The “IANTD Advanced Recreational Trimix Diver and Advanced Recreational Trimix Diver Plus” courses more know by the name of ART and ART+ courses are two advanced training programs that provide access to Trimix diving.

They allow divers to explore depths of up to 45 meters for the regular version and up to 51 meters for the “Advanced Recreational Trimix Plus” version, using a tailored Trimix gas blend for these depths.

Trimix is a gas mixture containing oxygen, nitrogen, and helium. It is designed to reduce the effects of narcosis and the toxicity of oxygen at greater depths, making it safer than air or nitrox.

Here is a summary of the typical content of the IANTD “Advanced Recreational Trimix and Advanced Recreational Trimix Plus” courses:

Theory and Knowledge: The ART course includes in-depth theoretical training on specific aspects of Trimix diving, including the properties of Trimix blends. You will work on dive planning with this mixture, dive profiles, decompression procedures, and gas management. You will learn how to create a decompression dive plan, understand and control your dive computer, work with dive tables and software such as Multideco, and much more.

Gas Management: An essential part of the ART course is learning gas management in Trimix diving. You will learn how to use Trimix blends correctly to safely extend your dive time and smoothly switch between blends when necessary.

Blend Analysis: You will be trained in the analysis and verification of Trimix blends used during your dives, ensuring that oxygen, nitrogen, and helium percentages are correct.

Confined Water Diving: During the course, similar to the “Essential Tek Diver” course, you will refine your buoyancy skills. You will also learn to use technical diving equipment such as double cylinders, wings, or sidemount configuration. You will practice basic exercises such as S-drills, valve drills, air sharing with a long hose, different finning techniques (frog kick, modified frog kick, flutter kick, modified flutter kick, helicopter turn, backward finning), and learn how to deploy a safety line, etc. Building on the “Essential Tek Diver” course, you will also learn to use an additional cylinder (stage), perform gas switches, hand off a decompression cylinder to your buddy, and more.

Open Water Diving: The ART course will include multiple open water dives to put your Trimix diving skills into practice. You will dive in real conditions and learn how to manage different depths and gas blends during dives requiring decompression.

Trimix Diving Safety: The course will emphasize safety in Trimix diving, including specific emergency procedures and safety considerations related to the use of enriched gas blends.

Certification: Upon successfully completing the ART course, you will receive an IANTD “Advanced Recreational Trimix” or “Advanced Recreational Trimix Plus” certification, allowing you to safely dive with Trimix blends up to 45 or 51 meters, depending on the chosen course version. The ART Plus version will require an additional deep dive compared to the classic ART version.