My focus
Everyone plans their own deco dives. SMB and stage handling are walked through on land as dry runs first, then done in the water.
This course covers the theory, planning and execution of planned staged decompression dives to a maximum of 45 metres. Decompression is done on nitrox or oxygen, as far as the mix is covered by your certification, which is why the course is often combined with Advanced Nitrox.
What you practise: gas planning based on your own and your team’s consumption, an exact decompression profile, carrying, dropping and retrieving the stage cylinder, gas switches as a team, deploying an SMB solo and as a team, controlled ascents on an SMB or line, deploying a backup mask and responding to a gas loss.
Scope: 4 dives, 2 of them deeper than 30 metres, and at least 6 hours of theory and briefings. Combined with Advanced Nitrox it is 6 dives; combined with Intro to Tech or TDI Sidemount plus Advanced Nitrox at least 8. At most three students per course.
Prerequisites: SDI Advanced Adventure Diver, Advanced Diver or equivalent, 25 logged open water dives, minimum age 18.