Divemaster - A dive master
Course description:
This is the first level of professional diving. This course intends to increase the skills and knowledge, necessary to a certain person to guide certified divers in open waters.
Preconditions:
1. The minimal age is 18 years old.
2. An Advanced Scuba Diver certificate or an equivalent; the Advanced Scuba Diver certificate must include verifiable experience in deep, navigation, night, and limited visibility specialties.
3. An SDI Rescue Diver certificate or an equivalent.
4. Proof of a valid SDI CPROX, CPR1st or CPROX1stAED (CPR, first aid and oxygen provider (where local law permits))
*cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
5. Proof of minimum 40 logged dives
What you can learn:
1. SDI standards and procedures
2. History of SDI
3. Code of ethics and professionalism of an SDI Divemaster
4. Products and procedures
- How to place an order
- Yearly renewals
5. Liability and insurance
- Risk management
- Waivers and releases
- Filling out an accident report
6. Knowledge Development
- Equipment
- Physics and physiology of diving
- Medical problems related to diving
- Use of dive computers and tables
- Diving environment
- Dive planning and dive management control:
a. Swimming pool / Restricted waters
b. Open waters
- Problem solving
a. Swimming pool / Restricted waters
b. Open waters
- Underwater and surface communications
- Diver assistance
- Avoiding out of air and emergency situations
- Recommended safe diving practices
- Boat diving procedures
- Shore/beach diving procedures
- Night diving procedures
- Accident management
- Emergency procedures
a. First aid
b. Oxygen (O2) administration
c. Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
7. Leadership Development
a. Planning group dives
b. Divemaster check lists and logs
What's in it for you:
Upon successful completion of this course the graduates will be able to:
1. Assist an active SDI Instructor during approved diving courses provided the activities are similar to the graduate’s prior training
2. Supervise and conduct dives for certified divers, provided the activities are similar to the graduate’s prior experience and training
Minimal requirements for receiving the certificate:
Theoretical skills:
1. Successful completion of the SDI Divemaster written exam
Practical skills:
Confined Water Requirements:
1. Snorkeling skills
- Minimum equipment: mask, fins, snorkel and additional equipment as required
a. 800 metre swim with mask, snorkel, and fins non-stop without the use of arms in less than 17 minutes
b. 400 metre swim on the surface, non-stop, any stroke, without the use of swimming aids, in less than 10 minutes; swim goggles permitted
2. Scuba skills:
- Minimum equipment: all equipment required for a SDI Dive Leader
a. In water, transport another diver in full scuba equipment at a quick pace for 4 minutes
b. Demonstrate a complete rescue scenario satisfactorily
c. Perform underwater skills with and without a mask
d. Swim on the surface, in full scuba equipment, using the snorkel, 100 metres
3. Bring a diver, simulating unconsciousness, up from depth, not greater than 6 metres / 20 feet; at the surface swim them 100 metres in less than 4 minutes
4. Confined water skills:
a. Preparation and planning
b. Briefing and debriefing
c. Group control
d. Problem recognition and solving
e. Diving equipment assembly and disassembly
f. Equipment inspection
g. Entries / exits
h. Proper weighting and buoyancy control
i. Snorkel and regulator clearing
j. Regulator recovery
k. Controlled descents and ascents
l. Underwater swimming
m. Mask clearing
n. Buddy system techniques
o. Weight system removal and replacement
p. Out-of-air emergency alternatives
q. Equipment care and maintenance
Open Water Requirements:
1. Minimum of 10 open water dives, for a minimum time of 20 minutes each
2. Training dives must not exceed 40 metres / 130 feet
3. Demonstrate, to an active SDI Instructor in open water, preparation, planning, group control, and problem solving for at least 3 open water diving activities from the topics outlined below
4. Students must demonstrate all the skills required in previous courses at divemaster quality in leadership level equipment. Skills include:
a. Preparation and planning
b. Briefing and debriefing
c. Group control
d. Diving equipment assembly and disassembly
e. Equipment inspection
f. Entries / exits
g. Proper weighting and buoyancy control
h. Snorkel and regulator clearing
i. Regulator recovery
j. Controlled descents and ascents
k. Underwater swimming
l. Mask clearing
m. Buddy system techniques
n. Weight /ballast system removal and replacement
o. Scuba system removal and replacement
p. Problem recognition and solving
q. Out-of-air emergency alternatives
r. Equipment care and maintenance
s. Evaluation of navigational skills both natural and compass
5. Upon successful completion of the dives, students must complete their logbooks and the instructor must sign off on the completed dives
Training and course structure:
1. Theoretical preparation - it is conducted during the entire course.
2. Practical preparation:
- Give a minimum of 5 briefs/debriefs
- Show preparation, planning, and control in dive management and diving activities
- Guide a minimum of 4 dives with varying sites and environmental conditions
