Recreational diver training
Recreational diver training is the process of developing knowledge and understanding of the basic principles, and the skills and procedures for the use of scuba equipment so that the diver is able to dive for recreational purposes with acceptable risk using the type of equipment and in similar conditions to those experienced during training.
Not only is the underwater environment hazardous but the diving equipment itself can be dangerous. There are problems that divers must learn to avoid and manage when they do occur. Divers need repeated practice and a gradual increase in challenge to develop and internalise the skills needed to control the equipment, to respond effective if they encounter difficulties, and to build confidence in their equipment and themselves. Diver practical training starts with simple but essential procedures, and builds on them until complex procedures can be managed effectively. This may be broken up into several short training programmes, with certification issued for each stage, or combined into a few more substantial programmes with certification issued when all the skills have been mastered.
Many diver training organizations exist, throughout the world, offering diver training leading to certification: the issuing of a "diving certification card," also known as a "C-card," or qualification card. This diving certification model originated at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1952 after two divers died while using university-owned equipment and the SIO instituted a system where a card was issued after training as evidence of competence. Diving instructors affiliated to a diving certification agency may work independently or through a university, a dive club, a dive school or a dive shop.
They will offer courses that should meet or exceed the standards of the certification organization that will certify the divers attending the course. The International Organization for Standardization has approved six recreational diving standards that may be implemented worldwide, and some of the standards developed by the RSTC are consistent with the applicable ISO Standards:
The initial open water training for a person who is medically fit to dive and a reasonably competent swimmer is relatively short. Many dive shops in popular holiday locations offer courses intended to teach a novice to dive in a few days, which can be combined with diving on the vacation. Other instructors and dive schools will provide more thorough training, which generally takes longer. Dive operators, dive shops, and cylinder filling stations may refuse to allow uncertified people to dive with them, hire diving equipment or have their diving cylinders filled. This may be an agency standard, company policy, or specified by legislation.
Types of training
Most recreational diver training is for certification purposes, but a significant amount is for non-certification purposes such as introductory scuba experience, refresher training, and regional orientation. Mainstream recreational diver training starts with an entry-level course, focused on the skills of operating the equipment safely, which is intended to be followed by further training focused on the environment and other skills, but many recreational divers never progress further than their entry level certification, and may not dive often enough to maintain the basic skills learned on the course. Refresher courses are offered by many diving schools to remedy this possible loss of competence due to lack of practice.Entry-level
The entry-level course is for certification of competence to dive in open water to a limited depth and not incurring a decompression obligation requiring decompression stops, so that the diver can make a direct ascent to the surface at any time at an acceptable level of risk. Entry level training does not generally require the diver to be competent to rescue another diver, though some training in sharing breathing gas is standard, and divers are expected to dive in the company of a dive buddy of equivalent certification. Entry level certification to the internationally recognised Autonomous diver standard ISO 24801-2 and the equivalent European Standard EN 14153-2 is most widely accepter.Supervised diver certification is offered by some training agencies as an entry-level programme, and a certificate is issued, but the diver is required to dive only under the direct supervision of a recreational diving professional, such as a divemaster or instructor. The certification aligns with international standard ISO 24801-1, and the equivalent European Standard EN 14153-1. Most diving organizations recommend not to exceed a diving depth of 10 to 12 metres. In some parts of the world there is a minimum requirement which corresponds to the Autonomous Diver certification and an in-date medical certificate for hiring diving equipment and taking part in recreational diving. In these places a certificate which corresponds to the Supervised Diver is regarded as insufficient.
Refresher courses
A scuba refresher course is a voluntary training intervention which mainly targets the autonomous diver, which is the certification level most likely to be associated with inactive recreational divers, and which includes the most basic knowledge and skills. In principle a refresher course could be a checkout at any certification level, and could cover either or both skills and knowledge, but in practice the most common refresher courses are offered for the divers most likely to need one, which are entry-level divers with little experience and a long gap since their last dive.The Professional Association of Diving Instructors course is called ReActivate, and Scuba Schools International offers a similar course named Scuba Skills Update. They include a theory component which can be done on-line, and a practical skills component that can be done under the supervision of a divemaster or instructor, and starts with checkout of setting up the scuba equipment and water entry techniques, and continues with assessing critical skills like mask recovery and clearing, neutral buoyancy, ditching weights and ascent using an alternative air source. PADI suggest a refresher after six months inactivity, but the actual need depends on the previous experience and skill of the diver.
A refresher course almost always includes a confined water skill practice session, and may include an open water dive. Some schools expect the diver to revise the theory as well. This would typically be on-line, but there may be a live discussion and feedback session.
Further training
Further training is focused on core diving skills, skills associated with the environment and equipment, safety and mutual assistance, dive group leadership and training other divers. Some training providers require or encourage the diver to gain experience at their current level between training programmes, others are willing to enroll the diver on the next course as soon as they are available to start. Dive planning and safety relevant to the current skill level is included in each course. Some agencies approach further training by packaging a significant number of skills together and provide the training as an integrated unit, which is relatively efficient in overall time and cost, while others break it down into smaller programs, each dealing with a limited group of associated skills, which can be sold to the customer separately, which can be convenient if the diver does not want to invest the time and effort to do it all at once, but will generally cost more in total.- Core diving competence skills
- Dive leadership skills
- Specialist skills
- *Equipment related skills
- *Environment related skills
- *Activity related skills
- *Safety and rescue skills
- *Diving support skills
- *Dever training skills
Dive leadership training
Scuba dive leaders are considered competent to plan, organise and conduct dives and to lead other recreational divers on open water dives, and for specialised recreational scuba diving activities for which they have been trained. They are also considered competent to conduct emergency procedures associated with these activities and the relevant diving environment. They may require orientation for unfamiliar local environmental conditions. Additional specialised training and experience is required to lead divers on more demanding dives.
The term is also used by BSAC for a specific certification.
Recreational diving instructor training
Minimum requirements to attend a recreational diving instructor training programme vary between certification agencies. The requirements for PADI Instructor Development Course are 6 months as a certified diver, Registration as a PADI Divemaster, with 60 logged dives, a medical statement that the applicant does not suffer from a disqualifying medical condition and recent participation in PADI Emergency First Response training. The IDC takes five to seven days, and comprises two parts, Assistant Instructor training and Open Water Scuba Instructor training. During the IDC the candidate will learn PADI Standards and Procedures, The PADI system of instruction, diver safety and risk management, The role of the diving instructor in the recreational diving industry, and marketing and sales counseling for recreational diving business. 100 logged dives are required before the applicant can take the two-day Instructor Examination. PADI puts more emphasis on the business side of recreational diving than most other organisations. Other certification agencies often have more stringent requirements,Certification as an entry-level instructor authorises the holder to train entry-level divers and usually also specialties the instructor also holds. Training in specialties generally requires the instructor to be qualified in those specialties, but in several cases they are prerequisites for training as an instructor.