For any diving technical training done together, you’ll get a free “Human Factors Skills in Diving – Micro-class“, compulsory to be completed before ending the theory and practical skills.
Following the 1st part (Portable Hyperbaric Chamber), the next recommendation for exploration / explorer vessels running diving or water sport activities in remote areas is Personal Locator Beacon.
As general accepted definition of “remote area” in our maritime sector, the Search & Rescue team is not available right away to assist you. It might take hours or even days in some exceptional situations.
PLB (known also as Emergency Locator Beacon) is a very small device, portable, tough, low cost, which onces activated will indicate your position to the nearby vessels by using a radio AIS (Automatic Identification System) & DSC (Digital Selective Calling) method of digital transmission of your GPS position on Earth.
Valuable equipment for yachtsmenas man overboard or you’ll find it for renting onboard reputable scuba diving liveaboard (as Aggressor Adventures), PLBs is fully worth its investment.
Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS Specifications
AIS Transmit Power
1 Watt
AIS Frequency
161.975 and 162.025 MHz
DSC Transmit Power
0.5 Watt
DSC Frequency
156.525 MHz
Messages
Individual Distress Relay, Distress Alert
Environmental Temperature Range
-25°C – +55°C
Waterproof Depth
425 feet (130 meter) sea water with dive cap closed/ Splashproof with dive cap open
253.2meters. Or 830.8feet. That’s a lot. A lot to walk on land holding your breath. I bet that most of us cannot do it easily.
Well, now imagine to translate the horizontal walk into a vertical descent into the blue… 253.2meters down.
Myself and Herbert
His name isHerbert Nitsch. His holding the title of the World’s Deepest Man on Earth with various No Limit dives: -214m in Spetses, Greece (June 14, 2007 for which is included in the Guinness World Records) & -253.2m in Santorini, Greece (June 06, 2012) using a custom made “yellow submarine” and personalized techniques for equalization. He’s holding another +31 World records in various AIDA disciplines (33WR in total!).
Herb’s yellow submarine
In the beginning of September 2019, I had the great pleasure of meeting him a couple of times in the beautiful South of France. We had dinners, long chats about almost everything “diving related”. He is a very friendly, open mind and willing to share his enormous experience in freediving.
An autobiographic book with Herbert’s freediving experience will come up sometimes soon, so stay tuned – is going to be very interesting to read and explore the history of freediving! He is now an active conservationist and speaker with worldwide activities.
Herbert’s t-shirt with dedicated signature!
Story written down with great honor & pleasure by yours, Costa
Portable Hyperbaric Chamber: if your vessel is performing remote diving operations, then this is a number one “must have” onboard, for emergency medical hyperbaric treatments, sport recovery or wellness. To be used by approved & qualified Staff!
Designed and manufactured in Europe, AHA-Hyperbaricsis holding CE certificateaccording to full quality assurance system directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices (MDD) for the new models of AHA Flex hyperbaric systems &EN ISO 13485:2016 for design and development, manufacture, distribution and service of hyperbaric chambers for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
YachtDiver®is a dedicated department part of SC OmnisMares SRL (Romanian private registered company), owner of T101-Technical & Diving Ops® Dive Training Center. We are holding real inside experience onboard expedition-cruise ships and very large superyachts therefore we are able to provide premium training and services for your selected Guests, Owners and VVIPs!
Each person
has a vice and smoking is one of them for some
of them.
Hardly combated, smoking is losing the war
due to massive education and laws which are restricting public activities that
are affecting the health of others.
Smoking is irrefutable bad. Bad for the person smoking, bad for the people around (second hand “smokers”) and even for the unborn ones (third hand “smokers”). Studiesare conducted all over the World, results can be found quite easily on the internet.
Based on the above statements and huge
information we have in our hands, is quite clear that diving and smoking are
not compatible. And therefore, highly not recommended.
Below are few, just few links in which
various sources are talking about the inappropriate relation between smoking
and diving:
“the diver should refrain from smoking to keep the lungs clear and keep carbon monoxide, a by-product of tobacco smoke, from reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin. All drugs, alcohol and even non-prescription drugs, i.e. decongestants, antihistamines, cold capsules, etc. should be avoided for at least 12 hours prior to diving.“
In combination with dehydration, heat, physical fitness level, unfavorable medical history, age, etc, smoking may increase the chances of a DCS.
Romanian Navy Diver badge
Some studies show that the navy divers are not so heavily affected by smoking and this is mainly due to the intense physical activities part of their complex training.
In high performance sport activities, there are many studies, some of them with even controversial results:
The point of my above introduction is going
this time into another direction:
Smoking while diving activities is ethical and moral correct?
Let’s first clarify what is what.
As per Britannica, „both morality and ethics loosely have to do with distinguishing the difference between “good and bad” or “right and wrong.” Many people think of morality as something that’s personal and normative, whereas ethics is the standards of “good and bad” distinguished by a certain community or social setting.”
We, as professional, have the duty to
correctly inform our students and clients about all sides of the activity in
progress. During the training, during preparation of the equipment, during
briefing and debriefing etc. We should conduct our activities always at the
highest standard, exceeding the minimum required by the training agency. Not
because the agency is asking for (or imposing) but because we are pro and we
look for more, better and higher.
We should show at all the times that we are
professionals by the way we act, and we should lead by example. You cannot
explain in a basic Open Water Diver class the function of lungs and gas
exchange (oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide to mention few), and smoking
while gearing up (or even with the wet suit on between the dives). At a
higher-level course, this is already beyond acceptance.
In his very well-documented blog, Gareth Lock is explaining the concept of „you don’t know what you don’t know” – worth reading it here: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/incompetent-and-unaware-you-don-t-know-what-you-don-t-know . Could be that the professional simply… don’t know?!? Maybe. But honestly… hard to believe. And even harder to accept after years of a “pro-level” career.
In order to keep our students aware of various aspects involving human factors, all technical diving courses conducted by myself are incorporating the “Human Factors Skills in Diving – Micro-class”. The online short course is highly recommended to any divers who want to understand more about what is behind the front line of human psychology.
Returning back to my debate…it is ethical and moral as a professional diver (Instructor, Divemaster), to smoke in front of your students?
If is to translate it into Britannica’s
meanings, smoking in the front of your students or customers is both bad
(ethical) and wrong (professional).
Bad because is showing lack of respect towards your clients (who might know less or why not, more than you regarding the aspects of smoking & diving) and bad because you do exactly opposite what you should do as a leader: teach the new generation of divers to be a good divers in all meanings.
Is this (smoking in the front of divers while diving activity in progress) a final criteria to analyze if an instructor/divemaster is a good professional?
Not necessarily, as there are many other
aspects makes a diver to be a real pro.
In the very end… any factor which may negatively influence the team’s safety may affect you too. Therefore, in diving is never enough to take all safety measures possible in order to ensure a successful dive: return back to family and friends, share great memories and do some other adventurous diving plans!
As of October 2018, rebreather training for the best 4×4 machine on the market –JJ-CCR – will be available in Romania, SE Europe or on board superyachts on request.
Discover Rebreather – if you would like to see what is like to dive into the “dark zone”.
Refresh Rebreather – if you have some time out of the water & machine and you would like to remove the “rust” under safe environment.
ANDI JJ-CCR L1 – the very first level recreational level, -18m depth MSW, air diluent, NSR.
ANDI JJ-CCR L2– the recreational level, -40m depth MSW, air diluent, NSR.
For hard-core divers, we offer DIRrebreatherFundamentals CCR & Support Diver OC/CCR training
For information, prerequisites and planning, please contact me via email or mobile or even better, if you a nearby, pass by for a face 2 face chat and introduction to the “beast” – the JJ-CCR unit.
In urma cu peste 13 ani, luam contact cu lumea subacvatica prin primul meu curs de PADI Open Water Diver cu certificarea pe 07 Martie 2003, in Barcelona.
Pe 08 August 2006 deveneam Divemaster in Mallorca iar pe 02 Martie 2007 – PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor in Barcelona.
In 22 Oct 2008 – Advanced Nitrox Diver TDI pentru ca pe 11 Martie 2010 sa devin Instructor Advanced Nitrox TDI.
De ce am ales ANDI International?
Introducerea in lumea scufundarilor tehnice a fost in 2008 cand deveneam TDI Decompression Procedures Diver.
In 2010 cand am trecut la nivelul TDI Extended Range, Chris (ownerul Rubicon Diving Center, Lanzarote, acolo unde am mers pentru antrenamente) imi propune pentru prima data sa fac un cross-over la ANDI International (American Nitrox Divers Inc. International).
La acel moment, am refuzat, necunoscand agentia si nimic despre ea. Timpul a trecut, am mentinut contactul cu Chris care ulterior mi-a trimis manualele ANDI (pentru nivelele tehnice echivalente celorlalte agentii) pentru consultare.
Am inceput sa le citesc si… am inceput sa ma interesez mai mult despre aceasta agentie ANDI International.
Am descoperit cu mare si placuta surprindere o agentie de scufundari tehnice care se potrivea mult mai bine profilului meu, prin prisma profesionala a abordarii academice si practice a scufundarilor.
Prima impresie a fost legata de manuale tehnice: extrem de bine elaborate, cu teorii si proceduri bine fundamentate pe date stiintifice emise de agentii cu greutate (Compressed Gas Association, NASA, NOAA,US Navy etc) sau de studii si experimente recunoscute (aprobate) in domeniu. Nimic surprinzator, tinand cont ca fondatorul, CEO ANDI, Ed Betts este inginer cu numeroase proiecte tehnice in domeniul calitatii gazelor sub presiune. Deci, nimic dupa ureche, nimic la intamplare.
Si spun asta in cunostinta de cauza, eu trecand deja prin doua agentii tehnice (TDI si Dsat Tec care este divizia tehnica a PADI) si citind si manualele altor parti competitoare pe piata.
Fiind o persoana cu un background profesional tehnic, pentru mine informatiile concrete valoreaza mai mult decat cele bine marketate!
Apoi, ANDI International are o istorie care incepe in 1988, fiind una dintre promotoarele multor tehnologii si proceduri de varf de astazi, cu o multitudine de “Firsts” pe lista:
The first instructor teaching manual for Enriched Air Nitrox diving. (1989)
The first instructor teaching manual for Technical / Decompression diving. (1991)
The first integrated teaching system for Enriched Air Nitrox diving. (1989)
The first entry-level Openwater Diver Course incorporating SafeAir / Nitrox for all dives. (1999)
The first entry-level OWD course using rebreathers. (Dolphin SCR in Germany – 2001)
The first Gas Blender training program, industry wide. (1990)
The first Gas Mixture Validation Record Book safety method. (1989)
The first Enriched Air Nitrox Service Technician training program, industry wide. (1990)
The first manufacturer-endorsed equipment standards. (1989)
The first manufacturer-endorsed rebreather training manual (Dräger Atlantis 1994)
The first Breathing Gas Purity standards for gases other than Air. (1989)
The originator of the “Oxygen Compatible Air” standard. (1990)
The first Enriched Air cylinder inspection sticker, color wrap decal and cylinder contents tag. (1989)
The only Oxygen / EAN compatibility designation sleeves and stickers. (1991)
The first international dealer network of Enriched Air Facilities. (1991)
The first multi-agency, multi-level professional liability insurance program. (1992)
The first insurable/insured Enriched Air Nitrox training program. (1990)
The first multi-language offering of textbooks & training materials for advanced diving technologies. (Hebrew, Chinese, Italian, Greek, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Swedish, French, etc.)
The first international training agency to offer the full range of diver education. (1999)
The first training agency-supported Deco software – ANDI DivePlanner (1993) & ANDI-Gap 2005
• The first diver training agency to qualify ISO 9000 accreditation. Sept. 2008.
• The leader in educational quality assurance with the best safety record of any
international training agency. While others make this claim, they cannot truthfully
state that their record reads, “No training accidents; no claims made”
Pe partea academica, ANDI International (EUF certified) acopera o gama greu de egalat:
cursuri pentru scafandri sportivi (de la Open Water la Divemaster si Instructor inclusiv specializari),
cursuri pentru scafandri tehnici (Basic Nitrox la Trimix Avansat , OC si CCR),
cursuri pentru (explorari) spatii inchise (epave si pesteri, in OC si CCR, recreational si tehnic, cu sau fara DPV),
Ceea ce ANDI a introdus acum multi ani de zile dar a fost combatut puternic la acea vreme (nitrox-ul de exemplu) – este acum foarte popular.
ANDI are un sistem de certificare bazat pe nivele de complexitate, 5 la numar. Nu adancimea este scopul principal ci capacitatea scafandrului de a controla in bune conditii configuratia echipamentului, numarul de cilindrii fiind corelat (cu adancimea si spatiul de scufundare: non sau overhead) la fiecare nivel astfel incat progresul sa fie graduat, stabil si sigur.
ANDI promoveaza utilizarea RBS (Redundant Breathing System sau Pony) inca de la primul nivel de Open Water. Recent, HSE a publicat recent un raport care intareste aceasta procedura (citeste European Standard EN250 de pe blog).
ANDI promoveaza conceptul de SafeAir®, gazul ultra-purificat.
Pentru profani – nu reprezinta decat un moft.
Pentru cei ce inteleg cu adevarat fizica gazelor si a materialelor folosite in echipamentele de scufundari (incepand de la statiile de procesare si incarcare a gazelor si pana la regulatorul 2nd stage final) dar si a scufundarilor de mare adancime – este o necesitate!
Sa mai mentionez ca sunt agentii de scufundari care au copiat (cu mici modificari, uneori chiar stangace) manualele elaborate de ANDI? Nu dau nume dar ele exista 🙂
Ceea ce mi-a placut foarte mult la ANDI este gandirea “open mind”.Fiecare scafandru este unicat, fiecare scufundare (sau gen de scufundari) necesita un profil si o abordare personalizata. Asa cum imi place sa zic, suntem DIR dar suntem “open mind”!
Un plus mare la ANDI este conectivitatea directa si constanta cu instructorii. Si spun asta bazandu-ma pe experienta personala destul de… amara pe care o am (am avut-o) cu alte agentii foarte cunoscute care isi aduc aminte de tine (ca instructor) doar atunci cand ai de platit taxa anuala de membru! O agentie face asta chiar daca nu mai sunt membru la ei de ceva timp 😀
Nu cred ca exista agentie “perfecta” asa cum nu exista nici configuratia perfecta, conditii perfecte (de scufundare) sau lume perfecta. Fiecare agentie de certificari are plusurile si minusurile ei. Ramane doar la latitudinea noastra sa exploatam la maxim ceea ce se potriveste cel mai bine cu profilul si viziunea personala in lumea scufundarilor.
ANDI-Europe este Regional HQ care se ocupa de zonele geografice Europa, Asia, Africa si Latin America. Alte regionale locale sunt ANDI Hellas, ANDI Adria, ANDI Israel dar toate sunt umbrela ANDI-Europe.
ANDI Intl. nu are un marketing puternic. Nu vinde orice si oricum. Nu foloseste cuvinte holistice pentru a impresiona auzul. Nu merge pe cantitate ci pe calitate.
Numarul de Instructori Traineri este la acest moment de doar 169 iar cel al Instructor Trainer Director-ilor este sub 20.
Si asta intr-o agentie internationala cu 29 de ani de existenta!
Aceste motive enumerate mai sus m-au determinat sa continui si sa ma concentrez exclusiv pe filozofia ANDI. Am continuat scufundarile si aprofundat partea academica obtinand gradual nivelele superioare pana la ANDI Tri-Mix Instructor L5 (Noiembrie 2014).
Si astfel, in data de Octombrie 14, 2016 deveneam ANDI Instructor Trainer L3 SafeAir – Normoxic Trimix.
Dupa 13 ani, 7 luni si 8 zile de la prima certificare de PADI Open Water Diver 😛
Christian Massaad – ANDI ITD #16 (aka “the diving machine”) si Dop Koot – ANDI ITD #17 (aka “the Encyclopedia”)
Nota: ITD = Instructor Trainer Director (echivalentul Course Director Examiner – PADI)
Participanti si absolventi:
Mark Hage din The Netherlands – Level 3 OC
Daniel Malfanti din Chile – Level 3 OC
Mike van Splunteren din Lanzarote, Spain – Level 3 OC & Side Mount
Constantin “Costa” Benedic din Romania – Level 3 OC (subsemnatul).
Au fost 10 zile intense de aprofundare a noilor standarde si a principiilor ANDI si de finisare a informatiilor deja stiute. S-a discutat despre diversele teorii de decompresie, configuratii de echipamente, s-au facut scufundari in sidemount, backmount si cu DPV.
Atmosfera a fost destinsa, fiecare participant la curs aducand plusul experientei personale ceea ce a fost un castig pentru noi toti.
Acest nou nivel imi da posibilitatea de a acoperii o gama de servicii mult mai bogata: toate cursurile de scafandri sportivi (sau de agrement/recreationali) si de scafandri tehnici, atat pentru nivelul de “diver” cat si “instructor”.
