COVID19 AND DIVER TRAINING JUNE 2020 EDITION COVID 19 AND DIVER TRAINING Professional Scuba Schools English - June 2020 Edition Photograpy: Stefano D’Urso, B. Iacono, Pixabay, iStock photo, Dive Italia S.r.l./PSS Worldwide Archives. © 2020 Dive Italia S.r.l./PSS Worldwide All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from Dive Italia S.r.l./PSS Worldwide, owners of all copyrights. COVID19 AND DIVER TRAINING June 2020 Edition English INDEX 1.0 - INTRODUCTION . 3 2.0 - PLANNING . 4 3.0 - OUT-OF-WATER INSTRUCTION, BRIEFING AND DEBRIEFING . 4 4.0 - EQUIPMENT PREPARATION . 4 5.0 - DONNING THE EQUIPMENT . 6 6.0 - PHASES “EXPLANATION” AND “CONCLUSION” OF IN-WATER LESSON, INDICATIONS OR CORRECTION AT SURFACE, DEBRIEFING IN SHALLOW WATER. p. 6 7.0 - GENERAL SKILLS . p. 7 8.0 - RECREATIONAL COURSES – BASIC SKILLS . p. 8 8.1 - SINGLE CYLINDER WITH PONY BOTTLE . p. 8 8.1.1 - Configuration . p. 8 8.1.2 - Changes in skills . p. 10 8.2 - TWO SEPARATE IDENTICAL CYLINDERS . p. 10 8.2.1 - Configuration . p. 10 8.2.2 - Changes in skills . p. 11 8.3 - SINGLE CYLINDER . p. 12 8.3.1 - Configuration . p. 12 8.3.2 - Changes in skills . p. 12 9.0 - RECREATIONAL COURSES – RESCUE SKILLS . p. 13 9.1 - Changes in skills . p. 13 10.0 - EMERGENCY COURSES . p. 16 10.1 - Changes in skills . p. 16 11.0 - TECHNICAL COURSES . p. 17 11.1 - Changes in skills . p. 17 COVID19 AND DIVERS TRAINING - June 2020 Edition INTRODUCTION At PSS Headquarters we understand that Authorities. Also, review and become diving operators and trainers will need to aware of the information provided and adjust some of their methods during the distributed by specific or general medical continued threats from COVID-19. We organizations that deal with diving activities. would like to provide our members with some The scope of these guidelines is focused useful suggestions for courses carried out as specifically on the training activities part of their operations with PSS to help approved by PSS Worldwide. Refer to the mitigate the threats associated with COVID- protocols/procedures issued by the 19. We learn more about this virus and competent organizations/Authorities for the mitigation efforts almost daily, therefore PSS behavior to be held within a diving center, members should review the PSS COVID-19 diving schools, cylinders refilling centers, portion of their reserved area regularly as we diving boats, as they relate to any medical will update this document as more declaration/certification, for equipment information becomes available. It is the disinfection, and for the resuming diving responsibility of every PSS member to ensure after COVID-19 infection. Some of these that they are using the latest information as documents are provided and downloadable it relates to operations in a potentially from the COVID-19 section of the reserved infected by COVID-19 environment. area of each PSS member. It is the Additionally, all PSS professionals must be responsibility of every professional to ensure aware of and adhere to the mitigation the documents downloaded comply with the measures and regulations provided by the applicable national and local rules and have National, Regional and/or Local not been superseded by further updates. 1.0 3 COVID19 AND DIVERS TRAINING - June 2020 Edition PLANNING EQUIPMENT PREPARATION All aspects of the training activities must Some divers may be concerned that the undergo a risk assessment and appropriate air in their cylinders contains the virus. safety plans in place to reduce the potential Remind them that the process of compressing risks associated with diver training. gases generates repeated high temperatures As is standard practice, PSS instructors and many scientists and technicians believe must provide students with internet-based that the high internal temperatures of the distance learning systems for self-study, compressor kill the virus as well as other module learning test, final exams, and pathogens. corrective lessons related to the theory Even the production of gas mixes other portions of the courses. This standard can be than air by the mixing of pure gases obtained using the PSS EVO system with (oxygen, helium), if coming from reliable access to the internet and use of a suppliers, should not be a problem as such commercially available video chat/call gases are normally distilled at very low software. Prior to any in-person meeting, it temperatures. is necessary that the student signs the In diving cylinders the parts that can most updated COVID-19 version of the medical easily be contaminated are the pillar valve form/declaration. Students who are positive and the shoulder. Therefore, no one should for any contagious diseases are not allowed touch the valve or the shoulder of the to participate in the courses. cylinder of another diver. If necessary, new disposable protective gloves must be worn. Divers and staff members should place the same care to avoid touching or handling another person’s equipment or bags. OUT-OF-WATER INSTRUCTION, BRIEFING AND DEBRIEFING Before and during briefings, debriefings, or when giving instructions to students, make sure that everyone wears Personal Protective Equipment, at least a face-mask (masks equipped with exhalation valve are not to be considered safe, due to the lack of safety for other divers), and maintain a minimum safe distance of at least 1 meter (3.5 feet), better 2 meters (7 feet). The limits of safety distance may be waived only if the divers are members of the 2.0 - 3.0 4.0 same family, living in the same house. 4 COVID19 AND DIVERS TRAINING - June 2020 Edition Every participant in aquatic activities must plastic bags just before they enter the water. use only the equipment assigned to them. The divers may use plastic bags suitable for Ideally, they should own their equipment. food (refrigerator, microwave, etc.), closed Wash hands frequently and thoroughly on the hose. This is designed to protect the with a contact time of at least 20 seconds second stages from any contaminated between the skin and soap or an appropriate droplets or airborne particles present in the hydro-alcoholic solution. air (originated by sneezing, yawning, To dry your hands use disposable paper laughing, talking, etc.). Place the removed towels, instead of fabric towels, or specific plastic bag in a zipped BC pocket or in an air-flow sources. appropriate waste container. Once the towels have been used, they Mask, fins, snorkels and accessories must be closed into a plastic bag and placed should be carried in an enclosed bag (not a in appropriate waste containers. mesh-bag). Before assembling the equipment wear all the Personal Protective Equipment available. Once removed, disposable gloves must be closed into a plastic bag and placed Do not use the same bucket or container in appropriate waste containers. of water to rinse the masks of different Use disposable paper tissues or sheets, divers. Ask divers not to spit into masks to instead of fabric, to clean any piece of defog them, as this will generate droplets equipment. Once used, the sheets must be into the environment. closed into a plastic bag and placed in If land dry runs are planned (i.e. appropriate waste containers. navigation skills of the Advanced Open Once the regulators are assembled, verify Water Diver course) make sure that their functionality by pushing the purge everyone wears Personal Protective button (turning the mouthpiece downwards, Equipment and maintains a safe distance of not in the direction of other divers). It is at least 2 meters (7 feet) from others. The appropriate to sanitize and close the second limits of safety distance may be waived only stages in protective plastic bags. The diver if the divers are members of the same family, should take the second stages out of the living in the same house. 4.0 5 COVID19 AND DIVERS TRAINING - June 2020 Edition DONNING THE EQUIPMENT PHASES “EXPLANATION” AND “CONCLUSION” OF IN-WATER Each student must don their individual LESSON, INDICATIONS OR equipment without the aid of a buddy, CORRECTION AT SURFACE, while maintaining a safe distance from DEBRIEFING IN SHALLOW WATER others. The use of benches or supports to put the assembled SCUBA on allows for easier In all phases where the instructor explains donning. an exercise, corrects a performance, or In some cases it may not be possible to reinforces the learning of the students in maintain a safe distance from others. For shallow water or at surface, it is important example, if you need to help a diver to close that everyone keeps the mask in the correct the shoulder zipper of a wetsuit. The ideal position on the face and, if possible, situation would allow for assistance by a breathes from their regulator. family member, living in the same house. If If someone needs to talk, they can remove this is not possible it is recommended that: the second stage from their mouths and cover • Both divers wear all the Personal their mouths with their hands while talking. Protective Equipment available. The distance between divers is essential and • The diver who needs assistance stands must be at least 1 meter (3.5 feet), but ideally and face at right angles (90°) to wind and 2 meters (7 feet). with no one downwind, gives the signal of OK when ready. Ensure their arms are positioned in a correct way to help the closure of the zipper. • The aider approaches the diver only for the time strictly necessary and on the back side of the diver, with the face facing the wind. • The aider closes the zipper keeping the face facing the wind and walks away immediately.