Extended Range Foundations

The SSI Extended Range certification at Pura Vida Diving Lanzarote is designed for technical divers aiming to extend their exploration capabilities to 40 meters (130 feet). This course significantly builds upon foundational technical diving skills, focusing on advanced gas management strategies and meticulous decompression planning. You will learn to safely manage longer dive times and greater depths, incorporating mandatory decompression stops. The curriculum emphasizes a deep understanding of gas physiology and the precise execution of complex dive profiles.

Training delves into advanced decompression theory, including the strategic use of multiple gas mixes for accelerated decompression protocols. Participants will master advanced dive planning techniques and gain insights into gas blending principles, if applicable to the specific course structure. The course also covers the management of potential technical diving emergencies, stressing the importance of thorough preparation and disciplined execution. Equipment considerations, such as twinsets or sidemount configurations and redundant air sources, are thoroughly covered to ensure operational readiness.

Practical training involves conducting multiple dives that necessitate significant decompression obligations. You will practice critical gas switching procedures, deploy and manage stage bottles for decompression gases, and execute complex dive profiles under the direct supervision of an SSI Technical Instructor. The emphasis is on developing the skills and discipline required for safe technical diving operations. Challenging dive sites around Lanzarote may be utilized for this training, providing realistic conditions for skill application.

Upon successful completion of the SSI Extended Range course, you will be certified to perform technical dives within the specified depth range and with decompression requirements. This certification represents a significant step for technical divers and serves as a prerequisite for further advanced technical training, such as Trimix diving. It unlocks the potential for exploring deeper wrecks, reefs, and underwater features with a high level of safety and competence, leveraging the unique underwater topography of Lanzarote. The sea temperature around Lanzarote averages 20°C, offering comfortable conditions for extended dive planning and execution throughout the year.