TDI Adv EANx/Deco VS IANTD Adv Rec Trimix - why always TDI?!

[Silent Diver]

Originally Posted by Bardo

get access to two very useful 'recreational' trimix mixes - tx28/25 and tx32/15 - which provide something that the TDI courses cannot - that is, a narcosis-free head equivelent to just 20m at the ticket's maximum depth of 48m. Surely access to trimix in the 30-48m range is more useful than an 'unlimited deco' ticket?

TBH if I had known about this course before I did the TDI Adv Nitrox & Deco Procedures then I would have chosen the IANTD course purely for access to the Trimix side of it.

I dont think its advertised well enough or a lot more would choose it obviously cost of TriMix might put some off but not everyone.

[Noel Johnson]

As someone who chose IANTD over TDI I thought I'd share my opinion.

I'm an IANTD advanced nitrox diver. The course materials for advanced nitrox and advanced recreational tri-mix are the same - I can clarify this with photographic evidence if required.

I chose IANTD over TDI mainly because a good and trusted friend teaches it. Now Bardo's OP states that the instructor could offer both, if this was the case I would have still chosen IANTD. Why? Well for me the answer is simple, There is still a load of stuff I want to see that's sat in 45 metres of water or above. A deco mix of 50% is fine for me to do this and I'm quite comfortable with it. I think that TDI has a big following on these boards due to the work of some very good instructors and very good divers on these boards, however I do think there is a lot of peer pressure to go down various avenues - such are the joys of internet based diving.

Just for reference IANTD do do a higher qualification which is Technical diver. This takes you up to 80% O2 for deco, I think it may now be 100%, using air /nitrox as a back gas and as far as I'm aware the diffrerence between 80 and 100% o2 is marginal (I will happily be corrected if I'm wrong) when deco-ing. Alternately you can go from adv nitrox to normoxic.

[gobfish1]

IANTD used 100% in tne 90s, think they were pushing 80% some time in 2000,

can some one out there tell me what there saying now 80% or 100 %
and at what ppo2

it used to be 1,4 ppo2 for diving and 1.6 for deco ..

[Ferg3333]

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.

[gobfish1]

Originally Posted by Ferg3333

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.

thanks for the reply m8,,,

So no Technical Nitrox now
Normoxic = the old deep air ..blue card ,,

im glad i did all my courses with pete some time a go ,,
its all gone v Techical now ,,

ps
for me the above two courses were the best and were i learnt the most ,,

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by gobfish1

thanks for the reply m8,,,

So no Technical Nitrox now
Normoxic = the old deep air ..blue card ,,

Actually no - Technical Nitrox does still exist and is *technically* (if you'll pardon the pun) still a prerequisite for Normoxic Trimix. Most IANTD instructors, though, tend to combine the Technical Nitrox course with Normoxic Trimix these days. Certainly this is the way my course was run when I did it a few years back...

Text from Phil Short's website...

Originally Posted by Phil Short Technical

IANTD Normoxic Trimix

This course gives the Technical or extended range diver the ability to increase their safety and enjoyment of dives in the 40m plus range by the addition of Helium to their breathing mix.

The course is designed to be run in conjunction with the Technical Nitrox course as a continuous program, but can also be run as a top up to the Technical Nitrox course for divers already qualified at that level. The course covers the dive planning, physiology and skills to utilise the safety advantage of using Helium in the breathing mixture whilst at depth.

If run in conjunction with a Technical Nitrox course the duration is 6 days in total and covers 2 dives using Normoxic Trimix, all theory and various practical development sessions in addition to the course content of the Technical Nitrox course. If run as a top up module the course duration is 3 days and covers 3 dives, all theory and various practical development sessions.

Course cost if run as a combined Technical Nitrox and Normoxic Trimix program is £550.00 including IANTD course manual and certification.

Course cost if run as a top up module for a Technical Nitrox Diver is £225.00 including IANTD certification.

[gobfish1]

[badknees]

There was a change in the IANTD advanced nitrox i think last year to 100% O2 for deco.
I qualified last year and it's 100% were as buddy qualified a couple of years back and his is only 50% for deco.

I only did the IANTD route as i know the instructor.

Bk

[incapete]

So can anyone recommend a good IANTD instructor in the South East? I've heard good things about Mark Powell's TDI courses - just wondering if there is someone similar on the IANTD side?

[weazelz]

Originally Posted by incapete

So can anyone recommend a good IANTD instructor in the South East? I've heard good things about Mark Powell's TDI courses - just wondering if there is someone similar on the IANTD side?

you could try IanDennis who is on here. his website is:

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