of these dives would have built up their own opinion, instead of that created by the media, internet or their instructors.

But you're welcome to post if you want to Matt