What do I need to have in order to start technical diving training?
The degree required to enter the Advanced Nitrox course (the first of the technical steps) is the Master Diver and any double cylinders course – Twinset Diver or Advanced Side Mount Diver.
There was no Master Diver course in my federation so far. Can I approach the IDF Advanced Nitrox Diver course?
For very experienced AOWD-certified divers, it is possible to complete the unification procedure to the IDF Master Diver degree. Details of this procedure are specified in the IDF Training Standards and will be introduced to you by the instructor conducting the training after an initial assessment of your actual skills.
For many years I have been diving with the twinset or side mount, but I have never received a formal qualification for this equipment. Can I take an IDF Advanced Nitrox Diver course?
For very experienced divers using twinset or side mount iit is possible to take the IDF Twinset Diver or IDF Advanced Side Mount Diver. Details of the procedure are specified in the IDF Training Standards and will be introduced to you by the instructor conducting the training after an initial assessment of your actual skills.
Why participation in technical courses is conditioned by the Advanced Side Mount Diver, and not enough Side Mount Diver?
The Side Mount Diver training program is limited to recreational use of the two cylinder side configuration, while the Advanced Side Mount Diver training program introduces multiple cylinder diving, which allows you to optimize your training process on the Advanced Nitrox course and focus on learning technical diving rather than proper equipment handling.
Why is the Extended Range Diver mandatory?
The IDF training philosophy does not take any shortcuts. The Extended Range Diver course allows the diver to acquire a familiarity with the configuration of two side cylinders and, consequently, dives with a longer bottom time than those performed at the Advanced Nitrox level. Please note that helium mixtures (such as trimix) saturate the diver’s body more quickly and get away from it faster, which makes the possible omission of decompression stops after a trimix dive worse than skipping them after a similar air dive. Thanks to the Extended Range training, trimix courses are much more familiar with technical diving for candidates. The Extended Range is a bridge between air and trimix diving.