1.1 INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary training to plan and execute dives that are outside the range of depths that are experienced during an Open Water Diver course, specifically beyond sixty (60) feet (18 meter) and to a maximum depth of not greater than one hundred thirty (130) feet (40 forty meter).
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:
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 Four (4) 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 eight (8) with the assistance of two (2) Assistant Instructors or Divemasters.
1.4 STUDENT PRE-REQUISITES
7. Open Water Diver.
8. Fifteen (15) 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 Computer 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 Deep Diver specialty experience card. The Instructor must:
18. 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.
19. 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 during this specialty:
20. Diving Tables and Computers
A. History of Dive tables and Computers
I. No-decompression.
II. Usage of the decompression schedule according to your computer.
III. Safety stops.
B. Practical Problem solving.
21. Equipment
A. Specialty equipment for deep dives
I. Tanks (different sizes).
II. Regulators.
III. BCD.
IV. Lift bags.
V. Reels.
VI. Redundant gas supplies.
B. Physics and Physiology for Deep Divers.
I. Special Considerations for pressures greater than three (3) ATA
1) Air consumption.
2) CO2 factors.
3) Nitrogen Narcosis.
4) O2 Toxicity.
5) Decompression Sickness.
22. Emergency Procedures for Deep Divers
A. Usage and techniques for safety tanks.
B. Recompression chamber listing for area.
23. Review of First Aid
A. O2 treatment.
B. Treat for shock.
1.9 REQUIRED SKILL PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students are required to successfully complete the following:
24. Open Water – Dive one (1)
A. Test and check all equipment, i.e. depth gauges, bottom timers/watches and computers.
B. Familiarization with area.
C. Descend to planed depth and do not exceed any pre-planed limits.
D. Dive according to plan at a depth limited to twenty one (21) msw / seventy (70) fsw for first dive.
E. Ascend to safety stop.
25. Open Water – Dive two (2)
A. Monitor depth/time/air consumption, figure all times on slate.
B. Descend to planed depth and do not exceed any pre-planed limits.
C. Figure “emergency mistake” (simulated) to be given underwater by instructor.
D. Dive according to plan at a depth limited to forty (40) msw / one hundred thirty (130) fsw.
E. Ascend to safety stop.