BSAC’s Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m) course is a great way to extend your already considerable closed-circuit mixed-gas diving skills to expedition level.

The course considers the detailed theory and practice of the decompression strategies needed to dive safely to 80 metres.

Completing this comprehensive course has significantly added to my toolbox of skills, enabling me to safely plan and execute deeper diving using a wide variety of gas mixes, decompression profiles and contingency plans.

- Simon Smith, Tyneside 114

Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m) is the ultimate step in BSAC's closed-circuit mixed-gas training. It introduces an experienced CCR Diver (40m) to diving with an extended choice of trimix gases, and qualifies them to dive such mixes to depths of up to 80m.

There are various routes to enrol on the Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m) course. You must be at least 18 years old and be able to demonstrate high proficiency diving a rebreather, usually with between 80 and 100 CCR dives logged. This means you may have successfully completed either a CCR Diver (40m) course, or a Sport Mixed Gas CCR Diver (50m) course (or have equivalent certification from another recognised training agency).

If you have already completed an Explorer Mixed Gas CCR Diver (60m), Advanced Mixed Gas Diver (80m) or Explorer Mixed Gas Diver (60m) course, at your instructors discretion you may not have to repeat some common course elements.

You will learn to use diluent gas mixes of less than 18 per cent oxygen and more than 35 per cent helium to minimise the narcosis you would otherwise suffer at depth. You will learn to plan and conduct dives to 80m, manage increasingly long run times and extend your practical diving skills to managing two or more stage cylinders.

You will develop your knowledge of deep mixed-gas CCR diving, including:

  • Advanced diving physiology
  • Advanced decompression theory
  • Practical diving techniques, including using decompression systems suitable for expedition team diving.
  • Deep dive planning including gas choices, gas-loss management and run-time schedules.

The Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m) course includes seven theory sessions and a theory assessment, a dry practical session on kit preparation. One or more sheltered-water lessons will cover drills and skills. Then you will spend at least 300 minutes on five open-water training dives, to give ensure you have plenty of in-water time to practise the skills and discipline needed to carry out deeper mixed-gas CCR diving.

If you have a mixed-gas qualification as listed above, some of the theory sessions and open-water dives may not be necessary, depending on your level of deep-diving experience and familiarity with the dive kit appropriate for an 80m dive.

This is a continually assessed course during which students must reach the required performance standards.

A BSAC Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m) is competent to plan and conduct CCR dives with mandatory decompression using diluent gas mixes of less than 18 per cent oxygen and more than 35 per cent helium to extend their maximum dive depth to 80m.

You could do this course at a regional event, local club or a Technical centre. Not all clubs and technical centres run Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m) courses, so please check if you are interested.

Alternatively, book your place on a scheduled Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m) course online now.

Not a BSAC member? You can do this course by joining BSAC directly or joining via a local club. Find a club.

Students will be given a pack of supporting learning materials. You will need full open-water dive kit suitable for local conditions, including two delayed surface marker buoys and other surface detection aids, and the relevant rebreather. You will also need two fully kitted stage cylinders with a minimum capacity of seven litres each, fitted with second stage hoses of at least 1.5m, to use as independent alternate sources.

After completing an Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m) course and consolidating your skills, you will be a valuable member of any expedition team. You may decide to further your diving in other ways.

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