1.1 INTRODUCTION
This course allows the student to develop knowledge and skills to properly use a Dry suit. It will discuss the types of dry suits, accessories, maintenance and how to make basic repairs.

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. A maximum of six (6) students per active instructor.
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.

1.6 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Administrative Tasks:
12. Collect the course fees from all the students.
13. Ensure that the students have the required equipment.
14. Communicate the schedule to the students.
15. Have the students complete the Liability Release and Medical history forms.
16. 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 Dry Suit Diver specialty experience card. The Instructor must:
17. 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
18. Basic SDI Open Water SCUBA equipment as prescribed earlier in this manual.
19. Dry suit with inflator hose.

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:
20. Types of dry suits
A. Shell style.
B. Crushed neoprene.
C. Neoprene.
D. Types of seals
I. Latex.
II. Neoprene.
21. Features
A. Self don.
B. Shoulder or rear entry.
C. Boots.
D. Zipper guard - protect waterproof zipper from chaffing.
E. Warm Neck Collar.
F. Suspenders.
22. Dive wear Insulation
A. Cut to be close to skin.
B. Compression-resistant.
C. Dive wear is primarily made of polyester fibers or polypropylene.
23. Dry suit Valves
A. Inflator
I. Push to inflate.
II. To maintain the air space created by the Dry suit.
B. Deflator
I. Push to dump an adjustable.
II. Simple open and close system.
24. Buoyancy Control
A. Proper Weighting
I. Tanks Weights.
II. Weight Integrated BCD.
III. Harness System.
B. Maintaining neutral buoyancy underwater.
C. Dry Suit is not substitute for proper BCD.
25. Maintenance and care
A. Flush with fresh water.
B. Dry inside first.
C. Avoid heat, chemicals and oils.
D. Zipper care
I. Clean inside and out (toothbrush).
II. Use only Paraffin wax never Silicon Spray.
E. Minor Repairing
I. Repair from inside out.
II. 50/50 mix Cotol-240 and Aquaseal.
F. The use of water-soluble lubricants inside wrist seals to ease wear and tear on wrist seals while donning the suit.
26. Dry suit Emergencies
A. Excessive air in suit.
B. Inflator valve stuck open or leaking air.
C. Exhaust valve stuck closed.
D. Accidentally dropped weights.
E. Excessive air in feet.
F. Dry suit flooded.

1.9 REQUIRED SKILL PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Confined Water Training is not required but highly recommended. It would consist of:
27. Pool session one (1)
A. Plan Dive.
B. Proper donning of Dry suit.
C. Review functions and features of Dry suit.
D. Enter water.
E. Buoyancy Check.
F. Get comfortable.
G. Descend.
H. Practice Dry suit skills.
I. Inflating and Deflating suit.
J. Roll from Inverted position.
K. Buoyancy Skills / Hovering.
L. Ascend and exit.
Students are required to successfully complete the following in Open Water:
28. Open Water – Dive one (1)
A. SDI recommends that the first dive be no deeper than six (6) msw / twenty (20) fsw.
B. Plan Dive.
C. Proper donning of Dry suit.
D. Review functions and features of Dry suit.
E. Enter water from back of boat or shore entry.
F. Buoyancy Check.
G. Get comfortable.
H. Descend.
I. Practice Dry suit skills
I. Inflating and Deflating suit.
II. Roll from Inverted position.
J. Ascent with Safety Stop.
K. Ascend and exit.
L. Log Dive.
29. Open Water – Dive two (2)
A. Plan Dive.
B. Enter and descend.
C. Practice Dry suit skills.
D. Inflating and Deflating suit.
E. Roll from Inverted position.
F. Emergency procedures for Dry suit malfunctions.
G. Enjoy the sites.
H. Ascend w/ safety stop.
I. Exit Log Dive.