The GUE Fundamentals of Technical Diving
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Getting Clear on the Basics: The Fundamentals of Technical Diving Jarrod Jablonski Global Underwater Explorers 2 Copyright (c) 2000, 2001 by Global Underwater Explorers ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise -without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review with appropriate credit. All inquiries should be directed to Global Underwater Explorers, 15 S. Main St., High Springs, Florida, USA 32643 ISBN no. (pending) Library of Congress: Jablonski, Jarrod Getting Clear on the Basics: The Fundamentals of Technical Diving Here’s a couple of quick tips to help you navigate your way around this electronic version of the GUE Technical Diving Manual Use the bookmarks at the left hand edge of the page to jump to specific chapters or sub sections of the manual as shown above You can search for either keywords or word strings within the manual by clicking the binocular icon Or by using CTR+F Repeated CTRL+F will find again on that word You can cycle through the standard page zooms by clicking on each of the page view icons The bookmarks are set to display the pages in a readable size for on screen viewing Where you see blue hyperlinked text as shown above you can click for immediate connection to that web page or email address For a full description of how to use the Acrobat Reader you can simply choose Help>Acrobat Guide from the File menu as shown at right 4 Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................... 10 Preface ................................................................................................................ 11 Chapter 1: Technical Diving : Past and Present ............................................ 12 History ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 The Mysterious Malady ................................................................................................................................ 12 The Birth of SCUBA - Open, Closed and Semi-Closed Systems .............................................................. 13 The Birth of Technical Diving ....................................................................................................................... 14 What is Technical Diving?............................................................................................................................. 15 The Fate of Technical Diving ........................................................................................................................ 15 How Can Divers Receive a Good Education? ............................................................................................. 16 Global Underwater Explorers: Why Another Agency? .............................................................................. 18 Self-Assessment .......................................................................................................................................... 18 Readiness for Advanced Diver Training ..................................................................................................... 18 What Level of Experience Should One Achieve Before Taking a Technical Diving Course? ................. 19 What Buoyancy Skills Should One Master Before Taking a Technical Diving Course? ......................... 19 How Important is Physical Fitness to the Technical Diver?...................................................................... 19 Are You Qualified? ......................................................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 2: Introduction To Nitrox..................................................................... 21 Why Add Oxygen to Air? ............................................................................................................................... 21 What is Nitrox? ............................................................................................................................................. 21 Nitrox History ................................................................................................................................................ 21 Advantages to Breathing Nitrox .................................................................................................................. 22 Complications of Using Nitrox ..................................................................................................................... 24 Looking into the Future ................................................................................................................................ 26 Chapter 3: Diving Physics Made Simple ......................................................... 27 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Basic Review of Gas Laws ........................................................................................................................... 27 Charles’ Gas Law .......................................................................................................................................... 27 Boyle’s Law.................................................................................................................................................... 28 Dalton’s Law .................................................................................................................................................. 28 Henry’s Law................................................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.5 Oxygen Window Summary ................................................................................................................. 29 3.2 Nitrox Parameters .................................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.1 The Big Three ....................................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.2 How Deep Can One Go?....................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.3 What Mix Should One Use? ................................................................................................................. 31 3.2.4 What is the PO2? ................................................................................................................................... 32 5 3.3 There’s Got To Be an Easier Way: MOD Planners ................................................................................ 32 3.3.2 How Does it Work?............................................................................................................................... 35 3.4 More About Nitrox................................................................................................................................... 35 3.4.1 The Concept of Equivalent Air Depth (EAD)...................................................................................... 35 3.4.2 Calculated Advantage .......................................................................................................................... 36 3.4.3 The T Formula and EAD Chart ............................................................................................................ 36 Chapter 4: The Logistics of Diving Mixtures Other Than Air......................... 39 Operational Aspects ..................................................................................................................................... 39 Nitrox Fill Techniques................................................................................................................................... 39 Air Quality Concerns when Filling Nitrox ................................................................................................... 39 Special Preparations for Elevated Oxygen Concentrations ...................................................................... 42 Oxygen Cleaning ........................................................................................................................................... 42 Preparing Nitrox ........................................................................................................................................... 43 Nitrox Availability Limited ............................................................................................................................ 45 All Fills Must Be Analyzed ........................................................................................................................... 45 Analyzing a Cylinder ..................................................................................................................................... 45 Tank Labeling ................................................................................................................................................ 45 Cylinder Marking: The Fine Points .............................................................................................................. 46 Gas Switching