RAID Deco50: Technical Diving Course in Subic Bay

If you are searching for a technical diving course that will make you a proficient, safe, and highly capable technical diver, then look no further! My high-performance RAID Deco50 technical diving course in Subic Bay, Philippines, will supercharge your transition from recreational to technical diver!

About the RAID Deco50 technical diving course

The RAID Deco50 technical diving course provides students with the knowledge and skill proficiency to conduct normoxic trimix accelerated decompression diving.

This tech diving training is globally recognized for its uncompromising standards and very high diving competency development. On this course, renowned technical diving instructor, Andy Davis delivers world-class tech certification to the highest possible standards. This tech diving course is held in Subic Bay, Philippines.

Preliminary course theory is delivered through eLearning, with 6 online manuals, quizzes, and exams. This is then developed with instructor-delivered lectures, discussions, scenario case studies, and team debriefs. The practical training phases of the course consist of dry land drills, confined water skills practice, and 5 intensive training dives (typically 600+ minutes total in water).

What are the Deco50 technical diving course limits?

This technical diving course is a gateway into full technical diving. It certifies divers to safely conduct trimix accelerated decompression dives to a maximum depth of 50m (165ft), with 30 minutes max deco and 1 deco gas.

What is trimix and why use it?

Trimix is a breathing gas for deeper technical dives that adds helium to increase dive safety by reducing gas density, alleviating the effects of narcosis, and, where necessary, reducing the fraction of oxygen breathed to eliminate the risk of O2 toxicity.

Gas density: there are recommended limits on gas density to prevent excessive accumulation of Co2 in the body tissues (hypercapnia). Co2 is 25x more narcotic than nitrogen; CO2 narcosis during a technical dive can become debilitating,

Narcosis management: while many scuba divers feel tolerant of the narcosis effect when diving air at depths between 30-40m (100-130ft), the impact of narcosis when attempting to conduct complex and risk-consequential technical dives can become an impediment to diver safety.

What are the Deco50 technical diving course prerequisites?

• Minimum 18 years old.
• Certified for deep diving, nitrox, and rescue
• Robust fundamental scuba skills (preparatory training is available, when necessary)
• 50 hours or 75 dives in open circuit scuba
• Current, valid CPR and O2 provider certification
• 5 hours logged dive time between 27 and 40m

Why choose the Deco50 technical diving course?

The RAID Deco50 course, taught by Andy Davis, is one of the most comprehensive and complete technical diving courses available.

Upon certification, you will have the confidence, comfort, and competence necessary to conduct challenging technical dives with a high level of safety. The course teaches current technical diving best practices and promotes a “Do It Right” (DIR) philosophy of diving.

Ten reasons to choose this technical diving course:

• Tuition by a leading, world-renown, technical diving instructor
• High-level fundamental skills development
• Trimix qualification for effective narcosis management
• Team Diving protocols and procedures
• DIR / Hogarthian equipment principles are applied
• Zero compromises on quality and performance
• Can be undertaken in sidemount (instructor has 6000+ technical sidemount dives)
• Certification from a tech agency associated with high standards and great divers
• All skills and dives in neutral buoyancy, horizontal trim (no kneeling or hanging!)
• Effective preparation for future technical and overhead environment dive training

Further information on the Deco50 technical diving course

What is the Deco50 technical diving course syllabus?

RAID online eLearning and instructor-delivered academic presentations, quizzes, exams, and practical skills covering the following topics in detail;

• Technical dive management
• Advanced dive physics and physiology
• Technical diving equipment (backmount or sidemount)
• Electronic decompression planning software (Multideco)
• The Buhlmann ZHL-16C deco algorithm
• Gradient factors theory and application
• Gas management and selection (trimix and decompression gasses)
• Trimix diving theory and application
• Technical diving mindset and culture-of-safety

What is the Deco50 technical diving course training schedule?

The Deco50 course is made up of 1 Confined Skills Clinic and 8 Open Water training dives;

• Day #1
  • Morning:  Equipment Workshop
  • Afternoon: Confined Skills + Water Stamina Tests
• Day #2
  • Morning: Dive #1 Core Tech Skills 15-20m (30-66ft)
  • Afternoon: Dive #2 Core Tech Skills 20-30m (66-100ft)
• Day #3
  • Morning:
    • Dive #3 Sim Deco Dive 30-40m (100-130ft)
    • Dive #4 Sim Deco Dive 30-40m (100-130ft)
  • Afternoon: Theory Lectures
• Day #4
  • Morning: Dive planning and equipment preparation
  • Afternoon:
    • Dive #5 Deco Dive 30-45m (100-145ft)
    • Dive #6 Accelerated Deco Dive 30-45m (100-145ft)
• Day #5
  • Morning: Dive planning and equipment preparation
  • Afternoon:
    • Dive #7 Accelerated Deco Trimix Dive 40-50m (130-165ft)
    • Dive #8 Accelerated DecoTrimix Dive 40-50m (130-165ft)

A high standard of mastery is applied throughout the entire program and certification is entirely performance-based. Remedial training is provided if/when a student doesn’t meet the performance requirements of a training dive. The Deco50 course has a steep learning curve: ensure success by arriving for technical diving training with robust fundamental dive skills. Do contact me in advance for advice on effective preparation for the technical diving course.

How much does the Deco50 course cost?

Performance Diver Fundamentals (2 Days) $400

Deco 50 only (5 Days)  $1250

Performance Diver + Deco 50 (7 days) $1350

The stated cost includes all tuition and instruction from Andy Davis

• Max 3 per course
• Scheduled courses will be run even if just one student
• Discounts available for group booking
• Private lessons are available at a 50% surcharge
• Training in Subic Bay, Philippines
• Other locations available upon consultation
• Courses can be scheduled to meet your requirements
• 25% non-refundable deposit to confirm attendance on the course

Tuition cost excludes course registration fees, as per the RAID website, dive facility fees covering tank rentals, nitrox/trimix fills, and boat costs, as required. Instructor diving costs are split between students.

Please note:

• The course is strictly performance-based, not time-based.
• You pay for training but must earn the certification
• Pre-course preparation is STRONGLY recommended (you are welcome to consult with me in advance)
• Performance requirements for each phase must be satisfied to allow progression and certification.
• All skills must be completed in neutral buoyancy, horizontal trim, and with control in the water
• The minimum duration quoted for this course assumes students arrive for training with reasonable proficiency in precision buoyancy, trim, control, and propulsion skills.
• Students should be able to demonstrate proficiency in all prerequisite diving skills (Deep40 and Nitrox skills).

Contact Andy about the Deco50 course in Subic Bay