Wednesday March 13, 2002 marked the second meeting of
the Nova Tech Divers.  This community is the result of
like-minded divers wanting to embrace what is deemed
the safest method of technically oriented diving. The
goal of Nova Tech Divers is to move towards, and
outline a path for its attendees to become DIR
(Doing-It-Right) divers and to stress the importance
of diving as a team. We are not instructors, we are
not a club, we are a loose group of divers who meet to
discuss tech diving.

On the first meeting we covered general DIR gear set
up and provided, in the time available, reasoning
behind the DIR gear configuration methods and DIR
philosophy.  We hope to now select a particular topic
area for a meeting and deal with the gear, the
procedural and the philosophical aspects of the topic.
 
This months topic was decompression.  The meeting
began with a review of the selection, rigging and
marking of a basic deco bottle, reg & spg. This was
followed with discussion of appropriate positioning of
the deco bottle on the harness and deployment of the
deco reg, with emphasis on the extreme importance of
buddy observance/awareness (and assistance, if
necessary) during the gas switch process.

The discussion then moved off of equipment and onto
deco procedure & physiological considerations.  Todd
discussed issues concerning advisability of diving a
bottom mix with a low PPO2; CNS & OX/TOX
considerations for single and multiple day diving
situations; CO2 retention; how long & why you should
sit on a gas switch; and why, when and where, gas
breaks (from your deco gas to your backgas) are
needed.

Dave discussed the benefits of using the DIR
recommended standardized gases for both bottom mixes
and decompression gasses based on depth ranges (0-100,
110-150, 160-200 etc.) as opposed to using the
�perfect� mixture for any given depth, and how this
protocol enables the diver to begin to actually learn
& understand decompression as opposed to being tied to
a set of tables or a dive computer.  This discussion
expanded into the advisability of using helium in all
diving gases even below 100 fsw.  Allyson attested to
the dramatic difference  she noticed even when using a
30/30 mix at Lake Rawlings (maximum depth < 60 ffw)
several weeks ago.

The meeting concluded with Todd�s announcement that he
had arranged for George Irvine, Project Director of
the Woodville Karst Plains Project (WKPP), and dive
partner Pina Porceddu to travel to our area and
address the Nova Tech group on April 13, 2002.  This
is a tremendous opportunity to hear the whys and the
wherefores of the DIR method of diving from one of the
originators of the system.  Please check the Nova Tech
web site for additional information.  We will need a
head count so we have enough chairs so please email us
if you plan on coming. Currently We have one fellow
coming over 240 miles one way to attend the
presentation!  It will be WELL worth it to your diving
career.     

http://home.earthlink.net/~toddclagett/NovaTech/

PS - We (Todd, Dave & Allyson) will be diving at Mt
Storm this Sunday.  Dave hopes to have his new Gavin
Short- Body HDPE scooter up there, Todds will be there
for sure. Current forcast is in the mid 40's (water
will be 60 +), if the front moves a bit faster we may
see an air temp in the 50's.  Come out and practice,,
get your gear squared away and get ready for those
"real dives".


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