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Trimix - Manage your pO2

From the Basic Nitrox levels through to advanced Trimix, we base our calculations of dive profiles on a specific partial pressure of oxygen—pO2.

Managing and controlling the pO2 lies at the foundation of any level of technical diving as it enables us to perform longer, deeper and safer dives compared to diving air. But there are also a few points to watch.

Words:
Leigh Cunningham
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Tech and Training

We are all aware that as we descend the gas in our lungs and body tissues compress and becomes denser. The deeper we go and longer we stay, the more of the inert gas Nitrogen (and in the case of diving with trimix, also helium) our tissues will absorb and hold. Oxygen on the other hand is utilized in the metabolism, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being a resulting waste product.

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The Wake UP call

A long time ago, I sat in hoosha (Bedouin tent) after a deep air dive in the Blue Hole (Dahab, South Sinai, Red Sea). My good friend and dive buddy had less than an hour ago peeled me of the wall near the bottom of the Blue Hole. I had succumbed to deep water blackout, caused by a high degree of stupidity, wrong kit and inadequate training.

Words:
Leigh Cunningham
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Tech and Training

60 meter dives offered

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Configuration

Since the introduction of Scuba diving in the mid 1950s, one of the most hotly debated subjects in the world of technical diving is that regarding the best type of gear configuration. Over the years, many experienced divers, instructors, and training agencies, have all claimed that their method and style of kit configuration is the best.

Words:
Leigh Cunningham
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Equipment
Tech and Training

Also, a diver may be able to maintain his depth at the bottom by lightly finning. However, finning too hard and for too long could lead to excessive CO2 production. The breathing rate would then increase, and the flushing and exhaling of CO2 would become less efficient.

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Double Standards

For the last 30 years or so, dive training agencies have been certifying recreational divers as competent to plan and carry out non-decompression and no-stop dives to a max depth of 40msw.

Words:
Leigh Cunningham
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Tech and Training

Around 70% of certified divers worldwide have been certified by the single largest training agency. A high percentage of these 70% go from being non divers to become “advanced scuba divers” in less than a week, and with under 10 open water dives under their belt.

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Redundancy - double bagging for divers

In the world of technical diving, a direct ascent to the surface is not an option if you run into a problem or emergency. For this reason, technical divers are required to carry back-up systems to resolve problems associated with equipment malfunction during a dive.

But what about the rest of us?

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Tech and Training

Fortunately, there are a lot of good lessons and readily applicable techniques to be learned from the world of technical diving, that can make diving much safer, without being a real bother or overshadowing the experience. Using a seat-belt when driving a car has become second nature, as is carrying a spare tyre in the trunk. We will probably never, or rarely, actually have need of them, but when needed we surely appreciate these simple measures.

 

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