There are many reasons why people learn to dive and so it is impossible to list them all here. Some activities seem to be perfect precursors for scuba diving. Active swimmers take to diving pretty easily. People who enjoy snorkeling also have an advantage as they have already seen some of the fish life beneath the sea and so are “hooked” already. Snorkelers usually have an easy time transitioning to scuba diving.

People who enjoy active outdoor activities or extreme sports are the type of persons who are drawn to the more challenging disciplines of diving, such as decompression diving, rebreather diving, mixed gas diving or diving in an overhead environment. I guess I fell directly into that category all those years ago when I first began my diving journey.

For any diving activities beyond the no-decompression limit, in an overhead environment or with an alternative equipment configuration – such as a closed-circuit rebreather or a semi-closed rebreather, in SSI, we refer to these activities as “Extended Range” or more commonly abbreviated to ‘XR”.

XR activities and training programs are not targeted at the select few adventurous individuals but instead marketed to the global diving community as a pathway for all divers to extend their range of skills and knowledge. XR diving is not a sport for daredevils; but it is a respected, well managed, safety orientated pathway of programs in the diving industry that you can participate with your friends and family. XR programs are a means to learning more in depth knowledge and skills about the beauty, intricacies and challenges that the ever-expanding underwater world continues to present us with.

What Types of XR Diving are Available?

As was previously written, the term ‘XR” is used to refer to any diving activity that is either beyond the no-decompression limit, in an overhead environment or with an alternative form of diving equipment. SSI is very proud to be able to offer all of these activities under the XR flag. It takes years or dedication, commitment, passion and team knowledge for a training agency to be able to successful provide training programs for all of these activities and that is exactly what SSI have achieved. The following XR programs are available:

Open-circuit

• Extended Range Nitrox
• Extended Range
• Technical Extended Range
• Hypoxic Trimix
• Extended Range Foundations

Closed-circuit rebreather (CCR)

• CCR Diving
• CCR Extended Range
• CCR Technical Extended Range
• CCR Hypoxic Trimix

Semi-closed rebreather (SCR)

• SCR Diving
• SCR Extended Range

Overhead Environment (Wreck)

• Extended Range Wreck Diving
• Technical Wreck Diving

Overhead Environment (Cave)

• Extended Range Cavern Diving
• Cave Diving
• Full Cave Diving

Sidmount

• Sidemount
• Extended Range Sidemount

Is XR Diving for You?

If you have ever wanted to stay down a little longer, or go that little bit deeper or explore that bit farther then yes, the range of XR programs offered by SSI are just what you need.

Learn more about XR Diving at: https://www.divessi.com/en-IC/highlights/extended-range/

The post What is XR Diving? The Real Story appeared first on The Scuba News.

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