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Costa believes firmly that the key factors in “safe” advanced technical diving are quality training that challenges students and regular practice in order to keep skills current. It is this challenging training which differentiates Abyss Diving Services and Costa from other instructors.
In order to provide quality technical training under challenging conditions, courses are run only on demand and are limited to very small numbers. Courses are only taught one-on-one or in very small numbers in order to ensure that no compromise is made on safety and quality.
Using a real world approach to training, you will be expected to earn your certifications under practical diving conditions. For example, this means that if you regularly dive with a camera or scooter, you will be expected to dive with it during your course so that both you and Costa can be confident in the fact that upon completion, you can confidently complete a dive under the conditions and stress which you usually encounter. This practical approach also allows for you to receive training that is customised to your specific requirements.
The equipment that you use during your training will predominately be your own. Depending on the level of course, you will be required to carry the appropriate diving kit on every dive that you do.
Below are the courses commonly taught by Costa, however if you would like to do a different course
please contact us.
This is the entry level certification course for recreational divers wishing to utilise Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN) as a breathing gas. The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for using Nitrox mixes from 22% to 40% oxygen content.
By diving with enriched air rather than standard air you can extend your no-decompression limits. This means more time underwater. For example, if you dive to 15 metres on air, your no decompression limit is 75 minutes. But, diving on EANx36 gets you 125 minutes of no decompression time - an increase of 50 minutes. (Buhlmann Air Tables)
Course Requirements:
- Have a minimum certification of Open Water Diver or a current enrolment in an Open Water course
- Be minimum age of 15 years
This is the second course in the series of recreational technical diving. The course examines the use of EAN 21 through 100% (Oxygen) for optimal mixes to a depth of 40msw.
The object of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for utilising EAN 21 through 100% (Oxygen) for dives not requiring staged decompression. In addition the course will show you why cleaning and modification to equipment is required for use in conjunction with EAN beyond 40%.
There are two direct applications of the Advanced Nitrox course;
- With hyperoxic breathing mixes you may increase bottom time at moderate diving depths
- This course will prepare you to properly use decompression Nitrox mixes over 40% for safety stops and decompression
Finally, this course will reinforce the necessary cautions and rules about Nitrox diving in the usual TDI ‘no nonsense’ fashion. At the conclusion of the course you will be able to use all Nitrox mixtures from air to Oxygen. You will know the necessary equipment changes and have complete information about the physics and physiology to properly utilise alternative breathing mixtures for dives not requiring staged decompression.
This course is well suited to be undertaken in conjunction with the TDI Decompression Procedures course – contact us for more details.
Course Requirements:
- Have a minimum certification of TDI Nitrox Diver (or equivalent)
- Show poof of twenty-five (25) logged open water dives
- Be a minimum age of fifteen (15)
- If this course is taught in conjunction with the TDI Decompression Procedures Course, then the minimum age is eighteen (18)
The TDI Decompression Procedures course is available to two types of diver.
- ‘Recreational’ divers can take the course to develop new skills and understanding
- ‘Recreational – Technical’ divers can take the course as an integral component of their initial education. Whilst easily conducted as a stand alone programme it is often run in conjunction with the TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver programme. (contact us for more details)
This course examines the theory, methods and procedures of planned stage decompression diving. The objective of this course is to train divers how to plan and conduct a standard staged decompression dive not exceeding a maximum depth of 45msw unless taught in conjunction with the Extended Range course.
The most common equipment requirements, set-ups, decompression techniques and decompression mixtures (including Oxygen and Nitrox) are presented and will be discussed in detail by your TDI Instructor.
Course Requirements:
- Have a minimum certification of Open Water Diver
- Show proof of twenty five (25) logged open water dives
- Be a minimum age of eighteen (18)
Considered by many to be the one of the most challenging experiences for the recreational technical diver, the TDI Extended Range course provides the training and experience required to competently utilise air and Nitrox for dives up to 55msw that require staged decompression.
Extending your range doesn’t necessarily mean diving ‘deep’, it can simply mean diving for a longer duration. Example: Performing a dive on a wreck in 30msw with a 60 minute bottom time.
This course builds on the fundamental knowledge base developed throughout the Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures courses. You will perform decompression dives that require accelerated staged decompression utilising air, Nitrox and Oxygen mixtures.
This course is well suited to be undertaken in conjunction with the TDI Trimix – contact us for more details.
Course Requirements:
- Be a TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and TDI Decompression Procedures diver (or equivalent)
- Have a minimum of 100 logged dives of which twenty must be deeper than 30msw
- Be minimum age of 18 years
This course provides training and experience to competently conduct advanced wreck dives. This program includes penetration skills and techniques at depths that shall not exceed 55msw, but limited to the level in which the diver is already trained. The objective of this course is to train divers in the proper techniques, equipment requirements and hazards of wreck diving.
Course Requirements:
- Be certified as an Advanced open water diver
- Be certified as Basic Wreck or Cavern or equivalent
- Be a minimum age of eighteen (18)
- Show proof of at least fifty (50) logged dives
This course provides the training required to competently and safely utilise breathing gases containing Helium for dives that require staged decompression, utilising Nitrox and/or Oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth of 60msw.
In previous courses you will have learnt that Nitrogen is reduced in the breathing mix by adding Oxygen. The downside is that the depth is reduced because of the possibility of CNS Oxygen Toxicity.
Simply, by adding Helium, the narcotic effect of the breathing mix is lowered while keeping the Oxygen values in an acceptable range. Helium has almost no narcotic effect on the human body and is reasonably easy to obtain thereby making it the logical choice for deeper diving, safely.
Diving at the TDI Extended Range or TDI Trimix Diver level requires discipline. Expect your adventure to be a challenge!
This course is well suited to be undertaken in conjunction with the TDI Extended Range course – contact us for more details.
Course Requirements:
- Be a TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and TDI Decompression Procedures diver (or equivalent)
- Have a minimum of 100 logged dives of which twenty (20) must be deeper than 30msw
- Be minimum age of 18 years
This course provides the training required to competently and safely utilise breathing gases containing Helium for dives that require staged decompression, utilising Nitrox and/or Oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth of 100msw.
This new adventure promises challenges and excitement whilst calling upon all of your previously learnt skills, knowledge and experience. Mixed gas diving, like all decompression diving, results in a ‘virtual overhead’ environment similar to that experienced by cave divers, thus requiring techniques and equipment back-up. Your TDI Instructor will acquaint you with the necessary procedures and techniques whilst demonstrating the proper attitude required at this level.
By the time you enrol in this course you will have been indoctrinated in both the physics and physiology of diving. This course will review all these subjects and further enhance the role that Helium plays in our safe diving process. You will be expected to learn techniques of gas use, solve simple math problems and be responsible for your physical fitness and mental preparedness.
This course is well suited to be undertaken in conjunction with the TDI Advanced Gas Blender course – contact us for more details.
Course Requirements:
- Have a minimum certification as an Extended Range Diver or Trimix Diver (or equivalent)
- Show proof a minimum of one hundred (100) logged dives with twenty five (25) deeper than one hundred (100) feet/ thirty (30) metres
- Be a minimum age of eighteen (18)
- Prior logged experience w/ double cylinders, stage cylinders and any other equipment to be used on the course. i.e. Dry suit
This is an essential certification for all dive professionals and dive shop staff!!
EAN has been used successfully by wreck, cave, Navy and commercial divers for years as a matter of safety and comfort. Today, the recreational and technical divers have the same advantage and rely on gas blenders and service technicians that have been properly trained and certified.
The role of the TDI Gas Blender is to perform the safe blending of Nitrox gases. The course will prepare you in the proper techniques, equipment requirements and hazards involved in blending Nitrox gases. In addition to the blending segment of the course you will also learn to identify correctly certified divers and EAN cleaned equipment.
Successfully completing this course will ensure that you can provide accurate EAN mixes to correctly certified divers in a professional and safe manner.
Course Requirements:
- Be minimum age of 15 years
This course provides the training required to competently and safely blend Trimix gasses. In the TDI Nitrox Blender course you learned to blend Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN) which increases no decompression dive times at recreational depths and which is used by decompression divers to shorten their decompression obligations and reduce their chances of DCI.
In this course you will learn why divers use Trimix and how to safely blend Trimix gases. You do not need to be a Trimix diver to undertake this course!
Successfully completing this course will ensure that you can provide accurate Trimix blends to correctly certified divers in a professional and safe manner.
Course Requirements:
- Be a minimum age of eighteen (18)
- Show proof of certification of TDI Nitrox Gas Blender or equivalent
This is a speciality cave diver development program that is designed to follow the Overhead/Cavern Diver course.
An introduction to basic sump diving and solo access situations with an emphasis placed on dive planning and skill perfection through actual sump dives.
The objective of the course is aimed at critiquing and expanding skills taught in the Cavern and Overhead
Environment diving program.
Part of the course will involve dry caving so suitable experience is a pre-requisite.
Course Requirements:
- Have a minimum certification of TDI Overhead/Cavern or equivalent or enrol in a combined Overhead/Cavern/Sump diver program
- Be minimum age of 18 years
- Have suitable dry caving experience
This is an entry level certification for recreational divers wishing to utilise a Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR). The objective of the course is to train recreational divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for rebreather diving on the specific CCR unit.
During the course you will develop basic rebreather skills appropriate to diving within the normal recreational depth limits of 40msw using an air diluent for minimal decompression.
Course Requirements:
- Have a minimum certification of TDI Nitrox Diver and Advanced Nitrox Diver or equivalent
- Show proof of 100 logged dives
- Be minimum age of 18 years
This is the highest level certification for divers wishing to utilise Closed Circuit Rebreathers (CCR's) for mixed gas diving. The objective of the course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for mixed gas rebreather diving on the specific CCR unit.
During the course you will develop advanced rebreather skills appropriate to diving beyond the normal recreational depth limits of 40msw using mixed gas.
Course Requirements:
- Have a minimum certification of TDI Trimix Diver or equivalent (The course may be included at the instructors discretion)
- Have verified a minimum of 100 logged rebreather hours
- Have a verified number of logged dives at specific depths on the specific unit in question (Ask your TDI instructor for more details)
- Have completed and qualified the TDI Air Diluent Rebreather Course or equivalent from agencies recognised by TDI
- Be minimum age of 18 years
* Note: All prices are in Australian dollars, include GST and are subject to change without notice.
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