KISS Sidewinder / Sidekick Air Diluent Diver

The Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) Air Diluent Diver Course is your first step into closed circuit rebreather diving and your first truly quiet dive experience!Using the latest technology in CCRs can maximize your gas supply and provide an optimum breathing gas for any depth by maintaining a constant partial pressure of oxygen. It’s like having a nitrox blending machine on your back!

During this course, your Rebreather Instructor will teach you all of the necessary skills to conduct no decompression CCR dives to a maximum depth of 30 metres/100 feet using air diluent.

Who this rebreather course is for:

The certified diver looking to advance their diver level training and equipment configurations by learning to dive a rebreather. Whether you are an avid photographer, want to experience the silence of diving a rebreather, or looking to get closer to the marine life – rebreather diving is for you.

Rebreather Course prerequisites:

• Minimum age 18
• Provide proof of 20 logged open water dives
• Provide proof as a Nitrox Diver

What you can expect to learn:

The CCR Air Diluent Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

• History and evolution of rebreathers
• Comparison of open circuit (OC), closed circuit, and semi-closed circuit, rebreather (SCR) systems noting the pros and cons of each
• Practical mechanics of the system
• Gas physiology
• Proper scrubber packing: in accordance with manufacturers recommendation
• Electronic or manual systems design and maintenance
• Dive tables
• Dive computers
• Dive planning
• Emergency procedures
• Dive checklists
• Predive checks

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include all of the following and more:

• All open water dives must be between 9 metres/30 feet and 30 metres/100 feet
• Two dives must be deeper than 20 metres/50 feet and one dive must be deeper than 27 metres/90 feet
• Partial pressure of oxygen not to exceed manufacturers recommendation or a working limit of 1.3
• All dives to be completed within CNS percentage limits with a recommend maximum of 80 percent of the total CNS limit
• Where the user opts for an automatic diluent valve (ADV) fitted and approved by the manufacturer, additional skills such as regular diluent gauge monitoring and addition control must be emphasized
• Unit build up and break down
• Predive checks
• Verify diluent and oxygen contents using an analyzer
• Demonstrate correct predive planning procedures
• Cover emergency procedures
• Use of BCD/dry suit and effective management of loop breathing volume for buoyancy control
• Stop at 13-6 metres/ 10-20 feet on descent for leak/bubble check
• Electronic system monitoring for partial pressure of oxygen levels (set point) and switching set points
• Use of lift bag, or surface marker buoy and reel, where appropriate
• Proper execution of the dive within all pre-determined limits
• Demonstration of safety stops at pre-determined depths
• Constant loop volume management
• Post dive clean of unit
• Diver maintenance of unit

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities utilizing the CCR they were trained to dive without direct supervision of the Rebreather Instructor so long as the following limits are adhered to:

• The diving activities approximate those of training
• The areas of activities approximate those of training
• Environmental conditions approximate those of training
• To a maximum depth of 30 metres/100 feet
• No decompression dives are permitted

CCR Air Diluent Diver minimum requirements:

• Satisfactorily complete the CCR Air Diluent examination with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor
• Complete all open water requirements efficiently
• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
• Course must be completed within 6 weeks from the starting date
• Complete a refresher course following a period of inactivity greater than 6 months following the course