PSAI Narcosis Management® is PSAI's signature course, with 50 years of continuous development and perfection behind it. During the training divers perform only the underwater skills that relate to the actual real world of diving.

 

 

The Purpose of the Course

You'll learn to recognize effects of narcosis on you and operate while 'being narked'. The focus is on improving your awareness and performing skills while managing the narcotic effects of your breathing gas on deep dives. 

 

Divers will be required to keep up with DATA: Depth, Air, Time and Awareness. Divers must become comfortable and competent with the mental and motor skills at each training depth before training down to the next level. PSAI is the only agency offering Narcosis Management® training down to 240 feet (73 meters).

 

 

Course Structure

Narcosis Management® course is taught in seven different depth levels, allowing the diver choice of training depth. The course is taught on air to prepare divers for Trimix diving which requires the use of the less forgiving helium based gases. Good buoyancy control, gas management, gas switches and runtimes are best learned while diving on air. However, divers certified on other gas mixtures or rebreathers can also benefit from Narcosis Management® training.

 

The objective - Narcosis Management® - is measured in terms of diver's ability to keep track of Depth, Air, Time and Awareness (DATA).

 

The levels and depths are as follows: 

Level  I           30m (100')

Level  II          40m (130')

Level  III         45m (150')

Level  IV         55m (180')

Level  V          60m (200')

 

Level  VI         67m (218')

Level VII         73m (240')

 

Proceeding to the Levels VI and VII require prior consultation and approval from PSAI.

 

           

Course Content

• Introduction to Narcosis Management®

• Extended Range Diving Safety Guidelines

• Equipment Requirements

• Extended Range Recreational Dive Planning Procedures

• Theoretical Physiological Concepts of Extended Range Diving

• Effects of High Altitude

• Use of the PSAI Extended Range Dive Planning Sheet

• The PSAI Narcosis Management® Dive Slate

 

Approximately 8 hours for classroom and practical demonstration is required to complete the PSAI Narcosis Management® course Level I or Level II depending on where the diver enters the program. After the initial classroom, each deeper Level will involve classroom review, pre-dive planning, equipment configuration, and post-dive critique.

 

Each level consists of two (2) open water dives.

 

About Deep Air dives

The Narcosis Management® program does not encourage divers to dive deep on air or break maximum PO2 of 1.6. The dives in the Narcosis Management program are for - as the name implies - training to manage and operate under narcotic effects of the gas mix. The Narcosis Management courses do not certify divers to dive deeper than they are previously qualified to.