Course overview

Life support technicians carry out the vital and responsible job of maintaining safe conditions, for divers living and working under pressure during deep diving operations worldwide. They must be able to operate high-pressure equipment, mix heliox diving mixtures, monitor the saturation chamber environment, and as part of a team carry out pressurisation and decompression. In addition they need to identify and treat decompression illness and other pressure related injuries, and also be able to deal with a variety of emergency situations, from fire in the chamber to hyperbaric evacuation.

Objectives

This training course is designed as a basic course for new entrants to the IMCA life support technician scheme. The scheme commenced in 1984 to provide all personnel engaged in life support, from new entrants through to the most senior grade, with a structured career progression.

Entry requirement

This course is suitable for new entrants in the diving industry. No prior experience is needed, although a basic knowledge of physics would be an advantage.

Certification

On completion of the course, and after having successfully passed the NHC in-house examinations, you are issued with an IMCA approved NHC certificate. You must then go offshore and log a minimum of 2,400 panel hours as an assistant life support technician, after which you can take the IMCA life support technician exam.

Course duration

10 days.

Course content

The course provides a comprehensive theory and practical element which prepares the new entrant for work as an assistant life support technician (ALST). Experienced diving and life support supervisors provide professional tuition on the following topics:

• Diving physics legislation
• Gas handling
• Gas toxicity
• Thermal balance
• Plant and equipment
• Anatomy and physiology
• Life support systems
• System monitoring
• Emergencies
• Diving systems
• Hygiene
• Practical