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The question of mixed gas training comes to mind. Lets see if we can answer the following questions about mixed gas training. 1. At what maximum depth should a diver be trained on Air? (187,200,218,240,300???????) Take into consideration the following a. Current suggested PO2 limits (1.6 Deco gas only) 1.4-1.45 Bottom Gas b. Ability of the individual to function in an emergency at suggested depth. (actually thinking and acting quickly when the shit hits the fan) c. Possible medical manifestations such as O2 Toxicity and N2 narcosis d. history of thousands of deep air dives successfully completed between 200 and 300+. e. Was the reason for these deep air dives because of the lack of mixed gas training? 2. If the diver could NOT complete to satisfaction a deep air course should he/her be allowed to continue to mixed gas. Take into consideration the following scenario (reality) A team of 4 divers are planning a dive to 200 feet. The team splits into 2 groups A & B. Team A has extensive deep air dives below 200 feet and chooses to use Air (just because they want to). Team B does not feel comfortable with air at 200 so they choose to use a mix of 15%O2 and 25%He to cut the narcosis and PO2's. During the dive, the divers on team B become separated. One of the B divers has an equipment malfunction and is required to breath air from team A's long hose. Because of the divers lack of experience and inability to use air at 200 problems arise risking the lives of the A team. a. Should group B divers be trained in deep mixed gas diving because they are not sufficient on deep air? b. Should both teams compromise and use the same gases? c. Should they each carry additional redundant bottom gas? (another stage tank) d. Should they not dive together? e. Would proper gas management save their butts? 3. Should there be a minimum number of deep air dives and or years of diving before you are qualified to take a mixed gas course. (None of this pay as you go card collecting) a. Has there been a number of fully certified deep mixed gas divers or even instructors who just Paid the cash for the cards and have very little or no experience out of the watchful eye of the instructor? b. How could the instructor know if the diver has (JUST filled in his LOG BOOK) so he/she may take the course. c. Is there any possible chance of enforcing such certification requirements? d. Should we as (leaders in our tech diving community) try to sway these divers into proper training or just continue on our own expeditions and leave those others alone to do as they please? e. Is the saying true "you cant be a good deep mixed gas diver until your a good deep air diver"? Lets remember that there are many divers out there that are currently diving extremely deep on air and mix without certification cards. Lets remember that these individuals have been doing this for along time and will probably continue to do so no matter what the industry thinks. REMEMBER: WE ARE ALL HERE USING OUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO LEARN FROM OTHERS OPINIONS, EXPERIENCES, AND KNOWLEDGE. FLAMING ANSWERS DOES NOT BETTER THE WHOLE PICTURE. Before you knock deep air diving completely into the dirt lets remember all the pioneers who have come before us. Curt Bowen Co-Publisher DeepTech Journal EANx@AO*.CO*
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