Scott,

As you said yourself, your post is really about semantics more than
anything: ie. what qualifies as a technical dive; is hyperoxic trimix a
technical breathing gas? I suppose we could rehash (for the 1000th
time) the definition of a technical dive: depth > 130', <21% O2 or >50%
O2, overhead environment (including deco stops), and breathing gasses
other than oxygen + nitrogen, but what good would that do? No matter
what you call it, diving with the above conditions requires additional
training.

What would be the purpose of a recreational trimix course? Are you
proposing that hyperoxic trimix be the next course after what most
agencies call Open Water Diver? The prerequisites to Intermediate
Trimix are already minimal: Technical Diver 1 in GUE and EANx +
Advanced EANx in IANTD (depending on skill level, etc.).

Virtually everyone agrees that additional training should be sought for
dives deeper than 100'. You got narced on air at 117'. Your post is
proof that additional training is required. There is already nitrox
available for the recreational diver who wants to occasionally do NDL
dives to 130'. For those who want to go deeper, where environmental
exposure, gas supply, decompression, etc. limit bottom time and
increase risks, they should do the minimal training required to enroll
in Intermediate Trimix. Training is not a bad thing, in fact it is fun.

So why is there a need for a recreational trimix course when there is a
logical path to trimix already available?

Regards,

Bill


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