CCR Trimix Diver course on GBM: 5 days, 5 dives, to 100 m

Why take the CCR Trimix Diver course?

The course develops CCR Normoxic Trimix divers. It gradually builds and solidifies the skills and knowledge needed for deeper technical dives and longer decompression times. It also builds the divers’ capacity to handle challenges in a comfortable learning environment. The emphasis is on higher physical and mental fitness. It also calls for a deeper understanding of rebreather management, maintenance procedures and safety protocols.

Who is it for?

The CCR Trimix course is for graduates of the CCR Normoxic Trimix Diver course. They want to deepen their knowledge of advanced CCR diving in more demanding environments.

What will I learn?

• A competent and comfortable rebreather diver with solid personal and team skills
• Robust knowledge of rebreather function, underwater operation and failures
• Deep bailout to open circuit, including the open-circuit ascent protocol with gas switches, rotations and loss of decompression gases
• Planning advanced technical dive missions: gas management, absorbent canister endurance strategies, oxygen toxicity management, decompression strategies

How the CCR Trimix course runs

• 5 days. At least 6 in-water sessions and at least 360 minutes of training on the GBM. One confined water session of at least 60 minutes and five open water dives with at least 300 minutes. One dive deeper than 75 m and one deeper than 85 m. Classroom lectures, land drills and in-water work. Transfer from Playa del Carmen included.

The deep ocean dives of the course are from a private boat in Akumal. $100 per dive on top of the course price, the same for one diver or four. A solo student pays the individual rate plus the boat.

• Crossover to the GBM for certified CCR Trimix divers of another unit: at least 3 in-water sessions and 180 minutes. One confined water session of at least 60 minutes. Up to two open water dives of up to 120 minutes, both between 60 and 100 m.
• Rate: $398 per training day in a group of two or more, $448 individually.

Included: professional Advanced Technical Dual CCR Cave Diving instructor, hotel pickup and drop-off in Playa del Carmen, doubles or sidemount tanks with EAN32, weights, and the final examination

Not included: Students must bring their own tech/cave level diving gear (requirements will be provided) or rent it, Additional sets of Doubles or Sidemount tanks with EAN32, Stages, Drysuit tanks, Sofnolime, Oxygen, Trimix or Argon fills for both students and Instructor / DPV rental for students and Instructor / Cenote entry fee / Any Rental equipment will be charged accordingly, Foto/Video service, Diving insurance, Camera fee (depend on Cenote policy), Fuel or boat surcharges for remote locations out of Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras areas (as per student request), eLearning materials or/and printed manuals, Certification fee ($60 per card), Tips for instructor

Applicants must

• Be qualified in CCR Normoxic Trimix Diver or higher, or equivalent, on the GBM
• Be a minimum of 18 years of age
• Be physically and mentally fit and able to swim. Obtain a physician’s prior written authorization for prescription drugs or any medical condition that may pose a risk while diving
• Have a minimum of 100 logged dives and 100 hours on a rebreather. At least 50 dives and 50 hours of them on the GBM
• Have a minimum of 30 rebreather dives to 30 m or deeper with decompression stops, made after the CCR Normoxic Trimix Diver certification. At least 10 of them deeper than 50 m on a helium mix with decompression stops
• Have dived the GBM within the 6 months before the course

Equipment

Students must bring their own equipment per the list below or rent it from Cave Ha. Any rental equipment, including the S7 and GBM rebreather units, tanks, gases and sorb, is charged on actual usage. Students cover the cost of all gases and sorb used by the instructor, cenote entrance fees and certification card fees at $60 per card.

Cylinders per diver: 2 diluent/bailout cylinders AL80 DIN (sidemount or backmount doubles); 2 deco stage cylinders: 1 AL80 DIN and 1 AL40 DIN (oxygen).

Regulators and rigging

Regulators. Every regulator on the dive must be able to feed a rebreather: with two units in the water, every cylinder is a possible gas source for either unit. We recommend Swagelok QC6 connectors for diluent and QC4 for oxygen; standard 9/16 inflator connectors are acceptable.

• Diluent/bailout regulators, sidemount option: 2 regulator sets, each with DIN first stage, second stage, SPG, LP hose for the wing and drysuit, plus one LP hose with a QC6 (or 9/16) connector for the rebreather diluent port
• Diluent/bailout regulators, backmount doubles option: 1 technical regulator set with 2 DIN first stages, 2 second stages (long hose and necklace), SPG, LP hoses for the wing and drysuit, plus one LP hose with a QC6 (or 9/16) connector on each first stage for the rebreather diluent port
• 2 stage regulator sets for the deco cylinders, one of them oxygen-clean; each with an LP hose and connector for the rebreather: QC4 (or 9/16) on the oxygen regulator, QC6 (or 9/16) on the other
• Rigging: 2 sidemount rigging sets for the AL80 bailout cylinders if sidemount, 1 stage rigging set for the AL80 deco cylinder, 1 stage rigging set for the AL40

Exposure protection, harness and instruments

Exposure protection: 1 well-fitted drysuit with front-entry zipper, 2 pockets and 1 P-valve, plus 1 undergarment (Thinsulate 150 or equivalent); or 1 well-fitted wetsuit thick enough for 3-4 hours in 25 C water daily (5-7 mm preferred) plus tech shorts with 2 pockets; 1 thin neoprene hood; 1 pair of neoprene gloves, at least 1 mm.

Harness and buoyancy: the harness and wing of your rebreather, able to carry the unit, 2 bailout cylinders and 2 stages.

Instruments and accessories: 1 bottom timer or deco computer, independent of the rebreather electronics; 1 wrist-mounted compass; 1 primary light, canister type or handheld type; 2 backup lights; 1 pair of Jet fins; 1 primary mask plus 1 backup mask; 1 small cutting device (for the webbing harness); 2 safety spools; 1 DSMB (closed type preferred); 1 wetnotes with pencil.

With three or more bailout and deco cylinders. Rental: GBM mCCR TEC set $59 per day, Sofnolime $20 per kg, Trimix 12/65 in an AL80 $257, Trimix 10/70 $273, deco stage with EAN50 $19, AL40 with oxygen $24. Rental.

Rules of the course

• Medical: every participant completes and signs the standard Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire before the activity. A YES answer to any question in its final section requires written approval from a physician before diving. Without it the guest does not dive.
• Liability: every participant signs the standard diving General Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk before the activity. Without the signed form the guest does not dive.

Next step

• Dual CCR Diver: two rebreathers on one diver, 4 days.
• Ocean Dual CCR DPV Trimix wall dives from shore to 150 m.