Recreational Diver Training - Training Topics

Training Topics

Most entry-level training is similar across the diver training agencies, although some may emphasize certain topics earlier in the program, such as the inclusion of diver rescue in syllabuses such as CMAS 1* and NAUI, and its absence from other equivalent courses such as PADI.

  • Basic diving theory:
    • Diving physics
    • SCUBA Equipment
    • Human physiology
    • Diving hazards and precautions
    • Diving signals
    • Buddy system
  • Basic water skills:
    • Finning and mobility in-water
    • Wearing a diving mask
    • Snorkeling
    • Shallow free-diving
    • Entering and exiting the water (seated entry, ladder exit, giant step entry, etc.)
  • Basic open circuit scuba equipment skills:
    • Preparing the scuba equipment
    • Buddy check
    • Breathing with scuba equipment
    • Buoyancy control using the Buoyancy Compensator and the lungs
    • Ascents and descents
    • Diving mask clearing and demand valve clearing
    • Air sharing
    • Air sharing ascent
  • Basic Rebreather skills:
    • Preparing the Rebreather
    • Buoyancy control using the Rebreather
    • Ascents and descents
    • Diving mask clearing and mouthpiece draining
    • Bailing out
    • Bail out ascent
    • Diluent flush
  • Dive planning skills:
    • Buddy system
    • Use of decompression tables
    • Use of Dive computers
    • Breathing gas requirement calculations
    • Safe dive site selection
    • Precautions for night diving and drift diving
  • Dive leading skills:
    • Depth and time discipline
    • Air management
    • Use of surface marker buoys
    • Use of decompression buoys
    • Use of distance lines
    • Use of diving shots
    • Compass navigation
    • Underwater pilotage
    • Doing decompression stops
  • Diver rescue techniques:
    • Controlled buoyant lift
    • Towing a diver and landing a casualty
    • In-water artificial respiration
    • CPR on land
    • Oxygen first aid on land
    • General First aid
  • Technical diving techniques:
    • Using Nitrox as a bottom gas
      • Analyzing proportion of oxygen in a breathing gas
      • Calculating maximum operating depth of a breathing gas
      • Calculating equivalent air depth of a breathing gas
    • Using Nitrox as a decompression gas
      • Planning accelerated decompression stops
    • Normoxic Trimix as a bottom gas
    • Hypoxic Trimix as a bottom gas
  • Vocational techniques:
    • Cave diving techniques
    • Wreck penetration
    • Underwater photography
    • Underwater videography
    • Underwater archeology
    • Marine life identification
    • Marine biology
  • Dive group leading skills:
    • Selecting dive sites using nautical charts
    • Tides and use of tide tables
    • Weather influences and prediction
    • Group diver rescue management techniques
    • Dive group safety, prevention and supervision
    • Underwater search and recovery skills
    • Underwater survey skills
  • Logistical skills:
    • Boat handling and seamanship
    • Boat navigation and position fixing
    • Diving air compressor operation
    • Gas blending
    • Use of group equipment such as diving shots and decompression trapezes
    • Recompression chamber operation
  • Instructor skills:
    • Teaching diving theory
    • Teaching personal diving skills
    • Teaching group diving, safety and rescue skills
    • Teaching boat handling, seamanship and navigation skills
    • Teaching instructing skills

Read more about this topic:  Recreational Diver Training

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