Technical diving demands a variety of equipment. Backplates that attach to a harness are made from aluminum, carbon fiber, and stainless steel. Diver tools such as lights, rebreathers and stage tanks, safety buoys and bailout bottles are all part of technical diving gear. These items will ensure that you are safe and comfortable while diving.
Technical divers use specific equipment
Technical divers often use equipment that is more advanced than recreational divers. It includes specialized gear, which can be used in hazardous conditions, and sophisticated computers that help them monitor their decompression and other dive-related data. Multigas dive computers enable divers to control their decompression and change gas blends while diving. Submersible pressure gags are also vital. They help divers check the amount of air in their tanks. Dry suits are necessary for long-duration divers and provide insulation. A slate, compass and delayed surface buoy are all important diving equipment. A decompression trapeze can help divers maintain correct depth during in-water decompression stops. You can also use a lift bag to transport the equipment.
A full face mask is used by technical divers to cover the nose, mouth and eyes. Safety harnesses are also important as they can be used to lift divers out of the water. A buddy line and shotline are two other items technical divers might need. A shotline connects to a shotweight to provide a reference point to the diver for their descent. A buddy line connects two divers in water to prevent them from getting separated. A buddy line ties the diver to a shotline and a surface marker buoy signals the location of the divers to others at the surface.
Equipment used for ice divers
Safety reasons make it possible for ice divers to use different types of equipment. They usually use two first-stage regulators. This allows them to switch between the regulators without the need of a second tank. To replace the first-stage regulator that has failed, the diver can grab the second-stage one and attach it to its working counterpart. Ice divers frequently use double tanks which offer redundant air delivery and supplies.
It is essential that you have support personnel available while ice diving. The safety line is clipped to the diver's harness and acts as a communication device in case of an emergency. The safety line can reach up to 150 feet. Sometimes, the two-person team may have separate lines. The line tenders need to be protected from heat and can have to go into the water in the event that the diver gets separated.
Before diving, it is important to prepare the area and make a hole in ice. The most commonly used tool to cut the ice is the chainsaw, but it must always be used correctly. To prevent injury to equipment or divers, the hole must be smooth. Many ice divers opt to cut triangle-shaped openings, which offer safer entry and exit.
Decompression divers use equipment
For decompression diving, special equipment is required. The multigas dive computer tracks decompression requirements, and allows divers to switch between two types of gases in their cylinder. There is also a submersible pressure gauge that shows the remaining air in the cylinder. The dry suit provides insulation and protection during long dives.
A diver can also use equipment that connects directly to a support platform. Divers can also use this equipment to adjust their stop depth or monitor their depth. The umbilical supplies breathing gas to the helmet of the diver. It may also have two-way communication, a depth measuring tube, a camera and hot water to warm the suit.
Another piece of equipment that decompression divers use is the jonline. This is a long rope that is used to guide the diver in a search and/or work session. Another piece of equipment is the lifting bag, which is an airtight bag attached to a weighted line and suspended at the bottom of the diving chamber. These tools enable the diver to lift heavy items from the bottom and use them as floating objects when they are full. A shot line allows decompression divers, who are able to navigate to surface areas and do a stop at safe places, to use.