With the increasing availability of helium in many diving locations, recreational divers engaged in deeper diving in the 100'-130' range have become interested in this gas to help alleviate the effects of narcosis and reduce the decompression stress that nitrogen rich gases impose. Until now, training in its use has been limited to technical divers. This course will train you in the use of Heliotrox, an oxygen rich helium mixture that allows extended bottom times and a clear head in the 100-130' range. The class is conducted completely within no-decompression limits and can be done in a single tank (high capacity) or a set of doubles at the diver's discretion. The student will benefit tremendously in their everyday diving activities from the rich skill set and dive planning skills taught in this course.
Recreational Diver 3 training focuses on expanding the Essentials/Intro to Tech and the Rec 2 skills and is designed to cultivate, integrate and expand those skills required for safe deeper recreational diving. This will include problem identification and resolution while building the capacity for progressively more challenging diving. This is an NDL/min deco class preparing a diver for depths to 130’/39m without accelerated decompression procedures.
Prerequisites
Minimum 18 years of age
UTD Rec 2, or Intro to Tech and Nitrox, or equivalent
Minimum of 50 dives beyond open water certification, 25 of which must be non-training dives
Course limits
Maximum depth 130’/39m
Standard gases are Nitrox 32 and Helitrox 25/25
No stage decompression
No overhead environments
Who this class is designed for?
The “Recreational Diving level 3” class is a friendly learning environment where the students will build upon their foundation of Essentials (recreational or technical) and/or Recreational level 2 or equaivalent. The class is designed for the recreational diver who wants to learn the final step in recreational diving without moving into deco bottles or staged decompression, tech or overhead environments. In other words those who want to stay within recreational diving limits of 130'/39m but want to use both doubles or a high capacity single and enriched mixtures of helium (Helitrox 25/25). It's geared towards those who have taken Essentials of recreational diving or Essentials of Tech and/or the Recreational Level 2 and now want the next step in applying the UTD foundation and UTD principles into their deeper recreational diving practices to increase both safety and fun.
Why Should I Take this Class?
As the previous recreational classes have focused on the foundational building blocks, some experience skills, using single tanks and nitrox to a limit of 100'/30m, many recreational divers now want to start extending their range beyond 100'/18m and want to ensure they learn the next set of skills to safely explorer this territory. This class serves as an excellent next step is perfect for someone who wants to learn how to Do it Right when using doubles or a high capacity single and helium between 100'/30m - 130'/39m without carrying deco or stage bottles and without going into staged decompression diving. Imagine being able to spend 30 minutes on the Spiegel Grove and remember every detail! More information can be found on UTD's website HERE.
Cost: $450
Includes: One 4-hour classroom session, one 3-hour pool session, 6 open water dives (4 are critical dive skills and 2 are experience dives), and certification card.
Does NOT include: Rental equipment, UTD membership, or materials