Type specific Closed Circuit Rebreather training is available for

 

• Megalodon and

• Pathfinder rebreathers

 

Course Description

The Professional Scuba Association International’s (PSAI) Advanced Rebreather Diver course is designed for those divers who wish to use a Semi-Closed or Closed Circuit Rebreather with Nitrox pre-mix or an air diluent during their decompression diving activities. This outline is generic and designed to work with all SCR, mechanical and electronic closed circuit rebreathers PSAI have enabled Instructors to teach. A rebreather manufacturer’s specific requirement on depth, gas or absorbent canister duration will always take precedence.

 

Course Objectives

The PSAI Advanced Rebreather Diver Course student will be able to demonstrate proper rebreather care and maintenance, both pre and post dive. The student will also demonstrate proficiency in the dive skills.

 

Course Qualifications

Apply the knowledge and skills outlined in this standard to plan and conduct decompression dives in environments and conditions similar to their training, when properly equipped and accompanied by another certified diver.

 

 

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 18 years old

• Certification: PSAI Advanced Nitrox or equivalent

• Minimum 100 properly logged and verified dives under varying conditions using open circuit diving equipment. Sport Rebreather diving will be considered as advantageous prior experience and each logged dive will count as two equivalent open circuit dives.

 

The PSAI Advanced Rebreather Diver course may be taught in conjunction with PSAI Advanced Nitrox Diving course at the discretion of the PSAI Instructor when no prior decompression diving qualification is held. This is to enable a diver to make a choice between no-stop diving and required decompression diving.

 

What you do

• A minimum of 12 classroom and practical demonstration (equipment assembly/disassembly) hours are required for the PSAI Advanced Rebreather Diver course.

• Confined Water Dives: The first 120 minutes diving using a re-breather must be conducted in a swimming pool or confined open water with swimming pool like conditions.

• A minimum of four (4) simulated decompression dives and two (2) decompression dives of a total minimum of 360 minutes, unless the PSAI instructor makes a written exception on the diver’s record based on diving background and experience with other rebreathers or training. Where there is a manufacturer requirement for increased diving time then this will take precedence. Maximum depth in all cases will be 45 meters (150 feet).

 

 

Materials

• PSAI Rebreather Diver manual, and

• Manufacturers recommended documents or instruction manual for the chosen re-breather.

 

 

Course Equipment Requirements

• Each student is to have access to and full use of a re-breather for the duration of the course. PSAI do not recommend sharing re-breathers.

• Exposure equipment suitable for use in the environment where the course is conducted.

• Equipment suitable to conduct full leak testing, calibration and absorbent changes throughout the course.

• Carry suitable additional gas for bailout and decompression independent of the rebreather fitted with an operational regulator and pressure gauge and additional whip to connect to suit inflation or diluent addition button.

 

 

Curriculum

History of Re-breather Diving.

1. Early uses of Re-breathers.

2. PSAI’s involvement in Re-breather Education.

3. Comparison with open circuit and semi-closed circuit diving equipment.

 

Mechanical and Electronic monitoring aspects of the re-breather.

1. The Loop configuration.

2. Gas addition methods.

3. Absorbent canisters and configuration.

4. Loop testing and servicing.

5. Mechanical or electronic control and use of a setpoint.

6. Displays and Electronic CO2 monitoring.

7. Oxygen monitoring and fuel cell theory.

 

Physiological Principles of Re-breather Diving.

1. Review the benefits of oxygen in conjunction with re-breather and constant PO2 use.

2. Hypoxia, Hyperoxia, Hypercapnea avoidance and treatment.

3. Depth and workload considerations.

4. Contamination & loop cleanliness.

 

Equipment for Re-breather Diving.

1. Standard Equipment.

2. Additional equipment available.

3. Bailout Considerations.

4. Manufacturer’s Recommendations.

 

Dive Planning.

1. Equivalent Air Depth and Tables.

2. Equivalent Air Depth, Metabolic oxygen calculations, setpoint calculations.

3. Use of Dive Computers and software programs. 

 

Problem Solving.

1. Configuration for use, carrying bailout.

2. Loop floods, mouthpiece loss, bag rupture.

3. Use and abuse of electronic monitoring equipment.

4. Scrubber monitoring and exhaustion.

5. User Maintenance and service periods