More gas and a backup supply
A twinset is two cylinders joined by a manifold with an isolator valve and worn on your back. It gives you more breathing gas for longer and deeper dives, and the isolator valve and two regulators let you save your gas if a valve or regulator fails. A twinset also makes you more stable in the water.
The twinset course covers the skills, knowledge, planning and configuration you need to dive with twin cylinders, as well as their hazards and benefits. It is for divers who plan deeper dives, want to explore wrecks or are preparing for technical diving courses.
What you learn
- How a twinset is built and works: the manifold and the isolator valve
- Configuring regulators and equipment: the long hose, backup regulator and BCD
- Controlling buoyancy and trim in horizontal and vertical positions with heavier gear
- Planning your gas and keeping a safe reserve
- Valve shutdowns, sharing gas with a buddy and a safe emergency ascent
- Teamwork and communication with your buddy on deeper dives
How the course runs
Theory
How twin-cylinder systems are built, regulator and equipment configuration, gas planning and emergency gas reserves, buoyancy and trim theory, and planning emergency procedures.
Practice
Before diving you prepare and configure the system. In the water you practise stability and trim, valve shutdowns, gas sharing with a buddy and responding to valve failures, and you learn to help your buddy and ascend safely in an emergency. The larger gas supply lets you stay down longer, so you also learn to plan long dives.
What comes next
A twinset is one of the basic equipment requirements for technical diving, so after this course you can move on to decompression or other technical diving courses.
Frequently asked questions
Why dive with twin cylinders?
Two cylinders hold more gas, so you can dive longer and deeper, and the isolator valve and two regulators give you a backup gas supply. Many technical diving courses require a twinset.
Which certificate do I need to start?
Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent and enough diving experience. You also need to be in good shape, because a twinset is heavier than a single cylinder.
Do I need my own twinset?
No, the diving equipment is included in the course price.
Which certificate will I get?
An international PADI Twinset Diver certificate.