1.1 INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this specialty course is to acquaint the open water diver with the fascinating topic of Research Diving. After the completion of this course, a diver will be better able to discover, explore, and appreciate the underwater environment by using research techniques and better preserve and protect the underwater 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:
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.
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 Research 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
Basic SDI Open Water SCUBA equipment as prescribed earlier in this manual.
1. Slate
2. Measuring devise
3. One (1) meter / yard square grid
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:
18. The Water Environment, Fresh and Salt Water
A. Ecology.
B. Food Chains.
C. Habitat.
D. Niche.
E. Interactions with other forms.
F. Basic Oceanography.
G. Coral Reefs.
H. Kelp.
I. Bays and Open Coast.
19. The Marine Animals
A. Fishes.
B. Mollusks.
C. Invertebrates.
D. Mammals.
E. Dangerous Animals.
20. Diving Methodology
A. Collection of data
I. Use of Compass, underwater slate, measuring techniques, photography for science, accuracy in estimating techniques.
II. Detailed mapping techniques.
III. Survey Methodology.
B. Marking and Capturing.
C. Research for Sport.
21. Conservation.
1.9 REQUIRED SKILL PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Choose a location where the students may either use different methods of counting particular species or use mapping techniques to show the locations of different marine life and geographic formations. Students are required to successfully complete the following:
22. Open Water – Dive one (1)
A. Plan Dive.
B. Test and Check all equipment.
C. Enter and descend.
D. Familiarization with the area and ecology.
E. Marine life identification.
F. Log dive.
23. Open Water – Dive two (2)
A. Plan Dive.
B. Enter and descend.
C. Monitor Depth/bottom time.
D. Compass usage.
E. Area Survey – Research techniques.
F. Recording of data.
G. Log Dive.