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TDI Instructor Manual Date: 01/01/2011
Diver Standards Version: 11.0

11. Nitrox Gas Blender

11.1 Introduction
This course provides the training required to allow candidates to competently and safely blend nitrox gas.
 
The objective of this course is to train candidates in the proper techniques, equipment requirements and hazards
involved in blending nitrox gases for recreational scuba.

11.2Cave   Expedition  Tof

Qualifications rips  
Graduates
Big  
Upon Blue   Technical  
successful Diving,  
completion of thisThailand  
course, graduates may engage in the blending of nitrox gases, without
direct supervision.
 

11.3National  
Who EMay xpedition  -­  3  Days  –  4  nights  
Teach
This   expedition  
Any active TDI Nitrox explores  
Gas Blendercaves   and  may
Instructor cavern   systems  
teach this course in   the   remote   jungle  
environment   of   Khao   Sok   National   Park   and   surrounding   overhead   systems.   The  
11.4caves  
Student to Instructor
found   under   Ratiolakes   of   the   limestone   cliff   topography   are  
the   fresh   water  
Academic
perfect  for  newly  certified  cave  divers  and  cave  explorers  wishing  to  extend  their  
1. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to ensure comprehensive and
experience   and  ofenjoy  
complete training subject the  
matternatural   beauty   of   one   of   United   Kingdom’s   most  

stunning  
Confined Water national  
(swimming parks.  
pool-like conditions)
1. N/A
OpenAccommodation  is  provided  during  this  course  in  a  floating  raft  village,  national  
Water (ocean, lake, quarry, spring, river or estuary)
1. park  laws  prohibit  construction  directly  on  the  ground  so  the  entire  hotel  floats.  
N/A

There  is  no  mobile  phone  reception  or  internet.  A  perfect  place  to  "un  plug"  for  a  
11.5 Student Prerequisites
while.  Portable  compressor  and  blending  facilities  are  taken  along  to  provide  the  
1. Minimum age 18
remote  logistics.  
11.6 Course Structure and Duration
 
Open Water Execution
1. Advanced  
N/A Expedition  -­  5  Days  –  6  Nights  

This  expedition  includes  the  National  Expedition  trip  to  Khao  Sok  National  Park  
Course Structure
1. TDI allows instructors to structure courses according to the number of students participating and their skill
and  extends  south  to  Sra  Keow  Cave  and  Bat  Cave  in  Krabi  Province.  Sra  Keow  
level
cave   is   for   the   extreme   diver   and   mixed   gas   or   trimix   is   needed   to   fully  
Duration
1. appreciate  
The minimum the  
numbersystem.   Divers   h
of classroom ave  
and explored  
briefing hours d isown  
2 to   240m   in   depth   in   previous  
explorations   making   it   one   of   the   deepest   caves   in   the   world.   Penetration   is  
limited  to  60m  in  depth.  
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TDI Instructor Manual Date: 01/01/2011
Diver Standards Version: 11.0

11.7 Administrative Requirements

The following is the administrative tasks:
1. Collect the course fees from all the students
2. Ensure that the students have the required equipment
3. Communicate the training schedule to the students
4. Have the students complete the:  
a. TDI Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk Form
Cave  
b. Expedition   Trips  Form
TDI Medical Statement
Upon successful completion of the course the instructor must:
1. Big   Blue  
Issue the T echnical  TDI
appropriate Diving,   Thailand  
certification by submitting the TDI Diver Registration Form to TDI Headquarters
  or registering the students online through member’s area of the TDI website

National  Expedition  -­  3  Days  –  4  nights  

11.8 Required Equipment
This   expedition  
The following are required explores  
for this caves  
course:and   cavern   systems   in   the   remote   jungle  
1. environment  
TDI Nitrox GasoBlending
f   Khao   SManual
ok   National   Park   and   surrounding   overhead   systems.   The  
2. caves   found  
TDI Nitrox Gasunder   PowerPoint
the  
Blending Presentation
fresh   water   lakes   of   the   limestone   cliff   topography   are  
3. Oxygen (O2 ) Analyzer, instructor may provide
perfect  for  newly  certified  cave  divers  and  cave  explorers  wishing  to  extend  their  
11.9experience  
Required and  Subject
enjoy   the  Areas
natural   beauty   of   one   of   United   Kingdom’s   most  
stunning  
The TDI Nitroxnational   parks.  Manual is mandatory for use during this course but
Gas Blending
instructors may use any additional text or materials that they feel help present these topics.
1. Accommodation  is  provided  during  this  course  in  a  floating  raft  village,  national  
The Responsibility of the Gas Blender
2. Gases of Diving
park  laws  prohibit  construction  directly  on  the  ground  so  the  entire  hotel  floats.  
a. Air
There  b.is  nOxygen
o  mobile  
(O2) phone  reception  or  internet.  A  perfect  place  to  "un  plug"  for  a  
while.  c.Portable  
Nitrogencompressor  and  blending  facilities  are  taken  along  to  provide  the  
3. Oxygen Handling
remote  
a. logistics.  
Oxygen (O2) hazards
b. Causes and prevention of oxygen (O2) fire
  c. Oxygen system design
d. Local regulations for gas blending and handling
Advanced   Expedition  -­  5  Days  –  6  Nights  
4. Gas Production Equipment
This  expedition  includes  the  National  Expedition  trip  to  Khao  Sok  National  Park  
a. Compressors
b. Cylinders
and  extends  south  to  Sra  Keow  Cave  and  Bat  Cave  in  Krabi  Province.  Sra  Keow  
c. Filtration systems
cave   d.is   for  
Analog the   extreme   diver   and   mixed   gas   or   trimix   is   needed   to   fully  
gauges
5. appreciate  
Mixing Techniques
the   system.   Divers   have   explored   down   to   240m   in   depth   in   previous  
a. General considerations
explorations   making   it   one   of   the   deepest   caves   in   the   world.   Penetration   is  
limited  to  60m  in  depth.  
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TDI Instructor Manual Date: 01/01/2011
Diver Standards Version: 11.0

b. Continuous blending systems

c. De-nitrogenated air systems
d. Pre-mix systems
e. Partial pressure blending mathematics
6. Oxygen (O2) Analysis
a. Procedures
 
b. Oxygen (O2) analyzers
7. Cylinder Handling and Sign Out
Cave  Expedition  Trips  
11.10 Required Skill Performance and Graduation Requirements
Big  Blue  Technical  Diving,  Thailand  
In order
  to complete this course, students must:
1. Candidates must successfully blend and analyze 5 cylinders of nitrox gas
2. National   Expedition  
Satisfactorily complete the-­  3  Days  
TDI Nitrox –  4  nights  
Gas Blender Course written examination
3. This  
Demonstrate
expedition   explores   caves   and  andcavern  
understanding of nitrox blending oxygen analysis
systems   in   the   remote   jungle  
environment   of   Khao   Sok   National   Park   and   surrounding   overhead   systems.   The  
caves   found   under   the   fresh   water   lakes   of   the   limestone   cliff   topography   are  
perfect  for  newly  certified  cave  divers  and  cave  explorers  wishing  to  extend  their  
experience   and   enjoy   the   natural   beauty   of   one   of   United   Kingdom’s   most  
stunning  national  parks.  

Accommodation  is  provided  during  this  course  in  a  floating  raft  village,  national  
park  laws  prohibit  construction  directly  on  the  ground  so  the  entire  hotel  floats.  
There  is  no  mobile  phone  reception  or  internet.  A  perfect  place  to  "un  plug"  for  a  
while.  Portable  compressor  and  blending  facilities  are  taken  along  to  provide  the  
remote  logistics.  

Advanced  Expedition  -­  5  Days  –  6  Nights  

This  expedition  includes  the  National  Expedition  trip  to  Khao  Sok  National  Park  
and  extends  south  to  Sra  Keow  Cave  and  Bat  Cave  in  Krabi  Province.  Sra  Keow  
cave   is   for   the   extreme   diver   and   mixed   gas   or   trimix   is   needed   to   fully  
appreciate   the   system.   Divers   have   explored   down   to   240m   in   depth   in   previous  
explorations   making   it   one   of   the   deepest   caves   in   the   world.   Penetration   is  
limited  to  60m  in  depth.  
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