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NAUI Master Scuba Diver 254 Technical Diving diving includes lights, reels (figure 11-7), harnesses, gas analysis devices, drysuits, lift bags, and cameras. High intensity lights with separate battery packs are carried on deep, wreck, and cave dives. Strong, reliable guideline reels are required equipment for cave dives and are used by some wreck penetration divers. Double tank harnesses and custom buoyancy compensators are the norm (figure 11-8). Double buoyancy compensators are often used for redundancy in case the primary unit fails. Some technical divers invest in their own gas mixing and analysis equipment, including compressors, boosters, cylinders, and regulators. Most, however, support professional dive shops such as NAUI Technical Dive Centers that have made a considerable investment in the proper equipment. Custom decompression tables are available as software for personal computers. For thermal protection on long dives in cold water, drysuits are used. Some divers use special gases like argon for suit inflation. Having a recompression chamber on site is usually not feasible for most technical diving operations. While its potential value is not disputed, cost is usually the factor in determining a chamber’s presence. For many of the exploratory dives to “the frontier,” a recompression chamber on site is a major comfort for the participants, however. TRAINING Extensive training and practice is the key to technical diving. Recreational divers interested in pursuing technical diving should be very experienced and comfortable in the water. It is difficult to cite an exact number of dives required before one should consider technical diving, as this would vary widely with individuals. As a minimum, a Master Scuba Diver certification with considerable diving in a variety of habitats should be considered. NAUI training courses are available in nitrox, mixed gas, deep diving, cave diving, and gas blending techniques. Technical divers view depth as a relative term, not an absolute number that applies to everyone. Deep dives are worked “up to” progressively, assuring proper comfort level and competence before progressing deeper. Technical divers stress the importance of the independence and self-sufficiency of the individual diver. Cavern and cave diving training stresses equipment handling and gas management techniques. Those involved with this type of diving must clearly recognize the risks of decompression sickness, entrapment, disorientation, and separation from a buddy. Detailed planning and preparation are the key to technical diving operations. To conduct these dives properly, one can incur significant expense. In addition to the cost of the training and all of the equipment discussed herein, the cost of the breathing gas alone can be considerable. Technical divers invest many thousands of dollars in equipment and training. FIGURE 11-6. DIVER PROPULSION VEHICLE FIGURE 11-7. USING A LINE REEL


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