Syllabus outline and lesson sequencing
OCEAN DIVER
Definition
A diver who is competent to conduct dives with another Ocean Diver or with a Sports Diver, within the restrictions of the conditions already encountered during their training. They can conduct dives with a Dive Leader or higher grade, to expand their experience beyond the conditions encountered during their training, under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
Ocean Divers are initially restricted to the maximum depth experienced during training, but this can subsequently be extended progressively, under the supervision of a Nationally Qualified Instructor (NQI), to a maximum of 20m.
They may use breathing gas mixes of Air, Nitrox32 or Nitrox36, but may not conduct dives requiring mandatory decompression stops.
Ocean Divers must conduct dives within BSAC safe diving recommendations.
Ocean Divers must conduct dives only where other divers, capable of providing assistance and rescue, are available at the surface, and only under the on-site supervision of a Dive Manager with respect to site selection, conditions, and dive plan.
Course Content
The Ocean Diver course consists of
Course Content
The Ocean Diver course consists of
- 7 Classroom lessons
- Theory assessment
- Basic swimming assessment
- 5 Sheltered water lessons
- 5 Open water lessons/dives
- minimum of 120 minutes underwater time
Open water diving should encompass experience of at least four of the following: shore dive, dive using a breathing gas mix of Nitrox32 or Nitrox36, low (2-4m) visibility dive, drift (0.25-0.5kn) dive, small boat dive, large boat dive, wall dive, dive in protective clothing.
SPORTS DIVER
Definition
A diver who is competent to conduct dives with an Ocean Diver, within the restrictions of the conditions already encountered by the Ocean Diver during their training, and under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
A Sports Diver can dive with another Sports Diver within the restrictions of the conditions already encountered during their training or previous experience, and can dive with a Dive Leader or higher grade, to expand experience beyond that previously encountered, under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
Sports Divers can dive to a depth which is initially limited to 20m, but which can subsequently be extended progressively, under the supervision of a Nationally Qualified Instructor (NQI), to a maximum of 35m.
Sports Divers can plan and conduct dives requiring mandatory decompression stops, and may also use breathing gas mixes up to Nitrox36.
Sports Divers must conduct dives within BSAC safe diving recommendations, and only where other divers, capable of providing assistance and rescue management skills, are available at the surface.
Course Content
The Sports Diver course consists of
- 6 Classroom lessons
- Theory assessment
- 1 Sheltered water lesson
- 1 Optional Refresher/Orientation dive
- 5 Open water lessons/dives
- 1 Dry practical lesson
- 5 Dives, minimum of 150 minutes underwater time
Open water diving should encompass experience of at least five of the following: shelving shore dive, nitrox dive (using a breathing gas > 21% Oxygen up to a maximum of 36%), dive using a shot line, low (2-4m) visibility dive, drift (0.25-0.5kn) dive, small boat dive, large boat dive, wall dive, dive in protective clothing.
DIVE LEADER
Definition
A Dive Leader can plan and lead a range of dives including those requiring detailed dive, breathing gas and decompression requirements planning. They have the skill and level of knowledge to progressively extend their own skills to take part in a wide range of adventurous dives.
DIVE LEADER
Definition
A Dive Leader can plan and lead a range of dives including those requiring detailed dive, breathing gas and decompression requirements planning. They have the skill and level of knowledge to progressively extend their own skills to take part in a wide range of adventurous dives.
Dive Leaders have rescue management skills, and are competent to manage and supervise branch dives to locations well known to the branch, or using experienced skippers, or in conditions not normally described as 'challenging'.
Dive Leaders can dive to a depth which is initially limited to 35m, but which can subsequently be extended progressively to a maximum of 50m. They can conduct dives with divers of any grade, to expand their experience beyond that previously encountered by those divers, under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
They may also conduct experience building dives with trainee Ocean Divers, within the restrictions of the conditions already encountered by the trainee Ocean Diver, and under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
Training for Dive Leader involves much greater emphasis on gaining broader experience to supplement the 'formal' lessons.
Course Content
The Dive Leader course consists of
- 12 Classroom lessons - these include the oxygen administration module which can be undertaken at any time after qualifying as an Ocean Diver
- Theory assessment
- 2 Dry practical lessons
- 7 Open water lessons
- 20 dives - (which may include open water lessons) minimum 600 minutes underwater time since qualifying as Sports Diver.
Open water diving should encompass experience of at least five of the following: planned decompression dive, navigation dive, low (1.5-3m) visibility dive, night dive, wreck dive, drift (1-1.5kn) dive, wall dive. Of the 20 dives, at least six should be from boats, on at least eight the student should act as dive leader, and at least ten dives should be to greater than 25m depth. The student should also act as Dive Manager on at least two occasions additional to the dry practical lessons.
ADVANCED DIVER
Definition
A diver who is comprehensively trained, experienced and responsible and who can manage and supervise a wide range of adventurous and challenging diving activities. This will include organising branch diving expeditions to explore unfamiliar locations, and branch diving activities including dives utilising developing technology and techniques.
Training towards Advanced Diver relies much more on the progressive build up of experience than on 'formal' lessons.
Course Content
The Advanced Diver course consists of
- 4 Classroom lessons
- Theory assessment
- 2 Dry practical lessons
- 2 Open water lessons
- 20 dives post Dive Leader- (which may include open water lessons) and a minimum 600 minutes underwater time
Open water diving should encompass each of the following, each on at least three occasions: planned two stop decompression dive, drift dive, dive in tidal waters. In addition a further six dives should include at least three of the following conditions: navigation dive, search dive, no clear surface dive, mixed gas dive, advanced decompression dive, surface location dive.
Of the 20 dives at least 10 should be carried out from boats, on at least 10 the student should act as dive leader and at least six dives should show experience of depths greater than 30m. On at least five occasions, including at both known and unfamiliar sites, the student should act as Dive Manager.
Of the 20 dives at least 10 should be carried out from boats, on at least 10 the student should act as dive leader and at least six dives should show experience of depths greater than 30m. On at least five occasions, including at both known and unfamiliar sites, the student should act as Dive Manager.
Member Comment
"I've just read the updates to the Dive Training programme in the NDC Bulletin. These are superb, particularly getting nitrox into use from Ocean Diver upwards. I applaud your innovation.
Steve Greenham
OWI 1918
If you have any training questions, please contact the Diver Resources Team at BSAC.
Tel 0151 350 6261/6262 Email technical@bsac.com or alternatively if you have any purchasing queries please contact the Mailshop on 0151 350 6222/6225 Email shop@bsac.com
Page last modified: 9th Feb 2007 - 08:47:15