Bsac & Dir

Ali Fikree · December 10th, 2006, 07:42 AM

Hi Gang,

After writing to BSAC a few time and not getting the answers I am looking for, I thought that I would put this up.

Where does BSAC stand with the following?

1. Helium based diving gases ( 30/30, 21/35 etc).
2. Is BSAC going to launch a trimix training program?
3. Donating and from a long hose. Can this be used for training as well as dives? As a BSAC instructor, I would rather train a novice diver to use the long hose but have been told that its a big no-no with BSAC.
4. Revision of the BSAC Hennesy Tables. DAN and as well as many other agencies have implemented deep stops except BSAC.

Ali

BSAC OWI 5011

Lou · December 10th, 2006, 10:56 AM

BSAC recently announced a revamp to their tech training programme. It will now look something like this..
(lifted froma post on YD about the BSAC DOC)

Quote:

Technical training Full route training available now:-

Advanced Nitrox
ERD
Sport Mixed Gas (Recreational) 50m
Sport Mixed Gas (Extended Deco) Normoxic 60m
Advanced Mixed Gas 80m
Expedition Mixed Gas (Being developed) Team Diving, Depth subject to risk assessment.

Janos · December 10th, 2006, 11:06 AM

Well I will give my own responses, which are mine and not that of the organisation.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ali Fikree)

1. Helium based diving gases ( 30/30, 21/35 etc).

There is not a problem with this. About 90% of my dives are on trimix. [1]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ali Fikree)

2. Is BSAC going to launch a trimix training program?

They have been launched and will be available from 1st January. There is a lag as instructors get trained up, but several existing commercial instructors have now added BSAC courses to their repetoir. Sports Mixed Gas (SMG) takes you to 60m. Advanced mixed gas (AMG) to 80m. They are developing an expedition trimix which will focus on support divers, and the logistics of supporting extreme dives and will have no depth limit. I would imagine this will be ready in 2008.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ali Fikree)

3. Donating and from a long hose. Can this be used for training as well as dives? As a BSAC instructor, I would rather train a novice diver to use the long hose but have been told that its a big no-no with BSAC.

Donating any reg, whether long hose or short hose, is a no-no in training with BSAC. The BSAC method taught to new divers is not to signal out of air and wait to receive the reg, but for the OOA diver to take the AAS from wherever it is. BSAC maintain that this is not something that should be taught to novice divers. However I have an email a couple of years ago from HQ syaing that there was nothing wrong with experienced divers (ie DL-ish) from using this technique.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ali Fikree)

4. Revision of the BSAC Hennesy Tables. DAN and as well as many other agencies have implemented deep stops except BSAC.

Deep stops are not incompatible with the 88s. Remember that the "Dive time" portion of the 88s, doesn't finish until you hit 6m or your first stop (whichever is deeper) unlike most other agencies where "Dive Time" is the time at which you leave the bottom.

That said, I agree that BSAC 88s don't give profiles I am particularly comfortable with and this isn't a problem. The "Safe Diving Practices" have changed recently, and BSAC 88s are now simply "safe" rather than "safest". You are free to use whatever you want, as long as it gives the same as or more deco than 88s (not hard!).

Janos

[1] - I dive a rebreather and it's cheaper for me to use 18/52 as a diluent then to air top it and drain it next time I do a deepie.

December 10th, 2006, 07:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ali Fikree (Online) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 462	Bsac & Dir Hi Gang, After writing to BSAC a few time and not getting the answers I am looking for, I thought that I would put this up. Where does BSAC stand with the following? 1. Helium based diving gases ( 30/30, 21/35 etc). 2. Is BSAC going to launch a trimix training program? 3. Donating and from a long hose. Can this be used for training as well as dives? As a BSAC instructor, I would rather train a novice diver to use the long hose but have been told that its a big no-no with BSAC. 4. Revision of the BSAC Hennesy Tables. DAN and as well as many other agencies have implemented deep stops except BSAC. Ali BSAC OWI 5011

December 10th, 2006, 11:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
Janos(Offline) "Two Sheds" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 400	Well I will give my own responses, which are mine and not that of the organisation. Quote: (Originally Posted by Ali Fikree) 1. Helium based diving gases ( 30/30, 21/35 etc). There is not a problem with this. About 90% of my dives are on trimix. [1] Quote: (Originally Posted by Ali Fikree) 2. Is BSAC going to launch a trimix training program? They have been launched and will be available from 1st January. There is a lag as instructors get trained up, but several existing commercial instructors have now added BSAC courses to their repetoir. Sports Mixed Gas (SMG) takes you to 60m. Advanced mixed gas (AMG) to 80m. They are developing an expedition trimix which will focus on support divers, and the logistics of supporting extreme dives and will have no depth limit. I would imagine this will be ready in 2008. Quote: (Originally Posted by Ali Fikree) 3. Donating and from a long hose. Can this be used for training as well as dives? As a BSAC instructor, I would rather train a novice diver to use the long hose but have been told that its a big no-no with BSAC. Donating any reg, whether long hose or short hose, is a no-no in training with BSAC. The BSAC method taught to new divers is not to signal out of air and wait to receive the reg, but for the OOA diver to take the AAS from wherever it is. BSAC maintain that this is not something that should be taught to novice divers. However I have an email a couple of years ago from HQ syaing that there was nothing wrong with experienced divers (ie DL-ish) from using this technique. Quote: (Originally Posted by Ali Fikree) 4. Revision of the BSAC Hennesy Tables. DAN and as well as many other agencies have implemented deep stops except BSAC. Deep stops are not incompatible with the 88s. Remember that the "Dive time" portion of the 88s, doesn't finish until you hit 6m or your first stop (whichever is deeper) unlike most other agencies where "Dive Time" is the time at which you leave the bottom. That said, I agree that BSAC 88s don't give profiles I am particularly comfortable with and this isn't a problem. The "Safe Diving Practices" have changed recently, and BSAC 88s are now simply "safe" rather than "safest". You are free to use whatever you want, as long as it gives the same as or more deco than 88s (not hard!). Janos [1] - I dive a rebreather and it's cheaper for me to use 18/52 as a diluent then to air top it and drain it next time I do a deepie. __________________ You can lead a horse to water but you can't climb a ladder with a large bell in both hands - Vic Reeves www.hellfins.com/shed

December 10th, 2006, 10:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lou(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bucks Posts: 195	BSAC recently announced a revamp to their tech training programme. It will now look something like this.. (lifted froma post on YD about the BSAC DOC) Quote: Technical training Full route training available now:- Advanced Nitrox ERD Sport Mixed Gas (Recreational) 50m Sport Mixed Gas (Extended Deco) Normoxic 60m Advanced Mixed Gas 80m Expedition Mixed Gas (Being developed) Team Diving, Depth subject to risk assessment.