1.1 INTRODUCTION
Introducing a diver to the benefits of controlling their buoyancy (usually) has a great positive effect, an effect that will enhance the diver’s sense of enjoyment and feeling of accomplishment. This specialty is designed to increase the Open Water Diver’s understanding of the factors that influence their buoyancy and to train the diver in using those means available to him or her as methods for controlling their buoyancy. The added benefits to the marine and freshwater environments cannot be overstated as well as we have divers that have better control of themselves in conjunction with their environment.

1.2 WHO MAY TEACH
Who may teach this course?
1. An active SDI Instructor that has been certified to teach this specialty.

1.3 STUDENT – INSTRUCTOR RATIO
Academic:
1. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies, and time are provided to insure comprehensive and complete training.
Confined Water (Swimming pool-like conditions):
1. A maximum of ten (10) students per Instructor.
2. Instructors have the option of adding two (2) more students with the assistance of an Active Assistant Instructor or Divemaster.
3. The total number of students an instructor may have in the water is fourteen (14) with the assistance of two (2) Assistant Instructors or Divemasters.
Open Water (Ocean, lake, quarry, spring, river, or estuary):
1. A maximum of eight (8) students per Instructor. However, it is the Instructor’s discretion to reduce this number as conditions dictate.
2. The Instructor has the option of adding two (2) more students with the assistance of an active Assistant Instructor or Divemaster.
3. The total number of students an Instructor may have in the water is twelve (12) with the assistance of two (2) Assistant Instructors or Divemasters.

1.4 STUDENT PRE-REQUISITES
1. Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver.
2. Ten (10) years or older.

1.5 COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION
Confined or Open Water execution:
1. Two (2) dives are required with complete brief and debrief by the Instructor.

1.6 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Administrative Tasks:
1. Collect the course fees from all the students.
2. Ensure that the students have the required equipment.
3. Communicate the schedule to the students.
4. Have the students complete the Liability Release and Medical history forms.
5. The Instructor should review the Liability Release and Medical Forms before starting on the course.
Upon successful completion of this specialty the instructor must issue the SDI Buoyancy Diver specialty experience card. The Instructor must:
3. Issue one of the following cards:
A SDI Insta-Card.
Use either a SDI diver registration form or a Pre-paid Diver certification form to file for the specialty certification card if a SDI certification card is requested.
Award card and certificate.

1.7 REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
Basic SDI Open Water SCUBA equipment as prescribed earlier in this manual.

1.8 APPROVED OUTLINE
Instructors may use any additional text or materials that they feel help present these topics. The following topics must be covered:
1. Why do we care about buoyancy?
A. Don’t touch the aquatic life = save the environment.
B. Less fatigue, less effort required = more fun.
C. Reducing air consumption = more bottom time.
D. Able to control buoyancy = better pictures or video.
2. When should a buoyancy check be performed?
A. When equipment is changed.
B. When diving environment is changed.
C. Have not been diving for a while.
D. During every dive.
3. Buoyancy factors
A. Additional Equipment (Photo, Video, extra tank, extra gear, dive lights, etc.)
B. Tank weight change during a dive as air is consumed from the tank (depending on tank size; 63 Cu ft approximately one-point-thirty-five (1.35) kg / three (3) lb, 80 Cu ft. approximately one-point-fifty-two (1.52) kg / five (5) lb).
C. Using Lungs versus BCD. When using the lungs to compensate, be aware of not holding one’s breath and paying attention how much the depth change that is made (to avoid lung embolism.)
D. Using BCD versus Dry Suit.
E. Staying physically fit.
F. Breathing patterns and technique.
I. Do not – shallow breathing.
II. Do not – hold your breath.
III. Do – Slow down your breathing rate.
IV. Do – Stay relaxed – go slow (this is not a race).
V. Strenuous work and stress increase breathing rate.
G. Compression of suit due to water pressure changes the buoyancy of the suit.
H. Weights – position and distribution and what impact that may have
I. Horizontally, face down – weights towards sides and stomach.
II. Head-up, feet-down – weight toward middle of stomach.
III. Slightly head-up, feet-down – weight toward chest or move tank.
IV. Feet rising – use light ankle weights (especially if wearing an Dry Suit.)
V. Weight integrated systems – benefits and restrictions.
I. Streamlining equipment
I. Minimize drag.
II. Keeping equipment off the bottom.
J. Streamlining body (body positions)
I. Overweight drags down lower half of body.
II. Using BCD to compensate will float upper part of body.
K. Efficient kicking style.
L. Practicing your skills.
M. Weighting (salt water, use as initial guideline only – do a buoyancy check to confirm)
I. Swimsuit – point forty five (0,45) kg / one (1) lb to one-point-two (1.2) kg / four (4) lb
II. 3mm wet suit – 5% of body weight.
III. 5mm wet suit – 10% of body weight.
IV. Cold-water suit with hood – 10% of body weight, plus one (1) kg / three (3) lb to two-point-twenty-five (2.25) kg / five (5) lb.
V. Dry Suit – 10% of body weight, plus three (3) kg / seven (7) lb to four-point-five (4.5) kg / ten (10) lb.
4. How to perform a Standard Buoyancy check (with almost empty Tank)
A. Wear all equipment and normal amount of weight.
B. Enter water to deep to stand in.
C. Deflate BCD completely.
D. Hang vertical and motionless, breathe in and hold (normal breath) (surface only).
E. Adjust weight until floating at eye level.
F. Exhale. Should sink slowly.
5. Demonstrate how much effect one (1) kg / two (2) lbs have. After neutral buoyancy is achieved (by adjusting weights accordingly)
A. Let the student take a one (1) kg / two (2) lbs weight off (to illustrate under weight.)
B. Let the student add two (2) one (1) kg / two (2) lbs weights (to illustrate over weight.)
C. Let the student take a one (1) kg / two (2) lbs weight off (to get back to neutral buoyancy.)

1.9 REQUIRED SKILL PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Dives can either be performed in a pool or in open water. Students are required to successfully complete the following:
1. Dive 1
A. Assembling of dive gear. Use an almost empty tank (roughly thirty four bar / five hundred (500) psi in the tank).
B. Pre-dive check and enter water to deep to stand in.
C. Do a Pre-Dive buoyancy check with “almost empty” tank.
I. Adjust weight to achieve correct buoyancy.
II. Let the student take a one (1) kg / two (2) lbs weight off (to illustrate under weight.)
III. Let the student add two one (1) kg / two (2) lbs weights (to illustrate over weight.)
IV. Let the student take a one (1) kg / two (2) lbs weight off (to get back to neutral buoyancy.)
D. Change tank – use a “full” tank (roughly two hundred and five (205) bar / three thousand (3000) psi in the tank).
E. Do a Pre-Dive buoyancy check with “full” tank.
F. Controlled descent.
G. “Hovering” (Fine-tune with breath control) exercises
H. “Hovering” (Fine-tune with BCD or Dry Suit) exercises.
I. “Close to bottom” exercises (no touch)
J. “Swimming” Exercises.
K. Ascent that includes a safety stop hovering (simulate safety stop if in pool).
L. Log Dive (note the amount of weight used)
2. Dive 2
A. Change tank – use a “full” tank (roughly two hundred and five (205) bar / three thousand (3000) psi in the tank).
B. Do a Pre-Dive buoyancy check with “full” tank.
C. Controlled descent.
D. “Hovering” (Fine-tune with breath control) exercises
E. “Hovering” (Fine-tune with BCD or Dry Suit) exercises.
F. “Close to bottom” exercises (no touch)
G. “Swimming” Exercises.
H. Ascent that includes a safety stop hovering (simulate safety stop if in pool).
I. Log Dive (note the amount of weight used).