A. Purpose
1. This Program is designed to train those who wish to dive to depths between 130 fsw (39 msw) and 200 fsw (60 msw), but who
do not wish to breathe air below 130 fsw (39 msw). Trimix affords a means of reducing narcosis on dives to such depths.
2. (RB) This Program is further designed to train divers in the safer use of Rebreathers for dives using normoxic helium-based
gas mixtures.
3. The knowledge and skills taught in this program are more than adequate to qualify divers to perform Trimix Dives outside of
training up to 200 fsw (60 msw).
B. Prerequisites
1. Must be qualified as an IANTD Advanced EANx Diver. Divers qualified as Technical Diver, see note below under Program
Content section.
2. Must provide proof of a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which at least 30 were deeper than 90 fsw (27 msw) or sufficient
experience doing technical dives to satisfy the instructor that the student has the ability and knowledge to continue into this
level of training
3. (RB) Must have 20 dives and 25 hours on the rebreather being used.
4. (RB) Divers certified as OC Normoxic Trimix may take this course combined with the Rebreather Diver course with qualification
given once the 20 dives and 25 hours are logged.
5. Must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
C. Program Content
1. (OC and SCR) All academic portions of the IANTD Technical Diver and Normoxic Trimix Slides and the IANTD Exploration and
Mixed Gas Diving Encyclopedia – The Tao of Survival Underwater, as well as all lectures completed with IANTD Coursespecific
Slides pertaining to the theory in the IANTD Normoxic Trimix Diver Student Kit. (CCR) The CCR Normoxic Trimix
Slides and the IANTD text Tek CCR manual.
2. Complete a written exam specific to Normoxic Trimix Diving written exam specific to either OC, CCR, or SCR with a minimum
score of 80%.
3. Dives may be accomplished in overhead environments if the diver is already qualified or if taking this Program in conjunction
with a cave or wreck course.
4. All dives must follow or use as backups to a dive computer the IANTD Tables. Dive computers with gas switching capability are
recommended. Dives may be made on custom software generated tables provided it is a Program approved by IANTD and
the IANTD dive-tables are used as primary or backup.
5. Three of the dives must be deeper than 130 fsw (39 msw) and at least one (1) dive must be to 180 (54 msw).
6. This Program must include a confined water session prior to a minimum 300 minutes of in water training time and a minimum
of 4 dives using Air, EANx or Trimix.
7. Student must graduate with a score of 80% on the watermanship evaluation form to complete the course within the minimum
specified dives. With two (2) or more additional dives the student may graduate from the course with an overall average score
of 6 points.
8. (RB) On a rebreather, four (4) dives must be on Trimix with an END not to exceed 120 fsw (36 msw).
9. (RB) Divers already qualified as OC Normoxic Trimix Divers may take the course combined with Rebreather Diver but must
complete all lectures and dives.
10. (RB) Divers qualified as OC Trimix who successfully complete this program are eligible for the Trimix rebreather certification at
the instructors’ discretion, based on performance, provided the diver meets the prerequisites.
NOTE: OC Divers who are already qualified as Technical Divers or Cave Divers or IANTD Wreck Divers may have
the two (2) air or EANx dives credited and only need to do the two (2) Trimix dives between depths of 130 fsw (39
msw) and 200 fsw (60 msw). Plus complete the lecture on Normoxic Trimix in the workbook applies to OC only.
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E. Equipment Requirements
1. IANTD Normoxic Trimix Diver Student Kit for OC, SCR or CCR.
a. (RB) Rebreather divers at all course levels must have the IANTD CCR Diver “S” Drill chart C-3401.
2. Fulfill all Equipment Requirements as specified in the general Technical Diver Programs overview.
3. (RB) Own or have unlimited access to a rebreather on which the student is being trained.
F. Program Limits
1. There may be no more than 4 students per Instructor. This ratio may be increased by two (2) students (for a maximum of 6
students) with an assisting IANTD Trimix Diver Supervisor. If the course is conducted in conjunction with a Cave or Wreck
Programs, the limits for those Programs will prevail. (RB) Rebreather classes must have Rebreather Supervisors qualified to
the equivalent level of OC to supervise and add to instructor ratios. A Rebreather Supervisor may supervise OC Divers, but an
OC Supervisor may not supervise Rebreather Divers.
2. (Open-Circuit) A maximum of two (2) Decompression cylinders may be carried during this course. One (1)decompression
cylinder is minimally required. For ease and simplicity IANTD recommends a single Decompression Gas Cylinder during this
course.
3. No dives may be conducted to depths greater than 200 fsw (60 msw).
4. Oxygen partial pressure may not exceed 1.4 during the working portion of the dives, nor exceed 1.61 ATA during the
decompression portion of the dives.
5. (Open Circuit) Normoxic Trimix dives must be conducted using a mixture containing at least 20% oxygen (± 1%).
6. Equivalent Narcosis Depth (END) may not exceed 120 fsw (36 msw).
7. Surface oxygen must be available for use in the event of Decompression Illness (DCI).
8. All dives must be performed as a single dive team.
9. All appropriate safety or required decompression stops must be performed.
10. (RB) If using a SCR dives must be conducted using an on board mixture containing not more than 1.4 PO2.
11. (RB) If using a CCR dives must be conducted using an on board diluent mixture containing not more than 1.1 PO2 .
12. (RB) Computer controlled oxygen partial pressure may not exceed 1.3 during the working portion of the dives, nor exceed 1.4
ATA during the decompression portion of the dives. At 20 fsw (6 msw) a flush to 1.6 may be used to check cell performance.
13. (RB) Each team must carry stages or adequate bailout gas or bailout rebreathers to get 1½ divers to the surface on CCR.
Individual team members should carry adequate bailout cylinder and its PO2 may not exceed 1.6 at the MOD and may not have
an END greater than 120 fsw (36 msw). (Note this allows for bailout gas as needed plus one (1) stage carried or staged for
decompression.)
G. Water Skills Development
1. (RB) Divers on CCR complete the IANTD “S” drill chart C-3401 prior to all water sessions. Others complete “S” drill procedures.
2. A confined water session demonstrating all skills must be completed to the instructor’s satisfaction prior to conducting any
open water dives. In lieu of confined water the instructor may opt to do a skills development dive to a depth no greater than 90
fsw (27 msw) provided required decompressions stops are not required and the skills development dive does not count toward
total number of required course dives.
3. (RB) Full manual operation must be performed on at least one (1) dive.
4. (RB) Simulate free flows into counterlung and solenoid failures.
5. (RB) Simulate flow valves malfunctioning on mCCR, simulate manual gas control (CCR) or gas switching (SRC) with valve
shutdowns.
6. Become proficient in the following propulsion techniques: modified flutter, modified frog, modified dolphin and standard shuffle
kicks.
7. Deploy lift bag in less than 1½ minutes, and repeat at least three (3) times during the Program for a total of 4 deployments.
8. Swim a distance of at least 75 feet (23 meters) without wearing a mask.
9. Have diver remove and replace a stage cylinder at rest and while swimming. (RB) Have divers simulate bailout and have
reached 50% of bailout gas switch cylinders – repeat his drill until there is a minimum of change in swim pace and body
posture
10. Have two (2) divers swim side-by-side, in full equipment, simulating an out-of-gas situation (without breathing, and exhaling
slowly), for a distance of 60 feet (18 meters), then stop and begin breathing with one (1) diver handing-off the second stage
hose to the other diver. (RB) Swim side-by-side simulating out-of-gas but rather than OC long hose, Divers exchange stage
cylinders. Divers should remain a rest for three (3) breaths, then swim at an average pace for at least 10 minutes while
breathing from the stage cylinder. This drill should be done with the diver breathing from the stage cylinder.
11. Remove the harness and cylinders from a simulated unconscious diver in less than two (2) minutes. (Students who exceed the
time limit on this skill must have a quick-release added to their harness.)
12. Divers using a quick-release on their harness or backpack must, in confined water, swim the system while the instructor
disconnects the quick-release to simulate a failure. The student is to swim the system demonstrating control of buoyancy and
body positioning with the quick disconnect released for sufficient duration to satisfy the instructor that this type failure may be
managed by the student.
13. Demonstrate an ability to respond to a single-bladder BCD failure by the two (2) methods listed below. (Students using gear
configurations that prevent accomplishment of these two (2) skills will be required to wear a redundant BCD. Students who
already have a redundant BCD or dry suit may use one (1) of these as alternatives after attempting to perform the methods
without the use of the alternative.)
a. Deflate BCD and swim while maintaining buoyancy, control duration at instructor discretion. (2 minutes maximum)
b. Deflate BCD, ascend to the surface, and remain afloat duration at instructor discretion. (2 minutes maximum)
NOTE: If at any time the student starts to over-exert, or if it is obvious that the skill cannot be accomplished, the
instructor is to ensure that the BCD is inflated.
14. In confined water, have a student lose buoyancy by deflation of the BCD, and then attempt to utilize a lift bag or other
secondary buoyant device as a BCD.
NOTE: This skill is to demonstrate how effective these devices are and to reinforce that even if not suitable for a
redundant BCD they still provide an option for self rescue in an emergency situation.
15. Following a means of reference (pool wall, guide line, ship railing, etc.) with eyes closed, remove stage cylinder and swim a distance of at least 15 feet (4.5 meters). Reverse direction, return to stage cylinder and replace it on correct side.
16. (Open Circuit) Two divers approximately 60 feet (18 meters) apart, with blacked-out masks or eyes closed, and while
simulating an out of air situation, locate each other (using side of pool, rail on wreck, guide line, etc. for orientation) and begin
gas sharing via long hose.
17. (Open Circuit) Prior to dives, students must use IANTD Gas Management Charts to match gas turn points.
18. Open and close tank valves at least once on all dives.
19. (Open Circuit) At least once on each dive, Instructor is to signal to student(s) that one (1) of their regulators is malfunctioning
and the student is to take the corrective action.
20. (Open Circuit) Perform gas sharing in one form or another on at least three (3) of the dives. It is recommended that the
Instructor do this at times when it surprises at least one (1) of the divers, and at a point when there is a reasonable distance
between the divers. Determine RMV and demonstrate ability to calculate and perform gas matching. (Open Circuit only)
21. (RB) Divers must if the rebreather is configured to allow it plug their bailout cylinders into the counterlungs on both inhalation
and exhalation sides.
22. (RB) Divers should if the rebreather is compatible plug their bailout stages into buddies units and allow buddy to get gas from
them.
23. (RB) Remove and replace equipment on bottom and on surface at least once.
24. (RB) Bailout from a depth greater than 160 fsw (48 msw) and ascent for 33 fsw (10 msw) and check how much gas was used
and time – post dive use this value to determine bailout needs at depth.
25. (RB) Verify ability to maintain PO2 with minimum / optimum loop volume.
26. (RB) Complete all Water skills listed under the rebreather diver Standards.
27. (RB) At least two (2) times on each dive, Instructor is to signal to student(s) that they have an emergency.
28. (RB) SCR mode of diving. (Recommended – 10 minutes) On one (1) dive the diluent or the stage cylinder may be used for this drill.
29. (RB) Out-of-air, air gas sharing from OC bailout (donor remains on CCR). Stage may be handed off. Divers simulate a bailout
situation and that the diver has used 50% of their bailout gas, switch stages with the buddy diver and at the Instructor’s
discretion switch back.
CENA: 6000 PLN