TDI Extended Range Diver

Certain areas of the world provide spectacular dives at depths deeper than 39 metres/130 feet but you may not have access (or very limited access) to helium. The TDI Extended Range course teaches you the proper techniques for utilizing compressed air as a breathing gas, and with a maximum depth of 55 metres/180 feet, so you don’t have to miss those dives! The TDI Extended Range Diver Course provides the training and experience necessary including proper techniques, equipment requirements, and hazards of deep air diving, to competently utilize air for dives up to 55 metres/180 feet that require staged decompression, using nitrox mixtures or oxygen during decompression.

Who this course is for:

The certified TDI Advanced Nitrox/Decompression Procedures diver looking for the next step in technical dive training. Whether you’re looking to expand upon your skills, experience, or just go a little deeper to see an area of interest, this course is for you!

Course prerequisites:

Minimum age 18
Certified as a TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and TDI Decompression Procedures Diver, or equivalent
Proof of a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which 25 must be deeper than 30 metres/100 feet

What you can expect to learn:

The TDI Extended Range Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
- Decompression gas choices
- Tables vs. personal dive computers
- Emergency and contingency planning (equipment failure, omitted decompression, etc.)
History of deep air diving
Physics
- Pressure review
- Formulas for solving dive planning problems, maximum operating depth (MOD), best mix, and more
Physiology
- Hypoxia
- Oxygen toxicity
- Nitrogen narcosis
- Nitrogen absorption and elimination
- Carbon dioxide toxicity
- Carbon monoxide
- Hyperthermia
- Hypothermia
Decompression Options
- Air
- Nitrox
- Oxygen
Equipment considerations
Dive tables
Dive planning
- Operation planning
- Team planning
- Emergency planning
Diving procedures
Descent considerations
Ascent considerations
Technical dive support
Navigation

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

Use START before every dive
Stress analysis and mitigation
Gas matching procedures
Demonstrate buoyancy control; ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet
Show good awareness of buddy and other team members through communications, proximity and team oriented dive practices
Demonstrate competence managing 2 stage cylinders, either 2 deco gas or 1 deco and extra bottom gas, including drop and recovery while maintaining position in the water column
Demonstrate ability to confirm gas switches at depth with buddy/team members
Demonstrate lift bag deployment from depth and use of bag as back-up buoyancy device
Demonstrate air-sharing ascent from depth while one member of buddy team is without mask, both as a donor and recipient
Create contingency decompression schedule after simulated loss of decompression gas
Remove and replace mask, deploy back up mask
Demonstrate tired diver tow at depth and on surface; 30 metres/100 feet lateral
Complete a horizontal breath-hold swim at depth for 15 metres/50 feet with mask off or blacked out
Properly execute the planned dive within all pre-determined limits
Demonstrate the proper procedures for switching and isolating a malfunctioning regulator, this skill is to be performed at a depth no deeper than 40 metres/130 feet
Demonstrate the proper navigational techniques for the specific dive
During 2 dives, demonstrate an ascent with ascent reel and lift bag and perform staged decompression
During one of the dives, tow a simulated unconscious diver, while at depth, 9 metres/30 feet to ascent line and simulate an emergency rescue ascent technique

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision so long as the following limits are adhered to

The diving activities approximate those of training
The areas of activities approximate those of training
Environmental conditions approximate those of training
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are qualified to enroll in the TDI Advanced Wreck ,TDI Trimix, and TDI Advanced Trimix courses

TDI Extended Range Diver minimum requirements:

Satisfactorily complete the TDI Extended Range Course written examination with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the instructor
Complete all open water requirements efficiently
Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution