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Chapter 43
- 2
He may have commercial interests, being involved in wreck salvage, equipment manufacture,
marketing and sales, diver training, or other related activities. An appreciable number of high-
profile experts in technical diving have died undertaking this activity, and their deaths have
hopefully served to caution many younger and less experienced divers.
DEFINITION
1. USING GASES OTHER than COMPRESSED AIR
e.g. OXYGEN
NITROX, (Oxygen Enriched Air),
HELIOX, (Helium & Oxygen)
TRIMIX, (Helium, Nitrogen & Oxygen)
2. DECOMPRESSION DIVING
3. DEEP DIVING ( > 40 metres)
4. REBREATHINGEQUIPMENT
Technical diving refers to diving in excess of the usual range for recreational scuba divers. This
may involve an extension of duration at any depth, the depth itself (in excess of 30–40 metres),
changing the gas mixtures to be used, or using different types of diving equipment. All these fall
into the realm of technical diving.
It is important, when discussing technical diving, to specify which type, as the relative risk varies
from little or no additional risk (compared with recreational diving) to a high one, such as with
rebreathing equipment.
Decompression dives and deep diving using only compressed air have added risks and have
already been dealt with in previous chapters.
The other risks increase as the gas mixture deviates from normal air and with increased complexity
of the equipment.
Diving on 32% oxygen, 68% nitrogen instead of air in a scuba cylinder, to a maximum of 40
metres on a no-decompression conventional air profile, could possibly incur slightly less risk than
a recreational scuba air dive.