Purpose

The IANTD Technical Wreck course is the "final chapter" in wreck diving education. The course will bring you deeper...longer...and farther into the overhead environment while utilizing multiple stages and breathing gasses to safely extend penetrations while minimizing decompression obligations. Students will learn complex navigation techniques as well as the hazards involved in deep penetration wreck diving. Awareness, team skills and personal skills refinement will be stressed.

Prerequisites

• Must meet the IANTD General Course Prerequisites for Technical Diver programs

• Must be qualified as an Advanced Nitrox diver with a minimum of 100 logged dives

• If performing dives beyond 100' student must be Tri-Mix certified

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age

• Be a non-smoker

• Entry into course by Instructor approval

Training Materials

IANTD Technical Encyclopedia, Technical Wreck Power Point handouts

Duration

The IANTD Technical Wreck course includes 12 hours of academic instruction generally taught in 3 sessions as well as a minimum of 6 dives over 3 days.

Course Content

The IANTD Technical Wreck course cumulatively includes a minimum of 30 hours of instruction encompassing equipment configuration utilizing multiple stages, decompression planning and considerations, advanced guideline protocols, advanced communications and conservation.

Academic Topics

• IANTD organization

• Course Standards and Procedures

• Course completion requirements

• Equipment for Technical wreck diving

• Operational considerations for deep wreck diving

• Advanced diver communications

• Propulsion techniques review

• Advanced navigation and guideline protocols

• Directional markers

• Guideline positioning

• Hazard management

• Technical dive planning

• Gas management considerations

• Team diving protocols

Surface Drills and Skills

• Pre-dive S-drills review

• Advanced communications

• Core drills and skills review

• Advanced guideline protocols

• Propulsion techniques review

• Off line exercises

• Lost diver exercises

• Stage cylinder handling and protocols

In-water Skill Requirements

• Demonstrate proficiency in safe diving techniques; this includes pre-dive preparations, in-water activity, and post-dive assessment

• Demonstrate awareness of team member location and a concern for safety, responding quickly to visual cues and dive partner needs

• Efficiently and comfortably demonstrate how to donate gas to an out-of-gas diver

• Efficiently and comfortably demonstrate how to donate gas to an out-of-gas diver followed by a slow, ascent to the surface

• Comfortably demonstrate at least two propulsion techniques that would be appropriate in delicate and/or silty environments

• Demonstrate a safe and responsible demeanor throughout all training

• Demonstrate proficiency in the ability to deploy a reel / spool and a surface marker

• Demonstrate good buoyancy and trim

• Demonstrate proficiency in underwater communication

• Demonstrate proficiency with touch contact communication

• Demonstrate proficiency and understanding in regards to
  equipment configuration

• Swim a distance of 75' without a mask

• Swim in a simulated OOA situation without breathing for a distance of 60' and commence gas sharing

• Demonstrate controlled use of a reel while deploying and retrieving
  the guideline

• Deploy a lift bag in under 1 minute

• In the overhead environment, demonstrate a calm demeanor while following a guideline with eyes closed and maintaining proper trim and buoyancy control

• Follow a guideline while gas sharing with eyes closed and open

• Perform S-drills before every dive

• Figure 1/3's and communicate planned turn times

• Exit wreck with eyes closed utilizing touch communication

• Perform "lost off line" and "lost diver" drills

• Demonstrate efficient handling techniques utilizing multiple stage bottles

• Demonstrate the deployment of a backup light in less than 30 seconds

Course Limits

• IANTD General Program Limits

• Maximum student to instructor ratio is not to exceed 3 to 1

• Maximum depth of 170'

• All dive must utilize at least 20% oxygen with an END (equivalent narcotic depth) of no greater than 100'

• Working PO2 may not exceed 1.4 with deco. PO2 not to exceed 1.6

Equipment Requirements

• Twin, manifolded diving cylinders to carry sufficient gas supply for completion of dive following the rule of thirds

• A 7' hose with backup around neck attached with bungee necklace

• Pressure gauge (this should be a 2" gauge on approximately a 24" hose)

• Buoyancy control device ( should be a single "wing" style BCD)

• Mask and fins

• Means of monitoring depth and time. Depth gauge and bottom timer or a dive computer

• Dive tables must be used to backup computer or for control of the dive

• Appropriate exposure suit for 48 degree water temperature

• External dry suit inflation bottle and regulator

• Slate and pencil or Wet Notes

• Cutting tool. Small knife or medical shears

• Compass

• Surface alert device (whistle, Dive Alert etc...)

• Primary light (preferably a canister style light)

• 2 backup lights

• Lift bag (preferably a 50lb. bag)

• Small reel or spool (75'-100' of line)

• Primary reel (400' of line)

• 2 40 cu.ft. deco cylinders and 1 80 cu.ft. stage cylinder

• Decompression gas regulator with pressure gauge

• Surface marker buoy