BSAC Accelerated Decompression Procedures

The BSAC Accelerated Decompression Procedures course is the next level up from Technical Explorer. This course builds on the diver’s knowledge of nitrox from the BSAC Ocean Diver and the BSAC Sports Diver courses and allows the diver to use nitrox mixes during deco stops to speed up their decompression schedules. The course is open to sports divers or equivalent, which have completed the technical explorer course and qualifies them to use nitrox mixes up to 80% and to a depth of 45m.

COURSE OUTLINE

The course is split onto 4 sections, 4 theory, 1 dry practical, 1 confined water dive and 2 Open water dives. The confined session is a chance for the instructor to assess the student’s skills and introduce several new skills ready for the open water dives. It also allows the student more practice time on their buoyancy skills and introduces them to center of gravity pivots

THEORY LESSONS

The theory lessons will take the students through all the necessary knowledge to plan and dive dives involving accelerated decompression stops, the equipment needed to complete decompression dives and also safety procedures. The course will cover the following lectures:

• Physics and Physiology
• Equipment
• Dive Planning 1
• Dive Planning 2 – “What if”

DRY PRACTICAL

The course contains a dry practical sessions. This allows the Instructor time to go through the proper kit configuration with their students. Showing the student the correct order to wear the different gas mixtures and also barriers etc. to prevent the diver switching to the wrong gas mixture.

CONFINED WATER DIVES (10 M MAX)

The confined dive gives the student time to practice old skills and also introduce new skills. It also gives the students time to adjust their buoyancy to compensate for the additional tanks they will be carrying. It is also a good time for the instructors to assess your skills before you move onto the deeper open water dives.

OPEN WATER DIVES

The open water dives focus primarily on depth, time and gas management. Open water dive 1 is run as a deco dive using nitrox to accelerate the decompression stops. This dive is planned by the students but led by the instructor so he/she can observe the students depth, time and gas management skills. At the end of dive 1 if the instructor is happy with the students’ performance they can move onto dive 2, however if the students need more time to practice extra dives will have to be added before completing dive 2.

Dive 2 is the final assessment dive and will be planned and led by the students with the instructor observing and assessing their abilities to maintain correct depths, times and gas management. Upon completion of dive 2 the students will be awarded the BSAC Accelerated Decompression Procedures Diver certificate.

The next level up on the certification ladder is the Sports Mixed Gas diver which introduces the divers to Tri Mix and extends their depth rating to 50m. Now that you have the required skills to complete deeper longer dives with decompression stops another course worth looking at is the Wreck Appreciation course. Some of the best wrecks in the world are found in the 40m+ range and are usually one of the main reasons divers choose to push the limits and dive deeper and longer.