1.1 INTRODUCTION
This course is designed to expand a diver’s knowledge in the use of their personal dive computer.

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

1.3 STUDENT – INSTRUCTOR RATIO
Academic:
2. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to insure comprehensive and complete training.
Confined Water (Swimming pool-like conditions):
3. N/A.
Open Water (Ocean, lake, quarry, spring, river or estuary):
4. A maximum of eight (8) students per Instructor. However, it is the instructor’s discretion to reduce this number as conditions dictate.
5. The Instructor has the option of adding two (2) more students with the assistance of an active Assistant Instructor or Divemaster.
6. 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
7. Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver.
8. Ten (10) years or older.

1.5 COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION
Open Water execution:
9. Two (2) dives are required with complete briefs and debriefs by the Instructor.
10. Dive plan must include Surface interval, Max no-deco time, etc. to be figured out and logged.
Course Structure:
11. SDI allows instructors to structure courses according to the number of students participating and their skill level.
12. This course can be combined with the Deep Diver specialty (and only that specific specialty) if the instructor chooses to do so.

1.6 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Administrative Tasks:
13. Collect the course fees from all the students.
14. Ensure that the students have the required equipment.
15. Communicate the schedule to the students.
16. Have the students complete the Liability Release and Medical history forms.
17. 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 Computer Diver specialty experience card. The Instructor must:
18. 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
19. Computers vs. Tables
A. History of tables.
B. Computers advantages.
C. Different Decompression models.
20. Decompression Sickness
A. Cause
I. Tissue compartments.
B. Signs and Symptoms.
C. Treatment.
D. First Aid.
E. Prevention.
21. Types of Diving computers
A. Air integrated.
B. Non-Air integrated.
C. Features
I. Start up.
II. Display screen.
III. Dive planner.
IV. Decompression planner.
V. Algorithm.
VI. Dive time.
VII. Max depth.
VIII. No stop time.
IX. Ascent warning, audible or visual.
X. De-saturation time.
XI. Time to Fly.
XII. Surface interval.
XIII. Altitude compensation.
XIV. Lighting.
XV. Battery life indicator.
XVI. Downloadable.
22. How Dive Computers work
A. Decompression information in permanent memory.
B. Pressure transducer reads ambient pressure.
C. Internal clock records lapsed dive or surface time, updates frequently, usually every three (3) seconds.
D. Information is calculated in the computer microprocessor during each update.
E. Information is displayed on screen.
F. User is responsible for interpreting information.
23. Use of dive computers
A. Always read manual first.
B. Start-up procedures.
C. Operating instructions.
D. Ascent rates.
E. Other information.
24. Definitions
A. Dive time
– elapsed time from beginning of descent until final surfacing at end of dive.
B. Time remaining
– available time, according to computer program, that diver may remain at current depth without incurring mandatory decompression; increases as depth decreases.
25. Planning multi-level repetitive dives
A. Dive planning mode.
B. First dive or repetitive dive.
26. Only one diver per computer
A. Very unsafe practice for two divers to attempt to monitor dive profiles with one computer.
27. Emergency Procedures
A. Decompression
I. Decompression dives require additional training.
B. Omitted decompression
I. Usually prevented by voluntary safety stop.
II. Usually caused by failure to monitor air supply or computer.
C. Ascent rates.
D. Computers varying ascent rates determined by the manufacture
E. Computer failure
I. Make a normal ascent with a safety stop, then exit.
II. If diver is dependent upon one dive computer for decompression data, then they must remain out of water for twenty four (24) hours minimum before resuming diving after computer failure.

1.9 REQUIRED SKILL PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students are required to successfully complete the following:
28. Open Water – Dive one (1)
A. This dive should be conducted to a specified depth that is appropriate to the dive site.
B. Instructor and student should prepare a suitable multi-level profile for this dive.
C. It is important for the diver to monitor depth, buoyancy control, and air supply. For example, if the dive is projected for twenty one (21) msw / seventy (70) fsw maximum depth; the diver should then monitor his depth and NOT EXCEED the planned maximum depth.
D. An appropriate safety stop should be included at the end of the dive.
29. Open Water – Dive two (2)
A. The second dive should be conducted in the same fashion as Open Water Dive one (1) with the exception that the dive profile is prepared by the student and submitted to the instructor for approval.
B. Again, monitor depth, buoyancy control, and air supply.
30. Post Dives
A. After completing the two (2) dives the students should download their computers if they have the capability.
B. Instructors should review this information with the students.