Sports Mixed Gas Diver
Course Overview
A BSAC Sports Mixed Gas Diver is competent to:
Conduct dives with a dive buddy, within the limitations of the lesser qualified, in conditions already encountered by both during their training or previous experience.
Conduct dives within BSAC Safe Diving guidelines.
Dive to a maximum depth limit of 50 metres.
Conduct such dives with a more experienced or more highly qualified diver to expand their experience of depth or other conditions, within the limits of their mixed gas certification, beyond that previously encountered. Such dives should be under the supervision of a Dive Manager who is ideally an experienced mixed gas diver.
Conduct dives breathing a gas mixture of oxygen percentage greater than or equal to 20 % and a helium percentage of up to 30 %, for example, 20/30. This mixture contains the maximum permitted percentage of helium gas component for a Sports Mixed Gas Diver, within the prescribed practical tolerances based on the final mixed gas percentages.
Plan and conduct dives requiring mandatory decompression.
Rescue another mixed gas diver from depth.
Conduct dives where other divers, capable of providing assistance and rescue management skills, are available at the surface.
Duration
The sport mixed gas diver course consists of the following elements:
Six classroom lessons
A theory assessment
A dry practical lesson of 90 minutes
One or more confined water lessons of not less than 90 minutes total in-water duration
Two open water lessons, dependant on student performance, with a total underwater duration of not less than 120 minutes and an individual lesson duration of not less than 45 minutes.
All practical training in both confined and open water includes the achievement of specific performance standards at appropriate points throughout the lessons.
Entry Level
In order to attend this course, students must comply with the following:
Be a minimum of 18 years of age
Hold a minimum diver grade of BSAC Sports Diver (or equivalent with a valid 35 metre depth certification)
Be able to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in diving. In general terms, this usually entails about 60 logged dives
Provide logged evidence demonstrating a minimum of 10 dives under different conditions in the range 30 to 35 metres.
Be a BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver or BSAC Accelerated Decompression Procedures Diver (or equivalent).
A BSAC Extended Range Diver who can demonstrate a minimum of 10 logged extended range dives within the last 2 years, using appropriate equipment, to depths in the region of 40 metres, are required to complete the Physiology and Diving Planning theory lessons. The Instructor who has a lack of knowledge of the student’s competence and confidence as an extended range diver, should undertake an open water lesson, to confirm their diving skills, prior to awarding them the Sports Mixed Gas Diver qualification. If the Instructor is confident that the diver has the prerequisite skills, then the Sports Mixed Gas Diver qualification can be awarded based on theory attendance, the open water lesson being discretionary.
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