Instruction

I take instruction very seriously. Whatever knowledge I impart to a student will stay with him or her for a very long time so it is important that courses are of the highest quality. My motivation is that diving is my passion and I want to share what I have learned over the years with others.

My rebreathers of choice are the Megalodon and SF2 CCRs.  I teach and recommend both depending on your needs.  Both are simple designs and less prone to problems.  Both can be de-watered easily and have an ADV (Automatic Diluent Valve) that can be shut off.  Both have an OPV (Over Pressure Valves) well suited to their task neither requiring extreme tactics to control loop volume when bailing out.  If you want to learn to dive a Megalodon  or an SF2  from someone with real world experience give me a call.

I also teach open and closed circuit Trimix, Cave, DPV Cave and Technical Wreck. My courses are comprehensive and challenging. You will get what is in the book and a lot that is not. My goal is to give the student the tools necessary to evolve into a world class diver and one day be able to participate in dives at any level anywhere.  Of course these tools will serve them well no matter what their aspirations might be.

If you want to take a course  contact me at Joe Citelli

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Basic CCR 40 Meter Class

This class is designed for the new CCR diver and is done over a period of 7 days.

Prerequisites

  1.  Must be qualified in IANTD EANx Diver or equivalent.
  2.  Must be qualified in IANTD Deep Diver or RCCR Deep Diver or equivalent.
  3. Proof of a minimum of 50 logged dives.

Class Content and Equipment

  1. Classroom academics
  2. Build class
  3. Confined water
  4. Minimum 7 open water dives
  5. Maximum 15 minutes decompression
  6. SMB and reel

Skills included but not limited to:

  1. Open circuit bail out drills
  2. Hypoxia, hyperoxia, hypercapnia and “boom” drills.
  3. Valve shut offs.
  4. Remove and replace rebreather under water (ditch and don).
  5. No mask swim.
  6. Remove and replace bailout bottles while swimming.
  7. Switch bailout bottle with buddy.
  8. Open circuit bailout to the surface.
  9. Open circuit bailout to the surface with a decompression obligation.

This list is by no means all inclusive and is intended to give the student a feel for what is done in a typical class.  I do not teach to a minimum standard so expect to do more than the minimum number of dives and minutes required.  I tailor classes around the students needs and abilities so he or she will reap the maximum benefit.   When we finish I want you to be both comfortable and confident on your new rebreather.

Crossover Class From CCR to Another

Prerequisites & Dive Requirements

a. To qualify from one Closed Circuit Rebreather to another Closed Circuit Rebreather, a diver must:
I. Have 12 CCR dives of which one (1) must have been within 45 days of the program on the new CCR
II. Must complete a minimum of 200 minutes training in a combination of Confined Water and Open Water environments with at least two (2) Open Water dives.

i. If the Diver is already certified as Recreational Rebreather Diver and Adv. EANx Diver (OC) or a Recreational Rebreather Mixed Gas Diver, the program must include:
a. A minimum of 400 minutes training in a combination of Confined Water and Open Water environments.
b. A minimum of 4 Open Water dives of in-water training time using the specific Rebreather on which they are being trained.
III. Two dives must be deeper than 50 fsw (15 msw)
IV. Two dives must be deeper than 132 fsw (40 msw)
► NOTE: Decompression bottle must also be carried on the deep dives.

Trimix Classes – CCR and Open Circuit

Normoxic Trimix – CCR and Open Circuit

Provides training and certification for those wishing to safely execute dives to depths up to 60 meters (200 feet) OR with Normoxic Plus to 70 meters (233 feet)

Prerequisites

Open Circuit

  1. IANTD Advanced EANx Diver or higher or equivalent.
  2. Must provide proof of a minimum of 100 logged dives, of which at least 30 were deeper than 90 fsw (27 msw).

Rebreather

  1. IANTD Advanced EANx CCR or IANTD Advanced EANx SCR diver or equivalent.
  2. Must provide proof of a minimum of 100 logged dives of which at least 25 rebreather dives and 50 hours on the unit with at least 50% of them logged on the same CCR to be used in the course.  At least 30 dives were deeper than 90 fsw (27 msw).

Class Content and Equipment

  1. Classroom academics.
  2. Confined water
  3. Minimum 7 dives for CCR and 4 dives for Open Circuit.
  4. Minimum 300 minutes in water time for Open circuit and 360 for CCR.
  5. Maximum 2 deco bottles for Open Circuit.  2 bailout bottles required for CCR
  6. 1 lift bag, 1 SMB and 2 reels. No Spools!

Skills and Topics included but not limited to:

  1. Open circuit bail out drills – CCR
  2. Hypoxia, hyperoxia, hypercapnia and “boom” drills – CCR.
  3. Valve shut offs – OC and CCR.
  4. Remove and replace rebreather or doubles under water (ditch and don).
  5. No mask swim.
  6. Remove and replace bailout or deco bottles while swimming – OC and CCR.
  7. Switch bottle with buddy.
  8. Depth appropriate bottle and or gas switches.
  9. 2 gas Open circuit bailout to the surface from maximum depth with a full decompression obligation – CCR.
  10. Lift bag deployment from depth – CCR and OC.
  11. Survival strategies – semi closed – use of alternate gas sources – open loop – CCR.
  12. Survival strategies – OC and CCR
  13. Gas planning – OC and CCR
  14. Full decompression obligation ascents without benefit of upline or lift bag. (one is available if you need it but the idea is to not use it).
  15. Decompression theory.
  16. Gradient factor selection and theory.
  17. PO2 selection.

Once again, this list is by no means all inclusive and is intended to give the student a feel for what is done in a typical class.  I do not teach to a minimum standard so expect to do more than the minimum number of dives and or minutes required.  I tailor classes around the students needs and abilities so he or she will reap the maximum benefit.   When we finish I want you to be both comfortable and confident in the water.

 

Hypoxic 100 Meter Trimix – CCR and Open Circuit

Prerequisites

Open Circuit:

  1. Must provide proof of a minimum of 200 logged dives
  2. At least 25 dives to depths between 140 fsw (42 msw) and 200 fsw (60 msw).

Rebreather:

  1. Must provide proof of a minimum of 200 logged dives
  2. At least 100 hours on the rebreather to be used.
  3. At least 25 dives to depths between 132 fsw (40 msw) and 200 fsw (60 msw).
  4. NOTE: If already certified as Rebreather Normoxic Trimix Diver on another recognized unit by IANTD, 25 rebreather dives and 50 hours must be on the unit specific for the class.

Class Content and Equipment

  1. Classroom academics.
  2. Confined water
  3. Minimum 7 dives for CCR and 4 dives for Open Circuit.
  4. Minimum 300 minutes in water time for Open circuit and 360 for CCR.
  5. 2 deco gasses for Open Circuit.  2 bailout gasses for CCR
  6. 1 lift bag, 1 SMB and 2 reels. No Spools!

Skills and Topics included but not limited to:

The 100 meter class covers many of the same things as the 60 meter class but in greater depth and intensity.

  1. Open circuit bail out drills – CCR
  2. Hypoxia, hyperoxia, hypercapnia and “boom” drills – CCR.
  3. Valve shut offs – OC and CCR.
  4. Remove and replace rebreather or doubles under water (ditch and don).
  5. No mask swim.
  6. Remove and replace bailout or deco bottles while swimming – OC and CCR.
  7. Switch bottle with buddy.
  8. Depth appropriate bottle and or gas switches.
  9. 2 gas Open circuit bailout to the surface from maximum depth with a full decompression obligation – CCR.
  10. Lift bag deployment from depth – CCR and OC.
  11. Survival strategies – semi closed – use of alternate gas sources – open loop – CCR.
  12. Survival strategies – OC and CCR
  13. Gas planning – OC and CCR
  14. Full decompression obligation ascents without benefit of upline or lift bag (one is available if you need it but the idea is to not use it).
  15. Decompression theory.
  16. Gradient factor selection and theory.
  17. PO2 selection.

Once again, this list is by no means all inclusive and is intended to give the student a feel for what is done in a typical class.  I do not teach to a minimum standard so expect to do more than the minimum number of dives and or minutes required.  I tailor classes around the students needs and abilities so he or she will reap the maximum benefit.   When we finish I want you to be both comfortable and confident in the water.

 

Cave

Cave diving is a very serious but very rewarding endeavor.  I do not subscribe to the modular approach for training.  You are either a Cave Diver or you are not and I do not believe in giving someone access to an environment they are not fully trained for.  That said, I expect my students to demonstrate not only the skills but the attitude necessary to be a successful and safe Full Cave Diver.  To accomplish this you must have a commitment to constantly work on perfecting your skills and maintaining them.  Cave diving is an attitude, a passion and a mindset.

Prerequisites

Open Circuit:

  1. Must have proof of 100 dives or sufficient experience doing technical dives to satisfy the instructor that the student has the ability and knowledge to continue into this level of training.

Rebreather:

  1. Must have proof of 100 rebreather dives.
  2. OC Cave Diver to Rebreather Cave Diver Crossover:                    Must be qualified as Rebreather Diver on the unit to be used and have 25 rebreather dives with 50 hours of dive time on the Rebreather.

Class Content and Equipment

  1. Classroom academics.
  2. Land line drills
  3. Minimum 10 dives for CCR and 12 dives for Open Circuit.
  4. Minimum 500 minutes in water time for Open circuit and 600 for CCR.
  5. 1 staged deco bottle for Open Circuit.  1 bailout bottle required for CCR plus appropriate staged decompression gas.
  6. Minimum of 3 Reels.  A 400 foot primary, a 140 foot Safety and a 50 foot jump reel.  Spools are acceptable.
  7. Line Arrows and Cookies or other non directional marker.

Skills and Topics included but not limited to:

  1. Proper use of reels.
  2. Interpreting line markers.
  3. Running a primary reel.
  4. Use of jump and gap reels.
  5. Navigation.  Safe execution of circuits and traverses.
  6. Lost line drill.
  7. Lights out or blackout drills.
  8. Lost diver procedures.
  9. Broken line.
  10. “Reading” the cave for both navigation and safety.
  11. Signaling – light and hand.
  12. Gas management.
  13. Bailout exit for CCR
  14. Semi Closed drills and exit for CCR
  15. Dive planning.
  16. Cave conservation.