TDI – Advanced Wreck Diver Course             MORE TDI COURSES

This course provides training and experience to competently conduct advanced wreck dives. This program includes penetration skills and techniques. Depths shall not exceed the level in which the diver is trained and competent, but in no case shall the maximum depth in this program exceed fifty five (55) metres. The objective of this course is to train divers in the proper techniques, equipment requirements and hazards of wreck diving.

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Qualifications of Graduates
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in wreck diving activities without direct supervision so long as:
1. The diving activities approximate those of training.
2. The areas of activities approximate those of training.
3. Environmental conditions approximate those of training.

Student Pre-Requisites
1. Be a minimum age of eighteen (18).
2. Be certified as an Advanced open water diver.
3. Show proof of at least fifty (50) logged dives.
4. Be certified as Basic Wreck or Cavern or equivalent (or take basic wreck in conjunction).

Course Structure and Duration
1. Six (6) dives and an accumulated bottom time of one hundred (100) minutes.
2. Only two (2) dives from Advanced Wreck course may be credited towards the total dives required for Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, Extended Range or Entry Level Trimix.

 

Required Equipment
1. Primary Cylinder(s)
    A. Cylinder volume appropriate for the planned dive and student gas consumption rate.
    B. Dual valve, double manifold or independent doubles.
    C. Labeled in accordance with TDI Standards.
2. Travel or Decompression Cylinders as required by site conditions.
3. Regulators
    A. Primary and primary redundant required on all primary breathing cylinders.
    B. Submersible pressure gauges are required on all primary cylinder(s).
    C. A contingency use long hose second stage should be designated and appropriately rigged
        to facilitate air sharing at depth if necessary.
4. Buoyancy Compensator(s) adequate for the open water environment.
5. Back-up Depth and Timing Devices.
6. Air decompression computers allowed for use as depth and timing devices.
7. Light Systems
    A. Primary.
    B. Back-up.
8. Ascent reel with lift bag/surface marker buoy or up-line
    A. Adequate for the planned maximum depth.
    B. Minimum of eleven (11) kg / twenty five (25) lb. Lift.
9. Exposure suit adequate for the open water environment.
10. Two (2) Line Cutting Devices.
11. Underwater Slate.
12. Reels
    A. Primary penetration reel.
    B. Safety reel.
13. Options that the instructor may require
    A. Submersible dive tables.
    B. Bail-out cylinder with regulator.
    C. Jon-line.
    D. Slate, compass, surface signaling device (flare, strobe, etc.)
 

You will be expected to:
1. Be competent in skills required to graduate from any prerequisite TDI course (or equivalent)
2. Properly analyze all gas mixes to be used.
3. Calculate and mark MOD of each mix appropriately.
4. Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning (limits based on team experience, gas consumption of individuals and of team as a whole, oxygen depth and time, inert gas depth and time, environment, contingency and so on).
5. Properly execute a planned (dives within all predetermined limits.
6. Satisfactorily complete TDI written exam.
7. Demonstrate mature and responsible judgement concerning dive planning and execution.
8. Maintain a high level of awareness and respect for environment in which all diving and dive preparation is conducted.
9. Log all dives.

Required Skill Performance And Graduation Requirements
Land or field skills
1. Demonstrate familiarity with basic and intermediate hand signals.
2. Select and prepare of equipment suitable for soft overhead environment with long decompression obligations.
3. Conduct team oriented drills for SMB deployment and gas switching procedure.
4. Drills for buddy rescue

Pre-dive skills
1. Use START* before every dive
2. Stress analysis and mitigation

Skills during dive
1. Demonstrate buoyancy control (ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet).
2. Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices.
3. Demonstrate competence managing two stage cylinders including drop and recovery while maintaining position in the water column.
4. Demonstrate ability to confirm gas switches at depth with team members.
5. Demonstrate SMB deployment from depth and use of SMB as back-up buoyancy device.
6. Demonstrate air-sharing ascent from depth while one member of buddy team is without mask.
7. Create contingency decompression schedule after simulated loss of decompression gas.
8. Demonstrate ability to manage multiple failures simultaneously.
9. Demonstrate controlled ascent with simulated toxed diver including surface tow at least 30 meters with gear removal on surface.
10. Complete a horizontal breath hold swim at depth for 15 meters with mask off or blacked out.

In order to complete this course, students must:
1. Satisfactorily complete the TDI Trimix Course written examination.
2. Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently.
3. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution.

*) START is Sdril (OOA drill and bubble check), Team checks, Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater, Tables (depth, duration, waypoints and schedule).
 

Required Subject Areas
The following land drills will be covered during this course
1. Guideline Use.
2. Guideline Following.
3. Emergency Procedures.

The following topics are also covered during this course.
1. Equipment Considerations
A. Redundant scuba.
B. Lights.
C. Reels.
D. Tools.
2. Procedures
A. Pre-dive.
B. Pre-penetration.
C. Penetration.
D. Exiting the wreck.
3. Hazards of Wreck Diving and Overhead Environments
A. Disorientation.
B. Reduced visibility.
C. Entrapment.
D. Entanglement.
E. Environmental.
F. Loss of gas supply.
G. Line traps.
H. Separated buddy teams.
4. Penetration Lines
A. Types.
B. Proper use.
5. Research and Locating
A. Local regulations.
B. Sources of information.
C. Tools.
D. Surveying.
6. Contingency Planning
A. Chamber locations.
B. Communications.
C. Emergency gases.

Required Skill Performance And Graduation Requirements
Students are expected to complete the following skills during wreck dives. All dives are conducted with a maximum depth no deeper than the least certified student’s capabilities.
1. Properly analyze all gas mixtures to be used.
2. Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
A. Limits based on personal and team gas consumption.
B. Limits based on oxygen exposures at planned depths for actual mixes.
C. Limits based on nitrogen absorption at planned depths for actual mixes.
3. Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits.
4. Demonstrate the proper navigational techniques for the specific dive.
5. Demonstrate out of air sharing with long hose through a restriction.
6. Demonstrate the proper procedures for switching and isolating a malfunctioning regulator (This exercise shall not be conducted deeper than forty (40) msw) / one hundred thirty (130) fsw.
7. Demonstrate the proper techniques for locating a lost penetration line.
8. Deployment of lift bag or up line for decompression.
9. Silt-out procedures.
10. Follow line with eyes closed.
11. Follow line while sharing air.
12. Follow line with eyes closed while air sharing.

In order to complete this course, students must:
1. Complete all field exercise and open water requirements safely and efficiently.
2. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution.