Introduction

The Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather Diving course is designed to cultivate and apply UTD/DIR configuration, techniques, knowledge and skills to your rebreather diving and the particular environment in which you use your Rebreather. The Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather diving course is a stand alone class for certified Rebreather Divers who want to apply UTD/DIR to their rebreather diving. This is not a prerequisite class to other UTD Rebreather Classes.

The Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather diving focuses on the foundational rebreather skills. The training is centered around precise buoyancy control, trim, propulsion, basic skills, emergency protocols, team awareness, S-Drills, Valve Drills, controlled ascent procedures including surface marker buoy use and other personal and team skills.

The equipment required for Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather diving is centered on the UTD/DIR/hogarthian configuration for Rebreather Diving, which includes a configurable Rebreather, a backplate and wing, and a long hose for the primary regulator and short, necklaced hose for the backup or a standard BOV.

UTD’s Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather diving class introduces the students to the concept of a “Thinking Diver” and brings an increased awareness of the underwater environment while introducing the rebreather diver to UTD/DIR diving skills and techniques.

Prerequisites

• Minimum 18 years of age
• Rebreather Certified on your Unit
• Minimum of 50 dives beyond rebreather certification. 25 of which must be non-training dives

Course limits

• Maximum depth is 60’/18m
• No decompression

Who this class is designed for?

Many Rebreather Divers find themselves seeking more knowledge on how to apply UTD/DIR to their Rebreather configuration and how to apply the skills and knowledge to the Rebreather Diving. This class is designed for the rebreather diver who eager to learn some basic UTD/DIR diving skills and knowledge which can help improve their rebreather diving and/or wants to begin building a strong foundation to start pursuing the challenge of technical and trimix diving while incorporating UTD/DIR principles on their rebreather.

Why Take this Class?

Maybe you want to learn something new (like the UTD/DIR configuration) or you want to improve your safety by learning to do horizontal air sharing drills. Regardless of your motivation, in this class you will be introduced to the UTD/DIR diver's toolbox which you can then apply to your Rebreather Diving. You will learn to hover motionless, move forward and backward, turn around without disturbing the bottom. You will learn to air share open circuit bail out gas with your teammate in a reasonable and efficient manner. You will learn to ascend, making appropriate stops while deploying a surface marker to alert the boat and support team of you location and basic use of a deco/bailout bottle. In the classroom, rebreather divers need to know which gas to choose and why, how to plan a dive, from the back of the truck to a bench on the boat, and how to ensure that everyone has a great time and gets home safely. The Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather Diving isn't about showcasing the latest equipment, or rushing you into the next class. It's about working to develop skills that will improve your rebreather diving, and thus propel into a world of exploration.

Class Information

The Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather Diving class is designed to be taught over a three day period, with 8 hours of class and 4 open water dives.

Day 1. Typically the class begins with a 3 - 4 hour initial session consisting of introductions, covering the power point presentation including video tape of the skills to be evaluated throughout the class. Following a break for lunch and then a 3-4 hour of hands-on equipment fitting, review of gear configuration and a discussion of the pro’s and con’s of various equipment choices. Once the gear in properly fitted and configured the class then focuses on the “dry runs” of the skills and some practice before entering the water. Dry runs allow the student to practice the skills on land, before entering the water, under the watchful eye of the instructor(s). Skills include evaluation of divers trim, proficiency and precision buoyancy control, perfecting propulsion techniques (including learning how to kick backwards), fine-tuning equipment configurations, refining underwater communication, utilizing a team diving approach, and effective dive planning

Day 2. Begins with students conducting two dives, putting the skills and concepts discussed the previous day into practical use while the instructor demonstrates and the videographer captures the in-water session for review and evaluation after lunch. We conclude the day with a 1-2 hour video review where the performance is analyzed, with long discussions on how to improve. Finally, 2-3 hours of lecture brings the day to a close.

Day 3. The third day is similar to the previous day wherein the student will commence with conducting the additional skills and improving on the prior days performance, during two more dives which will again be video taped for subsequent review. The last dive of the class is an evaluation dive, where their performance will be analyzed and evaluated. After lunch the class will conclude with video review, final will lecture session and student performance review and final evaluations.

All UTD classes are videotaped for educational review, as we believe this is invaluable for students to visually focus on their individual in-water skills, situational awareness, communication, and team diving. Learning to self evaluate is an important aspect of any class, and video is one of the most important tools we have for instruction. You will be evaluated during the class to obtain the UTD "Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather Diving" Certification. Our focus is the complete dedication to your diving skills, knowledge & in water practice.

Requirements

• Completed UTD registration process
• Certified on your Rebreather
• All participants must be able to swim at least 300 yards in 14 min or swim at least 600 yards in 18 minutes with mask & fins.
• All participants must be able to swim a distance of at least 50' (12m) on a breath hold or demonstrate an air share swim where the ooa diver swims at least 50' (15m) to the donating diver
• All participants must tow a diver in full equipment, in the environment they will be diving in at least 400 yards in 16 minutes
• All participants must demonstrate the rescue of a diver simulating oxygen toxicity.
• The use of prescription drugs must be authorized prior to the onset of diver training by a physician

Getting Started

• Check the Schedule of classes in your area
• Register Online
• Complete the online class for Essentials of UTD/DIR Rebreather Diving

Guidelines

• All dives are to maintain a working PO2 of no greater than 1.4
• Your personal Rebreather is required
• Average depth during class of 20ft (6m) - 30ft (9m).
• Instructor to student ratio maximum 4:1 in open water, adjusting downward for environmental conditions.