Training outline

Group A - Swimming Tests

1. Swim 200m (8 lengths) breast stroke, without stopping
2. Swim 100m (4 lengths) life saving kick, without stopping
3. Duck-dive & recover six objects from the bottom of the deep end, one object at a time
4. Tread water for one minute, keeping your hands above your head
5. After being made aware of the dangers of hyperventilation, attempt to swim 25m (1 length) underwater
6. Tow a body 25m (1 length) & recover onto the side of the pool at the deep end.

Group B - Primary Tests

Using basic equipment - mask fins, snorkel & weight belt.

1. Fin 200m (8 lengths) on the surface, duck-diving twice each length
2. Fin 25m (1 length) underwater, collecting three objects
3. Hold breath for 30 seconds, at the bottom of the deep end
4. Flood & clear mask three times
5. Fit basic equipment, in the deep end
6. Fin 50m (2 lengths) with face submerged, using snorkel. Finish at deep end, duck-diving to recover & fit mask & weight belt. Signal "Okay" before surfacing

Group C - Basic Open Water

Using basic equipment plus suit & BC.

1. Fin 500m, inflate BC orally, fin a further 100m
2. Duck-dive to a depth of 5m, three times. On the third time, rescue a fully kitted diver & tow to shore, performing Expired Air Resuscitation & land body
3. Attend a minimum of three open water dives using basic equipment, suit & BC

Group D - Pool SCUBA Tests

Instructor to explain embolisms, barotrauma & pressure effects before commencing. Using basic equipment, plus SCUBA kit.

1. Assemble, test & fit aqualung. Demonstrate bouyancy by depth of breathing
2. Remove, replace & clear mask three times underwater. Remove, replace & clear regulator three times
3. Wearing full equipment, fin 25m (1 length) finishing in the deep end. Remove equipment
4. Fin 50m (2 lengths) alternating between regulator & snorkel, changing twice each length
5. Fin for 5mins underwater, wearing a blacked-out mask
6. Establish a breathing rhythm, then fin 50m (2 lengths) underwater, sharing a regulator
7. Starting in the deep end, fin to the middle at speed. Rescue body & return to the deep end, performing Expired Air Resuscitation. Remove kit & recover body onto the side of the pool
8. Identify six selected hand signals
9. Attend lectures on equipment, pressure effects & life saving
10. Spend two evenings in the Compressor Room, learning the correct proceedures for the use of compressors & for cylinder filling

Group E - Open Water Diving

Using basic equipment, plus SCUBA kit.

1. Using BC, demonsrate adjustment of buoyancy. Perform a controlled ascent from a depth of 3m, after explaining how to avoid an embolism & barotrauma
2. Demonstrate & respond to diver-to-dive & diver-to-surface signals
3. At a depth of 10m, remove, replace & clear mask three times
4. At a depth of 10m, remove, replace & clear regulator three times
5. Share a regulator for 25 minutes at depth of not less than 7m
6. Demonstrate underwater navigation by swimming a straight course for 100m, at a depth of not less than 3m
7. Demonstrate the correct use of a BC at 3m
8. Attend a boat handling course
9. Act as a helmsman for boat cover twice
10. Act as dive leader for a minimum of three divers, five times
11. Log at least ten open water dives

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