WDT dive news

Boost you immune system before a cave diving trip

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 May 2021 19:56:00 +0000

February 1999, during one of my visit to cave country in north Florida, as I was assisting cave courses, since I was working toward my Cave Instructor rating. I felt catching a cold...

Georges Gawinowski 1998

Coming from France where I was used to dive on air, after hours and days of diving I start feeling week and tired Air diving was not the best options for theses dives but it was cheaper than Nitrox...

I run into an IANTD Nitrox diver magazine that was left at cave excursions. (feb 99 April 99). Tom Mount was talking about Antioxidants: Alpha Lipoic Acid. At the time IANTD used to sell Antioxidants vitamine for divers! I was sold, bought a case and started to take a pill a day. Was it a placebo, was it real? but after few days I felt better and kept diving on air...

Today, between Covid, water quality (humain and chemicals pollution)... I still protect myself with plants specially ones that will boots my immune system before an intense week of teaching cave diving.

"Promoters of Echinacea say that the herb encourages the immune system and reduces many of the symptoms of colds, flu and some other illnesses, infections, and conditions".

"To boost the immune system the best herbal choice is Immune Stim herbal extract for strong immune response 4 fl.oz a potent formula packed with eight of the best herbs which work together synergistically to support a robust immune response.

Your body will be stronger thanks to this blend of organic botanicals (Andrographis herb, Elder berry, Yarrow herb, Echinacea angustifolia root, Fresh Echinacea purpurea flower & root, Myrrh gum resin, Prickly Ash bark, Fresh Wild Indigo root and leaf)."

Order soon: https://www.giftonaline.com/herbal-extracts

Stay healthy cave dive safely!

Essentials oils for breathing and respiratory comfort

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 15:30:00 +0000

On my our last post we talked about Herbals Extract that can be used to improuve heatlh today lets focus on Essentials oils.

Personnaly I use them in my classroom when I teach and during my pre cave dive visualisation.  It is important to create an heathly environnement while revieing mentally our dives.

Essential oils are often used in aromatherapy, a form of alternative medicine that employs plant extracts to support  health and well-being...

However, some of the health claims associated with these oils are controversial.
This article explains all you need to know about essential oils and their health effects.

 What are essential oils?
Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants.
The oils capture the plant's scent and flavor, or "essence."
Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic essence.
Essential oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing.
Once the aromatic chemicals have been extracted, they are combined with a carrier oil to create a product that's ready for use.
The  way the oils are made is important, as essential oils obtained through  chemical processes are not considered true essential oils."

Being the fruit of the collaboration between Bougies La Française  Candels America like the most and an aromatherapy laboratory, this oxygen synergy oil blend for diffuser is a subtle and harmonious combination of 5 essential oils that are 100% organic and certified organic ORGANIC PERFUME controlled by ECOCERT GREENLIFE F-32600.
This synergy of essential oils of pine, eucalyptus and peppermint promotes respiratory comfort. 

www.GiftOnALine.com

https://www.giftonaline.com/post/essentials-oils-for-breathing-and-respiratory-comfort

Boost your immune system

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 20:34:00 +0000

Everybody wants to have a healthy immune system. Our herbal immune tonic  formulas are better than “an apple a day. . .” for supporting a healthy  immune system. In addition to our popular immune formulas we have a  large selection of single extracts and a few teas that support normal  immune system function.

Echinacea is a very popular herb, and people  commonly take it to help combat flu and colds. It is a genus of  herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family – Asteraceae. It is also  known as the American coneflower.

To boost the immune system the best herbal choice is Immune Stim herbal extract for strong immune response 4 fl.oz a potent formula packed with eight of the best herbs which work together synergistically to support a robust immune response.

Order soon: https://www.giftonaline.com/herbal-extractshttps://www.giftonaline.com/blog

Herbal extract at giftonaline natural a way to protect you before and after your dives

https://www.giftonaline.com/blog

Cave diving safely after a flood

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:17:00 +0000

The weather has been an issue for us cave divers in North Florida this winter. Most of the cave systems in the Suwanee river basin like Peackock springs, Little River and Madison springs are flooded because of rain showers coming from Georgia. Plus we've had a good amount of rain here locally. What happens during a flood? How to get back on track carefully, and how to access the cave systems as we have not cave dived for a while?

Some "rest" for the environment

"Many cave systems have become highly dived tourist destinations. Unfortunately, this has led to environmental concerns. Several kinds of surface fish (mollies and tetras) now follow divers into Mexican Cenotes and eat the troglobitic crustaceans encountered along the way! This obviously has a very negative effect on the populations of cave fauna"
Jill Yager, Cave diving Articles and Opinions, NSS/CDS

Since the flood we had in December, Peacock state park is empty. I went and treck the trails and I was surprised to see how nature seems to be relieved. From the quietness of the park, the birds and squirrels seem really to enjoy when human beings are not around.
What about the aquatic life, I am not really sure what effect a flood has when tannic water rushes into the spring waters. Does it bring nutrients for the aquatic cave animals such as cave shrimp, amphipods, isopods... it probably benefits for them since floods have probably always been part of nature.

Cave divers must access the environment for a first dive after a flood

When I was part of the Line Committee we used to jump after a flood to evaluate conditions, our evaluation always started at the surface.
- How is the visibility in the basin and sinkholes?
- Is there any current on springs and siphons?
- How is the visibility in the caverns and in the caves?
- Debris such as trees, and leaves on the floor.
- Evaluated the structure of the system, walls, ceiling floor; are there any rocks on the ground that were not here before.
- Line conditions: slack on lines, buried lines, lines under trees or branches.
- How visibility could be affected when several teams are going through.

Always take your time to assess the caves system conditions; we think we know it well but it looks totally different after a flood.
Use caution and common sense!
Safe Cave diving!

Cave diving and cave damage

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:07:00 +0000

Cave divers used to be aware of the cave environment. Nowadays, because of the number of cave divers growing worldwide the increasing "traffic" damages the fragile cave systems. We, cave divers, and especially cave Instructors, must become ambassadors, showing a good example. Our technique, respectful cave awareness can be passed on to the next generations.

In the article we will talk about different things that can help reduce cave damage.
- Clean water
- Training and practice
- Know our motivations
- Visualize
- Proper equipment configuration

Clean water
Water is vital for humans and for animals, and plants. When we visit cave country and for the people living n the area, it is so important to minimize our impact with water. We have a tendency to use too much of this precious element, on our daily routines. The use of detergents and chemicals, herbicides and fertilizers, drains back into our aquifer. We have the choice to change our behavior for better water.

Green algae production

Training and practice

Georges Gawinowski during CCR cave training

We all remember that we must be trained in order to cave dive ; correct training means that we are aware of our techniques, behavior and practice the skills regularly.
The NSS/CDS issued awareness information brochures a while back to remind the essential tools that a cave diver must be aware of.
Buoyancy control and trim seem obvious but so many times we all see divers on their knees doing a primary tie or working on their equipment. This should not happen when one develops the proper way of doing. Repetition will help develop that patten. A cave diver should always be in trim and have a very low impact on the floor, walls and ceilings.
Practice reel techniques, buoyancy control and emergency skills will help the diver to reach that goal.
Proper Kick techniques.
There are different kick techniques. Even though the modified frog kick is one of the main kicks, remember what Tom Mount wrote in the NACD chapter of Safe cave diving about the 37 cave techniques, described by Sheck Exley, to be used in the cave environment. We should evaluate the environment, think and act accordingly. A good example is the pull and glide. It should be used only when it is needed or to practice this technique in places where it has been used before.

Know our motivations
This is such and important criteria to take into consideration. What do we really want or expect in a cave dive? Goal oriented dives may direct our thoughts and behaviors in a way that is not always favorable for the environment. We may push our limits physically and mentally to the point where our technique could start to fall apart. We may stage a cave and put tanks not at the right place only to favor our exploration and goals.
Good judgement is extremely important as it will dictate the way we cave dive.

Visualize
Visualizing a dive is an important tool that cave divers should practice. Athletes in different sports are using it frequently, it seems to me that cave divers still have trouble to get used to the idea.
Visualization centers the thoughts on the present moment, on our real motivations and not on the things we think we want to accomplish.
It helps also to increase mastering a skill and to know the cave system a little better, by creating a picture in our head about the where and how to go, visualization helps to take our activity seriously. Keep the old NACD slogan "The Art Of Cave Diving" in mind!

Proper equipment configuration

WDT dive training cave diver at Peacock spring

It is a commun practice for cave divers to use always the same gear configuration and I agree with it. It is helpful for muscular memory and to react positively during an emergency situation.
Sometimes we may have to adjust or change our equipment if the cave configuration changes. Let's adapt to circumstances and let's try not to close our mind.
It is especially true when we dive caves with:
- restrictions
- lower ceilings and wide tunnels
- restricted tunnels and high ceilings
- chimney
- silt
- Flow or no flow caves.

Sometimes back mounted is the way to do it, or Sidemount may be a better way, or a rebreather may be even better.

Let us be Ambassadors of our cave systems. Let us help to protect the fragile environment so the next generations will be able to enjoy them as we do. Let's not take the caves for granted, and bring consideration to protecting our waters and caves.
Georges Gawinowski

First Shearwater dive watch: The Teric.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 May 2018 13:34:00 +0000

First Shearwater dive watch The Teric.

The Teric has all the features divers have come to love in our computers and more. It is our most compact unit, yet it is also our most feature rich unit. The Teric comes with AMOLED full color display that is very easy to read even in adverse conditions.

The Teric has 4 buttons. We've applied situationally adaptable logic to our menus and buttons making the Teric very intuitive. It is also very configurable. You can configure one of the 4 buttons to give you a single press access to different tools like compass, stopwatch, countdown timer, etc.

It is AI compatible and can monitor up to two pressure transmitters in two different tanks. It has Recreational, Gauge, OC Tech and CC/BO modes with up to 5 Trimix and nitrox gases. But it also has an all new Freediving mode with configurable sampling/ logging rates and improved ascent and descent indicators. There are haptic and audible alarms that can be disabled to prevent annoying other divers in the vicinity.

The Teric uses a wirelessly rechargeable battery and ships with a wireless inductive charger. Add to this the Shearwater Bluetooth communications protocol for downloading logs and updating firmware and you have a fully enclosed unit with reduced flooding risks since the user will never need to open it up to connect a cable or change a battery.

Like the NERD 2, the battery can be replaced at one of our authorized service centers. We expect battery life to be 5 years.
Finally, we've built it up with a robust hardware set with plenty of room for firmware improvements and new features.
You can order the Teric at Cave diver training

Mental Preparation and self sufficiency Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 18:37:00 +0000

Georges Gawinowski mixed gas dive Marseille 1998

On our last article, we talked about how to increase safety and self-sufficiency for Technical diving. We noticed that lack of self-awareness could be an hidden cause in diving accidents and fatalities. Over 20 years of experience have brought light on the analysis of these issues ; we will discuss today about our responsibilities as divers and trainers to increase self sufficiency.

Awareness and Responsibility

The lack of awareness of the former student now certified diver, in matter of important constraints as part of the act of diving, disables him/her from facing responsibilities, Virtually remaining a student instead of becoming an autonomous diver who hides behind a quasi-ideal image of the training, of the instructor or of the supervision of the dive center. Neither the ones nor the others have the mission to take care of the diver’s obligations. Dive centers are not organized for such task, neither in their facility nor in the structure.

Of course, a large part of the certified divers do not agree. They are convinced they acquired enough independence that allows them to dive (under all circumstances?).They earned such specific certification, with so many dives posted in their logbook (often over evaluated data), with a good technique, an expertise and barely accepting few good advices. This experience would be acceptable if the diver would barely change his/her marks,

because when we dare new adventures under different circumstances (new diving profile, new training, new gear configuration, different diving conditions, etc…) we ought to know that we will go through this experience without being either more autonomous or more able to cope with the adaptation factor. Otherwise, showing our competence at that

specific moment of our diver’s life. Most divers when facing the choice of whether risking a dive or not, do not feel competent when they feel poorly prepared, or in the same time, want to take the risk of doing the dive either frustrated or influenced by others. It is important to notice that uncertain divers are a hazard for the dive buddy. We reach now the subject of risk assessment in which the factor (ratio of individual to circumstances) generates the essence of the risk and the level of what has been assessed as being risky. We have not evaluated the percentage of the population acting under an unconscious risky and hazardous behavior yet. This idea comes from what has been noticed on the field and among a group of reactions, by information from active people either professional divers or not. It seems that a majority of divers is directly concerned at different levels. If we had to simplify a reason of behaving this way we would find it in the innovative realm of this sport (technical evolutions, mentalities) but also from observing individual behaviors in their social environment, modeling their life by the choice or the decisions made.

The choice concerning the environment in diving would be whether to create superstructured- training that would take care of the non-autonomous divers, or to strengthen the already acquired training by leading the diver toward more independence. In a personal opinion, this last option is the reality of diving, it is not only such as we know it but also by its natural spirit of adventure, discoveries, and freedom which the human kind has been seeking for generations. We hardly conceive a reverse transformation in this natural evolution depriving the essence of this sport.

The path to self-sufficiency

We do not want to face this evidence without giving some solutions. For us the two points of education and being self-sufficient have to be taken into consideration. We insist on the fact that technical training is essential more than a simulation; it shows the diver (no longer a « student ») the reality of action in diving. Our educational status of instructor or trainer is here to bring the diver to a real time situation, not to « hold his/her hand » anymore. This training is built around the diving preparation and of course deals with the questions of stress management, risk assessment, awareness from which little by little grows the diver’s inner independence. Here, no miracle pill, no virtual image, no illusion, the diver faces with him/herself aware of his/her motivations and limits. Such techniques are calling for mental preparation especially when the need of making a decision comes about to help erase or reduce the gaps between “what we think it is”, and « what it is in fact ». We have paid a particular attention to this point that appears to be essential in the diver’s future direction whether in recreational or technical diving. These transition periods require a good perception of many factors depending on a whole of qualities to which we call on when training for diving. It is indeed important to be wary of projections and images that could prevent from learning the characteristic of technical diving, and from gauging the constraints and capabilities factors.

To a new education?

To be in favor of the « cutting loose» of their students is not a new mission for the instructors. It has always been one of the major goals of teaching. It is necessary to show how risky the practice of diving is. Notably leading the student to be independent trained with an improved good technique, and with the ability to gauge and decide in a performing way in order to easily and securely deal with his/her dives. It takes a long time to become autonomous; it is more a step based on practice than on theory. Only experienced and vigilant behavior will help reach this goal. When initiated from the first levels of training this evolution toward more independence will be durable, instead of fading after a while, as it has been noticed among some « poorly trained » divers. Our goal is to integrate all the tools available within technical diver education to ease the development of autonomous behavior. Georges Gawinowski and peers have been working on this behavior for years to find the best responses to increase self sufficiency and to encourage divers to log safe dives, and to practice emergency skills between certification levels. That is especially recommended for Expedition Trimix as students are only admitted to start this course once they completed the Essentials Diver, the CCR Trimix diver, with a minimum of 100 Trimix and mixed gas dives. Also, it is important to keep strong communication with the Instructor before the expedition. As during the three months time of preparation we will evaluate the progress of the candidate through conversation, questions, and Technical dives if possible that will get the student ready for such a challenging course.

Note: Trailer of Expedition Trimix By Lake Mead Technical divers 2014

©Georges Gawinowski, 2018 –
IANTD SE Training Director
NSS/CDS #369

Mental preparation and Self-sufficiency

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 19:36:00 +0000

Mental preparation

Discussion about diving preparation and diver’s self-sufficiency

We have noticed that the lack of self-awareness in the matter and a poor stress and risks management are often hidden causes of scuba diving accidents and fatalities.

As the exigencies of the diver become stronger as for the choice of a diving school that would provide with adequate training for a specific type of diving and adapted to the diver personality, other exigencies are also considered when it comes to choosing diving gear which must comply with technical, comfort and estheticism criteria. We believe that the diver should be in the same way exigent in the preparation of his/her dives. Cave divers are pretty familiar with a well-detailed pre-dive preparation, technical diver agencies are pushing this way, but this is not always the case with recreational divers. “Safety is our concern”.

The training trap

The real « trap » is not the training itself but rather the manner in which the fresh certified diver has been taught the main key points, and how well they were understood. In other words, is the diver capable of returning the essential learned? Although self-evaluation, calling into question and upgrades are essential values in the risky activity of diving, they are quickly forbidden once the training time is over.

A newly certified diver with his/her experience and habits is generally competent (satisfied of his/her competences). Cautious at first, then when everything goes well, little by little the diver becomes more confident and settles up into his/her own marks. Consequently the next dive will be similar to the previous one. This approach of diving will become a mirror of diving in the general sense until an unusual event makes the diver aware of another reality, surprising, worrying, hard, and sometimes tragic. Later the diver comes up with questions and answers about whether considering the idea of whether the responsibility in the preparation of the dives is missing or not.

Nevertheless, this is the right time to assess the risks and make the right choice. Of course this information is mentioned during the training courses and should be part of the usual techniques of diving. We believe that most of the instructors emphasize the necessity of taking the necessary time to understand all the teachings, to recall them, to regularly repeat the exercises and to do step by step practice. However, I believe only a few students follow these procedures after training is completed, for the only reason that it requires a personal involvement, a choice, a decision, a responsibility, though it involves the fact of being self-sufficient. Among the goals of a diver randomly sorted, prevails the envy of diving. Enjoying these too short moments underwater. Amidst the priorities, we also find some professional « mandatory issues »; then, at last, comes the demand for security. Those needs precede and sometimes harm the essential progression of the apprenticeship (training and experience) causing worrying unbalance.

To be continued......
Georges Gawinowski
WDT dive
IANTD USA SE Training Director

Shearwater Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 15:03:00 +0000

Issue with some NERD 2 Depth Sensors

What is the issue?

When miniaturizing the NERD 2 product, we changed to a smaller pressure sensor module. Unfortunately, some units are exhibiting shifts of up to 50 mbar under certain environmental conditions.

While the units are able to meet relative depth accuracy requirements as per EN 13319, Shearwater feels that absolute accuracy is important for PPO2 reporting and decompression calculations.

What is Shearwater doing about this?

Shearwater is redesigning the NERD 2 to use the pressure sensor with which we have more than 10 years of successful experience. Production and new sales will be suspended until improved parts are available. All existing NERD 2 customers are being offered the update to the new parts at no charge.

Can I continue to use my NERD 2?

This problem is variable in nature and some users will not be affected. Determine if your NERD 2 is affected using the information below.

You may continue to use your NERD 2 if you are comfortable with the level of error in the absolute accuracy. However, we still recommend that all users return their NERD 2s to be reworked.

What should I do?

We expect the solution to be ready for the rework to begin in May. We felt it important to raise awareness before the solution was ready. Please contact Shearwater at info@shearwater.com if you have a NERD 2 and we will direct you to the nearest service center for rework.

We apologize for the frustration you are feeling.

Determining If your NERD 2 is affected

All NERD 2 units are factory calibrated when shipped from Shearwater. However, the problem with some NERD 2 pressure sensors is that they have been observed to drift in absolute accuracy under certain environmental conditions. The maximum reported drifts have been limited to about +/-50 mbar, which is about a 5% error at the typical sea-level pressure of 1013mbar. Another way to view this is that 1mbar = 1cm of water. So 50mbar is about 0.5m of water (1.5 ft). This error has been found to be an offset that does not grow as pressure increases. Therefore, under most circumstances this error will not appear in depth readings, since depth is determined by subtracting the surface pressure reading from the current reading, thus subtracting out the common offset. However, absolute pressure accuracy is still desired for accuracy of PPO2 reporting and decompression calculations.

Not all units experience a shift to their absolute pressure accuracy. To determine if your NERD 2 has shifted, you will need to compare the “mbar now” displayed value to a known good reference pressure. The “mbar now” value can be viewed by pressing right button a few times. The reference pressure could be another dive computer, hiking watch, or could be the current report from a local weather station at the same altitude. If using another computer or watch, you will need to know the absolute accuracy of this product. If using a weather report and you are at an altitude above sea-level, be aware that often pressures are reported as if they were at sea-level. If this is the case you will need to convert that pressure to the actual pressure before using it as a reference.

Contact Shearwater if unsure.

http://www.cavedivertraining.com/shearwater-computers.html

The basics of a good configuration

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 22:40:00 +0000

Keeping an open mind about gear configuration Part 2

On our last blog we talked about Cavern and Intro-To-Cave diver's gear configuration. Today let's talk and review the cave diver configuration using double tanks.

The basics of the "Hogarth configuration"

William "Bill" Hogarth Main is a cave diving pioneer who is best known as a developer in the 1980s, and the namesake of, the "Hogarthian gear configuration" that is a component of the "Doing It Right" (DIR) holistic approach to scuba diving. According to Jarrod Jablonski, the Hogarthian style "has many minor variations, yet its focus asserts a policy of minimalism."^[1] The configuration was refined in the 1990s, partially through the Woodville Karst Plain Project (WKPP),^[2] established in 1985 and considered among the most aggressive cave diving initiatives in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hogarth_Main

It has been taught in the IANTD Essentials there is still some minor variations based on preferences, and personal safety. As the world is made of different colors, taste and thoughts, it is important to keep a "thinking cave diver" instead of a "following cave diver" who uses techniques not based on his personal experiences and way of thinking.
What works works:
Let's not reinvent the wheel but consoled it if needed.

The main recommendations to a good gear configuration are:

- Redundancy

- Streamlining

- Accessibility

- Comfort
Let's see the differences between Recreational, Sport and cave diving (Technical diving configuration)

The Author personal configuration:

- Low Pressure Doubles 85's gives me plenty of gas for most of my diving, an Aluminum plate with a "purist" harness mounted on a Dive-Rite Classic wing.

- Regulators Mk 25 Scubapro with S-600 and G-250 second stages for the easy fixing on the spot works very well in warm to temperate water temperature since I do not dive cold water much.

- First regulator on the right post connected with a long hose and a MP hose for my dry suit connection. Most of people will have the MP dry suit inflation on the left post.

- Second regulator with shorter hose attached with a bungee around my neck, with a MP hose connected to my wing inflator.

Advantages for me of MP Dry suit hose on the right:

- If one of the first stage fails, that would probably be the one I use most, the one with the long hose. (happens to me twice in 20 years of teaching) in that case if i must isolate that regulator, I will not lose my BCD but only my Drysuit. I like to be able to keep my buoyancy without having to disconnect hoses.

-If I have a roll-off cave diving, and I have developed a bad habit of not checking my left post enough, I should be able to see it, because I'am using my power inflator more than my dry suit inflator at depth.

- I like to use both regulator during the dive, specially on deep dive where my primary regulator would work better if I do not ask him to much. Breathing and adding gas in the wings may sometime be too much, even if today's regulators are pretty efficient at depht I follow the "Eggs principles". Do not put them all in the same basket.

Once again there is different ways of configuring the Equipment, as we can see on the Essentials video. The main idea is to know why we use a system instead of of the other. This is one of the valuable way of thinking I have learned with my different cave mentors from the NACD, NSS/CDS and IANTD. what works for you may not work for me because humans are different in theirs habits and way of thinking.

Georges Gawinowski
WDT dive

The basics of a good foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 21:12:00 +0000

Keeping an open mind about gear configuration Part 1

Cavern and Intro-to-Cave Primary Equipment
The basics of a good foundation are inherent to the quality of the material or tools that are used in the building of that foundation. Gear configuration is one of the tools that will shape a cave diver career.

Gear configuration is an essential topic. This is basic for all cave training. Remember what we talked about on our last “Tips and Technique” column. 2013 Underwater Speleology The journal of the cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society NSS/CDS

“Gear configuration is an important factor. Remember your training. Look around and ask other divers why they use a specific type of equipment or configuration. Be open-minded.”

We need the best possible tools to do the perfect job. If I visualize a cave diver in the 80’s the gear set was limited to the basics. The equipment is probably safer today but divers in the past paid more attention on what they had, and I am sure it was taking long hours to get the best on their gear configuration set up. Given the fact that gear donned was minimal, streamlining was commonly and easily achieved. So let’s go back to the minimum gear requirements for Cavern, Intro Cave and Cave Diving dives.

Practice in a pool or in a confined Water, with your equipment helps to understand it better. (see IANTD Essentials Recreational Scuba Diver video gear removal practice)

The main recommendations to a good gear configuration are:

Redundancy

Streamlining
Accessibility

Comfort

Cavern Diver Equipment

Steel Tanks 80s or 85s are recommended; the weight of the tank will minimize the weight on the belt, while maintaining slightly negative buoyancy at your safety decompression stop. These tanks are also easier to adjust on the diver’s body. If you choose aluminum tanks, you will have to position the weights forward of the body on your weight belt, for proper balance.

Valves

DIN valves are highly recommended, because they allow a better connection that reduces the risk of leaks.

BCD

It is a good practice today to use wings and harness such as Transpac from Dive Rite, or a standard aluminum back-plate with wings such as OMS, or Halcyon. The advantages are enormous: it is easier to attach the pressure gauge with large D-rings and you will have better horizontal position swimming underwater.

Regulators and Hoses

Well maintained regulators are fine, I would go with the main brands such as: Apex, Aqualung, Atomics, Dive Rite, Poseidon, Scubapro, and make sure that parts will be available when traveling. I will recommend a short hose with a back-up regulator attached with a bungee around the neck, and a 5‟ to 7‟ long hose wrapped also around the neck.

Gauges and Console

One SPG (Submersible Pressure Gauge) is a good idea. I suggest removing the plastic cover on the SPG itself that has a tendency to keep moisture in, even if it protects the SPG from shocks; it then becomes easier to see and control leaks.

Personally I do not like consoles. They are too bulky - even the smaller ones. Also, in case of an emergency, the diver needs both hands, so they can easily have access to control their depth and stop time. I strongly recommend wearing everything on the wrists.

Knifes and cutters

Cutting devices are very important pieces of equipment, small and located on the harness or waist strap. would recommend Z-knives, which are easier to use with one hand and they cut almost everything (monofilament, cave-line, nets, etc.)

The Intro-cave diver gear configuration

We would use the same basics but we will add and dual first and second stage as seen in picture.

Original Article was published in the Volume 40 Oct/Nov/Dec/ 2013 Underwater Speleology The journal of the cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society NSS/CDS

Georges Gawinowski

www.cavedivertraining.com

Rebreather check-list diver's responsibility!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 14:42:00 +0000

We have already talked and shared opinions on Rebreather diver's check list, I believe this is something that we must emphasize and remind ourselves and people the importance of it. I still today see so many Rebreather divers rushing with the manufacturer checks and being complacent with their personal check.

A Scuba diver has many responsibilities before jumping in the water. We know that one should be mentally and physically fit, and that the equipment should be set for the "mission". This is what we learned from our Technical diver courses. It also means being able to use and reproduce the skills acquired; the rebreather diver's check list is one of them and part of the solution to reduce CCR divers complacency.

We all know that an airliner pilot who has been flying for years keeps going over basic checklists before take off. So it is one of the main responsibilities for a CCR diver to follow the check list recommended by the manufacturer and by the diving agency.

The IANTD Essentials program work on 4 different control points:

1) Manufacturer's check list:

Even if it seems that some of the points mentioned on the manufacturer's check list are redundant, I trust the manufacturer, who knows the machine pretty well. There is a reason behind a check list. Let's just follow it! Megalodon manufacturer has made a detailed pre-dive and post-dive check list that helps the Megalodon diver to control and pinpoint issues before they happen underwater.

2) Agency check list:

Agencies like TDI, IANTD, PADI and probably others have developed a check list for their divers, it is a pedagogical tool that can help the diver detect changes after the manufacturer's check list has been completed. If we follow the agency philosophy and use their material, let's do it completely and use the tools created by professionals trainer who know student's mistakes and errors.

3) Personal check list.

Just before jumping in the water, I call it a "personal survival check list", every individual is different, and it is important to develop a personal muscular memory with one's unit by controlling our equipment on land. Recheck primary and secondary equipment, such as valve opening, manual O2 addition, automatic diluent valve open and functioning, safe partial pressure of oxygen in the loop, BCD inflate and deflate...
It helps the diver to review his equipment and confirm that he has all what he needs for the dive.

4) In water-check.

Cave divers have been using these techniques for a long time. Check for leaks and others detectable problems that we can only be detected in the water. Bail-Out first and second stages regulators, primary and back up lights must be checked in the water, dive buddies must check for leaks tant can appear on tanks valves, first stages regulators, pressure gauges, hoses connections, dry-suit inflation.

"In order to sustain training, divers must be able to “do something about something,” or remaining instrumental in their own lives. As divers we must realize that no one else can act on our behalf, and that no one can think for us, practice for us, or react for us. To help us develop a factually-based sense of instrumentality, we will start by devising an outline that draws on individual progress. Our plan of the first steps seems obvious- they are: reflection, motivation, planning, and training. However, the last step, repetition, is often set aside- to the diver’s detriment. Building an initial plan of action around the concepts mentioned above may serve to reduce accidents and increase diver safety". IANTD Essentials manual Georges Gawinowski

The rebreather diver responsibility is to eliminate problems related to their CCR unit through a methodic practice, and by setting a good example for the community.

Safe CCR diving

Georges Gawinowski
www.cavedivertraining.com

IANTD SE Training director.

Technical diver education, and mental training

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 14:27:00 +0000

Rebreather diver courses chart - www.wdtdive.com

Technical diver education, and mental training
In a new series of blogs, we are going to think, talk, and evaluate about instructor and diver's behavior in today's society. Can we keep jumping from course to course without getting enough experience and practice between scuba diver courses? Can we participate in classes where time spent with the instructor and number of dives may get shorter and shorter?
If we believe on the statement above, we also can believe that we have missed some important pedagogical points, in our training as a diver, instructor, or instructor trainer.

We ought to evaluate what we are doing, without culpability, and maybe change things for the better, we all can improve our techniques and our behavior as a diver or professional. We just need to recognize our mistakes and correct them. I am sincerely confident that we know whether we are doing a good job or not either in our training, teaching, and/or dive planning .

- Technical diver education and mental training- The Training "Trap"- The Path to self-sufficiency- To a new education?

Technical diver education and mental training

Discussing about diving preparation and diver’s self-sufficiency, we have noticed that the lack of self-awareness in the matter along with a poor stress and risks management are often hidden causes of scuba diving accidents and fatalities.
As the diver requirements become stronger about the choice of a diving school that provides with adequate training and adapted to the diver personality, other requirements are also to be considered. When it comes to choosing diving gear to comply with technical, comfort and aestheticism criteria. We believe that the diver should be in the same way exigent with dives preparation.

Tools to help with diver preparation:

1) Personal evaluation: physical and mental, Am I ready to make that dive today? How do I feel about that dive?
2) Motivations: Am I focus on the dive's objectives? What are my sincere motivations for that dive?
3) Responsibility: What are my personal and my team responsibilities? Is it a "solo team" dive? or is it a "team diving as a team" dive?
4) Equipment needed: do we have what we need? For the dive and in case of an emergency?
5) Emergency scenario review and land drills practice: especially when diving on a rebreather.
6) Pre-dive preparations: like athletes a Technical diver should get ready physically and mentally, and should be focused. It is a good idea for the team to warm-up with some stretching techniques, rest the mental with some breathing exercises and visualization techniques.
7) Land drill practice with check-list followed by in water safety drills, where last gear and buoyancy adjustments are made before the dive.

Most of the cave divers are pretty familiar with a well-detailed pre-dive technique preparation routine. Technical diver agencies are pushing this way, but this is not always the case with recreational divers, and sometime forgotten by experienced technical or cave divers!

“Safety is our concern”.

To be continued.....

Georges Gawinowski @ WDT dive facility in cave country live-oak, Florida.

Let's start 2015 with some personal training

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:02:00 +0000

This is the time for the good resolutions for 2015, where we could incorporate in-water training skills in our physical and mental fitness routine.

The evidence is that in diving in general, and specialized areas of diving such as technical or cave diving, and even recreational diving, physical training is strongly associated with mental training. Training refers to the regular and sustained practice of designed skills and exercises that increase the diver’s capacity to perform at his or her level. The need to perform in-water drills and absorb knowledge is present in all forms of diving. The difference lies in the actual skills and information needed, and how to incorporate such skills into muscle memory. Sadly, divers often consider fairly regular “pleasure” diving with no emphasis on skills and drills as sufficient enough to maintain his or her training level.

However scuba diving, like all athletic activities, requires constant training and skills repetition to maintain competency. Although divers do not “compete” on a playing field against other divers, they definitely “compete” with Mother Nature and have to adjust themselves to the underwater world, an environment not suited to the human body. To accomplish this task, divers must reduce certain “stress factors” such as feelings of discomfort or insecurity in the diving environment, factors which, if improperly managed, can lead to a total loss of control.

I believe that 10 to 15 minutes before or after each dive could be enough to improve our technique. Reviewing emergencies skills such as bail-out from a Rebreather, repeating hyperoxia, hypoxia, situations and working on different rescue scenario with buddy. That should be fun, right!

Happy New Year 2015 to all and safe diving.

Georges Gawinowski

IANTD SE USA Training Director

Keeping an open mind about gear configuration

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:55:00 +0000

Photo Georges Gawinowski

The basics of a good foundation are inherent to the quality of the material or tools that are used in the building of that foundation. Gear configuration is one of the tools that will shape a cave diver career. Gear configuration is an essential topic. This is basic for all cave training. “Gear configuration is an important factor. Remember your training. Look around and ask other divers why they use a specific type of equipment or configuration. Be open-minded”. We need the best possible tools to do the perfect job. If I visualize a cave diver in the 80’s the gear set was limited to the basics. The equipment is probably safer today but divers in the past paid more attention on what they had, and I am sure it was taking long hours to get the best on their gear configuration set up. The main recommendations for a good gear configuration are redundancy, streamlining, accessibility and comfort. So let’s go back to the minimum gear requirements for Cavern diving, Intro-Cave to cave diving and Cave Diving. Original Article was published in the Volume 40 Oct/Nov/Dec/ 2013 Underwater Speleology The journal of the cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society NSS/CDS

Georges Gawinowski NSS/CDS Instructor

IANTD SE Training Director

Congratulations to new certified students!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:34:00 +0000

I sincerely would like to congratulate my new certified students who worked hard for their certifications.

They were well prepared to discover new challenge encounters that are part of new courses; cave diving and closed circuit Megalodon rebreather are not easy courses regardless the diver or instructor level we are at.

At WDT Dive I do not take the easiest route to certify people. Like most of my fellow cave diver instructors, I want to make sure that the new certified diver understands the reality about becoming a new cave diver certified.
Alex Gilson (CMAS instructor certified, GUE diver and IANTD Trimix diver) and Rick Thomas (former commercial diver, GUE diver and IANTD Trimix diver) showed both a great attitude and developed great cave diving skills during the course. 18 dives and long hours of training, combined with mental and physical and underwater skills made them certified has NSS/CDS and IANTD full cave divers.

Evgeny Komko became a Megalodon rebreather Instructor, what a dedication from somebody who decided to travel all the way from Ukraine to get his training. Evgeny is already a CCR Inspiration mixed gas diving Instructor up to 100 meters (330 fsw), a NSS/CDS cave diver and a CCR diver on different units such as Megalodon and JJ. It was nice to have him at our WDT dive facility for a week of training and hours in-water time practicing. I am pleased to announce that we registered a new IANTD CCR Megalodon Instructor in Ukraine.

After 8 days of training with Kenny Kipper, a number of dives, in water training practice, Kenny earned his CCR Megalodon diver certification. Kenny is a NSS/CDS cave diver, a TDI decompression procedures diver and TDI Advanced Nitrox diver. He is our new CCR Megalodon diver certified.

Congratulations to all of you and Thank You again for choosing me as your diving instructor.

Georges Gawinowski
IANTD USA South East Training Director

Mastering Buoyancy In cave diving

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:16:00 +0000

Mastering buoyancy in cave diving is like having a cup of iced tea in a hot summer day, it is so sweet!

Whether we are a cavern or experienced cave diver buoyancy and swimming techniques have to be mastered. Controlled buoyancy is critical to avoid silting out passages which results in the inability for the diver to freely navigate back out of the cave due to being blinded by percolates along the exit tunnel. Remember that we are not in our environment when cave diving and we should pay attention to minimize the negative impact we could have on our surroundings, on our buddies, others teams and; the cave will appreciate it!

Mastering buoyancy will help us also to:

· Reduce gas consumption,

· Reduce the risk of over exhaustion,

· Reduce the risk of loss of visibility,

· Reduce the risks of decompression sickness,

· Reduce the risk of aeroembolism,

· Reduce the risk of O2 toxicity.

Personal evaluation phase:

When you see a cave diver in the ocean you notice a perfect trim and buoyancy, easy to recognize.

In a cave system things can change dramatically because of human errors. All of us can make mistakes often when our buoyancy is not what it should be. Every time we are diving in a cave we need 100% awareness and focus on our buoyancy while keeping the dive and our buddy in mind. For instance, during the dive we may be thinking about something else such as tasks on the dive, our equipment or a physical un-comfort, or be preoccupied by something we have in mind and lose our cave and buoyancy awareness. We know we make a mistake when it’s already done. The ideal would be to see, anticipate, the mistake before it happens. I mean to be aware of any changes in our breathing, posture or swimming pattern and depth changes.

One of the best ways I have found to evaluate my buoyancy is simply by practicing in an open water area such as a spring, quarries or in the ocean. My technique is comprised of the following steps:

· Lay down a line at the bottom,

· Swim on top of that line the body centered in the middle on the line,

· Swim using 90 degrees turn, then 120 and 180 turn without any changes in posture.

· Practice for 30 minutes or more and see if the technique remains persistent and constant.

Once you are comfortable with that technique go practice on your cave dive with one mission in mind: to keep a perfect trim at all times, to choose the correct tie off and line placement, to jump without moving any silt after your passage.

Each time you notice something is wrong whether it be with you or your buddy just call that dive, surface and discuss about the mistakes that were made and find solutions on how to improve the technique in order to avoid the mistake next time.

Georges Gawinowski
IANTD USA SE Training Director

Picture Above: Georges Gawinowski at Eagles Nest Cave, Florida

Parts of This Article was published on the "Journal of the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society." "Skills, Tips and Techniques by Georges Gawinowski Volume 40 Number 3. July/August/September 2013

LAS VEGAS EXPEDITION TRIMIX – LAKE MEAD NEVADA - FALL OF 2014.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 19:35:00 +0000

LAS VEGAS EXPEDITION TRIMIX - LAKE MEAD NEVADA - FALL OF 2014.

Georges Gawinowski, WDT dive, and Steve Schafer, Lake Mead Technical Divers, are organizing an IANTD Expedition Trimix Course the week after Dema 2014.

November 23rd through 28th, 2014

Objective: The knowledge and skills taught in this program are more than adequate to qualify divers to perform Trimix Dives outside of training up to 400 fsw (120 msw).

Where: Lake Mead NV, home of the famous Hoover Dam, a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the Arizona and Nevada. Old building structures, construction tools have been left in the diving area with lots of new discoveries to be made. Bypass tunnels may be reachable now with lower lake levels.

Prerequisites: Dedicated CCR Trimix Megalodon Certified Divers ONLY. Must have at least 300 dives of which 100 are Trimix dives.

How to Register: Limited Spots
Send an email with a copy of your CCR Megalodon Certification, CCR Trimix Certifications, and proof of number of dives.

www.cavedivertraining.com

WDT Dive program for February 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 21:48:00 +0000

Please find the course schedule for February 2014 at WDT dive Facility.

Upcoming Courses and Events @ WDTDIVE

February 5 to February 7

Apprentice Cavern Diver Course

ask for information

Location: North Florida WDT Dive.

February 15 to February 21

Megalodon diver course

ask for information

Location: North Florida WDT Dive.

February 22 to February 27

Apprentice Cavern Diver Course

ask for information

Location: North Florida WDT Dive.

February 28 to March 2

Cavern diver course

ask for information

Location: North Florida WDT Dive.

Georges Gawinowski IANTD R Training director

Tanks labeling: the good and the bad!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 22:11:00 +0000

I will always remember the remark of one of my mentors and Trimix Instructor when I was labeling my mixed gas diving double tanks before we jump on the water. I had just analyzed my Trimix mixes and was marking my tanks 14/50 (IANTD tables 1998)
"George! What are these numbers on your tank? Mixed gas diving is a serious activity! and tanks should be labeled properly. You should mark Tx14/50 so we know you are diving TRIMIX".

He was right! I understood and acknowledged his comment, it was an important marking for somebody coming from a renowned and noble professional commercial scuba diving agency. Commercial and military divers have set the standards for us, it is important to keep Technical diving and Technical cave diving a "noble" activity where little details count.

He had set up a good example and I keep following that example myself and with my students. I know sometimes I have a tendency to rush after analyzing my Nitrox tanks, and mark the number 32 on them. However, I still have my mentor's voice in my head telling me that I am not doing the best at labeling my tanks. So I correct myself, and mark my tanks with either Nx32 or Eanx 32 instead of the 32 plain bare number, plus MOD and IANTD stickers. http://youtu.be/_cKGsVacAjY
Good example stands so why not forget the bad ones.

From the IANTD Essential Manual

SAFETY NOTE:

"Some incidents, accidents and fatalities happen because of a number of inappropriate actions and reactions. One important aspect is tank miss-labeling (as you have learned in your Nitrox class) but few people are following the basics. Remember a piece of tape can be removed, and in a stressed situation, handwritten numbers can be interpreted differently and fatal mistakes have happened. So this is a reminder of the Mixed Diving Rules set up in the 1990s by IAND, Inc. DBA IANTD and ANDI, and later on by the European diving agencies like CMAS, that also follow pretty much the same basics". (Photos Georges Gawinowski)

"Mixed gas diving tanks should be labeled properly using IANTD stickers as follows:

Nitrox stickers: mixes from 22% to 40% O₂

Deco mix stickers: deco mixes from 40% O₂ to 80% O₂

O₂ stickers: 80% O₂ to 100% O₂

Breathing gas other than air: any mixes, travel, deco Trimix, bail-out"

Safe diving, and always analyze and label your tanks correctly

Georges Gawinowski

IANTD Regional Training Director

NERD from Shearwater

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:39:00 +0000

Shearwater newest product which we are calling the NERD, Near.Eye.Remote.Display.

Shearwater will be showing the NERD at the Birmingham dive show this coming weekend and also at DEMA in a couple of weeks.

WDT dive will be accepting orders after the DEMA show, but not before. Delivery lead times will be the end November.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. We hope you like the NERD.

Let’s Welcome Fall with some Cave diving!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 19:45:00 +0000

Summer was rainy in cave country this year, caves system have been opened and closed.

It was a good opportunity to organize some training in south Florida and say hello to good friends.

Caves have reopened and we have some good training going on until winter.

Lots of things are happening in North Florida this fall… we will be attending some shows in the area.

CAVE Country Update

Lots of Rain

It’s rainy season and we are missing rainfalls! Not only to grow green pasture grass back for our companions at our facility but also to get the aquifer levels refilled. As I am speaking today the cave systems are recovering. We went to Madison first week of October and the current is strongly kicking but the blue water is coming back.

Peacock is getting there also, the cave is flowing and the visibility was around 60 feet in some places.

Devil Ear and Eyes have been good.

Little River has been reopened.

Training in South Florida.

We did some training in Miami where I taught a CCR Megalodon Instructor course.

We had great time on wrecks specialty in Pompano Beach with great weather where I was able to conduct our CCR Trimix Nomoxic (CCR MOD2) diver and Instructor course.

Thank you Ocean Safari, Tiger tail, RJ diving and Miss conduct for their support.

Fall Agenda

Lots of events are happening in North and Central Florida, cave diving capital of the world J

Cave summit in Lake city: October 12

NACD annual workshop Gainesville

Cave Excursions “React 2013” in Luraville: October 26th

DEMA Show 2013 in Orlando: November 6th to November 9th

Our Facility

Staying closer to the cave systems, and keeping our philosophy alive was very important for us. We now offer our students a quality and natural learning environment.

Training Agenda at WDT dive facility:

CCR Cave diver course (upgrade): September 1^st to October 5^th 2013

CCR Megalodon Instructor Development course: October 21^st to 25^th 2013

CCR Pathfinder diver and Instructor Cross-Over course: October 25^th to 28^th

CCR Cave cross-over: October 28^th to October 31^st

Recreational side mount course: November 1^st to November 5^th

IANTD Cave diver Instructor -Instructor Development Course: November 9^th to 15^th

Technical Cave diver course last weekend of November 2013

Tips and training

One of my students had some issues with the weight of his tanks; his feet were constantly low. He is diving heavy doubles with a dual bladder and a comfort type harness with dual shoulder buckles.

The adjustment we did were:

- to switch his steel back-plate for an aluminum back-plate.

- to put a tighter “purist” harness instead of the double buckled shoulder straps.

- to reposition the tanks a little higher and close to the neck.

- to work on trim position, legs up on land.

These adjustments have allowed reinforcing my student’s swimming techniques and his trim.

100% positive results, and another happy cave diver!

Check out our new website

Dedicated to our effort to promoting North Florida and safe cave diving www.cavedivertraining.com

CCR Megalodon courses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:11:00 +0000

WDT dive, Georges Gawinowski will organize an CCR Megalodon Instructor Development Course in Miami Florida at Ocean Safari (IANTD platinum facility and Scubabro Platinum dealer) starting July 26th 2013.
- CCR Megalodon Instructor Development Course: to register you must meet the IANTD Prerequisites, and have been authorized by IANTD HQ and ISC. Please contact us
- CCR Megalodon diver course: to register you must be IANTD Advanced Nitrox diver, and own a Megolodon CCR unit.
Please contact us should you have questions.
Safer dives to all; Georges Gawinowski

The IANTD Essentials for CCR divers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:34:00 +0000

The Essentials of diving have been created using IANTD basics philosophy, including physical, mental, land drills, and in-water skills preparation. This teaching program accessible to all diver level is designed to be used when you "pass the door".
The original Essentials was written in French and introduced to IANTD in 2002. Once accepted, it became part of the IANTD training Standards in 2009, and translated in English. The Essentials manual comes accompanied with a DVD. The program was introduced at DEMA show 2008 in Orlando and was launched at DEMA show 2010 in Las-Vegas.

IANTD Philosophy has been working on diver safety for a long time now, using different methods including mixed gas diving training such as Nitrox and Trimix, equipment preparation and configuration, Rebreathers training. The agency has even developed lectures including mental and physical chapters.
All IANTD diver manuals go that way and the Essentials is a reminder for all.

Essentials Physical Training: is being honest with ourselves so that we can fairly evaluate our physical status. We sometimes may have a tendency to believe that a diver is not a competing athlete. The physical training aspect is often forgotten. Some divers might think that diving is enough activity to stay in shape.
I believe that diving can become a strenuous acitvity and being in shape is an important factor to increase divers safety.

Essentials Mental Preparation: Physical aspect is easy to evaluate. But what about our mental? We sometimes jump in the water without really listening our "inner voice" (feeling, sensations), we are not always mentally fit for a specific dive when we have something in our mind, we are not in harmony with ourselves. In the Essentials program we use some techniques to become more aware of ourselves, our environment and our buddy. Developing a sense of responsibility towards each other is key.

Essentials Land Drills: helping the divers discover the sense, review some of the techniques practiced in the water, and more importantly learn how to deal when faced with stressful moments which could happen underwater.

Essentials In-Water Training: in any sport there is people who practice and people who do not. In my opinion we should practice our basics and more advanced skills that we are qualified to on a regular basis. Secret to mastery of a skill is practice!

The IANTD Essentials are not another "Specialty" course, it is a full program that needs to be understood as it is. I encourage everyone to test it and then practice it.
Should you want to become an Essentials Diver we invite you to check our information online or inquire about the program with your local IANTD Essentials Instructor.
Should you want to become IANTD Essentials Instructor you have to be qualified at IANTD Advanced Recreational Trimix Instructor level and take the Essentials course.

Essential manual and DVD now available

Georges Gawinowski
IANTD SE Training Director

A new IANTD Technical and Normoxic Trimix workbook

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:26:00 +0000

IANTD started the Technical Diver program almost two decades ago. Tom Mount (IANTD CEO) and Kevin Gurr (ex IANTD UK licensee) developed the workbook made available for the IANTD Technical Diver Instructors who used it as a teaching tool. Today IANTD has updated this workbook as Technical Diver and Normoxic Trimix Diver manual with new instructor slides, a new material review updated by Tom Mount, Kevin Gurr and Georges Gawinowski (IANTD South East US Training Director) and, a new cover.

To my knowledge IAND/IANTD was the first scuba diving agency to start Technical diver programs in the 1990's. And it was an intensive program. I can remember my first Technical diver course in France; the dives were done on air up to 200 fsw/60 msw using decompression mixes ranging from Nx 32 to pure o2. It took a good week to complete the program.

Next step was to take the Trimix Normoxic diver course for those who wanted to go into Trimix or get rid of the narcosis before it appeared. It took another week to complete that course. Spending time was necessary for us students to understand and get familiar with diving with a new equipment configuration and using Trimix Normoxic 21% o2 and 25% Helium, even though we regularly dove at these depths before (a CMAS *** diver used to be trained to dive at 200 fsw/60 m) depth. We used to call that a "giclette" in France meaning the perfect mix to get to 200 fsw/60 msw depth.

Along with the Technical Diver manual and workbook well adapted, we had another useful tool the Technical Diver Encyclopedia which IANTD updated in 2010 and renamed The Tao of Survival, a 400 pages encyclopedia. After 2010 many new technical diver programs were created.

The new IANTD Instructor, like his peers before him, still has to prepare his lectures following the logic he/she received during the class. Here are briefly listed the 4 steps I use with when I teach my Technical divers and Technical diver Instructor candidates:

Step 1

Prepare the student with some reading of the Tao of Survival encyclopedia.

Step 2

Have the student participate in the lectures during which he/she is in possession of the IANTD student's kit, gets introduced with the slides, and decompression tables.

Step 3

Prepare the student for the final exam with the questions on the workbook. Correction and review with the Instructor.

Step 4

Final exam.

Please always make sure that you use these pedagogical tools it will help you understand the concepts required for the course.

You can order your kit at WDT dive shop.

Georges Gawinowski
IANTD SE Training Director