CLUB GUIDANCE

SUB AQUA ASSOCIATION

CLUB GUIDANCE MANUAL GUIDANCE FOR CLUBS WITHIN THE SAA JULY 2020 CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 COMMUNICATIONS 1.2 EXECUTIVE AND NATIONAL COUNCIL 1.3 REGIONAL MAP 1.4 NATIONAL CO-ORDINATORS 1.5 DIVERS CODE OF CONDUCT

2. DIVING OFFICERS RESPONSIBILITIES 2.1 DIVING OFFICERS RESPONSIBILITIES 2.2 TRAINING OFFICERS 2.3 DIVE MARSHALL’S RESPONSIBILITIES 2.4 ISSUING OF CLUB CERTIFICATES 2.5 DIVING AND YOUNG PEOPLE (JUNIOR DIVER POLICY) 3 MEDICAL ISSUES 3.1 SELF ASSESSMENT FORM 3.2 DIVING MEDICAL REFEREES 3.3 DIVING FOR THE DISABLED 3.4 WOMEN IN DIVING 4 CLUB ISSUED CERTIFICATION 4.1 INTRODUCTION 4.2 SNORKELLER – DIVE SUPERVISOR 4.3 DRY SUIT COURSE 4.4 NITROX DIVER

5 REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY AWARDED CERTIFICATION 5.1 DIVING GRADES 5.1.1 NATIONAL DIVER 5.1.1A NATIONAL DIVER ASSESSMENT FORM 5.2 INSTRUCTOR GRADES 5.2.1 CLUB INSTRUCTOR 5.2.2 OPEN WATER INSTRUCTOR 5.2.3 REGIONAL INSTRUCTOR 5.2.4 NATIONAL INSTRUCTOR 5.2.5 SKILLS DISCIPLINE INSTRUCTOR CONTENTS

5.2.6 CLUB NITROX INSTRUCTOR

5.3 DIVING SKILLS COURSES 5.3.1 O2/EDFA 5.3.2 RESCUE DIVER 5.3.3 SELF RELIANT DIVER 5.4 BOATS 5.4.1 BASIC BOATHANDLING 5.4.2 CHARTWORK & NAVIGATION COURSE 5.4.3 DIVER COXSWAIN 5.4.4 RESCUE COXSWAIN 5.4.5 BOATHANDLING INSTRUCTOR 5.4.6 CHARTWORK & NAVIGATION INSTRUCTOR 5.4.7 DIVER COXSWAIN ASSESSOR 5.4.8 INSTRUCTOR RECORD SHEETS 5.4.8A BOATHANDLING INSTRUCTOR RECORD 5.4.8B CHARTWORK & NAVIGATION RECORD 5.4.8C DIVER COXSWAIN ASSESSOR RECORD

5.5 INTERESTS 5.5.1 ARCHAEOLOGY 5.5.1A WRECK DIVING STATEMENT 5.5.2 MARINE LIFE ID 5.5.2A SAA CONSERVATION STATEMENT 5.5.3 REBREATHERS 5.5.4 5.5.4 GAS BLENDING COURSE

6 PAPERWORK AND INFORMATION 6.1.1. NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM 6.1b MEMBERSHIP TYPE TABLE 6.2.1 ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP FORMS 6.3a-d INCIDENT FORM 6.4 TRY A DIVE DECLARATION FORM CONTENTS

6.5 CROSS OVER AND APPLICATION FORMS 6.5.1 SKILLS COURSE CROSS OVER FORM 6.5.2 INSTRUCTOR GRADES 6.5.3 NITROX REGISTRATION 6.5.4 TRIMIX REGISTRATION 6.5.5 REBREATHER REGISTRATION 6.5a DIVING GRADES CROSS OVER GUIDANCE TABLE 6.5b INSTRUCTOR CROSS OVER GUIDANCE TABLE 6.6 NATIONAL COURSE APPLICATION FORM 6.7 CMAS CARD APPLICATION FORM 6.7.1 DIVING GRADES 6.7.2 INSTRUCTOR GRADES 6.8 CHANGE OF CLUB COMMITTEE FORM 6.9 SAA EXAM SERVICE 6.10 INSURANCE STATEMENT 6.11 REGULATIONS FOR FISH SIZES 6.12 SALES ORDER FORM 7 CHILD PROTECTION POLICY 8 SAA ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION 9 INFORMAL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE 10 TECHNICAL INFORMATION 10.1 ELEMENTARY NITROX 10.2 MANIKIN HINTS AND TIPS 10.3 RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE 10.4 SITA RISK ASSESSMENT INFO 10.5 CEN REGULATIONS 11 CMAS INFORMATION 11.1 STANDARDS FOR DIVERS AND INSTRUCTORS 11.2 DIVER TRAINING PROGRAM 11.3 10 GOLDEN RULES

12 SAA RECOMMENDED READING COMMUNICATIONS

Chair Can be contacted over any enquiry if the relevant officer is unavailable.

Vice Chair Can be contacted over any enquiry if the chairman or relevant officer is unavailable.

National Diving Officer Deals with enquiries regarding diver training, courses, technical enquiries and diver incidents. Initial medical enquiries. Urgent medical enquiries should be referred to the SAA medical adviser.

National Secretary Deals with all enquiries regarding the Sub-Aqua Association.

National Treasurer Deals with any financial enquiries.

Executive Officer To be contacted if any of the National Executive are unavailable, can also deal with general enquiries from clubs.

Boat Handling Co-ordinator All enquiries regarding boats and boat-handling courses.

Diver Rescue Co-ordinators Any enquiry regarding lifesaving or rescue courses to be directed to the relevant co-ordinator for the area concerned.

Decompression Officer Will deal with any enquiry regarding the use of decompression tables and diving computers,

Examination Service Deals with any enquiry regarding the theoretical examinations of divers within a diving club. Any enquiry about other types of examinations to be directed to the National Diving Officer.

Conservation Officer Deals with all types of conservation enquiries, listed sites, marine reservations, protected wrecks, protection of marine life, etc.

Public Relations Officer Deals with any enquiries from the media or press regarding the involvement of the publicity of the Sub-Aqua Association.

Office Administrator Acts as first point of contact to general enquiries of members, potential members and other organisations/parties.

Page 1 of 1 1.1 EXEC./NATIONAL COUNCIL

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

This is made up of the Representatives from each of the 10 regions of the SAA together with the Executive which comprises of:

Chair [email protected] Vice-chair [email protected] National Diving Officer [email protected] Secretary [email protected] Treasurer [email protected] Executive Officer [email protected]

SAA Regions comprises of:

Scotland (S) [email protected] North East (NE) [email protected] North West(NW) [email protected] Yorkshire & H/side (Y&H) [email protected] Midlands (Mid) [email protected] South Wales (SWal) [email protected] South West (SW) [email protected] Eastern (E) [email protected] South East (SE) [email protected] Southern (S) [email protected]

Page 1 of 1 Apr’16 1.2 Chair SAA National National Diving Officer Chris Jones Steve Orange C/O SAA Head Office C/O SAA Head Office Tel: +44(0)151 287 1001 Executive As Tel: +44(0)151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] at 06.07.20 Email:[email protected] Executive Officer Secretary Treasurer Vice Chair Sally Cartwright John Rice John Gough C/O SAA Head Office C/O SAA Head Office Mark Berrill C/O SAA Head Office Tel: +44(0)151 287 1001 C/O SAA Head Office Tel: +44(0)151 287 1001 Tel: +44(0)151 287 1001 Email:[email protected] Tel: +44(0)151 287 1001 Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected]

Scotland Regional Reps.

Keith Greenlees North East

Chris Thompson Tel.+44 (0)7722035887 Email: [email protected]

North West Tel: +44(0)7816759025 email: [email protected]

Martin Burns

Yorkshire & H/side Tel: +44(0)7870193551 Email: [email protected] Vacant

Midlands

Mandy Asson

Tel: +44(0)7966458416 East Email: [email protected] Graham Ashby

South Wales Tel. +44(0)7970057795 Email: [email protected] Ceri Jones

South East Tel: +44(0)7725033238 Southern Email: [email protected] South West Stefan Heathfield Vacant Lee Poxon

Tel: +44(0)7709276374 Tel: +44(0)7973541860 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

S.A.A. Head Office. Irene Sartorius Space Solutions Business Centre, Offices Sefton Lane, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 8BX Tel: +44(0) 151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] http://www.saa.org.uk Open : 1000 to1600 Mon-Fri CO-ORDINATORS

Boathandling OTHER

Ceri Jones Marketing Officer Email: [email protected] TBC Email: [email protected] Chartwork & Navigation Membership Secretary Dave Dresser Email: [email protected] Office Administrator

Exam Service O2/EDFA Office Administrator TBC Email: [email protected]

Rescue Diver Sales Officer/Office Adminstrator Richy Grice Email: [email protected] Irene Sartorius SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Technical Co-ordinator Sefton Lane Maghull Mike Rose Liverpool Email: [email protected] L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 National Coach Email: [email protected]

Gary Asson Email: [email protected] CMAS Cards

SAA Sales Officer ADVISORS Diving Emergency Decompression National Diving Accident Helpline Tel: 07831151523 (24 hrs – DDRC) Bob Cole Email: [email protected] Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Nautical Archaeology Tel: 08454086008 (24 hrs – ARI)

Stuart Bryan Email: [email protected]

Medical

Dr Matt Waterman Email: [email protected]

Page 1 of 1 Apr '18 1.4 DIVERS CODE OF CONDUCT

SITES ON SHORE Seek advice on possible dive sites by contacting the Regional Representative for that area.

Obtain permission, BEFORE diving in PRIVATE WATERS, ESTUARIES OR HARBOURS.

Do not overcrowd public beaches.

AVOID obstructing CAR PARKS and SLIP WAYS. Remember other users and have consideration for them. DO NOT LEAVE EQUIPMENT lying around on public beaches, where it can be a danger to other people. DO NOT OFFEND OTHER BEACH USERS, by running your COMPRESSOR WITHIN EARSHOT. Do not spoil the site by leaving litter, USE LITTER BINS OR TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU.

ALWAYS OBEY LOCAL BYE LAWS AND HARBOUR RULES. YOU AND THE WATER

MARK YOUR BOATS WITH YOUR SAA NUMBER FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES.

Obtain permission to launch your boat, from the HARBOUR MASTER, LOCAL YACHT CLUB or authorised COUNCIL OFFICIALS.

INFORM THE COASTGUARD OF YOUR INTENTIONS AND' BOOK OUT AND IN WITH THEM

Avoid diving in SHIPPING FAIRWAYS OR IN TRAFFIC CONGESTED AREAS.

DO NOT DIVE AROUND FISHERMEN’S LOBSTER POTS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE

Obey ALL regulations regarding the catching of fish and crustaceans.

Page 1 of 1 1.5 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

The role of a Diving Officer [DO] can be briefly outlined as follows.

• The DO must be appointed by, and the appointment recorded in writing, by the Club. • The DO must be suitably qualified by training and experience and be competent in all aspects of diving undertaken by the Club. The SAA requires DOs to hold an SAA diver grade certification and the recommendation is that the DO should hold SAA Dive Supervisor qualification or higher. • The DO is responsible for ensuring that safe diving practices are adhered to in line with SAA policy and the DO should either be present on site in person or nominate a person, the Dive Marshal, to ensure compliance on every dive. • The DO is responsible for ensuring that all training and diving within the club meets the requirements of the SAA National Standard. (The guidelines laid out in the current versions of the SAA Club Guidance Manual and SAA Toolbox form the National Standard). ONLY the DO can award diver grade certificates within the Club and then only up to his/her own diver grade. (Separate policy applies to situations where the DO is not a Dive Supervisor and seeks to progress to that level – see CGM S2.4)

The DO’s responsibilities include;

• Personally responsible for all diving and training practices within the Club. • Managing the training within the club to ensure that all club members may develop their diving skills as far as they wish and are able within a safe environment. • Ensuring proper records of all dives and training are made and retained. • Checking that any dive plan is appropriate to the dive. • Checking that divers are competent and qualified to carry out the planned dive. • Ensuring that everyone in the dive party is aware of and understands the dive plan. • Checking that the dive site is safe and that changing conditions have not rendered the dive plan unsafe. • Ensuring that all divers’ equipment is appropriate and adequate for the planned dive. These latter 5 points can be devolved to the Dive Marshal (see Dive Marshal’s Responsibilities CGM S2.3)

SAFETY Duty of care

• This responsibility includes care for all who are involved in and may be affected by any undertaking involving diving. • For example, bystanders watching a boat launch must be protected from the consequences of any mishap. • Every one has a duty of care. However, anyone assuming an “expert” role in the training of others in what many consider to be a hazardous pursuit has a particular and specific duty. This is one reason why Risk Assessments need to be

Page 1 o f 10 November 2015 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES done and recorded, and also why SAA Open Water Instructors are required to hold SAA Rescue Diver qualifications to train or assess in open water.

Legal responsibilities

• The buck stops here. • In the event of a casualty, it will be the DO who will be charged if negligence is alleged. • It may be a civil case and Insurance Companies will pursue any avenue to recover their losses, and can you afford not to be covered?

TRAINING

Internal Club training

Pool. The DO or nominated person shall ensure that all appropriate safety measures are in place at all times during club sessions. This covers; trainees, divers and also guests and visitors to the pool during club sessions or events.

The Diving Officer shall ensure that the training standard within the pool is up to the club’s standards. These standards shall not be less than the SAA National Standard (The guidelines laid out in the current version of this manual and the SAA Toolbox form the National Standard).

Pool Training will only be conducted under the personal control and direction of SAA Club Instructors or above.

Instructor to student ratios to be 1:1 for initial training. May be increased to 1:4 for later pool training subject to risk assessment by DO. This is to be seen as the absolute maximum and the norm will be less.

Try Dives

An “SAA Dive leader” or above, who is not an “SAA diving instructor”, may carry out “Try Dives” in a pool, subject to the Diving Officers approval, provided that the event is supervised by a “qualified SAA diving instructor”, who is at the poolside. Only one student may be taken on a try dive by any instructor/ dive leader. The Diving Officer shall ensure that adequate risk assessments and safety measures are in place at all times. Try dives should be conducted in a swimming pool environment, with particular emphasis on the correct fit and function of equipment, briefings to participants and surface cover. The SAA does not allow try dives to take place in open water due to the increased risks involved. Open water training is designed to take place only after full pool training has been undertaken.

Lectures. The DO shall ensure that the lectures required by club members, will be delivered by SAA Instructors of at least Club Instructor. SAA Assistant Instructors may deliver lectures under the direction of SAA Club Instructors or above. The lectures shall be in a

Page 2 o f 10 November 2015 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES safe environment. The minimum standard for these lectures shall be the SAA National Standard as contained on the current version of the SAA Toolbox disc.

Open Water. The DO shall ensure that all Open Water training and assessment is done by SAA Open Water Instructors, or above, in accordance with SAA guidelines. The training shall be safe. The DO shall ensure that the training is in line with the Club’s standards, the minimum shall be the SAA National Standard. Instructor to Student ratio will be 1:1 for Elementary and Open Water divers, increasing to 1:2 where the students are Club Divers or above – this only where conditions of site and skill etc. make this safe and where the increase is included in the risk assessment.

Regional Courses

The DO shall, through either the local Regional Rep, or any other Rep at his discretion, arrange the training of his Club members on Regional courses, such as SAA Rescue Diver, SAA O2/EDFA etc. The Diving Officer shall only counter sign applications for their members when satisfied that entry criteria are met and the candidate is capable and competent for the training course for which they are applying.

Selection of suitable Instructors

In all but the smallest of Clubs there is likely to be a Training Officer, to whom the work of training may be delegated – the DO retains the responsibility. For any area of training it is the DO’s responsibility to ensure that the Instructor is competent to undertake the tasks assigned to him, by virtue both of formal SAA qualification and experience. Where Training Officers are appointed the Diving Officer retains full responsibility for maintaining standards and safety. The actions may be delegated but the responsibility may not. DOs are responsible for ensuring that all the Instructors to whom they entrust training are suitable qualified and experienced, by way of both certification and in the type of diving or environment subject of that specific trip / dive.

Young Divers

If the Club has elected to undertake the training of young people or other vulnerable groups it shall be the DO’s responsibility to ensure that as well as the safety noted above, additional precautions are taken to ensure the welfare of that person. The SAA guidelines on the training of young people shall be the minimum standard as stated in the Club Guidance Manual. The SAA advocates that our Instructors who train the young or other vulnerable groups are CRB checked (or equivalent). This service is currently free and available through Head Office.

MANAGEMENT

Record keeping

Page 3 o f 10 November 2015 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES It shall be the DO’s responsibility to ensure that a copy of all appropriate records are kept and held by the Club. These records shall include, but are not limited to; • Training Records of members: o Lectures o Pool drills o OW drills o Courses passed • Dive Plans: submitted & approved or rejected. • Dive Logs of completed dives. • Try Dive records • Risk Assessments for all dives / trips / try dives etc. • Incident Logs for any incidents or near misses.

All such records must be kept for a minimum of 6 years.

Approval of Dive Plans

The DO, or their nominated person, shall inspect all dive plans prior to the dive taking place. It shall be their duty to ensure that all dive plans are adequate and appropriate. Any dive plans that in the DO’s (or nominated person’s) opinion are inadequate or inappropriate shall be rejected. At his discretion the DO (or nominated person) may modify a dive plan to eliminate risks or reduce them to an acceptable level.

Decompression systems.

Members are reminded that the core planning tool for SAA dives is the SAA Buhlmann DeeP-Stop System, with particular emphasis on the safety benefits of adequate surface intervals between dives, which applies to the use of both Tables and personal decompression computers (PDCs). Furthermore, due consideration should be given to the behavioural factors mentioned in the System. Those Club Divers, or equivalent, and above, who are trained on an alternative, recognised, decompression system (i.e. BSAC or PADI Tables), may dive within the limits of that system, and should also consider the notes mentioned above. It is for the Club DO to determine whether such a diver is so trained prior to approving a dive. This enables more than the 3 dives per day permitted under the SAA Buhlmann DeeP-Stop system to be done; provided diver remains within the parameters of the PDC or other system being so used.

Personal Dive Computers

Whilst retaining the SAA Buhlmann DeeP-Stop system as our approved decompression system for training, the SAA guidelines now permit all levels of SAA diver to plan and execute all SAA dives using mainstream personal dive computers. This does not detract from the ability of DOs to set additional guidelines above the minimum standard set by the SAA guidelines (so Clubs could restrict any grade of diver to dive on tables).

The SAA continues to train all divers below Club Diver on the SAA Buhlmann DeeP-Stop system, and that system remains the only decompression system endorsed by the SAA.

The SAA make no recommendations as to make / model of PDC beyond that only mainstream PDCs are to be used. The definition of “mainstream” is a matter for the club

Page 4 o f 10 November 2015 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES Diving Officers to determine as part of the approval process of Club Dives or course coordinators for Regional / National courses.

The use of twin sets and sidemount systems by SAA divers.

The SAA acknowledges that members may wish to use twin sets or sidemount systems once a diver has completed their basic training and gained experience or in a small number of cases from the start of training. The current SAA training system does not cover instruction in the specific skills required to use the various combinations of 'twin set' and sidemount setups available on the market. Users must be competent and experienced in their use, which is a matter for the Club’s Diving Officer to assess as part of the dive sanctioning process. There are additional skills to be mastered such as shut down drills and, of course, weighting usually needs to be adjusted. Technical agencies include twin set and sidemount diving as specialist courses because of the fundamental

Page 5 o f 10 November 2015 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES changes from a recreational setup to changes in harness and backplate combinations and restraining mechanisms, buoyancy redundancy, hose routing and ability to access all equipment as well as maintaining a streamline profile in the water. The necessary skills are not difficult but a diver new to recreational twin set or sidemount diving needs to be shown the skills and techniques by an experienced twin set / sidemount diver and then practice to keep the skills sharp - it is possible that the Club Diving Officer and/or Training Officer do not have experience with twin sets or sidemount systems in which case Region Reps or NDO can assist in locating suitably experienced divers to assist, or point the diver in the direction of suitable technical training agencies who supply relevant courses.

Club/Non Club dives

If divers in the Club do not inform the DO, or the dive is not sanctioned, then this is not a club dive and as such is not the DO’s responsibility. However, all members of the club should be made aware of the risks they are taking as the dives will not be conducted under the recommendations and guidelines of the SAA and thus not covered by the SAA insurance, or possibly by any other insurance e.g. Life Insurance, Endowment policies etc. (which often states that you should be diving as a member of a recognised organisation and diving within their guidelines).

Dive Logs

All Dives carried out by Club members shall require a Dive Log to be returned to the DO for inspection and retaining in Club records.

In the event that the Dive Log reveals unsafe practices, the DO shall take the necessary steps to prevent a re-occurrence.

It is suggested that as a minimum dive logs include date, time and location, DM’s details and signature, divers names, qualifications, divers state they are fit to dive and their equipment is in test etc and fit for purpose, gas being used, gas in and out, time in and out, maximum depth and decompression schedule (i.e. Buhlmann DeeP-Stop tables or PDC).

Incident reporting Any and all accidents or near misses, whether causing injury, property damage or not shall be reported to the SAA Head Office on the Incident Report Form available as a download from the SAA website or from Head Office

Explanatory Notes These are for guidance only and are not exhaustive.

The DO must be appointed by and the appointment recorded in writing by the club. The position of Diving Officer carries the highest responsibility of all of the Club Officers. The appointment of an individual to this position could be by a majority vote of

Page 6 of 10 September 2014 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES the club, or simply by the Committee of the Club depending in the Club’s constitution. In either event the appointment must be recorded in the clubs records so that the DO has the authority of the club behind him should he require it. The DO must be suitably qualified by either training and/or experience and be competent in all aspects of diving undertaken by the Club. The SAA recommendation is that the DO should hold Dive Supervisor grade or higher.

In line with the above it requires a higher level of experience than any other role within the Club. The SAA recommend that the DO is a Dive Supervisor, because divers of this grade are by their nature more experienced and will have the broad background required to fulfil this role. In some circumstances a club may not have a Dive Supervisor available. In that case the Club may appoint a Dive Leader as DO, in which case the club may only qualify divers to that grade. Additionally the Regional Representative must be informed so suitable support to the DO can be put in place. If the club is not training other divers, for example a small group of friends, all of at least Club Diver grade, who have formed their own club, then the role of Diving Officer may simply be taken by the most experienced diver. If on the other hand the club is a large and active training club, it may be prudent to select the Diving Officer from the qualified Instructors within the Club.

The SAA will not accept applications for new membership, or renewals from Clubs that have a Diving Officer of less than SAA Club Diver level, nor will clubs with a SAA Club Diver Diving Officer be accepted if any diving member is less than SAA Club Diver.

None of the above reduces the need for all SAA training to be conducted by SAA Club Instructors and SAA Open Water Instructors in pool and open water environments respectively. Nor does it dilute the premise that a DO may only qualify others up to their own diver grade. The DO is responsible for ensuring that safe diving practices are adhered to and should either be present on site in person or nominate a person, the Dive Marshal, to ensure compliance on every dive.

All dive plans should be presented to the DO for approval. The DO can nominate assistants to help with this task, to cover for his absence, or if a party is travelling away. It remains the DO’s overall responsibility for the safety of club members, especially those in training. A degree of thought and consideration should be given to the choice of Dive Marshal[DM]. The attitude, reliability, and their ability to get others to abide by their decisions are all factors to be considered as well as their qualifications.

The DO’s responsibilities include;

Checking that any dive plan is appropriate to the dive.

It is impossible to write every type of dive plan out in advance. Each dive will have unique circumstances, the site, the abilities of the divers, the conditions on the day, and a host of other factors. The DO, or the DM should get the diver submitting the plan to talk through it with them, and explain how they will deal with the particular features of the proposed dive.

Where a group of divers are diving remotely – on holiday perhaps – it is not possible to submit s detailed plan for the DO’s sanction. In those cases common sense should be exercised. For example a DO may say that dives are sanctioned subject to certain

Page 7 o f 10 September 2014 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES conditions e.g. limited to depth, only with recognised dive operators, within SAA guidelines etc. The important thing is that the DO is confident the diver will be safe and the diver knows what limits are in place.

Checking that divers are competent to carry out the planned dive

Having established what type of dive is planned, assess the experience and training of each member of the proposed dive team, are they capable of completing the dive safely? Will they enjoy it?

Ensuring that everyone in the dive party is aware of and understands the dive plan.

It is imperative that every one in the group knows all the details. What time they are expected back on the surface, what role they are expected to fulfil, where all the safety equipment is. This duty must be delegated to someone if the DO is not going to be on site in person.

Maintaining proper records of the dive.

A log sheet should be kept during the dive, recording the time at which each member leaves the surface. The completed log sheet should be handed in to the DO at the earliest opportunity. If requested the logs should be handed over to the emergency medical services to accompany an injured diver to the hospital or chamber.

Checking that the dive site is safe and that changing conditions have not rendered the dive plan unsafe.

Has the weather made diving unsafe? Has something else changed since you last visited the site? Can you still get safe access? Are you too late, the tides may no longer be favourable? Ensuring that all divers’ equipment is appropriate and adequate for the planned dive.

If the dive is in cold water, are all the regulators suitable? Is everyone in a warm enough suit, a wetsuit may not be warm enough for some dive sites in winter. Has everyone got reliable, serviceable equipment? Do they know how to use it? Managing the training within the club to ensure that all club members may develop their diving skills as far as they wish and are able within a safe environment

Assuming that they will be all right is not an option. The lower the level of experience the more at risk the diver is. Ensure that the least experienced receive their guidance from the most suitable divers. This might not be the most experienced, but may be an individual who through a caring and thoughtful attitude, and who has a suitable qualification, is the best person for the job. Ask yourself a simple question, would you put your son or daughter in the water with them?

Page 8 of 10 September 2014 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES It also requires you to ensure that the pool is safe. Is your Oxygen kit available? Can someone use it? Are lifeguards in attendance? Do they know how to deal with SCUBA? Similarly boats, compressors, lecture rooms.

SAFETY

Duty of care • This responsibility includes care for all who are involved in and affected by any undertaking. • For example, bystanders watching a boat launch must be protected from the consequences of any mishap. • Every one has a duty of care. However, anyone assuming an “expert” role in the training of others in what many consider to be a hazardous pursuit has a particular and specific duty.

All the club’s members are required to act in a manner that will promote safety. Practical jokes, hazing, and other forms of larking around are not acceptable. It is a sad fact of life that from time to time a silly joke backfires, and someone is hurt. The prankster will almost certainly face prosecution. The SAA will not support this type of action. On an everyday level, everyone must act with consideration for others; to untrained people routine dive equipment may be hazardous. Cylinders, weights, knives could easily injure if left in the wrong place. It only requires a little thought to ensure things are safe.

Legal responsibilities  The buck stops here.

The DO is the member of the Club committee that will be held responsible in the event of an incident. The Club Chair or other Committee members may also be charged, but ALWAYS the DO. Do not take chances.

• In the event of a casualty, it will be the DO who will be charged if negligence is alleged.

Keep records to defend your position against false accusations of negligence. See management section for guidelines of what records should be kept. • It may be a civil case, insurance companies will pursue any avenue to recover their losses, and can you afford not to be covered?

If a diver with a substantial mortgage were to be killed, on a dive that the Police, or other experts, felt was beyond the diver’s abilities, the diver’s life insurance company will almost certainly come looking to recover it’s costs from whom so ever it can. The Club DO will be very close to the top of that list. If you have carried out your duties correctly you will be covered, can you afford to take any chances? MANAGEMENT

Record keeping It shall be the DO’s responsibility to ensure that a copy of all appropriate records are kept and held by the Club. These records shall include, but are not limited to;

• Training Records of members:

Page 9 of 10 September 2014 2.1 DIVING OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITIES o Lectures o Pool drills o OW drills o Courses passed These records stand as proof of an individual’s ability. The club should maintain records of all its current members and should keep records of lapsed members for at least three years after they have left the club. The records may be requested by another club if the diver moves to another area. • Dive Plans: submitted & approved or rejected.

All dive plans should be recorded. Written approval or rejection should be given. This may seem excessive but can be achieved very simply with pre-prepared forms or similar. It is important that a record of ALL dive plans, whether they were accepted, rejected, or modified is kept in a bound book. A hard back diary or a duplicate book, where the dive plan’s number can be written in, and the outcome recorded. In the event that members of your club dive outside of the club, and therefore the SAA, it will establish that you knew nothing of the events and are not liable.

• Dive Logs of completed dives.

Again these documents form part of the training record of your members, and may be needed if any diver suffers a diving related injury later.

• Incident Logs for any incidents or near misses

It is important that any incidents, however trivial they may seem are reported back to the SAA Head Office. Consider a simple example. If on a dive one of your divers demand valve mouthpieces comes away from the valve. The diver swaps to their AAS and surfaces. Unreported no-one ever knows. If however, we receive 20 or so reports of similar occurrences over a period of say 5 or 6 weeks, all of the same manufacture, we can contact the company and the problem can be dealt with BEFORE someone gets hurt. In this way we can prevent accidents, but only if reports are filed. Forms can be downloaded from the SAA website, or from SAA Head Office.

Page 10 o f 10 September 2014 2.1 TRAINING OFFICER

Some clubs may decide to appoint a Training Officer to assist the Diving Officer with club training. The Diving Officer can delegate tasks to the Training Officer but cannot delegate responsibility. The Diving Officer is still responsible for all Diving and Training matters. Therefore, it is beneficial if the Training Officer is appointed by the Diving Officer.

The Training Officer should be someone who the Diving Officer believes has the qualifications, skills and knowledge to organise training within the club in a safe manner. Training should be done under the Diving Officer’s guidance. The duties of the Training Officer may vary from club to club, depending on what the Diving Officer and other committee members decide.

ONLY the DO can award diver grades certificates and only up to his/her own diver grade.

Page 1 of 1 Jly ‘09 2.2 DIVE MARSHALL’S RESPONSIBILITES

On a diving expedition certain responsibilities of the Diving Officer are necessarily delegated to the Dive Marshall, particularly if the Diving Officer is not present on the expedition. SAFETY

The Dive Marshall is responsible for the safety of all those taking part in the expedition. This gives him/her the right and the duty, to cancel diving if the conditions warrant it. A careful watch should be made for high winds, heavy seas, strong currents and fog. Diving should not be permitted in areas that are known to be dangerous such as tide races, shipping channels, harbour entrances, weirs, pipe inlets and very deep water. While doing everything to ensure the safety of the members, in the event of a member needing medical attention it is the Dive Marshall's duty to ensure that it is obtained promptly. EXPERIENCE

Individual divers should be prevented from diving if they do not have the necessary experience for the prevailing conditions. When making out the dive list, it should be borne in mind that it is necessary to pair a novice or weak diver with someone who is more experienced. A novice's first few dives should be in shallow water and members should not dive unless they have completed the SAA aqualung training programme leading to open water experience. HEALTH

Even experienced divers should not be allowed to dive if the Dive Marshall considers they are unfit to do so due to sickness, hangover or any other condition that would put them or their buddy at risk. It is not their risk alone! They may place their buddy in danger and become a liability to the Dive Marshall. The Dive Marshall has the right to deny the member permission to dive with the club if there is a good reason. EQUIPMENT

As far as possible the Dive Marshall should ensure that all equipment used is in proper working order. In particular the Dive Marshall must check that in the case of a boat dive the boat is correctly assembled, the engine is in good working order, and that ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN PUT ON BOARD.

Above all, it is essential to check before each trip that there is sufficient fuel in the tank. The boat handlers and their assistants are chosen by the Dive Marshall, who must ensure they are responsible and capable of carrying out their duties.

If any items of club diving equipment are loaned to a member, they should be carefully checked before that member uses them. It is especially important to remove and examine life jacket cylinders [Where fitted].

The Dive Marshall should prevent members from diving with equipment that is observed to be inadequate or unsafe. This includes equipment owned personally by the diver or equipment he has been borrowed from another diver or hired from another source.

On all dives the Dive Marshall should ensure that SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT ALL DIVE SITES AND IS IN WORKING ORDER. DIVING

The primary responsibility of the Dive Marshall is to arrange safe diving for the members. If the chosen site is washed out, endeavours should be made to find an alternative. If two or more members wish to dive and it is safe for them to do so, then diving may take place. Cold, dirty water is not in itself sufficient cause to cancel diving. Neither is a Dive Marshall's personal preference for an early return. A club exists to provide safe and enjoyable diving for the members.

Page 1 of 2

2.3 DIVE MARSHALL’S RESPONSIBILITES

A good Dive Marshall will remember at all times that he/she is responsible for the safety of the group and be prepared to cancel a days diving if conditions are not suitable. RECORDS

The Dive Marshall is responsible for ensuring that proper records of the diving are kept. These shall include; • The Dive Plan • Any Risk Assessments • Dive Logs • Training Records

THE DIVE PLAN

The plan shall be written, and the Dive Marshall shall ensure that all members of the diving party have read and understood the plan and that all agree with and are happy with it. RISK ASSESSMENTS

If any unusual risks are perceived then they should be recorded, along with the measures taken to control them. [See Lecture OWL8 for further details] DIVE LOGS

It is essential that a log of diving activities is maintained. This log should record the following minimum information. Diver names, who is the leader of each pair, their cylinder contents before the dive, the time at which they leave the surface. On surfacing their ACTUAL time underwater, their maximum depth, and their time back on the surface. Additionally it may be desirable to record cylinder size, gas blend in use and other relevant data. In addition general information such as the weather, visibility under and above the water, tides, sea state, Dive Marshall’s name, and details of the dive site may be recorded. Once all divers are safely out of the water the DM should sign the log as a record of the dive. In the event of a diver being sent for treatment this information is invaluable in selecting the correct treatment protocol. TRAINING RECORDS

If any training has taken place, or any assessments carried out the assessing Instructor should brief the Dive Marshall and the results be recorded for the Club’s permanent training records.

Page 2 of 2

2.3 ISSUING OF CERTIFICATES Diving officers should remember that they may only sign and issue qualifications to members when they have completed ALL the criteria laid down as the minimum standard for SAA awards.

It is important that clubs only order sufficient certificates to fulfil their immediate and foreseeable needs. Certificates may not be kept in stock for future unforeseen needs.

Club certificates to be issued by the DO are ordered from the sales office on an order form. A current club order form can be obtained from the SAA website, www.saa.org.uk or by sending a stamped ad- dressed envelope to the sales office.

However, a certificate cannot be issued to a club member who is not registered with the Sub-Aqua Association.

DIVING GRADES

The club diving officer alone can award diver grades up to and including Dive Supervisor. Diver grades beyond Dive Supervisor are only granted by the National Diving Officer.

Where the Club Diving Officer is a Dive Leader and wishes to progress to Dive Supervisor they must contact their Regional Rep who will, provided they are SAA Dive Supervisors or above, co-ordinate the training and assessment. Once the training / assessment is complete to the Rep’s satisfaction they will award Dive Supervisor certification, signing the certificate as Regional Rep in the space allotted for DO’s signature. The name and designation of the Rep will be clearly recorded on the certificate. The agency and grade crossed over should also be written on the SAA diver grade certificate in the space normally used by the Examiner.

The Rep is not permitted to take this on for members other than Diving Officers other than at the express request of the National Diving Officer.

The SAA equivalent certificate is to enable Club Diving Officers to verify, in the case of trained divers crossing over from another training organisation, that the relevant lectures have been received up to that standard. i.e. the equivalent certificate should be affixed to the relevant lecture page and the correct SAA diving grade certificate issued to the new SAA member.

The National Diving Officer retains the ability to issue any and every nationally awarded SAA certificate. The NDO may issue certificates awarded by Club DOs in exceptional circumstances, in which case the SAA Executive will be consulted prior to the issuing of such certificates. This may apply, for example, when the Rep is not a Dive Supervisor, the Rep is unavailable for a significant amount of time, or there is no Rep in post. It is envisaged that this will happen only rarely and then with the full knowledge and approval of the Executive.

Only once a diver has achieved a grade may they start training towards the next grade. This means that, for example, a member who wishes to progress to Dive Leader may not sit DL lectures and exams until s/he has qualified as Club Diver. Likewise dives done prior to becoming a Club Diver may not be counted as qualifying dives for DL. The Toolbox is structured that way and Instructor Training Courses make this plain.

INSTRUCTOR GRADES

Instructor grades can only be awarded by the National Diving Officer.

Page 1 of 2 Feb ‘11 2.4 ISSUING OF CERTIFICATES

CERTIFICATES FOR COURSES

The club diving officer may award certificates on successful completion of courses designated as Club based training courses – these are currently Buoyancy Compensator Course Drysuit Course and Nitrox Diver Course.

Certificates awarded for courses run outside the club auspices are either issued by the relevant National Coordinator or the National Diving Officer.

Club diving officers must countersign all applications for national awards.

Training before the assessment date for the SAA Diver Rescue award is suggested at club level but should be discussed with one of the SAA Diver Rescue Coordinators (Regional or National) or the National Diving Officer. This training is done using the manikins and must be under the direct control of an SAA Open Water Instructor who is SAA Diver Rescue qualified with the manikin endorsement.

Every club must have a stamp for endorsing each Club issued certificate. Certificates that are presented as proof of diver grade but are un-stamped will be rejected by Head Office or course coordinators. As the certificates are only A6 and A7 size it is advisable to have a small design stamp. Each club may design their own stamp but should a club wish to incorporate the SAA logo the stamp must be purchased from the sales shop. The sales officer can, on receipt of your proposed design, purchase the stamp using the SAA copyright artwork.

Page 2 of 2 Feb ‘11 2.4

SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 SAA Junior Divers Policy

The SAA advises Clubs that they can, if they so desire, accept junior members and train them according to the SAA programme.

This policy on junior divers balances the need for the SAA to provide guidance for Clubs, whilst acknowledging the fact that each Club is independent.

The welfare of the young, and other vulnerable groups, is a central part of the SAA's policy. There is little research available into the effects of depth and pressure on young, developing bodies in respect of propensity to DCI, PFOs, effects on bone development, vision development etc. This document reflects the latest guidance from the UKSDMC and is designed to keep juniors as safe as possible whilst still allowing meaningful training.

The SAA suggests that all Dive Leaders diving with junior members should be SAA Diver Rescue qualified and DBS checked. All SAA Instructors are encouraged to be DBS checked, and all Club officers are reminded they are able to utilise the free DBS checking service for their Instructors and other appropriate members. However, it is the sole responsibility of the Club to determine whether an individual is an appropriately qualified adult and/ or whether to follow the SAA's suggestions regarding DBS checks and / or having the SAA Diver Rescue qualification. It is recommended that the Club's decision making process should be recorded in the appropriate risk assessment.

If junior members are accepted and trained:-

• The written permission of the parents must be obtained

• The Club DO should exercise their discretion and judgement as to whether the junior member is suitable for diver training.

• The junior member must be big enough, strong enough, and fit enough to handle the diving equipment with safety and to pass the tests, including the medical aspects.

• The junior member should be supervised at all times, both above and below the surface, by an appropriate adult.

• Junior divers under 14 are limited to safety stop diving only (first BT envelope on SAA Buhlmann DeeP-Stop tables).

• Junior divers under 14 should have a day off after 3 consecutive days diving.

• Young people are more prone to cold than adults, so the DO should consider water temperature when determining dive times, and ensure that adequate and appropriate thermal protection is used by the junior diver both in, and above, the water.

• Club DOs should consider junior divers qualifying as SAA Snorkel Divers prior to commencing SCUBA training to increase in water confidence, stamina etc.

• Robust Risk Assessments should be in place to the satisfaction of the Club DO in respect of every dive involving junior divers, specifically considering the vulnerability of the junior to cold, effects of carrying equipment, emotional and physical wellbeing etc.

• Diving Officers must consider carefully the depths, number of dives, task loads and emotional pressure placed on junior divers and should constantly err on the side of caution (for example in relation to depths and number of dives), ensure they dive conservatively and do not push the boundaries of this guidance. DOs also retain the right to progress junior divers in their Club at a slower rate than permitted in this policy.

• The references to "most conservative tables available" should be read as SAA Buhlmann DeeP-Stop tables for SAA Club Dives.

• Skills course coordinators have the right to not accept a junior onto the course, or take the junior off the course, if, in their opinion, that junior is not able to safely complete all aspects of the course. In that case the coordinator may retain a reasonable proportion of the course fee to cover legitimate expenses.

Page 1 of 3 SAA Junior Divers Policy - November 2013

SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 SAA Junior Divers Policy

Training can commence at 10 years old for SCUBA providing the following recommendations are adhered to: 1. Age 10 to 11. Can participate in try-dives. Snorkel and scuba training in pool only. Depth restriction of 3 metres. 2. Age 12 - 13. SCUBA training with a depth restriction of 15 metres. Can qualify to SAA Open Water Diver. Limited to 2 dives per day maximum, must dive on most conservative tables available or most conservative setting on computer, and have at least 1 day off after 3 consecutive days diving 3. Age 14 -17. May qualify as SAA Dive Leader, depth restriction of 35m, may not lead divers of less than SAA Club Diver level and note restrictions regarding adult supervision. Must dive on most conservative tables available or most conservative setting on computer. Recommended to have 1 day off after 3 days diving. Can attend SAA Diver First Aid, SAA Chartwork and Navigation and SAA Basic Boat Handling courses. Can attend SAA Nitrox course on reaching 15 years old and SAA Diver Rescue course from 16 years. 4. Junior divers may not qualify as Instructors. 5. Age 18 - No further restrictions other than for adults.

These recommendations are to be regularly reviewed in consultation with the UK Sports Divers Medical Committee and the SAA's medical advisor. Junior divers can apply for a CMAS card at the age of 14 yrs once they have reached the appropriate diving grade. Clubs who have junior members must comply with the SAA's Child Protection Policy in section 7 of the Club Guidance Manual and carry out a robust risk assessment in relation to junior divers. In Scotland - must comply with relevant child legislation. At present there is no charge for DBS checks. These can be arranged by contacting SAA Head Office.

Parental consent to training with

Club Name: Club Number:

Child's Name: Age:

Address: Date of Birth:

Gender:

City: Emergency Contact Number:

County: Parent / Guardians Name:

Country:

Post Code:

Please tick as appropriate;

I agree to my son/daughter ("my child"), aged under 18 years old, undertaking training in SCUBA diving. I also agree to the conditions mentioned above.

I understand that SCUBA diving is a physical sport conducted in an alien environment, and that, despite all policies and guidelines being adhered to, there is still a risk of decompression illness, injury or death. I have discussed the ramifications of the potential for injury, or death, with the Club's Diving Officer and I accept that risk.

I have read, and agree to, the terms and conditions overleaf.

Parent / Guardians Signature: Date:

Page 2 of 3 SAA Junior Divers Policy - November 2013 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 SAA Junior Divers Policy

Junior Divers Terms And Conditions In consideration of permitting my child named above to enrol and participate in scuba diving activities and any other related activities conducted by the Club named above I, for myself and on behalf of my child, and our personal representatives and all assigns, heirs, and next of kin hereby undertake, acknowledge, agree, declare and/or confirm that:

1. (a) Scuba diving: (i) is a potentially dangerous activity and involves the risk of serious injury and/or death and/or property damage; (ii) with compressed air involves certain inherent risks and my child will be exposed to these risks and that decompression sickness, embolism or other hyperbaric injuries can occur which require treatment in a recompression chamber and that this activity may be conducted at a site that is remote, either by time or distance or both, from such a recompression chamber; and (iii) is a physically strenuous activity and that my child will be exerting him/herself during this activity: (b) my child is in a good state of health and fitness and I know of no reason concerned with his/her health and fitness why he/ she should not be able safely to participate in scuba diving activities; and (c) it is solely my responsibility to evaluate whether my child should participate in scuba diving activities and based upon my knowledge of the mental, physical and emotional abilities of my child, as well as his/her medical history; and (d) I am the parent or legal guardian of the child named above and have full authority to sign this document and that I do not require the consent of any other party to do so.

2. I hereby personally assume all risks for any harm, injury or damage in connection with or that may befall my child while participating in the scuba diving activities and any other related activities, including all risks connected therewith, whether foreseen or unforeseen.

3. I hereby release, waive and discharge the Club and the Sub-Aqua Association and any facility where this activity is conducted (if applicable) and their respective directors, officers, employees, members, instructors and agents from all liability to myself or my child, my and our personal representatives and all assigns, heirs and next of kin for any and all loss or damage, and any claim or demands now and forever arising out of or related to my child's participation and/or instruction in such scuba diving activities or any other related activities that may occur. 4. As the parent or legal guardian of the child, I am signing this document on my own behalf and on behalf of my child and agree to be specifically bound to and by all of the terms and conditions set out in this document.

5. I confirm that I have read and fully understand all terms set out in this document and that I am aware of its legal consequences and the waiver of rights provided therein. I have signed this declaration freely and voluntarily without any inducement, assurance, or guarantee being made to me and intend my signature to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. 6. This document shall be governed by English law and I submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Signature Of Parent: Date:

Page 3 of 3 SAA Junior Divers Policy - November 2013 EXTENDED RANGE, NITROX,TRIMIX & REBREATHER DIVERS

The SAA recognises all main training agencies qualifications as outlined by the National Technical Co- ordinator.

In order to dive under the SAA guidelines, all Extended Range, Nitrox, Trimix & Rebreather divers must register as such with Head Office. It is not necessary to cross qualifications over to the SAA equivalent, but such divers must register – any such diver failing to register is unlikely to be covered by the SAA insurance. SAA members qualifying by successfully completing SAA courses are automatically registered as part of the course process.

All dives must comply with the qualification held, and the certifying agencies standards.

All other aspects of the SAA guidance must also be followed – i.e DO’s sanction etc (see Club Guidance Manual S.2.1).

The relevant registration forms are available as a download from the SAA website or from head office.

Page 1 of 1 Oct 2015 2.6 SELF ASSESSMENT FORM

Diving Medical Requirements

a) Background

Until 2000 all divers and potential divers were required to undergo a formal dive medical. These medicals could be conducted by the individual's own dive doctor and were required as follows, unless the doctor specified a short period:

i) Before starting scuba training. ii) Every five years until the age of 50. iii) Every three years between the age of 51 and 60. iv) Annually thereafter.

Following a trial the UK Diving Medical Council recommend the introduction of an annual self certificate system, a system which the SAA adopted with effect from 17th March 2001.

b) Self Certification

The self certification system is managed by the UK Diving Medical Council (UKDMC) and the main points of the system are:

i) All trainees must complete a medical self certification form before training commences. ii) All diving members must complete the medical self certification form annually, it is recommend that members are asked to complete a new form at the same time as they renew their SAA membership. iii) A parent or guardian must sign the form if the member is under 18. iv) The form is valid for a maximum of 12 months, if an answer to any question changes in that period the declaration immediately becomes invalid.

As the medical form is subject to periodic review, it is highly recommended that the latest form is downloaded directly from the UKDMC web site (http://www.ukdmc.org) where the form “Diver Medical Self Declaration” can be found on the "download page". If you have any problems in downloading this form please email [email protected].

If any member is unable to answer “No” to all of the questions on the form they must seek the guidance from a Diving Medical Referee, details of referees and the procedure is contained in Section 3.2 of the SAA Guidance Manual.

Page 1 of 1 3.1 v. 08/19 DIVING MEDICAL REFEREES

a) Initial Steps

Where an individual has answered “Yes” to any of the questions on the Diver Medical Self Declaration they should complete the “Medical Referee Form” available from the download area of the UKDMC web site (http://www.ukdmc.org). If you have any problems in downloading this form please email [email protected].

The individual should, in the first instance, contact their nearest Dive Medical Referee by phone or email. A list of current Dive Medical Referees can be obtained from the UKDMC web site: (http://www.ukdmc.org/medical-referees/). When contacting a medical referee make it clear that you are a sport diver and not a commercial diver looking for a full HSE medical.

From this initial contact the medical referee may: i) Endorse the form from the information provided for a specified period or indefinitely. ii) Require further information, either from the individual or their doctor/specialist. iii) Need to conduct a formal dive medical examination.

If the medical referee is satisfied that you are fit to dive they will issue you with a dive medical certificate for a given period.

Copies of medical certificates must be given to your club Diving Officer. If the dive medical imposes restrictions on diving this must be highlighted to the Diving Officer. b) Appeals Against Withholding Medial Certificates

In the unfortunate event that the medical referee is unable to issue a medical certificate to dive there are two options: a) Ask the medical referee if there is anything which you can do to remedy the situation before applying for a new medical examination. b) To appeal against the decision to the UKDMC for a review of your case. Appeals can be made via the contact us page of the UKDMC web site.

If any appeal against refusal to grant a dive medical certificate is rejected there is no further course of action available to the individual. The Sub Aqua Association medical experts are the UKDMC members and as such we are unable to override their decision. c) Specific Medical Conditions

The UKDMC Website contains information about medical conditions together with forms for providing additional information for certain conditions.

Page 1 of 1 3.2 v. 08/19 DIVING FOR THE DISABLED

Introduction

Although 14%, that is over 6 million of the UK general population have some form of disability, many of the barriers they face are caused by other people’s misconception of what they are capable of achieving.

What is Disability?

According to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, disability is: “any physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities”.

There are many types of disability, some more visible than others; e.g. wheelchair users (who make up 6% of all disabled people) are more visibly disabled than people with diabetes or a hearing impairment. The degree of a particular disability may vary a great deal and a condition may not be stable but improve or deteriorate over time. Someone who has had a disability from birth may have found ways of overcoming the difficulties associated with it, whereas a person who has become disabled later in life may still be learning to cope with the difficulties.

Disability Etiquette - Do’s and Don’ts

It is not unusual to be slightly apprehensive when first meeting a person who has a disability. Difficulties can usually be avoided by simply treating any individual in the way you would wish to be treated yourself, The following points are aimed at highlighting a number of words, phrases and actions that can sometimes cause offence and re-inforces THE COMMON SENSE APPROACH that should be used.

Use of Language

• You should use the term “disabled” rather than “handicapped”. • Try to refrain from using the word “disabled’ as a noun, i.e. “the disabled”. It implies a homogenous group separate from the rest of society. As an alternative use the term “person with a disability”. • Remember that a person is not a condition. Avoid referring to someone by their condition, i.e. “an arthritic” is a person with arthritis.

People who are Blind or Visually Impaired

• State clearly who you are. • Before offering any assistance, you should ask the person how you could help. As a rule allow the person to take your arm and set the pace, rather than you taking their arm. If you are guiding someone you should advise on steps or other obstacles as they occur, remembering to say whether steps go up or down. • When entering an unfamiliar area, give a brief description of the layout and contents. If refreshments are available always explain what is there, The person who is blind or visually impaired may, for instance, be a vegetarian or have a special dietary restriction which some of us have. • If you are going to shake hands, advice the person what you are doing so they can anticipate your contact, • To help someone sit down, explain what you are doing and place their hand on the back of the seat or chair.

Page 1 of 4 3.3 DIVING FOR THE DISABLED

• Always advise the person when you are leaving, so they don’t end up talking into thin air. • If a Guide Dog is present, always ask the owner’s permission before you pat or stroke the dog.

People who use Wheelchairs

• Do not lean on an individual’s wheelchair, It can be dangerous, is annoying and is certainly an invasion of their space. • Try to put yourself at the wheelchair user’s level to avoid stiff necks. • If the wheelchair user does not extend their arm to shake hands, please remember that this may be because they may lack full mobility of the arm or find movement painful. • Wheelchair users usually prefer to move around under their own power or use powered wheelchairs, Do not push the chair unless you offer assistance and it is accepted, • Never touch or move crutches or walking frames without the user’s consent.

People who are Deaf or Hearing-Impaired.

• Do not be afraid to communicate with a hearing or speech impaired person, even if the method of communicating feels a little strange. • To attract the attention of the person, lightly tap them on the shoulder or upper arm. This is how people who are deaf attract each other’s attention and they are quite used to this approach. • Ask the person if they lip read as not all deaf people do. Speak clearly and naturally. Do not shout or distort your lip movements, as this will impede understanding. Remember that lip reading is very difficult and only 30% of speech is readable by this process, the rest is highly intelligent guesswork! • When someone is reading your lips, facial expressions and gesturing can help clarify your words. Face the source of light and keep your hands away from your mouth. Do not wear sunglasses. • Many people who are deaf use a visual rather than an audible language. Even if you do not know Sign Language many gestures are self-explanatory. Do not be embarrassed to gesture as you would to any other person who does not speak your language. • A deaf person’s first language may be Sign Language and they may find written English difficult to understand. If you communicate in writing keep your sentences simple and direct.

People with Speech Impairment

• Do not finish the end of their sentences or pretend you understand them if you do not, Politely ask them to repeat, even if it takes several attempts. • If you are still uncertain about what is being said, repeat back what you do understand and be guided by the person’s reaction. • Conversation and Common Courtesies • Remember, not all disabilities are obvious. They may have a hidden disability, such as epilepsy or sickle cell anaemia. Never make assumptions about the existence or absence of disabilities. • Always speak directly to the person with the disability rather than looking at their companion or the interpreter. • Many jokes about disability are based on misguided humour that exploits people’s differences. These are offensive when they apply to a person’s nationality, race, sexual orientation or disability. Jokes of this nature should always be challenged. Silence implies agreement.

Page 2 of 4 3.3 DIVING FOR THE DISABLED

Finally. . . Relax

• Don’t be daunted by the long lists of rights and wrongs. If in doubt as to how to treat people with disabilities, rely on your own common sense and have confidence to ask them how you can help. • Remember that the expectations of people with disabilities do not differ from those of other people. Most people with disabilities go to school, work, form relationships, do their washing, eat, get angry, pay taxes, laugh, cry, have prejudices, plan, vote and dream just as all we do!

TRAINING GUIDELINES INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS - Try-A-Dive

• Complete Declaration of Fitness • If they have any doubts or indeed have any of the conditions they should have a full medical by their own GP. Any queries to be referred by their own GP to Dr Phil Bryson (SAA medical referee) at DDRC. For practical advice refer to general considerations.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Instructional Teams Minimum supervisory team of three to one disabled diver.

INSTRUCTORS

Ideally the disabled person should be instructed on a one to one basis by the most highly experienced instructors available. Each instructor should have at least one assistant in the water (this person need not have instructor qualifications) and one poolside helper (to hand in extra gear etc).

EQUIPMENT

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR STANDARD EQUIPMENT

• MASKS - the normal variety of sizes and shapes. • FINS - as above but may not be needed IF LEGS CAN’T BE USED FOR FINNING to prevent abrasions from feet or knees dragging on pool bottom use neoprene boots, trainers, thick socks, knee guards,(as worn over wet suit knees) lycra leggings or close-fitting tracksuit bottoms. • SNORKELS - not needed for Try-a-Dive. • BUOYANCY - it is essential that surface position for any disabled person is vertical. Some candidates’ natural floating position may well be upside down, face down or on their back. The vertical position is best achieved by: The correct size of BCD, Stabiliser Jacket or ADY (not a horse collar type ABLI) supported by :- A full buoyancy check which takes into consideration the correct amount of lead and its positioning. Each candidate will need to be assessed separately to achieve as close to the ideal as possible. Each change of equipment or environment, e.g. pool to open water, will require a reassessment of both weights and position of those weights. • WEIGHTS - Ankle weights or floats might be needed. Some disabled people may not have a body shape suitable for a standard weight belt. Harnesses should be considered when there is little or no hip shape. Weights should be high on the small of the back - if weights are on the buttocks it makes leg movements more difficult. For Try-a-Dives weights may be in pockets but this is not to continue in training. • CYLINDERS - A variety of cylinders of various sizes and preferably not too negatively buoyant should be available for a Try-a-Dive. However, before progressing to open water it may be well to experiment with different sizes, lengths and buoyancies.

Page 3 of 4 3.3 DIVING FOR THE DISABLED

• REGULATORS - It may be necessary to have regulators that will come over the right or left shoulder if the disability involves an arm. • THERMAL PROTECTION FOR POOL - As the disabled person frequently is more likely to suffer from temperature regulation problems, pool temperature must be considered and each candidate should have adequate protection, e.g. T-shirts, sweatshirts, windsurfer suits as appropriate and available. ENTRIES - Don only thermal and abrasion protection before entry. Each candidate should be asked how they usually enter the pool. Let them tell you what to do. This is where the assistants can be useful if needed. • KITTING UP - Must be done in the water in the shallow end where the instructor can stand and the assistant can support the candidate if necessary. • EXITS - De-kit at shallow end initially. Again ask the candidate whether they need assistance to exit.

Page 4 of 4 3.3 WOMEN IN DIVING

WOMEN AND DIVING

Although the most commonly asked question is perhaps, “should I dive whilst pregnant?” there are a number of other factors frequently queried by women divers and their instructors. For example - should a woman dive whilst having a period. Does diving effect the menstrual cycle? If a woman is on the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) is she more at risk from decompression illness (DCI)? Is there a difference in DCI susceptibility or risk between men and women?

Even though men and women have been participating in recreational SCUBA diving for more than half a century, we still have an incomplete understanding of the susceptibility of divers of either sex to DCI. Human data investigating the risk of DCI tends to be drawn from military and aviation studies which may not take into account the less disciplined diving activities of the recreational diver. With regard to the pregnancy issue, animal studies although useful do not give us conclusive data, and at best they can only show a trend for that species. Surveys, though useful can suffer from flaws in as much the respondents may only participate if they feel they have something to report, and this can skew the results of the study.

Broadening out the subject of women and diving - a number of additional questions invariably enter the equation such as a woman’s fitness to dive, thermal tolerance, and cognitive function. These notes draw together some useful basic points to consider, and provide material for SCUBA training. For a more in depth detail refer to “Women and Pressure Diving and Altitude” by Caroline Fife and Marguerite St Leger Dowse, ISBN 978-1-930536-54-8.

The overall basics

Physiologically, most women hold less potential for physical power, speed, work capacity and stamina than men. At a specified height, a woman has a smaller heart than a man; and coupled with smaller lungs (by about 20%) a smaller thorax, and smaller cardiac output, women cannot functionally achieve the maximal oxygen consumption capacity that a man can reach. Women also breathe more shallowly, although just as efficiently, and due to the smaller lung capacity tend to work closer to their maximum work level than males. Women generally use less air whilst diving, as many male divers can testify.

Thermal tolerance

Clearly there are some differences in thermoregulatory responses between males and females and these may be dependent on body fat content, fat distribution, and body surface area-to-mass ratios.

Does a woman feel the cold more than a man? Individuals with lean bodies and less subcutaneous fat appear to tolerate the cold water less well than those of larger

Page 1 of 7 June ’12 3.4 WOMEN IN DIVING

build with more subcutaneous fat.

Women have about 10% more subcutaneous fat on average than males, even if they are athletically fit. Of the total body mass, fit males have approximately 40% muscle, while fit women have only 23% muscle. The distribution of the fat and muscle differs in females resulting in different weight distribution. Women also have a greater ability to constrict blood flow to the limbs, helping to maintain the core temperature. Overall these factors result in a potentially slower heat loss and a natural buoyancy of women, enhancing swimming and survival abilities. However, some women have a larger surface area relative to their body mass and chill more quickly than larger men, and some women may be more sensitive to the cold. High body fat provides a high level of insulation allowing individuals to remain thermally neutral whilst submerged in water. But, studies have shown differing responses to cold and have demonstrated that whilst some gender differences may exist in thermal tolerance – it is fitness that undoubtedly plays a major role in thermoregulation. Therefore there is no simple answer to “does a woman feel the cold more than a man?”

How do women react to hard work underwater?

As already discussed, females have different muscle distribution than men. They do not have as much strength in the arms and shoulders, and so more often than not have to apply technique and intelligence to a physical situation rather than brute strength! This applies especially to female commercial divers. Females make more efficient use of their oxygen during exercise than males for the same work load; however it could be that a fixed work load which is suited to a male may well cause a female to hyperventilate underwater. So, once again fitness plays an important role in the ability to carry out hard work under water.

Cognitive ability (reasoning and reaction times)

Surveys show there is no real difference between males and females in cognitive ability, though again physical fitness plays a significant part, incidences of depression and anxiety are much lower in those who are physically active.

Cognitive changes are known to occur throughout the menstrual cycle and in theory a woman’s ability to make decisions during a dive could be affected by her menstrual state. But again we have to stress to date no diving studies have been conducted to assess this.

The older woman

We know very little about the older woman and diving. Evidence shows that after the menopause there is a gradual loss of bone density in all women. Certain factors

Page 2 of 7 June ’12 3.4 WOMEN IN DIVING

such as low calcium intake, slim build, smoking and a positive family history can predispose individuals to a higher risk of osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). Current advice is for all women to maintain an adequate calcium intake and to continue to exercise throughout life.

Gravity and weight bearing exercise positively affect bone density in the presence of normal estrogen levels. Swimming and diving are activities that do not stimulate increased bone density as there is no gravitational effect.

The menstrual cycle and diving

Females undergo hormonal changes on a monthly basis in which fluid shifts, weight gain and pre- menstrual tension may occur.

Over the 3-5 days of menstruation (bleeding) a woman is likely to lose between 50 and 15Omls of blood and cellular debris. This is a small amount; however it has fuelled fears that sharks may be attracted to the female diver at this time. There is no support for this belief and when looking at shark attack statistics from around the world, women seem to have a lower incidence of attack. One theory is that the ‘old’ blood of the menses may act as a shark deterrent, and another is that the statistics are skewed as women spend less time than men in the water.

Only one formal study has addressed the issue as to whether diving effects the menstrual cycle. This was conducted on two women over the menstrual cycle; ovulation was not inhibited and menstrual periods were unchanged, though some unpublished and anecdotal observations by diving women themselves would appear to challenge this.

Some women with severe premenstrual tension have been found to have underlying mood changes during this particular time of the cycle. Women who suffer with this problem should not dive during these episodes.

Additionally, some women suffer from premenstrual fluid retention, and may have congestion of the mucosal membranes. When this happens it may be more difficult for the affected women to clear their ears and may predispose them to sinus barotrauma.

Generally speaking, whether or not a woman dives during her menstrual period is dependent on how she feels.

Women and DCI

The debate surrounding gender and the risk of DCI has been on-going since the early 1970’s with both diving and aviator (altitude) studies debated. However, the data sets, methodologies, and environments studied have all differed greatly, with

Page 3 of 7 June ’12 3.4 WOMEN IN DIVING

many of the studies based on retrospective records, incomplete data, or studies where gender was not considered the primary reason for the study. Some of the studies also attempted to investigate the effect of the menstrual cycle and the OCP with DCI risk further confusing the gender issue. As a result many of the findings are inconclusive or controversial.

In early altitude DCI studies there appeared to show an altitude DCI risk in women compared with men which provoked controversy, sometimes concerning the methodologies and sometimes the analysis. In more recent years well controlled studies have not demonstrated a female risk for altitude DCI compared with males.

In the diving studies, the methodologies and dive profiles in the available observable data render it impossible to draw firm conclusions regarding the effect of gender on DCI. But, data from the diving studies appears to agree with the later altitude studies, and show that there is no difference in gender risk of diving DCI. Very broadly speaking, women do not appear to be more at risk than men of diving DCI for similar diving habits.

The menstrual cycle and DCI

Within the menstrual cycle and DCI risk question there are two much debated elements. They are: 1) is there a difference in risk between women taking the OCP compared with those not on the OCP, and 2) is there a differing DCI risk element over a typical menstrual cycle?

It is important not to confuse the menstrual cycle and DCI issue with the “susceptibility” debate which in non-scientific circles generally runs along-side and centres on gender comparisons. An example of this cross-over debate was in 1978 when Bangasser posed the question “were women more susceptible to DCI than men, and were they more susceptible to DCI whilst using oral contraceptives?” Studies therefore with regard to the menstrual cycle and DCI in particular need to be understood within their precise context and not confused with gender comparisons and susceptibility. Additionally studies that have attempted to investigate any risk factor associated with the OCP have suffered from reporting issues, small numbers, or methodological difficulties.

Over the following years from 1978 a series of both altitude and diving retrospective studies showed there may be a relationship between DCI and the phase/time in the menstrual cycle. Then in 1998 a prospective altitude study demonstrated a correlation between menstrual day and DCI, with the greatest probability of DCI being on day two of the bleed. In this study although the use of OCP was known, no significant conclusions were made regarding OCP usage and DCI risk. Also that same year Lee (in conjunction with DDRC) presented preliminary data at conference from 73 women who had been physician diagnosed and treated for diving DCI. The

Page 4 of 7 June ’12 3.4 WOMEN IN DIVING results suggested that the risk of DCI may be dependent on the phase in the menstrual cycle, and that there was greater risk of DCI at the beginning of the typical 28 day cycle. By 2003

Lee’s team were able to publish results from 150 prospective records where women had been diagnosed and treated for DCI, and where all the menstrual and OCP usage were known. Again significantly more DCI incidents occurred in the first week of the menstrual cycle than would be expected; this was particularly evident in the women not taking the OCP. The authors concluded that the risk of DCI may be dependent on the phase or point in the menstrual cycle. Other researchers in 2003 endorsed these findings.

Although the team at DDRC did not look specifically at DCI in 2006, the findings from prospective/on-going data suggested a risk factor associated with the menstrual cycle and diving. Analysis from over 50,000 dives and more than 11,000 menstrual cycles, showed women not on the OCP experienced significantly more problems whilst diving during the first and fourth weeks of the menstrual cycle, with the least number of problems reported during the third week of the cycle. Overall, the results from this study reflected the same trends seen in the previously mentioned altitude and diving studies, endorsing the possibility of a risk factor associated with diving and the beginning of the menstrual cycle. And finally, the continued Lee study of 1998/2003 showed the incidence of DCI was not evenly distributed over the four weeks of the menstrual cycle; and again in the non-OCP group the risk of DCI appeared to be greater in the first week of the cycle, falling to the lowest risk in week three, before rising again in week four. The OCP findings in this study were less clear.

The OCP debate

So as can be seen above - the issue regarding the OCP is clouded and inconclusive. This may be due to the variations in methodologies, types of OCP, missing information, and differences in analysis. In the studies mentioned in this text, two researchers did not specifically account for OCP use in their analyses, whilst others did not make any conclusions with regard to a relationship between OCP use and DCI. Three of the most recent researchers, Lee, Webb, and St Leger Dowse, differed regarding the effect of the OCP and DCI, and/or between non-OCP and OCP users, and some of these differences may be due to different methodologies used for analysis and assuming a 28 day cycle for women on the OCP. This was demonstrated in a DDRC study in 2007 when it showed that women used the OCP to avoid a bleed to suit their social and work lifestyles, therefore shortening or lengthening the cycle for their own convenience. So you could say the jury is still out, with the debate regarding the risk factor between OCP usage and DCI on-going, and remaining unclear until OCP usage is more accurately recorded in diving research studies.

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Diving and pregnancy

Lastly we come to the emotive issue of diving and pregnancy. Even though women represent probably less than one third of the diving population, the majority of them are of child bearing age, and many are enthusiastic enough to resent a nine month rest from their favourite hobby without good reason.

It must be said at the start of this section that there is as yet no conclusive evidence that diving will cause an increased risk to the foetus BUT there are also no studies to say it is safe to dive whilst pregnant. Therefore it is not possible to recommend or establish safe limits to dive whilst pregnant. This is because studies on animals have been contradictory in their findings, and human studies have not clearly defined the degree of risk. So, there is a general underlying feeling among diving doctors that caution should be exercised; thus diving whilst pregnant is NOT generally recommended.

Early research work was performed on animals and concentrated on foetal susceptibility to DCI. This was considered important as the foetal circulation differs from that of the adult: in the adult almost all the output from the heart travels through the lungs where small bubbles are removed, whereas in the foetus the circulation bypasses the lungs so any bubble that formed could be potentially life threatening. Animal studies differed in their results and may not be applicable to the human situation.

Human retrospective studies, in the form of questionnaires, have tried to determine the effects of SCUBA diving on the unborn child. In the 1970’s and 80’s several studies were performed, the majority finding there may be a problem with foetal abnormalities linked to diving whilst pregnant. Whereas some of the studies suffered from small numbers and problems with methodology, a larger study by DDRC completed in 2006 showed that even though 129 women reported 157 dived pregnancies from 1465 dives no conclusions could be reached regarding problems when diving whilst pregnant. The research team calculated that to detect a meaningful increase in birth defects from diving whilst pregnant, a study population in the order of 4000 women would be required to do a relevant degree of diving over the whole time of their pregnancies. Clearly this is not ethical or feasible! Therefore the way forward remains elusive with field studies impractical and animal studies limited due to differences in placental circulation between humans and animals.

Apart from the health and safety of the unborn child the following maternal considerations should be taken into account if diving whilst pregnant: morning sickness and motion sickness, reduced respiratory function, circulatory competition with placenta, reduced fitness and endurance, and unusual fatigue. Other factors

Page 6 of 7 June ’12 3.4 WOMEN IN DIVING include: fit of wetsuit, harness, other dive gear, clumsiness with the possibility of injury, effects of lifting, increased fat and fluid, and mucous membrane swelling causing difficulty clearing ears.

In conclusion, because of the inconclusive research, a nine month rest from diving seems a very small price to pay for a healthy child or for the knowledge that if there was a defect it could not have been caused by diving.

The SAA, BSAC and PADI all advise women who are trying to become pregnant or who are pregnant - not to dive.

For a more detail and references - refer to “Women and Pressure Diving and Altitude” by Caroline Fife and Marguerite St Leger Dowse, ISBN 978-1-930536-54-8.

Marguerite St Leger Dowse (researcher) and Gary Smerdon (Research Director) of the DDRC are thanked for their continued support and, specifically, for compiling this text – Steve Love, National Diving Officer.

Page 7 of 7 June ’12 3.4 CLUB ISSUED CERTIFICATION

INTRODUCTION

This Section of the manual is intended to assist instructors to achieve a consistent level of Club training. This guide is not a stand-alone training manual and instructors should refer to other sources such as the SAA Instructor Manual and other recognised publications.

ONLY the DO can award diver grade certificates and then only up to his/her own diver grade. The only exceptions to this are where a new member joins the SAA, and the Club DO is a Dive Leader and the new member wants to cross over a grade equivalent to SAA Dive Supervisor (or above) the new member applies though their DO for a cross over. The form and copy certificate, plus fee, is sent to Head Office who forwards the application to the NDO (or in their absence the National Coach). The NDO (or National Coach) then checks the qualification and if satisfied as to equivalence awards an SAA qualification up to a maximum of SAA Dive Supervisor. Other agencies qualifications above Dive Supervisor will be capped at SAA Dive Supervisor as SAA National Diver is rightly only awarded after completing the necessary project etc within the SAA programme.

The other exception is where the DO is a Dive Leader and wishes to progress to Dive Supervisor, then the Region Rep (if qualified) or the NDO or National Coach may supervise the training and issue the certificate.

CLUB QUALIFICATION STANDARD & TRAINING SEQUENCE

The Club's qualification standard shall be at least equal to those stated by the SAA (with any additions felt appropriate by the Club). There is no minimum age for the snorkel training in the pool, but a minimum age of 12 years is required by the Association for SCUBA training. The Club may consider junior applicants between 10 and 18 years of age providing that the club complies with the SAA Policy for Diving & Young People

Instructor to Student Ratios

For pool sessions from 1:1 for try dives and initial training to 1:4 maximum for later training / assessments – any increase from 1:1 is at discretion of DO and must form part of the Risk Assessment.

For open water sessions 1:1 to 1:2 maximum depending on skill level of student, location etc. Any increase from 1:1 is at the discretion of the DO or Course Coordinator and must form part of the Risk Assessment.

DIVING QUALIFICATION GRADES

Elementary Diver Trainee (EDT)

An EDT must complete all pool and relevant classroom training, as set out in the SAA Qualification Record Book and Guidance Manual, to the satisfaction of the Club Diving Officer before being taken on their first open water dive.

A trainee must dive with an Open Water Instructor or above and must not dive at a depth greater than 10m.

Page 1 of 6 February 2014 4.1 CLUB ISSUED CERTIFICATION

Elementary Diver (ED) (EN 14153 – 1 Supervised Diver)

An Elementary Diver is fully pool trained but inexperienced in open water. When diving in open water an Elementary Diver must be accompanied by at least a Dive Leader or higher. If the Elementary Diver is undergoing any training or assessment during the dive, it must be under the direct guidance of at least an Open Water Instructor. An Elementary Diver may not engage in decompression dives; or overhead environment dives where there is no immediate, direct and obvious route to clear water and thereby direct access to the surface.

An Elementary Diver may dive to a maximum depth of 10m, or 20m whilst under Instruction for OWD. (This is to be interpreted as being actively trained or assessed and accompanied by an Open Water Instructor, or above).

Qualifying dives by Elementary and Open Water divers to count towards next grade must be a minimum of 15 minutes dive time.

Open Water Diver (OWD)

An Open Water Diver has additional practical experience. The Open Water Diver must be accompanied by a minimum of a Dive Leader or higher. If the OWD is undergoing any training or assessment during the dive, it must be under the direct guidance of at least an Open Water Instructor. An Open Water Diver may not engage in decompression dives; or overhead environment dives where there is no immediate, direct and obvious route to clear water and thereby direct access to the surface.

An Open Water Diver may dive to a maximum depth of 20m, or 35m whilst under Instruction for Club Diver. (This is to be interpreted as actively being trained or assessed and accompanied by an Open Water Instructor, or above).

Qualifying dives by Elementary and Open Water divers to count towards next grade must be a minimum of 15 minutes dive time.

Club Diver (CD) (EN 14153 – 2 Autonomous Diver)

A Club Diver is qualified to dive in open water and may dive with others certified to Club Diver or higher.

A Club Diver is not considered to have sufficient experience to dive with divers of Elementary or Open Water standards in open water. If the Club Diver is undergoing any training or assessment during the dive, it must be under the guidance of at least an Open Water Instructor.

A Club Diver may dive to a maximum depth of 35m. However an experienced Club Diver, working towards Dive Leader, may dive to 50m (current maximum depth for sport diver on air*) at the Club DO’s discretion.

DO’s discretion should be interpreted as granting specific authority for dives deeper than 35m to be done by an individual. It is the DO’s sole responsibility to determine the depth appropriate for an individual within this guidance, and the DO should take account of, for example, whether DLL1 Stage Stop Diving lecture has been given, whether the individual

Page 2 of 6 February 2014 4.1 CLUB ISSUED CERTIFICATION has SAA Diver Rescue qualification, general experience, equipment and training for deep dives, and buddy pairings, always bearing in mind that risks of DCI and narcosis increase with depth.

A CD working towards DL need not always be buddied with an OWI or above, but it is recommended that a CD diving below 35m be buddied with a DL or above.

Where specific training is being undertaken then, of course, an OWI has to be buddied with the CD.

This guidance is based on recognition that the International Standards are vague in respect of maximum depths at this level, and holders of CD qualification have a huge range of skill, ability and experience. When a CD is first qualified it is inappropriate to permit diving below 35m (as a maximum, and shallower limits may be appropriate in individual cases at the DO’s discretion).

Qualifying dives for Dive Leader qualification and above must be a minimum of 30 minutes.

Note – all the above relate to adults – additional restrictions apply to junior divers. Refer to SAA Junior Diver Policy for details)

Dive Leader (EN 14153 – 3 Dive Leader)

A Dive Leader has additional practical experience and knowledge, and has proven their ability to lead divers underwater. A Dive Leader may dive with any grade of certified diver. If the Dive Leader is undergoing any training or assessment during the dive, it must be under the guidance of at least an Open Water Instructor. A Dive Leader is not an Instructor and may not instruct in open water unless qualified as an Open Water Instructor or above.

A Dive Leader may dive to a maximum depth of 50m (current maximum depth for sport diver on air*).

Dive Supervisor

A Dive Supervisor is an experienced and responsible diver, with a proven ability to organise and lead diving expeditions. A Dive Supervisor is not an Instructor and may not instruct in open water unless qualified as an Open Water Instructor or above.

National Diver

A National Diver is a diver who has been, through nationally organised assessments, proven to have a higher level of knowledge and ability. A National Diver is able to organise a group of divers to achieve major tasks and projects underwater. A National Diver is not an Instructor and may not instruct in open water unless qualified as an Open Water Instructor or above.

NB – the 50m limit referred to above relates to SAA members diving on air when they are not qualified by virtue of an Extended Range course (or similar) and have been registered as Extended Range divers at Head Office (exactly the requirements for Nitrox / Trimix / Rebreather registration). An Extended Range qualified and registered diver may dive to the limit of their qualification if the dive is sanctioned by their Diving Officer.

Page 3 of 6 February 2014 4.1 CLUB ISSUED CERTIFICATION

Crossovers

Club Diving Officers are encouraged to cross over new SAA club members holding diving grades issued by recognised diving training agencies. The cross over guide is in the Club Guidance Manual Section 6.5A (and reproduced below) and gives the maximum levels that a Club DO can cross over such qualifications at. The DO is expected to exercise his / her judgement by scrutinising the applicants training record, record of logged dives, experience etc. when determining the appropriate level to cross over at – this may be lower than the guide at the DO’s discretion. It may not be higher than the guide under any circumstances.

CROSS OVER GUIDANCE CHART RE EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATIONS SAA SCOTSAC BSAC PADI CMAS Elementary Basic Scuba Diver Open Water Ocean Diver Open Water / Diver Advanced OWD 1 star Club Diver* Sport Diver* Sport Diver* Rescue Diver 2 star (SD) Dive Leader SD with DL Dive Leader Dive Master 2 star endorsement Dive Master Diver Advanced Diver and 3 star Supervisor above

* equates to CMAS 1* until 10 additional qualifying dives done

This guide gives the highest permitted crossover level. Each Club Diving Officer reserves the right to assess each application on experience as well as qualifications held and may cross qualifications over at a lower level. Nothing in this guide alters the policy that Diving Officers may not award certification higher than that held by them (see Introduction paragraph page 1 regarding new members who wish to cross over qualifications above that of the DO) Grades above SAA Dive Supervisor may only be awarded by the National Diving Officer.

SAA TRAINING & ASSESSMENT

SCUBA training may commence without the need for Snorkel Training programme, see route 1. However, where individuals experience difficulties with Scuba training the Club may elect to follow the snorkelling training programme i.e. route 2 below:

Route 1 Route 2 1/1. Snorkeller (optional) 1/2. Snorkeller 2/1. Elementary Diver 2/2. Advanced Snorkeller 3/1. Open Water Diver 3/2. Elementary Diver 4/1. Club Diver 4/2. Open Water Diver 5/2. Club Diver

Page 4 of 6 February 2014 4.1 CLUB ISSUED CERTIFICATION This guide lists the minimum assessment standards plus other optional exercises. The trainees may be encouraged to perform as many of these exercises as possible to increase their ability and confidence. Remember, that if a trainee is unable to complete any given skill, in order to ensure that they do not become disheartened, give them a break. Try them with something else in the training programme at which they can succeed, to keep their motivation going and return to the original skill later.

Remember that trainees need only be trained and assessed to the National SAA standard. This is the minimum requirement for each of the given grades. Your Club may elect to extend these grades and to have a higher or extended level of training to suit the needs and requirements of your Club. For this reason additional optional training exercises are included for your guidance. If your Club has an additional drill or theory module which you think the SAA training programme would benefit from please forward it for consideration to the National Diving Officer, care of Head Office or e-mail to [email protected]

PROGRESSIVE TRAINING

The exercises are usually a complex combination of simple skills. The instructor must analyse the complex exercises and break them down into a sequence of steps, each of which, when presented in the right order, will be easy for the trainee to master and understand. Don't just run through the full task and expect them to successfully perform it first time.

Many trainees may question the purpose of the exercises. It is important that the practical skills are developed on a foundation of theory; knowing “how” is quite often dependent upon knowing “why”.

Be mindful to instruct in a logical order. Tell them what they need to know, and why they need the knowledge, when they need to know it.

SIGNALS

It is a simple fact that communication underwater is limited. All trainees are expected to learn the full range of Diver-to-Diver and Diver-to-Surface signals, many of which are employed during training. However, there are a number of situations during training where standard signals are not available, and therefore special signals are needed. The SAA recommends the use of the CMAS and other recognised hand signals as shown in the SAA Instructor Manual.

Nitrox

The SAA encourages the use of EANx and as long as certain criteria are met the SAA will allow the use of standard Nitrox mixes (28%, 32%, 36% and 40%) for SCUBA diving / training purposes by trainees who are not qualified as Nitrox divers in their own right. The criteria are –

1. Additional theory modules are covered prior to use (CDL 2). 2. Trainees must dive only on air tables until they are qualified as SAA EANx divers in their own right. 3. Trainees must check the oxygen content of their own cylinder prior to use.

Page 5 of 6 February 2014 4.1 CLUB ISSUED CERTIFICATION 4. The Instructor / Dive Leader must ensure that the trainee is never exposed to more than 1.4bar ppO2. 5. The Instructor / Dive Leader must be SAA Nitrox certified, and registered as such with SAA Head Office.

Page 6 of 6 February 2014 4.1 SNORKELLER –DIVE SUPERVISOR

See SAA Instructor Manual CD – “The Tool Box”

Page 1 of 1 4.2 DRY SUIT COURSE

**CAUTION - Beware of overheating when out of the water**

OBJECTIVES To provide instruction on the use of the various patterns of Dry Suit now available to sports divers.

DURATION A One Day Course.

QUALIFICATION REQUIRED Minimum Elementary Diver standard.

QUALIFICATION AWARDED Qualification Book Certificate awarded by Club DO.

LECTURES

1. Advantages/disadvantages of neoprene, membrane, and standard N.A.T.O. pattern dry suits.

2. Dry suit control systems.

3. The effects of pressure.

4. Dry suit squeeze, Buoyant Ascent and Air Migration.

(TIME for 1. to 4. = 1 hour.)

BREAK for 15 mins.

5. a) Buoyancy aids: (BCDs / wings). b) Buoyancy at depth. c) Maintaining and correcting attitude. d) Correct weighting - use of weight belt/ankle weights.

(TIME for 5. = ½ hour.)

POOL/TRAINING AREA – See Instructor notes for guidance on depths etc.

6.

A) Students, under supervision of Course instructors) to don allotted dry suit and vent using approved methods, fit BCD and weightbelt.

A. Enter water - carry out full venting of suit.

B. Achieve neutral buoyancy.

C. Swim 15 metres breaststroke and 15 metres on back.

D. Carry out head and feet first diving techniques.

E. Orally inflate BCD or if applicable, dry suit. Follow by deflation.

F. Fit basic equipment.

June 2013 Page 1 of 6

4.3 DRY SUIT COURSE G. Fin 30 metres on surface.

H. Fin 30 metres submerged

(TIME for 6. = 1½ hour.)

7. BRIEFING - Buoyancy changes/inversion.

(TIME for 7. = ½ hour.)

EQUIPMENT - DRY SUIT AND FULL DIVING EQUIPMENT

8. Demonstration of attitude control by Instructor.

(TIME for 8 = ½ hour.)

9. POOL DRILL FOR TRAINEES a. Don suit, fit diving equipment under direction of instructor. b. Vent suit prior to entering water. c. Enter water and fully vent suit, achieving correct buoyancy. d. Dive to 4 metres (if possible in pool). Counteract loss of buoyancy by suit inflation to give neutral buoyancy. Vent suit and surface. e. REPEAT TO SATISFACTION OF INSTRUCTOR. f. Over inflate on surface. Regain attitude by the approved methods, as shown in demonstration. g. Achieve head-down attitude on surface. Correct by approved methods, as shown in demonstration. REPEAT TO SATISFACTION OF INSTRUCTOR. h. Share alternative air source in a HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL position whilst achieving neutral buoyancy control. REPEAT TO SATISFACTION OF INSTRUCTOR. (TIME for 9 = 45 mins.)

10. DE-BRIEF

(TIME for 10 = 15 mins.)

OPEN WATER DIVE Equipment - Dry Suit and full S.C.U.B.A

11. Dive (minimum 20 minutes)

(TIME for 11 = 1 hour.)

12. De-Brief Remove Dry Suit.

(TIME for 12 = 15 mins.)

June 2013 Page 2 of 6

4.3 DRY SUIT COURSE LECTURES

13. Care and maintenance of Dry Suits and associated equipment.

(TIME for 13 = 20 mins.)

14. MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAM - Pass Mark must be 60%.

(TIME for 14 = 30 mins.)

15. Course Discussion.

(TIME for 15 = 20 mins.)

End of Course - Thank you for your interest and attendance.

**CAUTION - Beware of overheating when out of the water**

S.A.A. DRY SUIT COURSE

GUIDELINES TO INSTRUCTORS

Note –

Pool sessions must be under supervision of SAA Club Instructor or above.

Open Water session candidate must be under personal supervision of SAA Open Water Instructor or above.

LECTURES

1. Advantages - Complete thermal protection, biological protection (if used with full face mask, dry gloves and boots).

Disadvantages - specialist training required, expensive major repair, requires specialist knowledge.

2. Dry Suit Control Systems - to Include suit inflation dump valve emergency breathing system. Describe positioning, function and methods of operation. SUGGESTION - instructor uses a fully dressed diver for demonstration.

3. The effect of pressure to include - Boyles Law and Burst Lung and Air embolism.

4. Dry Suit squeeze - its effects and prevention, with reference to particular materials used in dry suit manufacture and their reaction to various pressures, causing pain to the diver. Show prevention by partial suit inflation.

Buoyant ascent - Explain how, by correct use of the suit inflation system, a buoyant ascent can be made. Emphasize dangers of over inflation.

June 2013 Page 3 of 6

4.3 DRY SUIT COURSE Air Migration - Explain the flow of air within the suit and its effect on attitude at depth.

5. Buoyancy aids - Explain the use of buoyancy compensators with a dry suit.

Buoyancy at depth - Explain the various methods of maintaining and correcting attitude at depth by use of suit-inflation and/or buoyancy compensator.

Correct Weighting - Explain the dangers of over-weighting and the problems of positive buoyancy. NOTE that air migration to the legs of the dry suit will cause the legs to rise whilst the diver is stationary. This could necessitate the use of ankle weights but correct trim will mitigate this effect.

6. Pool/Training Area – There are many pool depths available for diver training from a standard pool of about 2m to submarine escape tanks of 30m. The maximum depth should be in line with the candidate’s buoyancy skill. Initial training should be in a shallow pool until the Instructor / Diving Officer is satisfied the candidate is able safely to continue training in a deeper pool environment, bearing in mind that Risk Assessments covering this activity should reflect the candidate’s level of skill and the depth of the pool. a. Fitting of Dry Suits - Assistance may be needed with the fitting of certain patterns - rear zip. neck entry etc. Some makes of suit may have boots fitted, some with ankle type seats. The boots fitted to dry suits do not come in ordinary foot sizes and may be simply - small, medium or large. In such cases it may be advisable to wear extra socks, in order to reduce the airspace within the boots, which could cause inversion due to air migration to the feet. Fin retainers and extra individual neoprene knee-pads will also serve to prevent air migration.

b. Suit Venting-

Initial - squat down; vent air through neck seal or wrist cuff by gently easing the seal away from the neck or wrist with the thumb and forefinger. Stress that the material CAN BE DAMAGED BY THE FINGERNAILS!

Full - Achieved in the water by operation of the dump valve or by easing the wrist seal away from the wrist seal away from the wrist with the arm held above the head. (Some NATO pattern dry suits have 'duck-bill' valve attached to the rear of the hood, which will automatically vent the suit when the diver is in the vertical position). c. Achieve Neutral Buoyancy - By correct weighting. So that it is possible for the trainee to breathe through the snorkel, in a horizontal position on the surface, without having to inflate the suit or the ABLJ/compensator.

d. Swim 15m breaststroke and 15m on back. - This exercise will, as far as possible, test the candidate's stamina and will demonstrate the drag in the water on the dry suit compared with a wet suit.

e. Head and Feet-first Diving Techniques - Head-first surface dive to be carried out as for wet suit training. Beware of excessive air in suit which could migrate to the feet causing inversion. Feet-first diving should not be carried out

June 2013 Page 4 of 6

4.3 DRY SUIT COURSE whilst over-weighted but should be completed in such a way, that the candidate can change to a swimming position once under water.

f. BCD/Suit Inflation - Should be completed from a neutrally buoyant position. Treading water should not be necessary. Orally inflate BCD and inflate suit and vent by approved methods, to include each dump valve deflation, and dry suit wrist seal.

g. h. and i. Fit Basic Equipment. 60m swim - Fit mask fins and snorkel. Surface swim for 30 metres. This again will demonstrate the amount of drag a dry suit causes. Swim 30m submerged. As this is a difficult exercise while breath- holding in a dry suit, the candidate is allowed a short break at the half point. 8. Demonstration of Attitude Control by Instructor - Instructor to demonstrate the head-up position when the suit is over inflated. This can be achieved by the use of fins pulling the body into the correct attitude. The arms may also be used pulling backwards or forwards as required. Instructor should demonstrate the methods of correcting an inversion by use of buoyancy compensator, forward and backward rolls, buddy assistance; the danger of over-inflation should AGAIN be stressed as a diver could be immobilised and the pressure exerted on the neck seal could have a choking effect.

9. Pool Drill for Trainees a. Trainees to don suit and full SCUBA under supervision. Instructors should check that the weight belt or the BCD does not obstruct the suit inflation or dump valves.

b. Trainees to initially vent suit.

c. Enter water, fully vent suit and carry out buoyancy check.

d. Surface dive, head or feet first, and achieve neutral buoyancy mid-water by partial suit inflation.

N.B. CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE TRAINEE CORRECTLY VENTS SUIT AT THE APPROPRIATE RATE WHEN SURFACING e., f., g. & h. - Should be continued until the Instructor is totally satisfied that the trainee is fully conversant and competent with the operation of the equipment. 11. Open Water Dive - The instructor should know the capabilities of the trainees from observation of the pool session, and should therefore pair each trainee with A QUALIFIED DIVER, who is fully conversant in dry suit use, to meet the trainee's needs and level of skill.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS must include - surface marker buoys, snorkel cover and standby divers.

Dive site should be safe water, clear of obstructions or traffic and have a depth of NO MORE THAN 15 metres.

June 2013 Page 5 of 6

4.3 DRY SUIT COURSE **CAUTION - Beware of overheating when out of the water**

June 2013 Page 6 of 6

4.3 NITROX DIVER SAA Nitrox Diver This one day classroom based course equips successful candidates with the theoretical knowledge to safely use the standard Nitrox mixes of 28%, 32%, 36% and 40% for dives to 40 msw.

Prerequisites:

. Current SAA member . SAA Open Water Diver or above, competent in SAA Buhlmann DeeP-Stop tables and planning (normal depth restrictions re diver grade apply) . Be aged 15 years or over (normal depth restrictions apply as per junior diver policy) . Hold a current dive medical or self certification

This is a Club based course with certificates issued by the Club Diving Officer, who may sign the certificates irrespective of whether they are themselves Nitrox qualified. The decision to sign the certificates is the Diving Officer’s; the role of the Instructor is to assess the competence of the candidate and recommend the award of the qualification where appropriate. If the Instructor does not assess the candidate as competent the Diving Officer must not issue the qualification. Course packs are supplied on the understanding that the NDO, or their representative, may attend any course run in any Club at any time, and may spot check documentation in relation to the running of such courses. Instructor’s reports and Exam sheets must be retained by the candidates’ club in their training records.

The course disc is available from Head Office and the Diving Officer must, prior to the course being delivered, obtain an individual copy of the full SAA Nitrox course pack for each candidate (unless candidates meet the current criteria for the “Family Pack” – details from Head Office). SAA Nitrox certificates and CMAS cards will be sent to Diving Officers on receipt of the “Instructor’s report to Diving Officer” showing the candidate has passed the course. Automatic registration as SAA Nitrox Diver will also be done.

The course Instructor must hold an SAA Club Nitrox Instructor certificate or SAA Nitrox Instructor certificate. The DO has the responsibility for satisfying him / her self that the appointed Instructor is competent and capable of delivering this training using the SAA Buhlmann DeeP-Stop system – exactly as for any other Club Training. Where a Club does not have suitably qualified Instructors then the DO can invite an SAA Instructor, qualified as above, from another Club to deliver the course in his / her Club. Or the members may attend another Club for this course. In either case the candidates’ own DO signs the Nitrox certificates. There is no facility to run this course as a standard Regional Course.

Medical advice is “If you are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant and want to be quite sure that no problem with the pregnancy or the outcome can be attributed to diving, then don't do it". This applies equally to diving on Nitrox and diving on air. So any female can attend this course but if pregnant, or trying to conceive, should not dive, either on Nitrox or on air.

Page 1 of 1 June ‘12 4.4 DIVING GRADES

5.1.1. NATIONAL DIVER

Page 1 of 1 5.1

NATIONAL DIVER

PRE-REQUISITES FOR NATIONAL DIVER ASSESSMENT 1. Current SAA membership and have been an SAA member for 5 years.

2. SAA Dive Supervisor for at least 2 years.

3. Current medical.

4. Hold the following current SAA certificates - Rescue Diver, O2/EDFA and at least two other SAA Regional skills course certificates.

5. Logged at least 100 dives in varying conditions and locations since becoming SAA Dive Supervisor.

6. At least 20 years old.

All applications are to be made on a SAA National Diver Assessment application form (available from Head Office). On completion, the form should be sent to Head Office for the attention of the National Diving Officer, accompanied by the basic fee and copies of the candidate's qualification book and dive log book. Assessments are held once a year normally in September. The Region Rep has to endorse the candidate’s application in addition to the support of the candidate’s DO. This is because the Reps have a core role in mentoring, or arranging the mentoring of the ND Candidate.

Like all SAA courses and assessments it is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure they meet all criteria on applying for this assessment, and any candidate subsequently found to have not met the criteria will not be eligible to continue, or will not have certificate issued, with no refund. The process will be designed to enable the candidate to prove their capabilities in organising, and participating in, diving expeditions and other diving activities with a particular stress on safety and emergency procedures. Where applicable, they may also choose to prove their competence in a given specialised area or in a scientific discipline. Candidates also have to pass an extensive test of their theoretical diving knowledge covering Advanced Dive Planning, Health and Safety, Risk Assessments and general diving knowledge to an advanced level.

National Diver candidates have a choice of completing a specialised project or task locally during the calendar year of application, or attending a formal 2 day assessment which will usually be in September that year. The local project or task should not be viewed as a cheaper, nor easier, option. The standard will be the same and costs will be similar to, or indeed probably higher than, the formal assessment. It is up to candidates to ensure there will be sufficient opportunity within their plan for them to prove their competency to perform complex underwater tasks as both leader and team player.

The basic fee is £50 covering exam costs and issue of SAA National Diver and CMAS 4* diver certificates. The candidate will be responsible for covering all ancillary expenses as agreed between the candidate and the assessor(s).

The closing date for applications for either route to National Diver is 31 January each year.

Page 1 of 1 5.1.1 Jan 2016 NATIONAL DIVER ASSESSMENT APPLICATION FORM

Course Title – National Diver Assessment

CANDIDATE INFORMATION Forename(s) Official use only Family Name Deposit

Address Balance

Checklist

Membership current Postcode Date of Birth Diving grade e-mail Medical Cert Home Phone Mobile #Dives since DS SAA Diving Grade Date attained Location + Date

SAA O2/EDFA Cert. Number 2 x Additional SAA Regional Skills Certs. held + Cert. Numbers:- SAA Diver Rescue Cert. Number

SAA Membership Number

# Years with SAA # Dives since achieving Dive Supervisor Assessment Outcomes Club Name Club Number Exam Pass / Fail / Refer Instructor CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION Signed I declare the above information is correct and I agree to abide by the rules of the SAA and any particular safety requirements of this assessment. I confirm I meet the minimum criteria (see Club Guidance Manual). Date I have attached copies of the relevant documents as per the CGM Signed Task Pass / Fail Date Instructor Signed DIVING OFFICER’S DECLARATION I am the diving officer of the above named Club, and I endorse this application. To the best of my knowledge Date the above information is correct. I certify that the dives since attaining Dive supervisor have been under varying conditions. Expedition Pass / Fail Instructor

Signed Signed Date Date

REGION REP’S DECLARATION Cert No I endorse this candidate and I am willing to arrange suitable training / mentoring in line with the ND guidance.

Signed Date

Notes to Region Reps Only to be signed if you believe the applicant is proven to have a high level of knowledge and ability, and has shown ability to organise a group of divers to achieve major tasks and projects underwater.

Once completed please return form to: Sub-Aqua Association Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane, Maghull Jan ‘13 Liverpool. L31 8BX 5.1.1A CLUB INSTRUCTOR

ENTRY CRITERIA

SAA Membership Current Medical Certificate SAA Dive Leader SAA Nitrox Diver At least 18 years old

The entry criteria must be met on application for the course. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the minimum criteria as shown above at the commencement of the course. Any successful candidate who is found to have not met the criteria will not have certificates issued, with no refund, and will have to re-apply for the course when they do meet the criteria.

COURSE DETAILS

Two-day regionally organised course introducing the candidates to the techniques and safety requirements of classroom and swimming pool lessons.

COSTS

Two-day course as set regionally

OUTCOME

Successful candidates will receive SAA Club Instructor incorporating SAA Club Nitrox Instructor certificates.

SAA Club Instructors and SAA Club Nitrox Instructors may take trainees through pool training, and teach theory or skills up to their own diver grade, including the delivery of the SAA Club Nitrox course (SAA Club Nitrox Instructors only). They may also assist in open water training under the direct control of an SAA Open Water Instructor.

Page 1 of 1 March 2014 5.2.1 OPEN WATER INSTRUCTOR

ENTRY CRITERIA

SAA Membership Current Medical Certificate SAA Dive Leader SAA Rescue Diver Experienced SAA Club Instructor - i.e about 12 hours teaching experience as a SAA Club Instructor or equivalent (equivalence to be determined by the NDO) Advisory Skills: O2/EDFA. (Note, this is not mandatory)

It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the minimum criteria at the time of application for the course. Any successful candidate who is found to have not met the criteria will not have certificates issued, with no refund, and will have to re-apply for the course when they do meet the criteria.

COURSE DETAILS

Two part course, split into theory and practical modules.

Module 1. Theory (dry) Brief lectures in Open Water Instructional Technique. Safety and assessment techniques. Knowledge review, including SAA Bühlmann tables. Resuscitation skills review

Module 2. Practical (wet) Each candidate shall carry out two assessed practical skills lessons on subjects given during part 1. Some rescue and incident scenario management work shall be assessed.

COSTS One day course fee as set by Region

OUTCOME

Successful candidate may take trainees for their open water training dives. Note Only OWI and above can TRAIN or ASSESS a diver in open water, a Dive Leader may only accompany a less experienced diver to allow that diver to gain experience.

May work on SAA skills courses (O2/EDFA, Diver First Aid, Rescue Diver, Club Instructor etc.) under the guidance of a Regional Instructor or higher, provided they already hold that certification.

From 1.1.2013 only SAA Open Water Instructors who hold SAA Rescue Diver qualification may be used in open water training or assessing – either at Regional or Club level.

Page 1 of 1 June 2013 5.2.2 REGIONAL INSTRUCTOR

ENTRY CRITERIA

SAA Membership Current medical/self certification (except where exemption is given by NDO under reasonable adjustments when a restricted certificate may by issued) Min age 20 years SAA Dive Supervisor Hold SAA Rescue Diver Hold SAA O2/EDFA certificate (current and in date at time of application) SAA Open Water Instructor – able to demonstrate considerable experience at that level Hold a minimum of 2 SAA Skill Instructor qualifications Submission of a completed Regional Instructor Course Application Form (available from head office) endorsed by Club Diving Officer and Regional Rep.

It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the minimum criteria as shown above at time of application. Any successful candidate who is found to have not met the criteria will not have certificates issued, with no refund, and will have to re-apply for the assessment when they do meet the criteria. The closing date for applications is 31st January and the assessment process has to be completed within 2 years. Applications can be submitted any time between 1st October and 31st January.

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Part One. Coordinate 3 Regional Courses (assessed)

Candidates are required to coordinate 3 SAA Regional Courses to the required standard, as set out in the Regional Instructor guidance pack.

Part Two. Knowledge Review.

This is a written exam testing diving knowledge, safety awareness and instructional techniques and will be taken between the second and final assessed courses.

Full details of the assessment process, criteria and conditions are available from the NDO or Head Office.

COSTS

The course fee covers administration, issue of SAA Regional Instructor certificate, CMAS 3* Instructor certificate and exam fees. Candidates are required to meet assessor’s expenses on a case by case basis. These will vary by geography.

OUTCOME

Successful candidate is awarded SAA Regional Instructor and CMAS 3* Instructor certificates on payment of the fees relevant at that time. A Regional Instructor may act as Course Coordinator for classroom / surface based SAA skills courses. Course Coordinators for SAA Rescue Diver must also hold the SAA skills Instructor qualification for that course. An SAA Regional Instructor may assist on SAA National Courses.

Page 1 of 1 June 2013 5.2.3 NATIONAL INSTRUCTOR

ENTRY CRITERIA

Current SAA membership. Continuous SAA membership for at least the preceding 5 years. SAA Dive Supervisor SAA Regional Instructor for at least 3 years and be in “active”* status. Hold at least 3 SAA Skills Instructor qualifications. Have served the SAA Regionally or Nationally.

ACTIVE STATUS – this means simply that the candidate has significant and recent experience at SAA Regional Instructor level. This must be evidenced, and should normally consist of a mixture of coordinating, or instructing on, at least 4 SAA Regional courses in the 4 years preceding award of National Instructor qualification.

SERVICE REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY – In order to obtain the skills and depth of knowledge of the SAA all NI candidates are required to have served in a Regional or National post within the SAA for at least 1 full year (AGM to AGM) and within the 4 years preceding their award. For example as a member of the National Council, a National Skills Coordinator, a Regional Skills Coordinator, a Regional Coach or similar.

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Project related work as set by the NDO. This will normally consist of writing a full course which significantly adds to the SAA’s ability to support it’s members. However alternative projects at a similar level may well be viable. The project, terms and parameters are discussed and agreed between the candidate and the NDO, with the NDO as the final arbiter.

The assessment period will run for a maximum of 2 years from initial application. If the project is not submitted within 2 years (or lesser time scale as agreed), for any reason, the qualification will not be awarded and the candidate will have to re-apply, using a different project, at a later date. Applications should be on a National Instructor Assessment Form, available from Head Office. There is no set cut off date for applications which may be submitted at any time.

This is the highest Instructor level within the SAA and holders of this award are potential National Diving Officers. Consequently standards will be of the highest order and the assessment should not be entered into lightly.

The submitted project will be assessed by the NDO personally, utilising specialist support from either inside or outside the SAA as required.

Because the assessment is bespoke to the candidate there are no hard and fast assessment criteria laid down. However it is expected that the NDO will be open and honest in the feedback to the candidate. It is also envisaged that there will be several sessions of mentoring and benchmarking involving the NDO and others as required during the candidate’s period of preparation of the project.

There is no appeal process in respect of the NDO assessing a candidate’s project as not reaching the required standard.

Page 1 of 2 June 2013 5.2.4 NATIONAL INSTRUCTOR

This award may also be awarded to a deserving, and suitably qualified, SAA member irrespective of whether that member has formally applied for such assessment, as a proper manner in which to recognise significant contribution, as a senior Instructor, to the SAA in a similar manner to that outlined in the above paragraphs. Where this route is taken the award must be ratified by the Executive, so will in essence be awarded by the Executive rather than the NDO. Nominations however may only be made by the NDO. It is not envisaged that this route will become the norm and will only be considered in specific cases where the current and recent contribution of the proposed recipient is clearly of the highest order.

Cost – As set centrally.

Page 2 of 2 June 2013 5.2.4 SKILLS DISCIPLINE INSTRUCTOR

SAA SKILLS COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Rescue Diver, O2/EDFA, Chartwork and Navigation, Gas Blender, Boat Handling etc.

ENTRY CRITERIA

SAA Membership Current Medical Certificate (only for in water courses, O2/EDFA and Boat Handling) SAA Dive Leader SAA Open Water Instructor Must hold the relevant SAA skills course certificate – i.e. SAA O2/EDFA, plus any requirements detailed under the individual courses

It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the minimum criteria as shown above at time of application. Any successful candidate who is found to have not met the criteria will not have certificates issued, with no refund, and will have to re-apply for the assessment when they do meet the criteria.

ASESSMENT DETAILS

Works on a minimum of two relevant SAA skills courses as an assistant to a qualified SAA Skills Instructor until the required standards of knowledge and ability are reached on two consecutive courses. Reaching the required standard on each course is certified by the course coordinator with advice from the SAA Skills Instructor as appropriate.

SAA Rescue Diver Instructor – Because parts of this course are devolved to Club DOs to arrange, the path for qualification as an SAA Rescue Diver Instructor is as follows – SAA Open Water Instructor with SAA Rescue Diver; deliver the Club aspects to the satisfaction of the Club DO (Theory session, Pool session and Open Water manikin practice), and then assist on at least 2 regional assessment sessions to the satisfaction of the course coordinator.

COSTS Standard SAA course certification costs as applicable. Expenses incurred will be met by the candidate. Any contribution towards expenses is a Regional matter.

OUTCOME Can act as an Instructor on Skills Courses

CROSSOVERS New members crossing over to the SAA who hold Skills Instructor certificates issued by other recognised scuba training agencies may have their certificates crossed over at the discretion of the NDO. The process is that the applicant must 1) have their diver grade crossed over by the club DO, then 2) apply for any rescue qualification crossed over to SAA Rescue Diver (this may involve additional assessments and SAA RD is a pre-requisite for SAA OWI) by the SAA National Rescue Diver Coordinator, then 3) apply for their Instructor grade certification to be crossed over to SAA Open Water Instructor (SAA OWI is a pre-requisite for SAA Skills Instructor) by the SAA NDO and finally 4) apply for their Skill Instructor certification to be crossed over to the SAA equivalent by the SAA NDO on the recommendation of the SAA National Coordinator for that skill course. Whilst this may sound complex the order is necessary to ensure all criteria for

Page 1 of 2 5.2.5 March 2014

SKILLS DISCIPLINE INSTRUCTOR the Skills Instructor certification are met as outlined above. In keeping with the SAA’s crossover policy members may only cross over skills Instructor qualifications once. The policy is designed to support Clubs and Regions by facilitating the recognition of other agencies qualifications – not to circumvent the SAA training system by SAA members.

Page 2 of 2 5.2.5 March 2014

CLUB NITROX INSTRUCTOR

ENTRY CRITERIA

Current SAA membership. SAA Club Instructor SAA Nitrox Diver

Existing SAA Club Instructors (or above) who meet all the above criteria may apply for the award of SAA Club Nitrox Instructor qualification by way of fully completing the application form (available from Head Office) which is endorsed by their Diving Officer.

From 1 January 2013 all successful candidates on the SAA Club Instructor course will automatically achieve SAA Club Nitrox Instructor.

Applicants must hold SAA Nitrox Diver qualification, which may be by virtue of a cross over or as a result of attending the SAA Nitrox course.

Only SAA Instructors who hold SAA Club Nitrox Instructor or SAA Nitrox Instructor certificates are permitted to deliver SAA Club Nitrox courses.

COSTS

For attendance on the SAA Club Instructor course normal Regionally set fees apply.

Application forms for upgrade from SAA Club Instructor to SAA Club Nitrox Instructor as outlined above will incur an administration fee at the current rate (check with Head Office).

Page 1 of 1 March 2014 5.2.6 O2/EDFA Aim The SAA O2 / EDFA Course (Oxygen Administration and Emergency Diver First Aid) introduces the student to the use of oxygen as the primary First Aid procedure for diving related illnesses, to produce a high standard in the administration of CPR to a diving casualty, to teach and assess the management of emergency situations and satisfy the requirements of an emergency first aid course focussed on a diver’s needs.

The course culminates with both practical and theoretical tests to ensure that the required standard has been achieved.

Entry Criteria

Current SAA membership Minimum age 16 years Current Medical / Self declaration

As the primary first aid treatment for diving related injuries this qualification is recommended for all divers. Non divers may attend the course but need to complete the medical self certification as if a diver (this to ensure the candidate has no contraindications to breathing pure oxygen).

Costs Regional based course with fees set locally.

Awarded Qualification:

SAA O2 / EDFA Qualification Record Book Certificate.

N.B. To remain current, qualification must be renewed every 3 years.

To renew your SAA O2/EDFA qualification you can attend a SAA O2/EDFA Refresher course. If your First Aid certification is from an outside agency i.e. HSE Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work or similar your SAA O2/EDFA certificate will be valid until the same date as that certificate. If you refresh that certificate via a HSE course you should notify HQ, and send a copy of the certificate. Head Office will then update your records.

Crossovers are available from other agencies’ qualifications providing all the criteria that are covered in the SAA O2/EDFA Course have been covered in the course you are wishing to crossover from. In essence that means holding a recognised Oxygen Administration certificate from a diver training agency, and a recognised first aid certificate from a course lasting at least 6 hours (1 day).

Copy of both certificates must be submitted to Head Office with the cross over application form.

Examples - A diver with current PADI Emergency Responder Primary and Secondary care and Oxygen Provider or a diver with BSAC Oxygen Provider and current Emergency First Aid at Work both cross straight over to SAA O2/EDFA.

Note – the above is a simplistic overview of the processes. Please refer to the National O2/EDFA Coordinator for full details

Page 1 of 1 June 2013 5.3.1 RESCUE DIVER

The SAA Rescue Diver program provides the candidate with the diving skills and underpinning knowledge to improve or refresh their basic diving skills as well as developing their rescue skills.

Prerequisites Current SAA Membership Medical Self Certificate with Formal Medical Certificate, if required. Experienced SAA Club Diver or Above Minimum of 10 open water dives logged in UK waters since qualifying as a Club Diver. O2/EDFA* Certification, valid at the time of Rescue Diver certification. Authorisation of Club Diving Officer. Minimum age 16. Parental or Legal Guardian's authority for minors * SAA Oxygen admin & SAA Diver First Aid accepted where certification is before 1st January 2012 and the SAA Diver First Aid is still valid at the time of Rescue Diver certification.

Program Outline

The program consists of four areas; theoretical knowledge, Practical knowledge application, confined water skills and open water skills covering the following:

 Dive Planning  Common causes of diver stress and diving emergencies  Identifying a dive emergency or diver in need  Dive rescue procedures, both underwater and on the surface, treatment of injuries  First aid supplies and dive rescue equipment  Rescue management  Rescuer healthy and safety  Accident Avoidance and Incident Management  Risk Assessments

The DO will submit the candidates National Course Application Form, together with the Rescue Diver check list, completed exam paper and registration fee to SAA Head Office. Head Office will arrange for the paperwork to be forwarded to the appropriate region.

The Course Coordinator then liaises with the candidates and their Dos to arrange the theory and practice sessions.

The theoretical knowledge, pool and confined water skill segments of the program are conducted within the club under the direct control of the club DO and club SAA instructors (SAA CI or above for theory / pool sessions and SAA OWI or above for open water sessions – in all cases the Instructor must hold SAA Rescue Diver). When the DO is satisfied that a candidate has reached the required standard the club DO will over see the Rescue Diver exam.

Club DOs must ensure that their Rescue Diver program is scheduled so that all aspects of the program can be completed before the national assessment day, work with your regional rep when putting your program together.

Tuition and advice are available from Rescue Diver Instructors to assist candidates and their DO in their preparation and clubs should look to regions who will make the rescue

Page 1 of 2 June 2013 5.3.2 RESCUE DIVER manikins available for practice sessions. Practice may only be undertaken under the direct supervision of an SAA Open Water Instructor who holds SAA Rescue Diver qualification.

A fully detailed Candidate and Instructor Overview pack is available from your Regional Rep, Regional Rescue Diver Coordinator, or National Rescue Diver Co-ordinator at [email protected]. Recommended reading – “Manikin Hints & Tips” is available for download from the SAA web site.

*References to SAA Rescue Diver include SAA Diver Rescue. References to SAA O2 / EDFA include SAA O2 Administration and SAA Diver First Aid qualifications.

Instructor Development – Because parts of this course are devolved to Club DOs to arrange, the path for qualification as an SAA Rescue Diver Instructor is as follows – SAA Open Water Instructor with SAA Rescue Diver; deliver the Club aspects to the satisfaction of the Club DO (Theory session, Pool session and Open Water manikin practice), and then assist on at least 2 regional assessment sessions to the satisfaction of the course coordinator.

Costs

The practical assessment day will vary from Region to Region and candidates should bare in mind that this is high examiner to candidate ratio event. Costs will be born by the candidate and are in addition to the course registration fee.

OUTCOME

SAA Rescue Diver qualification

Page 2 of 2 June 2013 5.3.2 SELF RELIANT DIVER

ENTRY CRITERIA

Current SAA membership Current Medical / Self declaration At least 18 years old SAA Dive Leader SAA Rescue Diver Evidence of at least 100 dives

The SAA does not endorse nor encourage solo diving. This course does not enable an SAA member to dive alone. The SAA is committed to, and totally supports, the concept of the buddy system. Planned solo diving is entirely outside the SAA guidelines.

It is recognised however that some categories of diver (for example Instructors, photographers etc. and their buddies) are more vulnerable than others due to the inexperience of buddy divers or task loading, and this course aims to address that issue.

This is a one day course looking at self reliance, redundancy of equipment, gas planning and management, equipment configuration, mental attitude and physical skills designed to heighten the ability of a diver to safely deal themselves with incidents during a dive. The day consists of about 2 hours theory and 3 open water dives where the theoretical input and techniques are practiced and assessed in open water.

Successful completion of the course will result in the award of SAA Self Reliant Diver skills course qualification book certificate.

Instructors SAA Self Reliant Diver Instructors must hold SAA Open Water Instructor, SAA Diver Rescue Instructor, along with the additional, generic, requirements common for all Instructors including holding SAA Self Reliant Diver qualification.

Course Coordinators Course coordinators must be an SAA Regional Instructor, or above, and hold SAA Self Reliant Diver Instructor qualification.

COSTS This is a Regionally organised course with the fees set locally. It is an advanced and assessor intensive course so consequently is likely to be more expensive than many other SAA courses.

Page 1 of 1 June 2013 5.3.3 BASIC BOATHANDLING

Objectives

To give members with little or no boat handling experience, theoretical and practical instruction in small boat handling, including techniques relevant to diving, and related safety knowledge.

At the end of the course candidates should: • Be familiar with the boat and its equipment. • Understand the factors affecting boat handling. • Understand pre-launch and voyage planning. • Understand the responsibilities of the boat handler and owner. • Have gained at least two hours of hands-on boat handling experience.

Requirements

Current SAA membership. Current SAA Boat Handling Course Manual. No diving qualifications needed. Minimum age – 14 years.

Qualifications Awarded

SAA Basic Boat Handling Logbook & Wall Certificate.

Course Length

The SAA basic Boat Handling Course is of two days duration with a theory and practical exam at the end of day two.

However, it is possible to hold the theory sessions at different times and venues prior to the practical sessions and assessments. There must not be over one month’s break between the theory and practical sessions. All candidates must receive the course books prior to the start of training.

Course Examination

The course examination will consist of: • Ongoing oral assessment by instructors. • A practical assessment which tests a candidate’s ability to control a small powerboat and to carry out specific tasks and manoeuvres.

Course Outline

Theory Skills:

The Boat Handling Course

• Outlines the course content, domestics/logistics and timetable.

The Boat and its Equipment

• The component elements of the boat and its equipment.

Page 1 of 8 5.4.1 BASIC BOATHANDLING

Owner and Driver Responsibilities

• To make candidates aware of their obligations, as owners or drivers of small boats, to other water users in particular or the public in general.

Boat Handling Basics

• A briefing of the safety issues and handling concepts that a candidate will put into practice in the practical sessions.

Examination

• Oral and practical.

Course Debrief

• Further training opportunities.

Practical Skills:

Boat “Walk Round” Familiarisation

• To put classroom work in the context of the actual boat to be used for practical lessons.

Voyage Planning Exercise 1

• Practical exercise of voyage planning discussed in ‘Owner and Driver Responsibilities’ lesson.

Sheltered Water Handling

• Candidates to become familiar with basic boat handling techniques in a benign environment.

Voyage Planning Exercise 2

• Candidates to prepare a voyage plan for the subsequent boat handling exercises.

Open Water Handling

• To introduce additional manoeuvres in sheltered water and extend practice of previously learned manoeuvres into less sheltered water.

Anchoring and Diving

• To further consolidate general boat handling skills and to introduce new skills requiring precision boat handling and management of crew assistance.

Page 2 of 8 5.4.1 BASIC BOATHANDLING

GUIDANCE FOR BOAT HANDLING COURSE ORGANISERS

Introduction

The Combined Diving Associations (CDA) initiative is to provide a common, and hence recognisable, standard of instruction appropriate to the requirements of sport diving. The members of the CDA are: the Sub Aqua Association (SAA) British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC), Professional Association Diving Instructors (PADI), and the Scottish Sub-Aqua Club (SSAC) and is supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Objectives

To give members with little or no boat handling experience, theoretical and practical instruction in small boat handling, including techniques relevant to diving, and related safety knowledge. Entry Requirements

Minimum age: 14 years. (If you have under 18’s on your course, all instructors will be required to have Criminal Records Bureau/ Disclosure Scotland or appropriate country criminal record checks conducted. Forms are available from SAA Head Office). Instructor Requirements

All instructors must be approved Boat Handling Instructors (BHIs). They may be assisted by Boat Handling Assistants (BHAs) who may only give instruction under the direct supervision of a BHI. Requirements for qualification as a BHA and BHI are defined in the Boat Handling Assistant and Boat Handling Instructor Criteria sections of the SAA Guidance Manual.

Student – Instructor Ratios

A maximum of three candidates per approved boat handling Instructor.

Facilities and Equipment Required

Classroom – a classroom of an adequate size to seat all candidates plus staff. Either OHP or data projector computer facilities or a whiteboard/chalkboard will be required to present visual aids. Sufficient space and tables for each boat group (candidates plus instructor) to lay out charts etc. to prepare their voyage plans.

Boats – small planing boats

Typically of a length between 5 and 8 metres. As a minimum, they must be adequate size for groups of up to 4 people. It is recommended that they be equipped with the CDA document “Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Member Club Dive Boats”. All boats used must be covered, as a minimum, by their own third party insurance.

Location

A coastal location that provides access to both sheltered water for the initial lesson and more open water for the later lessons. Different locations may be used to satisfy the two requirements. Inland sites are not acceptable.

Also required are: a chart of the area; a parallel rule; Chart 5011; local tidal information; current weather forecast and a waterproof slate/notebook.

Page 3 of 8 5.4.1 BASIC BOATHANDLING

Lesson Notes and Visual Aids

The lesson notes and visual aids are intended to define the content of each lesson in terms of the scope and depth of the subject matter. The notes are not intended as lesson prompts but to enable instructors to prepare their own lesson notes in their preferred format. Provided that the scope and depth is maintained, instructors are free to tailor the lessons to suit their own preferred style or circumstances.

The visual aids that complement the lesson notes are produced in PowerPoint format. Some of the illustrations use multi stages of builds which ideally require a presentation either via a computer display or data projector. If the files are to be used to produce OHP slides, instructors will need to produce multiple copies of some visual aids, with each copy suitably edited to display each stage of the build.

Practical Lessons

The practical lessons are based on the principle that all on-water exercises are first demonstrated by the instructor before candidate practice is supervised, except where stated otherwise. During candidate practice it is essential that the instructor has ready access to the controls, particularly the engine kill button/switch, in case safety considerations dictate that intervention is necessary.

The duration of practical lessons are defined to allow sufficient time for instructor demonstrations and for each student to have at least 40 mins. hands-on control of the boat in each lesson, spread across all the elements of the lesson. Candidates should each therefore achieve a total of at least 2 hours of hands-on experience of boat handling during the course. Reduction of this requirement is not acceptable.

Course Literature

The Boat Handling Course, Course Manual is required for each candidate.

The Boat Handling Course, Instructor Manual is required for each BHA, BHI and course organisers.

The Guidelines For The Safe Operation Of Member Club Dive Boats can be found in PDF format at: www.bsac.org/techserv/diveboat1.htm A printed copy should be made available for every course.

Page 4 of 8 5.4.1 BASIC BOATHANDLING

Lesson Sequencing

Classroom lessons are structured to provide the pre-requisite knowledge appropriate to their counterpart practical lessons. Classroom and practical lessons should therefore be run in an integrated sequence as follows:

BH1 Classroom lesson The Boat Handling Course BH2 Classroom lesson The Boat and its Equipment BH3 Practical lesson Boat “Walk Round” Familiarisation BH4 Classroom lesson Owner and Driver Responsibilities BH5 Classroom lesson Boat Handling Basics BH6 Practical lesson Voyage Planning Exercise 1 BH7 Practical lesson Sheltered Water Handling BH8 Practical lesson Voyage Planning Exercise 2 BH9 Practical lesson Open Water Handling BH10 Practical lesson Anchoring and Diving BH11 Classroom lesson Course Debrief

The most convenient arrangement is for the course to be run as a two day event with all the lessons up to and including “Sheltered Water Handling” on the first day. The course may however be run as a series of separate sessions, including evening classroom lessons, to suite local circumstances. The overall sequence should however be maintained to ensure the logical progression of skills and knowledge. If the on-water practical lessons are split over three sessions then a further “Voyage Planning Exercise” should be inserted before the “Anchoring and Diving Lesson”.

There must not be over one month’s break between the theory and practical sessions. All candidates must receive the course books prior to the start of training.

Definitions

Certain terms are used in the on-water practical lessons which are defined as follows:

Sheltered Water – calm water with little wind or wave action.

Open Water – water subject to wind and wave action to an extent that significant attention has to be paid to their impact on how the boat is handled and conscious action has to be taken to counter their effects.

Page 5 of 8 5.4.1 BASIC BOATHANDLING

Suggested times for lessons

BH1 Classroom lesson The Boat Handling Course 15 mins

BH2 Classroom lesson The Boat and its Equipment 90 mins

BH3 Practical lesson Boat “Walk Round” Familiarisation 50 mins

BH4 Classroom lesson Owner and Driver Responsibilities 50 mins

BH5 Classroom lesson Boat handling Basics 50 mins

BH6 Practical lesson Voyage Planning Exercise 1 45 mins

BH7 Practical lesson Sheltered Water Handling 150 mins

BH8 Practical lesson Voyage Planning Exercise 2 30 mins

BH9 Practical lesson Open Water Handling 180 mins

BH10 Practical lesson Anchoring and Diving 150 mins

BH11 Classroom lesson Course Debrief 30 mins

Practical Practical Assessment 60 mins

Total classroom time 3 hours 55 mins

Total practical time 11 hours 05 mins

Total breaks and lunch 2 hours

Total 17 hours

Page 6 of 8 5.4.1 BASIC BOATHANDLING

Example course timetable

Times are subject to change with regard to tides, location and time of year.

Day One

0845 - 0900 Registration 15 mins

0900 - 0915 The Boat Handling Course 15 mins

0915 - 1000 The Boat and its Equipment 90 mins

1000 -1015 Break 15 mins

1015 - 1100 The Boat and its Equipment 45 mins

1100 - 1150 Boat “Walk Round” Familiarisation 45 mins

1150 - 1240 Owner and Driver Responsibilities 50 mins

1240 - 1310 Lunch 30 mins

1310 - 1400 Boat handling Basics 50 mins

1400 - 1445 Voyage Planning Exercise 1 45 mins

1445 - 1500 Break 15 mins

1500 - 1730 Sheltered Water Handling 150 mins

1730 - 1745 Course Debrief 30 mins

Day Two

0845 -0900 Registration 15 mins

0900 – 0930 Voyage Planning Exercise 2 30 mins

0930 - 1230 Open Water Handling 180 mins

1230 -1330 Lunch 60 mins

1330 - 1600 Anchoring and Diving 150 mins

1600 - 1700 Practical Assessments 60 mins 1700 – 1730 Results/Course Debrief 30 mins

1730 Course end

Page 7 of 8 5.4.1 BASIC BOATHANDLING

Oral Assessment

Continuous oral assessment of each candidate will be carried out by the instructors. Questions are to be based on the course syllabus. Instructors will be required to keep notes on candidate performance.

Practical Assessment

The practical assessment will take place at sea and each candidate will be required to demonstrate their ability to carry out the following:

• Steer a compass course. • Figure of eight turn. • Man overboard. • Come alongside. • Reverse manoeuvring.

Instructors to change over so that they do not assess those they taught.

Please Note

The speed of the boat during these exercises may be determined by the sea and weather conditions. Instructors/assessors should ensure that the candidates have sufficient ‘power on’ to ensure control of the boat during the various practical exercises.

Criteria for SAA Boat Handling Cross-Overs

RYA Powerboat Level 2 BSAC Basic Boat Handling Certificate Other equivalent organisations certificates

Page 8 of 8 5.4.1 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

SAA CHARTWORK AND NAVIGATION COURSE

Objectives

To give members with little or no experience in chartwork or navigation, theoretical instruction in the use of navigational charts and navigational aids.

It should be remembered that this is an introduction to chartwork and navigation and not a boat handling course, candidates should therefore be encouraged to complete an SAA or other organisation approved boat handling course.

Requirements

Current SAA membership. Current RYA Day Skipper Course Book. No diving qualifications needed. Minimum age 14

Qualifications Awarded

SAA Chartwork and Navigation Logbook & Wall Certificate.

Course Length

The SAA Chartwork and Navigation Course duration is of two days with a theory and practical exam.

Course Examination

The course examination will consist of:

75 mins written exam paper which includes a plotting exercise.

The questions try to cover all aspects that divers are likely to encounter as they are asked to perform chartwork and navigation duties within their clubs.

Page 1 of 9 5.4.2 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

Course Outline

Theory Skills

An introduction to charts

Latitude and Longitude

Navigational instruments

Navigational marks

Tides

The compass

Laying a course

Position fixing

Weather information

Practical

Practical exercises

Examinations

Theory Exam

Practical Exam

Page 2 of 9 5.4.2 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

GUIDANCE FOR CHARTWORK & NAVIGATION INSTRUCTORS

Objectives

To give members with little or no experience in chartwork or navigation the theoretical instruction in the use of navigational charts and navigational aids. This should be at a level which will assist candidates in the planning and managing of dives undertaken by a typical SAA club.

Entry Requirements

Minimum age: 14 years. (If you have under 18’s on your course, it is recommended that all instructors have Criminal Records Bureau/Disclosure Scotland or appropiate country criminal record checks conducted. Forms are available from SAA Head Office).

Instructor Requirements

All instructors must be approved SAA Chartwork and Navigation Instructors. They may be assisted by SAA instructors who hold a Coxswain’s Certificate and a Chartwork and Navigation Certificate.

Requirements for qualification as a Chartwork and Navigation Instructor (CNI) and Assistant Chartwork and Navigation Instructor (ACNI) are defined in the Chartwork and Navigation Instructor Criteria sections of the SAA Guidance Manual.

Facilities and Equipment Required

The following facilities will be required to conduct the course:

Classroom

A classroom of adequate size to seat all candidates plus staff. Either OHP or data projector computer facilities and/or a whiteboard/chalkboard will be required to present visual aids. Sufficient space and tables for candidates to lay out charts etc. will be required.

Chartwork and Navigation equipment

It is hoped that regions will supply the basic equipment for these courses or that the clubs supply their members on the course with the equipment. Many regions have been able to raise money or apply for grants to provide this equipment.

Sufficient charts for one per candidate (Practice Chart 5050) or charts being used for the course. Chart 5011 (one per class). Pencil & Dividers. Parallel rules, Breton Plotters and Douglas Protractors. Erasers. Pencil sharpeners.

As a break from indoor work try and have a selection of Transits and Bearings already chosen and send the candidates outside to find them.

Page 3 of 9 5.4.2 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

Lesson Notes and Visual Aids

Instructors and course organisers will require to make up their own visual aids for this course. A combination of PowerPoint presentations via computer display or data projector and the use of a white/chalkboard are the most suited media for this course.

Practical Lessons

The practical lessons are based on the principle that all exercises are first demonstrated by the instructor before candidate practice is supervised.

The duration of practical lessons are defined to allow sufficient time for instructor demonstrations and for each student to have sufficient time to learn and practice the skills.

Facilities and equipment available will determine the course sizes. Course organisers and instructors may have to extend or shorten the practical exercises to match the number of candidates.

Course Literature ‘Navigation Book’ – A newcomers guide by Sara Hopkinson’is required for each candidate

Page 4 of 9 5.4.2 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

Course Content

Theory Skills

An introduction to charts

Chart information and features. Admiralty Chart Symbols Book 5011. Chart datum. Compass rose and magnetic variation.

Latitude and Longitude

Prime meridian. Definitions of latitude and longitude. Mercator projection.

Navigational instruments

Parallel rulers and rolling rulers. Breton/Hurst Plotters, Douglas Protractors. Dividers, pencils, rubbers, magnifying glass.

Navigational marks

IALA buoyage system. Lateral buoys. Cardinal buoys. Isolated Danger Marks. Safe Water Marks.

Tides

Causes. Sun and Moon. Springs and Neaps. Slack water. Standard ports. Secondary ports. Rule of Twelfths.

The compass

Types, fixed, hand bearing. Degrees and compass points. Variation and Deviation. Errors and corrections.

Page 5 of 9 5.4.2 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

Laying a course

Water track. Ground track. Tidal Set and Drift. Effect of wind at slow speed.

Position fixing

Estimated position. Compass bearings. Transits.

Weather information

Sources of information.

Practical exercises

Practical exercises using charts band navigational instruments. Plotting positions, transits, courses, tidal set and drift.

Theory Exam

A written assessment on the theory skills.

Practical Exam

A plotting exercise using all the practical skills as taught on the course.

Page 6 of 9 5.4.2 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

Suggested times for lectures

An introduction to charts 45 mins

Latitude and Longitude 45 mins

Navigational instruments 30 mins

Navigational marks 45 mins

Tides 30 mins

The Compass 45 mins

Laying a course 45 mins

Position fixing 45 mins

Weather information 30 mins

Practical exercises 4 hours 15 mins

Theory and Practical Exam 60 mins

The number of Instructors to candidates for the practical sessions and the level of candidates’ prior knowledge will determine the length of the practical sessions.

Page 7 of 9 5.4.2 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

Example course timetable

Day One

0900 - 0915 Classroom Registration and introduction 15 mins

0915 - 1000 Classroom An Introduction to charts 45 mins

1000 - 1045 Classroom Latitude and Longitude 45 mins

1045 - 1100 Break 15 mins

1100 - 1115 Outdoors Practical outside 15 mins

1115 - 1145 Classroom Navigational Instruments 30 mins

1145 - 1230 Classroom Navigational Marks 45 mins

1230 - 1330 Lunch 60 mins

1330 - 1400 Classroom Tides 30 mins

1400 - 1430 Classroom Weather information 30 mins

1430 - 1515 Classroom The Compass 45 mins

1515 - 1530 Break 15 mins

1530 - 1615 Classroom Laying a course 45 mins

1615 - 1645 Classroom Practical session 30 mins

1645 - 1700 Classroom Debrief 15 mins

Page 8 of 9 5.4.2 CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION

Day Two

0900 - 0915 Classroom Registration and introduction 15 mins

0915 - 1000 Classroom Position fixing 45 mins

1000 - 1045 Classroom Practical session 45 mins

1045 - 1100 Break 15 mins

1100 - 1200 Classroom Practical (Assist when required) 60 mins

1200 - 1300 Lunch 60 mins

1300 - 1400 Classroom Practical (Minimal assistance) 60 mins

1400 - 1430 Classroom Questions from candidates 30 mins

1430 -1515 Classroom Practical (Minimal assistance) 45 mins

1515 - 1530 Break 15 mins

1530 - 1630 Classroom Written and practical examination 60 mins

1630 – 1700 Classroom Results and Course debrief 30 mins

1700 Course end

Total Course Time: 16 hours

Criteria for SAA Chartwork and Navigation Cross-Overs

RYA Day Skipper Certificate and above BSAC Chartwork and Navigation Certificate Other equivalent organisations certificates

Page 9 of 9 5.4.2 DIVER COXSWAIN

Objectives

To asses a candidate’s practical boat handling skills, and the underpinning knowledge related to the general handling of small boats and to diving specific boat handling activities.

Requirements

· Current SAA membership. · Minimum age 16 years · SAA Basic Boat Handling Certificate or equivalent. · Proof of logged hours and experience, (min 5 hours diving related boat handling experience). Or · At least 20 hours substantiated/logged diving related boat handling experience.

All candidates must have:

· Letter of recommendation from club Diving Officer. · VHF and/or VHF-GMDSS Operators Licence. · SAA Chartwork and Navigation Certificate or equivalent. · SAA First Aid Certificate/02 Administration Certificate or equivalent. · No diving qualifications needed.

Qualifications Awarded

SAA Diver Coxswain Logbook & Wall Certificate.

Course Length

The SAA Diver Coxswain Assessment Course is of one day duration with oral and practical assessments.

Course Examination

The course assessments will consist of:

· Voyage planning – oral and practical. · Boat handling – practical assessment. General boat handling and diving specific skills. · Knowledge assessment – an ongoing oral assessment of each candidate’s theory knowledge of relevant and related topics.

Course Literature

The Diver Cox’n Assessor Manual is required for each assessor and course organiser.

The Guidelines For The Safe Operation Of Member Club Dive Boats can be found in PDF format at: www.bsac.org/techserv/diveboat1.htm A printed copy should be made available for every course.

Page 1 of 7 Jly ‘08 5.4.3 DIVER COXSWAIN

Course Outline

Introduction and Briefings

· Outlines the course content, domestics/logistics and timetable.

Voyage planning

· Practical exercise of voyage planning – oral and practical assessment of a candidate’s ability.

Boat Familiarisation

· Candidates to be given a period of time to familiarize themselves with the boat and equipment they will be using for the assessments.

Prepare, Check and Launch Boats

· Assessments of a candidate’s ability to prepare check and launch a boat.

Handling Familiarisation

· Candidates to be given a period of time to familiarize themselves with the boat’s handling characteristics.

Practical and Oral Assessments

· Ongoing oral and practical assessments of a candidate’s ability to coxswain a dive boat.

Course Debrief

· Results of assessments and course debrief.

Page 2 of 7 Jly ‘08 5.4.3 DIVER COXSWAIN

GUIDANCE FOR COURSE ORGANISERS

Introduction

The Combined Diving Associations (CDA) initiative is to provide a common, and hence recognisable, standard of instruction appropriate to the requirements of sport diving. The members of the CDA are: the Sub Aqua Association (SAA) British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC), Professional Association Diving Instructors (PADI), and the Scottish Sub-Aqua Club (SSAC) and is supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Objectives

To asses a candidate’s practical boat handling skills, and the underpinning knowledge related to the general handling of small boats and to diving specific boat handling activities.

Entry Requirements

Minimum age: 16 years. (If you have under 18’s on your course, all instructors will be required to have Criminal Records Bureau/ Disclosure Scotland or appropriate country criminal record checks conducted. Forms are available from SAA Head Office).

Instructor Requirements

All instructors must be approved Diver Coxswain Assessors (DCAs). They may be assisted by Assistant Diver Coxswain Assessors (ADCAs) who may only carry out assessments under the direct supervision of a DCA. Requirements for qualification as a DCA and ADCA are defined in the Assistant Diver Coxswain and Diver Coxswain Assessor Criteria sections of the SAA Guidance Manual.

Student – Instructor Ratios

A maximum of three candidates per DCA.

Facilities and Equipment Required

Classroom

A classroom of an adequate size to seat all candidates plus staff for the initial briefing, voyage planning and final debriefing sessions. Sufficient space and tables for each boat group (candidates plus instructor) to lay out charts etc. to prepare their voyage plans.

Boats – small planing boats

Typically of a length between 5 and 8 metres. As a minimum, they must be adequate size for groups of up to 4 people. It is recommended that they be equipped with the CDA document “Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Member Club Dive Boats”. . In addition to normal boat equipment a suitable shot-weight, line and buoy will be required. All boats used must be covered, as a minimum, by their own third party insurance

Location

A coastal location that provides access to:

Page 3 of 7 Jly ‘08 5.4.3 DIVER COXSWAIN Open water where the effects of wind and surface motion will be experienced but are not prejudicial to the safety of the boats and its occupants and sheltered water for confined area boat manoeuvring. Launching and recovery facilities in the form of a beach or slipway will also be required.

Facilities and Equipment Required Continued

In addition to normal writing materials the following will be required for each boat group:

· Chart of the area. · Parallel rule. · Chart 5011. · Local tidal information. · Current weather forecast. · Waterproof slate/notebook for developed voyage plan.

Personal and Diving Equipment

Personal kit provided by the candidates must include suitable protective clothing and a buoyancy aid (either dedicated or inherent in the protective clothing). If no other persons are available for the diver deployment and recovery assessment, then each candidate will require full diving kit, appropriate to the local conditions.

Assessment Format, Timing and Sequence

Where a number of candidates are to be assessed, the assessment should be run as a specific event. Individual candidates may, for convenience, be assessed during the course of a Club’s normal diving activities

Proportionately less time should be allocated with fewer candidates, but each candidate should be assessed for a minimum of 45 mins ‘hand-on time’ during the practical assessment. The knowledge assessment will be conducted orally at convenient times throughout the assessment. All elements of the assessment must be completed on the same day.

The elements of the practical assessment may be performed in any sequence, as convenient, with the exception that he anchor deployment/recovery and ‘man overboard’ elements must be performed before the dropping and recovery of divers.

Instructors/assessors to change over so that they do not assess those they taught.

Please Note

The speed of the boat during these exercises may be determined by the sea and weather conditions. Instructors/assessors should ensure that the candidates have sufficient ‘power on’ to ensure control of the boat during the various practical exercises.

Registration and Qualification

An Assessment Registration Form should be obtained, completed and sent to SAA Head Office a minimum of two weeks prior to the event. SAA Head Office will then supply Assessment Report Forms. After the assessment, the forms, together with the registration fee, should be completed and returned without delay to SAA Head Office, where successful candidates’ records will be updated and from where logbook certificates will be issued.

Page 4 of 7 Jly ‘08 5.4.3 DIVER COXSWAIN

Diver Coxswain Assessment

Assessors should have knowledge of, or familiarise themselves before the assessment with the local area and relevant by-laws. Also, they should locate in advance suitable sites, areas and transit marks for the various practical assessments.

Assessors should ensure that, for each exercise undertaken, the candidate is clear on what is expected of them and when. Time will have to be managed carefully if candidates are to be allowed to demonstrate their skill in each of the practical assessments.

During the assessment, each candidate may use other candidates as crew, and direct them accordingly.

Voyage Planning

Each candidate to be assessed for their knowledge of local tidal conditions on the assessment day, the times of low, high and slack water and the inshore weather forecast.

Prepare, Check and Launch Boats

Each group (assessor and three candidates), to prepare check and launch the boat used for the assessment. The assessor may appoint an individual candidate to direct others in the group, for different aspects of this activity.

Practical Assessment

All candidates must be assessed on their ability to perform the following:

· Open water handling - high speed. · Confined water handling. · Anchoring. · Dropping and recovery of a shot line. · Man overboard simulation. · Dropping and recovering divers. · Coming alongside. · Approaching a shelving shore. · Trailer recovery.

Theory Assessment

All candidates should demonstrate, through practical assessment or by specific questioning an adequate knowledge of the following:

· Safety equipment to be carried on dive boats. · Emergencies – VHF/GMDSS operation, Mayday and Pan Pan calls, engine failure procedure, overdue divers procedure and emergency signals. · Knots – clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, anchor bend, reef knot and bowline. · Rules of the Road – collision avoidance, head-on, crossing and overtaking situations, factors likely to influence a vessel’s ability to manoeuvre. Navigation lights, buoyage system.

Page 5 of 7 Jly ‘08 5.4.3 DIVER COXSWAIN

SAA DIVER COXSWAIN COURSE

Example course timetable

Times are subject to change with regard to tides, location and time of year.

0900 - 0915 Classroom Registration and briefing 15 mins

0915 – 1000 Classroom Voyage Planning Assessments 45 mins

1000 – 1015 Classroom Break 15 mins

1015 – 1030 Shore Change for going to sea 15 mins

1030 – 1115 Shore Prepare and check boats 45 mins

1115 – 1130 Shore Break 15 mins

1130 – 1400 Sea Practical and Theory Assessments 150 mins

1400 – 1430 Shore Change and lunch 30 mins

1430 – 1500 Classroom Debrief and Results 30 mins

1500 Classroom End of course

Total Course Time: 6 hours

Criteria for SAA Diver Coxswain Cross-Overs

RYA Advanced Powerboat BSAC Diver Coxswain Certificate Other equivalent organisations certificates

Page 6 of 7 Jly ‘08 5.4.3 DIVER COXSWAIN

Page 7 of 7 Jly ‘08 5.4.3 RESCUE COXSWAIN

OBJECTIVES

To provide a sound introduction to rescue and safety boat work, the two day course is specifically for powerboat users, including none divers.

Apart from the extra syllabus and variety of the craft, the major difference between this and the basic boat handling and diver coxswain courses, is the skill needed for dealing with rescues involving various type of craft and with personnel in the water.

REQUIREMENTS

Current SAA membership Minimum age 16 years SAA Basic Boat Handling or RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificates. SAA Oxygen Administration or recognised First Aid certificate. VHP Restricted Certificate of Competence in Radio Telephony. A minimum of 10 hours or 12 months logged, from gaining the Boat Handling or RYA Level 2 certificates. No diving experience necessary.

QUALIFICATION AWARDED

SAA Rescue Coxswain certificate.

SYLLABUS - Theory Skills

1. Boat Awareness - Handling Characteristics (a) Inflatables (b) RIBs (c) Dories and Cathedral Hulls (d) V-Shaped Hulls

2. Responsibilities of Coxswain (a) Authority (b) Responsibility (c) Safety of Personnel (d) Safety of Rescue Craft (e) Intercommunications (including hand signals) (f) Tide and Weather Forecast (g) Local regulations

3. Rope Work - Bends & Hitches (a) Half hitch (b) Clove hitch (c) Rolling hitch (d) Round turn and two half hitches (e) Bowline (f) Sheet bend (g) Double sheet bend

Page 1 of 3 Jly ‘09 5.4.4 RESCUE COXSWAIN

4. Outboard Engine - Trouble shooting

PRACTICAL SKILLS

1. Preparation Personal safety including clothing Buoyancy aids etc.

2. Boat Checks Equipment appropriate for the course (extra warps and buoys) and check for suitable strong points for towing. Loading of equipment and stowage of warps

3. Rescue Techniques Rescue of personnel in the water Righting capsized or inverted dinghies Rescuing canoeists/windsurfer/water skiers Recovery from lee shores Coming alongside other craft under way Communication Positioning to pass tow line Towing alongside Multiple towing Use of bridle Casting off single and multiple tow

4. Passing on Responsibilities Call the Coastguard if at sea Send for a doctor/ambulance Hand over to a more qualified person if possible

Page 2 of 3 Jly ‘09 5.4.4 RESCUE COXSWAIN

INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES

To teach this award the Instructor must be an SAA Boat Handling Instructor, hold the SAA Rescue Coxswain award or RYA Level 4 Fleet Rescue coastal endorsement.

To examine this award you must be an SAA Senior Boat Handling Instructor with RYA Level 4 Fleet Rescue Endorsement.

THE LECTURE AND REVISION MUST COVER ALL THE SECTIONS

1. Boat Awareness — suggested time of 30 minutes. Must cover the handling characteristics of inflatables/RIBs/Dories and Cathedral Hulls/V-Shaped Hulls.

2. Responsibilities of the Coxswain — time 30 minutes. Must cover Authority/Safety of Personnel and of the Rescue Boat/Inter Communications including Hand Signals/Tide and Weather forecast, and local regulations.

3. Rope Work — suggested time of 20 minutes. Allow candidates to practice the various bends and hitches which are likely to be used during the course, under the guidance of the course instructors.

4. Outboard Engine — trouble shooting —30 minutes. Outline the minor problems which sometimes occur, as correctly mixed fuel/loose or cracked fuel line fillings/check that the kill switch is in the running position before starting/and that you carry the necessary spares and tools to carry out minor repairs.

PRACTICAL SESSION 1/2 The instructor must demonstrate the importance of the preparation and checking equipment prior to launching, and that each boat carries a first aid box, and emergency equipment.

3. Rescue Techniques. The instructor shall demonstrate the technique when attempting to rescue various types of craft in a distress situation.

4. Passing on Responsibilities. The instructor must inform the candidates the importance of alerting the coast guard, of a distress situation at sea and if you are able to give assistance. It may be you already have the casualty on board and administered first aid, if required. When reaching the shore or harbour hand over to a more qualified person if/or as soon as possible. Finally, the use of VHF radios should be recommended to all who go to sea.

MISCELLANEOUS Candidate to be made aware of examiner’s over-riding authority during all practical sessions.

Page 3 of 3 Jly ‘09 5.4.4 BOATHANDLING INSTRUCTORS

SAA BOAT HANDLING INSTRUCTOR CRITERIA

SAA Boat Handling Assistant

Definition

A Boat Handling Assistant (BHA) is an instructor who meets the pr-requisites to assist on a boat handling course for the direct purpose of training to qualify as a Boat Handing instructor (BHI).

Requirements:

 Current SAA membership.  SAA Open Water Instructor Certificate.  SAA Diver Coxswain Certificate.  Hold a valid First Aid Certificate or Oxygen Administration Certificate. Or  Hold an acceptable boat handling instructional qualification issued by another agency. (Note: Instructors holding qualifications from other agencies may only act as BHAs with the prior agreement of the SAA National Boat Handling Co-ordinator).

Supervision

The participation of a BHA in a Boat Handling Course must be under the under the direct supervision of a staff member who is an approved Boat Handling Instructor and an SAA Regional Instructor

Direct supervision means that the supervising instructor is present in the classroom or in the same boat and able to directly monitor the BHA’s performance whenever the BHA is delivering any instruction.

Participation on Boat Handling Courses

The participation of a BHA on a Boat Handling Course serves three basic purposes:

 Ensures that the BHA is fully familiar with the course content, organization and standards.  Provides training on boat handling instructional techniques.  Enables an assessment of the BHA’s instructional techniques to be made.

BHAs are therefore required to be actively involved in both practical and classroom instruction. This participation should follow an appropriate briefing from either the course Chief Instructor or their supervising instructor. The participation should comprise:  Delivery of one of the four classroom lessons.  Observation of demonstrations and student practice supervision by their supervising  instructor .  Subsequent delivery of at least one demonstration and supervision of one student practice session.

They should receive a full debrief on their performance from both the supervising instructor and course Chief Instructor. There should be no more than one BHA to each BHI, subject to an overall limit of two BHAs per course.

Page 1 of 3 Jly ‘09 5.4.5 BOATHANDLING INSTRUCTORS

SAA Boat Handling Instructor

Definition

An SAA Boat Handling Instructor (BHI) is an instructor who is approved to teach an SAA Boat Handling Course.

Requirements

 Current SAA membership.  SAA Open Water Instructor Certificate.  SAA Diver Coxswain Certificate.  Hold a valid First Aid Certificate or Oxygen Administration Certificate.  Must have assisted with three basic Boat Handling Courses, carrying out both theory and practical lessons to the satisfaction of the course co-ordinator.

The criteria for anyone who holds a powerboat instructors Certificate issued by another governing body and wishes to become an SAA Boat Handling Instructor is:

 Current SAA membership.  SAA Diver Coxswain Certificate.  Hold a valid First Aid Certificate or Oxygen Administration Certificate.  Must have assisted on an SAA Basic Boat Handling Course.  Have gained the recommendation of the course Chief Instructor for appointment as an approved SAA Boat Handling Instructor.

Application for approved BHI status should be made to SAA Head Office on the relevant application form. Subject to review of the application by The SAA National Boat Handling Co-ordinator, confirmation of appointment will be issued by SAA Head Office in the form of a logbook Certificate. Appointment is not effective until the Certificate is issued.

Maintenance of standards

BHIs are expected to keep themselves up to date in terms of:

 Their boat handling skills.  Their associated knowledge.  Their knowledge of the format and requirements of the Boat Handling Course .

Where any significant break in any of the above occurs, BHIs are expected to arrange for appropriate revision training or practice before actively participating as an instructor in further Boat Handling Courses.

Page 2 of 3 Jly ‘09 5.4.5 BOATHANDLING INSTRUCTORS

SAA Senior Boat Handling Instructor

Definition

An SAA Senior Boat Handling Instructor (SBHA) is an instructor who is approved to teach and organise an SAA Boat Handling Courses and Diver Coxswain Assessment Courses.

Requirements:

 Current SAA membership.  Hold a Regional Instructor Certificate or an equivalent qualification from another organisation.  Held a Diver Coxswain Certificate for at least two years.  Held a Boat Handling Instructor Certificate for at least two years.  Instructed on at least five SAA Boat Handling Courses.  Instructed on at least five Diver Coxswain courses.  Hold a valid First Aid Certificate or Oxygen Administration Certificate.

Application for approved SBHI status should be made to SAA Head Office on the relevant application form. Subject to review of the application by The SAA National Boat Handling Co-ordinator, confirmation of appointment will be issued by SAA Head Office in the form of a logbook Certificate. Appointment is not effective until the Certificate is issued.

Maintenance of standards

SBHIs are expected to keep themselves up to date in terms of:

 Their boat handling skills.  Their associated knowledge.  Their knowledge of the format and requirements of the Boat Handling Course.

Where any significant break in any of the above occurs, SBHIs are expected to arrange for appropriate revision training or practice before actively participating as a senior instructor in further Boat Handling Courses.

Page 3 of 3 Jly ‘09 5.4.5 CHARTWORK & NAVIGATION INSTRUCTOR

SAA CHARTWORK AND NAVIGATION INSTRUCTOR

Definition

An SAA Chartwork and Navigation Instructor (CNI) is an instructor who is approved to organise and instruct on an SAA Chartwork and Navigation Course.

Requirements

Current SAA membership. SAA Club Instructor Certificate. SAA Boat Handling Certificate. Must have the SAA Chartwork and Navigation Course certificate. Must have assisted on one SAA Chartwork and Navigation Course, carrying out both theory and practical lessons to the satisfaction of the course organiser.

The criteria for anyone who holds a chartwork and navigation instructor Certificate issued by another governing body and wishes to become an SAA Chartwork and Navigation Instructor is:

Current SAA membership. SAA Diver Coxswain Certificate or equivalent Must have assisted on an SAA Chartwork and Navigation Course.

Maintenance of standards

CNIs are expected to keep themselves up to date in terms of:

Their chartwork and navigation skills Their associated knowledge Their knowledge of the format and requirements of the Chartwork and Navigation Course.

Where any significant break in any of the above occurs, CNIs are expected to arrange for appropriate

Page 1 of 1 5.4.6 DIVER COXSWAIN ASSESSORS

SAA DIVER COXSWAIN ASSESSOR CRITERIA

SAA Assistant Diver Coxswain Assessor

Definition

An Assistant Diver Coxswain Assessor (ADCA) is an instructor/assessor who meets the pr-requisites to assist on a Diver Coxswain Assessment course for the direct purpose of training to qualify as a Diver Coxswain Assessor.

Requirements

• Current SAA membership. • Hold a Regional Instructor Certificate or an equivalent qualification from another organisation. • Held a Diver Coxswain Certificate for at least two years. • Held a Boat Handling Instructor Certificate for at least two years. • Instructed on at least five SAA boat Handling Courses. • Hold a valid First Aid Certificate or Oxygen Administration Certificate.

The criteria for anyone who holds a powerboat instructors Certificate issued by another governing body and wishes to become an SAA Boat Handling Instructor is:

• Current SAA membership. • SAA Diver Coxswain Certificate. • Hold a valid First Aid Certificate or Oxygen Administration Certificate. • Must have assisted on an SAA Basic Boat Handling Course. • Have gained the recommendation of the course Chief Instructor for appointment as an approved SAA Boat Handling Instructor.

Application for approved BHI status should be made to SAA Head Office on the relevant application form. Subject to review of the application by The SAA National Boat Handling Co-ordinator, confirmation of appointment will be issued by SAA Head Office in the form of a logbook Certificate. Appointment is not effective until the Certificate is issued.

Maintenance of standards

BHIs are expected to keep themselves up to date in terms of:

• Their boat handling skills. • Their associated knowledge. • Their knowledge of the format and requirements of the Boat Handling Course.

Where any significant break in any of the above occurs, BHIs are expected to arrange for appropriate revision training or practice before actively participating as an instructor in further Boat Handling Courses.

Page 1 of 2 5.4.7 DIVER COXSWAIN ASSESSORS

SAA Diver Coxswain Assessor

Definition

An SAA Diver Coxswain Assessor is an instructor/assessor who is approved to organise and assess on an SAA Diver Coxswain Assessment Course.

Requirements:

• Current SAA membership. • Hold a Regional Instructor Certificate or an equivalent qualification from another organisation. • Held a Diver Coxswain Certificate for at least two years. • Held a Boat Handling Instructor Certificate for at least two years. • Instructed on at least five SAA boat Handling Courses. • Assessed on at least two Diver Coxswain courses as an Assistant Diver Coxswain Assessor. • Hold a valid First Aid Certificate or Oxygen Administration Certificate.

Application for approved DCA status should be made to SAA Head Office on the relevant application form. Subject to review of the application by The SAA National Boat Handling Co-ordinator, confirmation of appointment will be issued by SAA Head Office in the form of a logbook Certificate. Appointment is not effective until the Certificate is issued.

Maintenance of standards

DCAs are expected to keep themselves up to date in terms of:

• Their boat handling skills. • Their associated knowledge. • Their knowledge of the format and requirements of the Diver Coxswain assessment Course.

Where any significant break in any of the above occurs, DCAs are expected to arrange for appropriate revision training or practice before actively participating as an assessor in further Diver Coxswain Assessment Courses.

Page 2 of 2 5.4.7 INSTRUCTOR RECORD SHEETS

SAA BOAT HANDLING, COXSWAIN, CHARTWORK AND NAVIGATION INSTRUCTOR/ASSESOR RECORD SHEETS

Instructor Record Sheets

It is important that all those who wish to become SAA Boat Handling Instructors, Coxswain Assessors and/or SAA Chartwork and Navigation Instructors keep a record of the courses they have assisted on and the lectures and practical exercises they have delivered.

Once the required criteria have been met then the record sheets can be submitted to the National Co-ordinator as part of the application for instructor.

Page 1 of 1 5.4.8 B-HANDLING INSTRUCTOR RECORD SHEETS

SAA Boat Handling Assistant Instructor BHA Candidate name: SAA Club: SAA Membership No: SAA Club Instructor Issue Date: SAA Diver Coxswain Issue Date: O2/EDFA Certificate Issue Date:

Equivalent Boat Instructor Certificate Issue Date: Type:

SAA Boat Handling Instructor BHI Candidate name: Date Course Venue Theory Lecture Practical Session Course Co-ordinator

SAA Club: SAA Membership No: SAA Club Instructor Issue Date: SAA Diver Coxswain Issue Date: O2/EDFA Certificate Issue Date:

Equivalent Boat Instructor Certificate Issue Date: Type:

SAA Senior Boat Handling Instructor SBHA Candidate name: Basic Boat Handling Course Date Course Venue Theory Lecture Practical Session Course Co-ordinator

Diver Coxswain Assessment

SAA Club: SAA Membership No: SAA Regional Instructor Issue Date: SAA Diver Coxswain Issue Date: First O2/EDFA certificate Issue Date:

Equivalent Boat Instructor Certificate Issue Date: Type:

Page 1 of 1 5.4.8A CHARTWORK &NAVIGATION RECORD SHEETS

SAA Chartwork and Navigation Instructor Candidate name: Date Course Theory Practical Course Co- Venue Lecture Session ordinator

SAA Club: SAA Membership No: SAA Club Instructor Issue Date: SAA Diver Coxswain Issue Date: Equivalent Instructor Certificate Issue Date: Type:

Page 1 of 1 5.4.8B DIVER COXSWAIN ASSESSOR RECORD SHEETS

SAA Assistant Diver Coxswain Assessor ADCA Candidate name: Date Course Venue Theory Lecture Practical Course Co- Session ordinator

SAA Club: SAA Membership No: SAA Regional Instructor Issue Date: SAA Diver Coxswain Issue Date: O2/EDFA Certificate Issue Date:

Equivalent Boat Instructor Certificate Issue Date: Type:

SAA Diver Coxswain Assessor DCA Candidate name: Basic Boat Handling Course Date Course Venue Theory Lecture Practical Course Co- Session ordinator

Diver Coxswain Assessment

SAA Club: SAA Membership No: SAA Regional Instructor Issue Date: SAA Diver Coxswain Issue Date: O2/EDFA Certificate Issue Date:

Equivalent Boat Instructor Certificate Issue Date: Type:

Page 1 of 1 5.4.8C INTERESTS

ENTRY CRITERIA

5.5.1 NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

5.5.1A WRECK DIVING STATEMENT

5.5.2 MARINE LIFE ID

5.5.2A SAA CONSERVATION STATEMENT

5.5.3 REBREATHERS

5.5.4 GAS BLENDING COURSE

Page 1 of 1 5.5 NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

The SAA does not run its own Nautical Archaeology courses but actively supports the Nautical Archaeology Society, and recognises the training supplied by that organisation.

Full details of that training can be found at – http://www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org/training/index.php

Jan ‘13 WRECK DIVING

SAA CODE OF PRACTICE FOR WRECK DIVING

Mission Statement

The SAA is committed to conserving our underwater heritage for future generations of divers to enjoy. The SAA achieves this and the safety of divers by promoting sound and responsible practice through its training programme. The SAA encourages participation by its members in research and adoption of wrecks for research and monitoring purposes. INTRODUCTION

Although wrecks are found throughout the world's seas, it is in UK waters that wreck diving is especially popular. Every wreck has a history, including its sinking, and the curious diver will want to know more. Wrecks are exciting to explore and also make great habitats for fish and other aquatic life.

Most of the wrecks dived around our coast sank during the First and Second World Wars and are now an important part of our history. Not just the history of battles and wars, but also of naval architecture and technology as well. It is fascinating to learn about the development of vessels, which have evolved according to social needs, and the progress of technology.

The seabed holds the remains of many tragedies, for the sinking of a vessel is often accompanied by loss of life. These sunken vessels still claim lives - the lives of divers inadequately prepared for difficult dives. Wreck diving, particularly when wrecks are penetrated, requires a high level of experience and advanced skill training available from clubs within the SAA. Preparation and planning is important and this includes research and local knowledge. Research is always the best way of fully appreciating a wreck, perhaps identifying its name, how it was sunk and understanding the lives of those on board.

There are divers who see a wreck as an area of conquest; they see a remaining porthole as something to take home. Objects removed will deteriorate if they are not properly conserved. These "souvenirs" almost always end up rusting away forgotten in a garage or garden. But more importantly, taking items from wrecks means that there is nothing left of interest for other divers to see. Wrecks are not a renewable resource and the SAA promotes consideration for the majority of divers who want to visit and appreciate intact wrecks. Contemporary standards of behaviour are replacing former unsociable diving activities and only if wrecks are respected will there be anything for future generations of divers to enjoy. GUIDELINES AND CODE OF CONDUCT

Important archaeological evidence will be destroyed by thoughtlessness. If you think that an object or wreck may be of historical importance, then leave it where it lies as it may be fragile. Record its position (depth, GPS, etc) and contact the Receiver of Wreck for advice. All wrecks already belong to someone. Remember that if you bring anything to the surface, you are required by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 to report it to the Receiver of Wreck, so that its true owner can be found. This should be within 28 days. Sometimes you may be allowed to keep the object or you may be entitled to a reward for restoring it to its owner. Divers who actively remove items from wrecks for commercial gain are diving beyond the limits of the SAA.

Many wrecks of military vessels or aircraft are the last resting-places of those who gave their lives in the Great Wars. War graves should not be entered or interfered with, as is it an offence under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. Imagine the distress that it causes relatives and comrades of those who died. It is like damaging or desecrating a churchyard. Remember that merchant ships sunk during wartime conflict and other vessels, such as trawlers sunk in peacetime tragedies, may also be graves and should also be respected.

Other wrecks may have toxic material or munitions on board. As well as injuring yourself, think of the danger you are putting your family, friends and others in if you bring hazardous objects ashore. The acquisition or possession of munitions is a criminal offence under the Firearms Act 1968. For your own safety, it is illegal to dive on some wrecks that contain dangerous material.

Page 1 of 4 5.5.1A WRECK DIVING

It is also illegal to dive on designated historic wrecks that are protected by the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, unless you have been approved by the controlling authority.

Divers now understand the effects on coral reefs of poor diving technique. Wrecks also provide a habitat for marine life which destructive diving or careless anchoring may ruin. Use available fixed shot-lines where possible. If you need to use your own line or anchor, ensure that they are secured off the wreck wherever possible. Use safe diving techniques that will not spoil the site for other divers, whatever their interest.

Clubs and groups of divers are now adopting particular wrecks for research purposes. Some of these divers take part in detailed structural surveys, some undertake historical research and others study the marine life and monitor changes of the ecology of the wreck. The SAA promotes this positive attitude towards wrecks and the environment. • Get appropriate training before you enter wrecks. • Research the wreck site before diving on it. • Leave wrecks intact for other divers to see. • Know the law - if you must remove an object, you must report it to the Receiver of Wreck. Commercial salvage cannot be undertaken within the SAA. • Know the law - it is a criminal offence to dive on designated historic wreck sites without a licence or on designated dangerous wreck sites. • Respect war and other graves beneath the sea. • Take care on wrecks that contain munitions or toxic materials and leave such materials alone. Acquiring or possessing munitions without authority is illegal. • Protect the environment.

Look after yourself and look after the environment, so that wrecks may remain, not only as history today, but also as history for tomorrow.

For further information see the leaflet 'Underwater Finds - What To Do' (available from SAA Headquarters and dive shops) or telephone the Receiver of Wreck on 02380 329 474.

Appendix 1

The following wrecks or wreck sites are protected in UK coastal waters: All positions are referred to WGS84.

Protected by the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986

Controlled Sites - no entry by divers is allowed into the exclusion zone without a licence from the Ministry of Defence:

HMS BULWARK - Radius 100mtrs around 51 25.392N, 00 39.172E

HMS DASHER - Radius 200mtrs around 55 37.747N, 05 00.953W

HMS FORMIDABLE - Radius 300mtrs around 50 13.179N, 03 04.071W

HMS HAMPSHIRE - Radius 300mtrs around 59 07.065N, 03 23.843W

HMS NATAL - Radius 100mtrs around 57 41.244N, 04 05.310W

HMSM A7 - Radius 200mtrs around 50 18.518N, 04 17.984W

HMS VANGUARD - Radius 200mtrs around 58 51.400N, 03 06.405W

Page 2 of 4 5.5.1A WRECK DIVING

HMSM AFFRAY - Radius 300mtrs around 49 50.023N, 02 34.533W

HMS EXMOUTH - Radius 750mtrs around 58 18.467N, 02 25.938W

HMS ROYAL OAK - Radius 200mtrs around 58 55.848N, 00 59.001W

HMS H5 - Radius 300mtrs around 53 05.483N, 04 41.975W

Protected Places - diving is allowed without a licence, but entry, removal of items, survey and other work require a licence from the Ministry of Defence):

U-12 (Dover Straits – position unknown)

The vessels RFA SIR GALAHAD, HMS HOOD, HMS PRINCE OF WALES and HMS REPULSE, which lie elsewhere in the world, are also Protected Places.

Page 3 of 4 5.5.1A WRECK DIVING

Protected by the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973

Diving is not allowed on the following vessels without a licence obtainable from English Heritage, Cadw, Historic Scotland or the Department of the Environment (NI), depending where wreck lies.

HMS/m AI (Solent) Kennermerland (Shetland) Admiral Gardner (Goodwin Sands) Kinlochbervie (North Scotland) Amsterdam (Sussex) Langdon Bay (Kent) Anne (Sussex) Loe Bar (Cornwall) Bartholomew Ledges (Scillies) RY Mary (Anglesey) Bonhomme Richard (North Yorkshire) Mary Rose (Solent) Brighton Marina site Mingary Castle (Mull) Burntisland (Firth of Forth) Moor Sands (Devon) HMS Campania (Firth of Forth) Needles site (I.O.W.) Cattewater (Plymouth) Northumberland (Goodwin Sands) Church Rocks (Dorset) Pwll Fanog (Menai Straits) HMS Colossus (Scillies) Restoration (Goodwin Sands) Coronation Inshore (Devon) Resurgam (North Wales) Coronation Offshore (Devon) Rill Cave (Cornwall) The Diamond (Cardigan Bay) Royal Anne Galley (Cornwall) HMS Dartmouth (Mull) St Anthony (Cornwall) Duart Point (Mull) Schiedam (Cornwall) Dunwich Bank (Suffolk) Salcombe Cannon (Devon) Site Erme Estuary (Devon) Seaton Carew (Hartlepool) Erme Ingot site (Devon) South Edinburgh (Thames Estuary) Channel Girona (N. Ireland) Stirling Castle (Goodwin Sands) Grace Dieu (Hampshire) Studland Bay (Dorset) Gull Rock (Lundy) Tal-Y-Bont (Cardigan Bay) Hanover (Cornwall) Tearing Ledge (Scillies) Hazardous (Sussex) The Smalls (Skomer) Invincible (Solent) Wrangels Palais (Shetland) Iona II (Lundy) Yarmouth Roads (I.O.W.)

Protected by the Ancient Monuments and Areas Act 1982

Four light cruisers and three battleships of the German High Seas Fleet have been scheduled as ancient monuments under this Act 1982. The vessels, the Brummer, Dresden, Karlesruhe, Koln, Konig, Kronprinz Wilhem and the Markgraf, are the survivors of the vessels scuttled in 1919 in Scapa Flow in the Orkneys. Divers are allowed to visit these wrecks, but not tamper with or remove items.

Page 4 of 4 5.5.1A MARINE LIFE ID

The SAA does not run its own Marine Life ID courses but actively supports the Marine Conservation Society, and recognises the training supplied by that organisation.

Full details of that training can be found at – http://www.seasearch.org.uk

Page 1 of 1 5.5.2 Jan ‘13 MARINE CONSERVATION

MARINE CONSERVATION AND THE SAA

MISSION STATEMENT

The SAA is committed to promoting marine conservation by raising awareness of marine life and its vulnerability, by promoting sound and responsible diving practice through its training programme, by promoting positive action to minimise any negative impacts of diving and diving tourism, and by encouraging participation by its members in research and conservation projects.

INTRODUCTION

The SAA recognises the global importance of the oceans, and that the health of the sea and its wildlife is crucial to the enjoyment of SCUBA diving, whatever the diver’s motivation. it therefore encourages its members to help to protect marine wildlife and marine ecosystems by following a few guidelines. These have been put together to try to ensure that divers minimise any negative impact from their activities, but also to promote positive action to improve the condition of the habitat on which our recreation depends.

GUIDELINES AND CODE OF CONDUCT

Maintain sound diving skills, particularly buoyancy control, to avoid bumping into and damaging delicate marine wildlife. Take care to prevent equipment from hanging down and knocking or dragging across marine life. If you do need to steady yourself in the water, or push away from something, one finger carefully placed will do far less harm than a pair of flailing fins. If you should need to settle on the seabed, take care to select an area of bare sand or rock.

Be aware of your fins, and the amount of turbulence they can produce. Avoid kicking up sand or silt, which may smother some sensitive species.

Look, but avoid touching. A number of animals can inflict painful stings or bites, so it is in the diver’s interest to avoid contact! Remember that, despite their hard interior, even touching corals can let in infections, which can lead to their death. Photographers should be particularly careful not to damage surrounding wildlife while concentrating on composing their shot.

Be conscious of where you anchor - prevent your anchor from damaging reefs or other fragile habitats, where possible by choosing a suitable patch of bare seabed, within or to the edge of these areas. Use fixed buoys whenever available, or avoid using an anchor altogether where feasible. Encourage dive operators and authorities to install fixed buoys at popular dive sites to avoid damage from repetitive anchoring.

Take only enough food for your own needs, and ensure that any shellfish are at least the minimum size and are not carrying eggs. SCUBA divers should not use spearguns. Ensure you comply with any local regulations regarding fishing.

Respect marine reserves, whether voluntary or statutory, as refuges for wildlife, thereby allowing species to thrive undisturbed and to them to restock surrounding areas.

When booking a diving holiday, enquire about the dive operator’s environmental policy and whether they support conservation activities and brief their divers on preventing environmental damage.

Page 1 of 3 5.5.2A MARINE CONSERVATION

Be sensitive in your interactions with any marine life to avoid causing stress, and be aware that feeding wild animals can disrupt natural behaviour patterns and can upset the ecological balance between species.

Resist the temptation to take live specimens on your dives, and avoid buying souvenirs that are made from marine creatures such as corals, sponges, shells or turtles.

When dolphins or whales are in the vicinity, avoid driving your boat directly towards them, and avoid any sudden changes of direction or speed; let them approach you if they wish to. Keep at least 100 metres away from seal resting places and bird nesting areas.

Avoid leaving behind any litter or pollution.

Consider adding some extra purpose to your diving by attending marine life identification courses or by participating in recording schemes or research and survey projects, or by enjoying conservation oriented holiday in the UK or abroad.

Divers and non-divers alike can help to maintain healthy seas by taking positive action in their daily lives and in their purchasing and investment choices to minimise their own personal impact on the environment. Much of the pollution that is generated on land eventually reaches the sea, whether leached through the ground or put directly into the drains or into rivers.

Try to buy fish that come from fisheries that are committed to sustainable, non-destructive fishing practices, and to minimising by-catch through use of appropriate fishing gear. Boycott Chinese restaurants that sell shark fin soup - the rest of the animal is often discarded, and sharks are sometimes even returned to the sea still alive after their fins have been removed.

Minimise your use of garden pesticides, use them carefully and only if absolutely necessary, and use only those products that are biodegradable, and are effective without containing high levels of toxic chemicals.

Dispose of waste oils (from vehicles and even from cooking) at recycling centres, rather than into the drains. Domestic oil is a significant contributor to the amount of oil found in the oceans, even when compared with oil tanker spills!

Minimise the use of washing powders and detergents, and try to use those, which are readily biodegradable, and do not contain high levels of nitrates and phosphates. These can unnaturally raise nutrient levels, upsetting the balance of the ecosystems near to where waste water is discarded into rivers and the sea. Use water sparingly, wherever you are, but particularly in tourist areas where local resources can be put under great pressure and waste systems unable to cope.

Bag and bin nappies, sanitary wastes, condoms and cotton buds, rather than flushing them down the toilet. Many beaches bear the unsightly and unhealthy signs of inadequate sewage systems unable to cope with these items.

Minimise the amount of long lasting waste you generate by choosing products that require little packaging, and use environmentally degradable materials. Re-use or recycle as much waste as possible, and help to reduce the amount of litter, which makes its way onto, beaches around the world.

Page 2 of 3 5.5.2A MARINE CONSERVATION

Avoid plastic multi-pack holders when possible, or take care to break them up to prevent birds, fish and mammals from getting caught in them, and subsequently often dying.

Consider joining and supporting marine conservation organisations. There are many organisations, which focus their attention on different groups of species, or different conservation issues.

Last, but not least, enthuse about your diving, and the marine wildlife that you see, to encourage a respect for the marine environment amongst the general public.

Page 3 of 3 5.5.2A REBREATHERS

CCR- CLOSED CIRCUIT REBREATHERS

The use of this type of diving equipment is recognised within the structure of the SAA provided that the following guidelines are adhered to.

1. The divers hold the correct certification for the type and make of CCII used and have registered within the SAA for rebreather diving.

2. The equipment is used within the manufacturers guidelines, and the dive is completed within the range covered by the certification of the divers.

3. The divers are certified for the gas mix employed, and dive to the limits imposed by the mix and their certification.

4. Ideally divers will dive with other divers with the same equipment. However recognising that this will not always be possible the divers in any buddy pair including a CCR must be competent on the system in use.

5. The diver should always dive with an SMB if practicable

6. Minimum age 18 years

Explanatory notes

1. The diver shall hold a certificate recognised by the manufacturer of the system employed, and issued by an authorised training centre or Instructor. To register for rebreather diving in the SAA, please send photocopies of all relevant certification, this may include NITROX or TRIMIX certificates if not already registered, to Head Office. The SAA reserves the right to request sight of the original certificates and, or contact the Issuing Agency to verify the certification.

2. If the diver is qualified on for example, NITROX no diving on TRIMIX is covered. If the unit has a maximum operating depth recommended by the manufacturer, diving below that depth will not be covered. If the unit is not recommended for use with certain gas mixes by the manufacturer, no dives utilising those mixes will be covered.

3. Divers must dive to the guidelines in force relevant to their diver certification. If qualified as an SAA Nitrox Diver, diving shall be on NITROX to a maximum depth of 40m or AIR to 50m. If TRIMIX qualified the maximum depths and partial pressures shall be as laid down in the guidelines on TRIMIX. This does not over rule the manufactures guidelines for the unit, whichever guideline is the most conservative shall be adhered to.

4. The SAA is not a recognised CCR training agency. No rebreather training can be covered, such a dive MUST be carried out with an appropriately qualified rebreather Instructor certified for the unit in use. Instruction by a rebreather diver of trainee’s on open circuit SCUBA is not covered under SAA Insurance. Diving with a buddy who is open circuit and not qualified on the type of rebreather in use can only be covered if they are fully conversant with the equipment and any emergency procedures required and can prove it. This is for the protection of the OC diver. In the extreme scenario where the CCR diver was to be fatally injured on the dive, how could the OC diver prove that they had done everything possible to prevent this, if they cannot prove, in a court of law, that they are competent in the system being used.

Page 1 of 2 Sep ‘09 5.5.3 REBREATHERS

5. The use of an SMB so that surface vessels, and marshals are aware of the divers location is required. In some circumstances, where the diver is using the unit to make a penetration dive or diving to greater depths this will not be possible and adequate safety precautions should be taken.

SCR – SEMI-CLOSED CIRCUIT REBREATHERS

The use of this type of diving equipment is recognised within the structure of the SAA provided that the following guidelines are adhered to.

1. The divers hold the correct certification for the type and make of SCR used, and have registered within the SAA for rebreather diving.

2. The equipment is used within the manufacturers guidelines, and the dive is completed within the range covered by the certification of the divers.

3. The divers are certified for the gas mix employed and dive to the limits imposed by the mix and their certification.

4. Ideally divers will dive with other divers with the same equipment. However recognising that this will not always be possible the divers in any buddy pair including a SCR must be competent on the system in use.

5. Minimum age 18 years

Explanatory notes

1. The diver shall hold a certificate recognised by the manufacturer of the system employed, and issued by an authorised training centre or Instructor. To register for rebreather diving in the SAA, please send photocopies of all relevant certification, this may include certificates if not already registered, to Head Office. The SAA reserves the right to request sight of the original certificates and, or contact the Issuing Agency to verify the certification.

2. If the diver is qualified on for example, NITROX no diving on TRIMIX is covered. If the unit has a maximum operating depth recommended by the manufacturer, diving below that depth will not be covered. If the unit is not recommended for use with certain gas mixes by the manufacturer, no dives utilising those mixes will be covered.

3. Divers must dive to the guidelines in force relevant to their diver certification. If qualified as an SAA Nitrox Diver, diving shall be on NITROX to a maximum depth of 40m.

4. The SAA is not a recognised SCR training agency. No rebreather training can be covered, such a dive MUST be carried out with an appropriately qualified rebreather Instructor certified for the unit in use. Instruction by a rebreather diver of trainee’s on open circuit SCUBA is not covered under SAA Insurance. Diving with a buddy who is open circuit, and not quail fled on the type of rebreather in use can only be covered if they are fully conversant with the equipment and any emergency procedures required and can prove it. This is for the protection of the OC diver. In the extreme scenario where the SCR diver was to be fatally injured on the dive, how could the OC diver prove that they had done everything possible to prevent this, if they cannot prove, in a court of law, that they are competent in the system being used?

Page 2 of 2 Sep ‘09 5.5.3 GAS BLENDING COURSE

SAA NITROX GAS BLENDER COURSE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Course Schedule

Minimum duration:

1. Theory 3 hours

2. Practical workshop 2 hours

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of the course the student will:- ! Be able to list the hazards encountered when blending Nitrox.

! Be able to mix the 4 common Nitrox blends.

! Be able to assemble and operate Nitrox Blending equipment.

! Be able to correctly analyse a Nitrox Mixture and calculate the correct gas amounts required to produce a given mix. 3. COURSE INSTRUCTORS The objective of this course is to train candidates in the proper techniques, equipment requirements and hazards involved in blending nitrox gases for recreational scuba.

This course may be taught by any active SAA Regional Instructor, who holds the SAA Nitrox Blender Instructor Endorsement.

4. STUDENT/INSTRUCTOR RATIO

Instructor / Student ratio

For the Theory and Practical sessions Instructor /students ratio. 1:6

For the Theory and Practical sessions Instructor and an Assistant Instructor / students ratio 1:10

Classroom

Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies, and additional time is provided to ensure comprehensive and complete training.

Page 1 of 4 5.5.4 GAS BLENDING COURSE

5. STUDENT PRE-REQUISITES Minimum age 18 years old

SAA / CMAS Nitrox Diver or equivalent

6. COURSE SYLLABUS

6.1 Theory

Introductions and Administration [15 – 30 mins]

T1 The Pure Gases [15 - 30 mins] ! Physical and chemical properties of pure gases

! Utilisation of the different technical gases according to their purity

T2 Mixing the Gases [60 - 90 mins] ! Review different gas mixing methods, their advantages and disadvantages

! Filling calculations for empty and partly empty gas cylinders

! Practical gas mixing. Security measures and gas mixing log book

! Problems regarding storing the mixed gases

T3 Oxygen Handling [30 - 60 mins] ! Review Oxygen and its reactivity

! Review the meaning of oxygen clean, oxygen design and oxygen service

! Review Oxygen compatible and non compatible materials

! Cleaning agents and methods for pressure cylinder and regulator

! Control methods and cleaning intervals

T4 Rules and Legislation [15 – 30 mins] ! National legislation regarding the handling of gases

! Rules regarding gas mixing and rules regarding cleaning and maintenance of equipment

− For your own use − For others in your club − Re-enforce no commercial blending covered by SAA Insurance

Page 2 of 4 5.5.4 GAS BLENDING COURSE

6.2 Practical

P1 Gas Mixing [60 – 90 mins] ! Analysis of gas mixture and measurement of pressure in partly empty cylinder

! Calculation of how to make the desired gas mix by calculator and by table

! Filling in the right sequence and with correct gas flow and final pressure

! Documentation and administrative procedures

! Storage and final control

P2 Equipment Cleaning and Maintenance [60 – 90 mins] ! Disassembly of the equipment

! Cleaning

! Drying

! Final control

! Assembly with the use of oxygen compatible grease 7. KNOWLEDGE REVIEW & SKILLS ASSESSMENT

7.1 Theory:

Final Assessment [60 mins] ! 25 question multiple choice. Pass mark 80%

! Allowed support material for participants: pocket calculator and tables

7.2 Practical:

! Assemble correctly Nitrox Blending equipment

! Produce one of the following Nitrox mixtures (28%, 32%, 36%, 40%)

! Correctly analyze and record the gas

! Clean the equipment after use

7.3 Certification

May be given to successful course participants at the end of the course. Only course participants who have absolved the whole course and have successfully passed the examination may receive the corresponding

Page 3 of 4 5.5.4 GAS BLENDING COURSE

Recognition Material − CMAS CARD − SAA STICKER − WALL CERTIFICATE

7.4 Support Materials

SAA Student Record Folder

SAA Gas Blending Overheads / Power Point Presentation

8. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

! Premixed Nitrox 40%.

! Nitrox Compatible decanting whip with two din fittings, bleeds and High resolution contents gauge.

! Oxygen Analyser

! Gas mixing tables

Page 4 of 4 5.5.4 PAPERWORK & INFORMATION

6. PAPERWORK AND INFORMATION

6.1 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM 6.1B MEMBERSHIP TYPE TABLE

6.2 ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP FORMS 6.3 INCIDENT FORM

6.4 TRY A DIVE FORM 6.5 CROSS OVER AND APPLICATION FORMS

6.5.1 SKILLS COURSE CROSS OVER FORM 6.5.2 INSTRUCTOR GRADES 6.5.3 NITROX REGISTRATION 6.5.4 TRIMIX REGISTRATION 6.5.5 REBREATHER REGISTRATION 6.5A DIVING GRADES CROSS OVER GUIDANCE TABLE 6.5b INSTRUCTOR CROSSOVER GUIDE

6.6 NATIONAL COURSE APPLICATION FORM

6.7 CMAS CARD APPLICATION FORM 6.7.1 DIVING GRADES 6.7.2 INSTRUCTOR GRADES

6.8 CHANGE OF CLUB COMMITTEE FORM

6.9 SAA EXAM SERVICE

6.10 INSURANCE STATEMENT 6.11 REGULATIONS FOR FISH SIZES 6.12 SALES ORDER FORM

Page 1 of 1 6.0 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 Membership Application Form

Section A. Applicant Information Name: Telephone: Address: Mobile: Email: City: Date Of Birth County: Country: Male Female Post Code:

SAA Membership No: New Club Member SAAClub Name: Student Starter Pack Required SAAClub No: Existing Club Member Date: Note: It is a requirement for new members below Club Diver to purchase theSAA"Student Starter Pack"

Section B. SAA Diving Qualifications Social Trainee Snorkel Elementary Diver Open Water Diver Club Diver

Dive Leader Dive Supervisor National Diver Any other Diving Qualifications:

Section C. Membership Type Full Junior Associate Student Senior

Section D. Other Information

How many years have you been diving? 0 - 1 1 - 2 2 - 4 5 +

Are you a member of any other Diving Organisation/s? Yes No

If Yes please state:

How did you hear about theSAA?:

OfficeUseOnly Received:

Entered:

Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system.

SAA Head Office,SpaceSolutionsBusinessCentre,Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] 6.1 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 2019 Additional Membership Form

Club Name: Region:

Club Number:

Secretary Diving Officer Full Name: Full Name: Address: Address:

City: City: County: County: Country: Country: Post Code: Post Code: Telephone: Telephone: Email Address: Email Address:

Qualification:

Chairman Treasurer Full Name: Full Name: Address: Address:

City: City: County: County: Country: Country: Post Code: Post Code: Telephone: Telephone: Email Address: Email Address:

Contact Name & Telephone Number

Contact Name: Telephone Number:

Time, Day & Place of Pool and Dry Meetings Pool Location: Meeting Location:

Time: Time:

Day: Day:

Please Give Any Club Restrictions e.g. Membership subject to members approval

Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system.

SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Page 1 of 2 Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] Form AMF – 040/19 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 2019 Additional Membership Form Please Fill In The Following Information In Block Capitals Place In Alphabetical Order (Last Name)

Member No. or SAA Qualfications Membership Previous Club First Name Last Name Email Address Number Diver Instructor Type

Membership Type Quantity Price Amount New Full Members £97.00 each* New Student Members £87.00 each* New Senior Members £82.00 each* New Junior Members £59.00 each* Existing Full Members £61.00 each Existing Student Members £51.00 each Existing Senior Members £46.00 each Existing Junior Members £22.00 each New / Existing Associated Members £30.00 each *New members CD or above who do not wish to purchase the starter pack reduce by £23 Total Cheque Value (Made payable to "Sub-Aqua Association") SAA Membership Type Diver Qualifications Instructor Qualifications F - Full Member ASS - Associate SI - Snorkel Instructor J - Junior Member T - Trainee AI - Assistant Instructor ST - Student Member SN - Snorkeller CI - Club Instructor SR - Senior Member ED - Elementary Diver OWI - Open Water Instructor ASS - Associate Member OWD - Open Water Diver RI - Regional Instructor

CD - Club Diver NI - National Instructor Multiple Club Membership DL - Dive Leader If a member is also a member of another SAA Club, Please can DS - Dive Supervisor you advise the additional Club Number. ND - National Diver DATA PROTECTION ACT: By completing this form you are agreeing on your own behalf and as agent for and on behalf of the Members listed on this form, that your (and their) personal data may be held on computer and may be used for certain SAA Marketing and other purposes. You must obtain your Members consent to this aspect before submitting this form to the SAA. In particlular, the SAA may exchange certain personal information with other national diving organisations for training and safety purposes only, as well as the exchange of diving related incident reports. Your data may also be disclosed where permitted by law or where you have given your consent. You (and the Members listed on this form) may be contacted by mail,telephone, fax, e-mail or any other reasonable method, with details of products or services offered or procured by the SAA. If you prefer not to receive this information, please advise the SAA Head Office. Your data will be treated in strict confidence and will not otherwise be disclosed to third parties Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system.

SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Page 2 of 2 Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] Form AMF – 040/19 ub-A S qu h a is t C t

Incident/Accident l

u

o

b c Report Form S Please return completed form to: Sub Aqua Association Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 8BX Details of Incident

Date Time Location: UK Overseas On Boat Sea Lake/Quarry River/Canal Swimming Pool On Land Place Country (If not UK) Organisation of Dive: Private Club Holiday Commercial

Dive details when incident occured: Maximum depth of dive Decompression conducted: Depth(s) Depth at which incident started Time(s) Dive duration Surface interval since previous dive (if applicable) Weather Sea/water conditions Surface visibility Underwater visibility Details of previous related dives: Date Time of surfacing Date Time of surfacing Depth Duration Depth Duration Decompression Conducted: Decompression Conducted: Depth(s) Depth(s) Time(s) Time(s) Surface interval since previous dive (if applicable) Surface interval since previous dive (if applicable)

Type of Incident and factors involved. Please mark all relevant boxes.

01 Fatality 30 Rough water 56 Wreck dive 02 Embolism 31 Cold water 57 Cave dive 03 Decompression illness 32 Water current 58 Night dive 04 Unconsciousness 33 Low underwater viz 59 Snorkel dive 05 Injury 34 Low surface viz 60 Boat dive 06 Illness 61 Shore dive 07 Narcosis 35 Bad seamanship 08 Oxygen Poisoning 36 Good seamanship Emergency Services Involved 09 Ear problems/damage 37 Carelessness 62 Coastguard 10 Hypothermia 38 Ignorance 63 Lifeboat 11 Breathlessness 39 Disregard of rules 64 Helicopter 12 Panic 40 Malice 65 Ambulance 13 Cramp 41 Inadequate pre-dive check 66 Hospital 14 Rescusitation involved 42 Inadequate training 67 Police 15 1st aid oxygen used 43 Entangled/trapped 68 Fire Brigade 44 Fire/explosion 69 Recompression 16 Nitrox 45 False alarm 17 Trimix Decompression Incidents 18 Rebreather 46 Good practice 70 Dive within tables 71 Inaccurate use of tables 19 Aborted dive 47 Solo diving 72 Dive using BSAC 88 tables 20 Ascent using Alternative Air Source 48 Trio diving 73 Dive using other tables 21 Buoyant ascent 49 Separation specify: 22 Free ascent (without air supply) 50 Lost diver(s) 74 Dive using computer* 23 Controlled Buoyant Lift 51 Drift diving 75 Dive within computer limits 24 Rapid ascent 52 Training drill 76 Missed decompression stops 25 Diver too buoyant 53 Diving at altitude (above 250m) 77 Re-entry decompression 26 Diver too heavy in water 54 Divers underwater 78 Repeat diving 27 Out of air 55 Divers on the surface 28 Foul air 29 Incorrect Gas Mixture *Please provide computer details on page 3

Devised by the British Sub-Aqua Club © BSAC March 2003 Details of individuals involved Person A Person B Person C Person D

Surname

First name

Gender (M)ale (F)emale

Age

Any known relevant prior medical condition

Diving affiliation (please specify e.g. BSAC, SAA, PADI)

Branch/Club name

Branch/Club number

Membership number

Gas mixture being used: Air

Nitrox 32 (32% O Indicate 'D' 2 if used for t he (D)ive, Nitrox 36 (36% O 2) or 'S' if only for decompression Nitrox 50 (50% O 2) (S)tops. { Other (please specify)

Diving grade

Instructor grade

Number of dives since 1st Jan. this year *

Total number of dives completed *

Year when started diving

* Number of dives at date of incident. Please provide an estimate if the exact number is not known. Details of any equipment IMPLIC ATED in t he cause of the incident Please only indicate items which CONTRIBUTED to the incident/accident.

Diving equipment

79 Cylinder 92 Weights/w eightbelt 10 2 SMB 80 Regulator 93 Ankle weights 10 3 Delayed SMB 81 Pressure gauge 94 Face mask 10 4 SMB reel 82 Hose 95 Full face mask 10 5 Lifting bag 83 BC 96 Snorkel 10 6 Rope 84 ABLJ 97 Fins 10 7 Torch 85 Drysuit 98 Knife 10 8 Camera 86 Undersui t 99 Watch 10 9 Tools 87 Wetsuit 100 Compass 110 Other - Please state ______88 Dump val ve 101 Dive computer 89 Inflation valve 90 Hood 91 Gloves

Boat and boating equipment

111 Engine failure/malfunction 112 Out of fuel 113 Incorrect or dir ty fuel 114 Boat malfunction 115 Boat swamping 116 Boat capsize 117 VHF radio failure 118 Propellor 119 Other - please state ______

Equipment details

If equipment failure/malfuntion/design was IMPLICATED in this incident please provide details

Item ______

Make ______

Model ______

Serial number ______

Approximate age ______Please provide a written description of the events of this incident. Use additional pages if necessary

______

______

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______

______

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______

______

______

______

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Please submit reports by diver’s partners, Report submitted by dive marshal and any other witnesses Name ______together with a summary of the incident Address ______leading to the accident. Copies of statements given to the police or other authorities ______should also be included. Please enclose any Date ______press cuttings, inquest report, etc.

SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 Try A Dive Declaration Form

Sub-aqua diving is a sport that requires general physical fitness and good health. Anyone with a medical history of diabetes, blackouts(epilepsy, etc.), perforated eardrums, high blood pressure or heart disease, any lung or respiratory disorder( such as Asthma), or dependence on drugs, may not be able to dive safely and so MUST seek specialist advice before contemplating taking up this sport including a Try-A-Dive

The "Try A Dive" is available only in a swimming pool with 1:1 Instructor/Student (on no account to be done in the open water) and on the understanding that the persons taking part:

a) Are over 18yrs of age (or have written permission of parents)

b) Consider themselves medically fit for diving and to the best of their knowledge do not suffer from any of the disqualifying conditions mentioned above.

c) Will, in the interests of safety, comply with all instructions given by the Dive Leaders.

d) Successfully complete a 100m freestyle swimming test. Physically disabled candidates with mobility limitations will be allowed to participate, at the discretion of the Club Diving Officer, providing they can demonstrate that they are water confident and can float on their back unaided for a period of one minute. (Club Diving Officers should be aware of the particular issues relating to Disabled Divers and are advised to consult the SAA "Diving with Disabilities" document for guidance before agreeing to such participation.)

e) This try dive does not qualify the participant to procure breathing gas, diving equipment, or any other scuba diving services, nor does it allow any scuba diving without the direct supervision of an Instructor.

Every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of persons taking part, but the club reserves the right to terminate instruction of any person should there be cause to doubt fitness or ability to dive.

The Club Diving Officer shall exercise their discretion and judgment as to whether the particular candidate is suitable for participation in the Try Dive session.

Name of Applicant:

Address: Telephone:

Mobile:

City: Email:

County: D.O.B. Country: Age: Post Code:

I certify to the best of my knowledge I do not suffer from any of the disqualifying conditions mentioned above, that I meet the required fitness criteria and I declare that the statements made on this form are true.

Signature Of Student: Date:

Signature Of Parent / Guardian: Date:

(If student is under 18 years of Age)

Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system.

Form TD1.1. June 2012 6.4 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 Skill Course Form

Section A. To be completed by the Applicant Name: SAA Membership No: Address: SAA Club Name: SAA Club No: City: Telephone: County: Mobile: Country: Email: Post Code: D.O.B. Age:

Last Medical Date: SAA Diving Grade: Date Obtained: SAA Certification Applying For: Qualification You Wish to Crossover From: Training Agency: Training Centre: Instructor's Name: Certificate No:

Signature: Date:

Section B. To be completed by the Club Diving Officer Club Diving Officer's Name: SAA Membership No:

I have inspected the candidate's original certificates and confirm them to be genuine. Furthermore, I endorse this Diver's application

Signature: Date:

Section C. Information that must accompany this application I Wish To Pay By Credit Card Photocopies of: Card No. External Agency Certificate you wish to crossover from SAA Membership Certificate Medical Certificate (where applicable) Expiry Date: CSC No. Current Diving Grade (where applicable) 50p Charge for Credit / Debit Card payments Cheque made payable to the SAA for the applicable amount

Office Use Only Current Crossover Fees Date Sent To Co-ordinator: Nautical Archaeology ...... £10.00 VHF ...... £10.00 Authourised By: Diver Rescue ...... £10.00 Signature: Nitrox ...... £10.00 Date: Boathandling ...... £10.00 Chartwork & Navigation ...... £10.00 Certificate Number: Oxygen Administration ...... £10.00 Date Sent To Member: Diver First Aid ...... £10.00

Please return this form to the address at the top of the page Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system.

SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] Form SCF 06/11 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 Instructor Qualification Crossover

Section A. To be completed by the Applicant Name: Telephone: Address: Mobile: Email: City: D.O.B. County: Country: Post Code:

SAA Membership No: Existing Instructor Grade: SAA Club Name: Training Agency: SAA Club No: Instructor Registration No: Number Of Years Of Diving Experience: Number Of Logged Dives: Number Of Years Instructing At The Above Grade:

Signature: Date:

Section B. To be completed by the Club Diving Officer

Club Diving Officer's Name: SAA Membership No:

I have inspected the candidate's original certificates and confirm them to be genuine. Furthermore, I have personally assessed the candidate and certify that they are competent in using and training others in the SAA Deep-Stop system. I fully endorse this Instructor's application

Signature: Date:

Section C. Information that must accompany this application I Wish To Pay By Credit / Debit Card Photocopies of: Card No. Your highest SAA Diver Qualification Certificates to show you meet the entry criteria for the Instructor Grades (See Instructor Crossover Guide) Expiry Date: / CSC No. 50p Charge for Credit / Debit Card payments Cheque made payable to the SAA for £10.00

Office Use Only Grade: Sign: Date:

Upon completion please send to: The National Diving Officer reserves the right to see your original certification and / or contact the training agency for confirmation. National Diving Officer SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system.

SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] Form IXF 10/10 NITROX REGISTRATION

Nitrox Qualification Registration

Section A. To be completed by the Applicant Name Address Tel:

Mobile

E-mail

Post Code D.O.B. *Male/Female

SAA membership number Existing Nitrox Grade

SAA Club name Training agency

Club No Nitrox Certificate No

Previous Club name Number of years of diving experience Previous Club No Number of logged dives Signature Date

Section B. To be completed by the Club Diving Officer Club Diving SAA membership number: Officer's Name: I have inspected the candidate's original certificates and confirm them to be genuine. Furthermore, I endorse this diver's application. Signature Date:

Section C. Information that must accompany this application Photocopies of:

• Your highest diver qualification;

• The Nitrox qualification that you want crossed over

Office use Only Grade Sign Date Upon completion please send to The National Diving Officer National Diving Officer. reserves the right to see your SAA Head Office, original certification and/or Space Solutions Business Centre, contact the Training Agency for Sefton Lane, Maghull,Liverpool, confirmation L31 8BX * delete as necessary Note. the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system

6.5.3 TRIMIX REGISTRATION

Trimix Qualification Registration

Section A. To be completed by the Applicant Name Address Tel:

Mobile

E-mail

Post Code D.O.B. *Male/Female

SAA membership number Existing Trimix Grade

SAA Club name Training agency

Club No Trimix Certificate No

Previous Club name Number of years of diving experience Previous Club No Number of Trimix dives Signature Date

Section B. To be completed by the Club Diving Officer Club Diving SAA membership number: Officer's Name: I have inspected the candidate's original certificates and confirm them to be genuine. Furthermore, I endorse this diver's application. Signature Date:

Section C. Information that must accompany this application Photocopies of: • your highest diver qualification; • the Trimix qualification that you want crossed over

Office use Only Grade Sign Date Upon completion please send to The National Diving Officer National Diving Officer. reserves the right to see your SAA Head Office, original certification and/or Space Solutions Business Centre, contact the Training Agency for Sefton Lane, Maghull,Liverpool, confirmation L31 8BX * delete as necessary Note. the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system

6.5.4 REBREATHER REGISTRATION

Rebreather Qualification Registration

Section A. To be completed by the Applicant Name Address Tel:

Mobile

E-mail

Post Code D.O.B. *Male/Female

SAA membership number Existing Diving Grade

SAA Club name Training agency

Club No Certificate No

Previous Club name Number of years of diving experience Previous Club No Number of Rebreather dives Signature Date

Section B. To be completed by the Club Diving Officer Club Diving SAA membership number: Officer's Name: I have inspected the candidate's original certificates and confirm them to be genuine. Furthermore, I endorse this diver's application. Signature Date:

Section C. Information that must accompany this application Photocopies of:

• your highest diver qualification; • the Rebreather qualification that you want crossed over.

Office use Only Grade Sign Date Upon completion please send to The National Diving Officer National Diving Officer. reserves the right to see your SAA Head Office, original certification and/or Space Solutions Business Centre, contact the Training Agency for Sefton Lane, Maghull,Liverpool, confirmation L31 8BX * delete as necessary Note. the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system

6.5.5 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 Club Crossover Guidance Chart Re Equivalent Qualifications

SAA BSAC SCOTSAC PADI NAUI SSI CMAS

Elementary Diver Basic Scuba Scuba Diver Open Water Diver

Open Water & Advanced Open Water Open Water Diver Ocean Diver Advanced Scuba Diver 1 Star Advanced Open Water Diver

Rescue Diver & Club Diver * Sport Diver * Sport Diver * (SD) Sports Diver Master Diver 2 Star Master Scuba Diver

Sports Diver with DL Diver Leader Dive Leader Dive Master Diver Master 2 Star Endorsement

Advanced Diver & Diver Supervisor Master Diver 3 Star above

National Diver 4 Star

* Equates to CMAS 1* until 10 additional dives have been done.

This guide gives the highest permitted crossover level. Each Club Diving Officer reserves the right to assess each application on experience as well as qualifications held and may cross qualifications over at a lower level.

Nothing in this guide alters the policy that Diving Officers may not award certification higher than that held themselves.

Grades above SAA Dive Supervisor may only be awarded by the National Diving Officer.

SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Form CXG1.1 02/11 Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] INSTRUCTOR CROSS-OVER GUIDE

If you have an Instructor award from another dive agency, the SAA have arrangements to cross such awards over to SAA Instructor certification – this is done by the SAA NDO who should be contacted via Head Office for advice. A cross over chart is reproduced here for guidance only. The NDO will assess each application individually and will cross over at the level considered appropriate at the time. It was decided by the Executive Committee that crossovers of Instructor grades will be limited to SAA Open Water Instructor as a maximum. This is to support Clubs and Regions by allowing crossovers at that level without need for any form of Instructor Development Course, whilst preventing crossover candidates from running courses at Regional level without the support of experienced SAA Regional Instructors.

SAA BSAC PADI ScotSAC CMAS Club Instructor Practical Branch Instructor + 1* Instructor Sport Diver Open Water Open Water Open Water Branch Instructor 2* Instructor Instructor and Instructor and + Master Diver and above above above Regional Instructor 3*

National Instructor

All entry criteria must also be met for all crossovers – i.e. Age, Diver Grade, SAA Diver Rescue, and SAA Diver First Aid etc. as appropriate and as would be required of an SAA candidate as part of their eligibility to apply for the relevant SAA Instructor course.

For example:- a PADI MSDT applying for an Instructor cross over would be likely to be awarded SAA OWI provided the applicant was at least 18 years old, had crossed over their diver grade to at least SAA Dive Leader, and had crossed over any rescue qualification to SAA Diver Rescue prior to applying for the cross over.

Any applicant who omitted a relevant and required qualification would likely be crossed over at the highest available grade – e.g. PADI MSDT who had crossed their diver grade over to SAA Dive Leader but did not supply a SAA Diver Rescue qualification would be crossed over at SAA Club Instructor level. Once crossed over at a level then any progression would have to be by attending an SAA Instructor course rather than subsequently resubmitting the same qualifications with SAA Diver Rescue and expecting an “upgrade”.

Page 1 of 1 27th April 2010 6.5B SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 National Course Application Form

Course Title :

Candidate Information Candidates should use the name they wish to have on their certificates. Forename(s): Home Telephone: Surname: Work Telephone: Address: Mobile: Email: City: Date Of Birth: County: Country: Post Code:

SAA Diving Grade Date Attained: SAA Instructor Grade: Date Attained SAA Instructor Number: SAA Membership Number: Club Name: Club Number: I declare that the above information is correct and that I agree to abide by the rules of the SAA and any particular safety requirements of this course. I confirm I will meet the minimum criteria for attendance at the commencement of this course. Signature: Date: Diving Officer's Declaration I am the Diving Officer of the above named Club, and I endorse this application. To the best of my knowledge the above information is correct. The Candidate may have the relevant sections of his qualification book signed off by the course instructors.

Signature: Date: Notes to Diving Officers This application form should only be counter signed if you believe the diver is capable of fullfilling the course requirements. Some courses require particular levels of skill, for example Diver Rescue requires that the candidates have good buoyancy control skills. Do not sign this form if you believe that the candidate shall be in any way endangered by attempting this course.

Office Use Only Checklist Course Outcome Membership Current: Yes No Section 1 Medical Cert Signed: Yes No Instructor: Diving Grade: Signed: Date: Instructor Grade: Section 2 Payment Instructor: Deposit: Signed: Balance: Date: Section 3 Certificate Information Instructor: Cert Number: Signed: Date: Date:

Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system. *Oxygen Admin, Diver First Aid & Boat-handling books are now loose-leaf in an SAA Binder Tick this box if you already have a binder SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] Form NCA 10/10 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 Application for SAA-CMAS Certification Card

Section A. To be completed by the Applicant Name: SAA Membership No: Address: SAA Club Name: SAA Club No: City: Telephone: County: Mobile: Country: Email: Post Code: D.O.B. Age:

Existing Diving Grade: Date Obtained: Signature: Date:

Section B. To be completed by the Club Diving Officer Club Diving Officer's Name: SAA Membership No:

I have inspected the candidate's original certificates and confirm them to be genuine. Furthermore, I endorse this Diver's application

Signature: Date:

SAA-CMAS Equivalencies

Open Water Diver 1 Star To qualify for a CMAS 2* diver a Club diver must complete a * Club Diver 2 Star further 10 qualifying dives, which must be verified by the Club DO. These dives must be completed in a variety of conditions, Dive Leader 2 Star no more than 2 qualifying dives in one day or at one site. Dive Supervisor 3 Star These dives cannot be used towards those required for SAA Dive Leader. National Diver 4 Star

Section C. Information that must accompany this application I Wish To Pay By Credit / Debit Card Photocopies of: Card No. Your highest SAA Diving Qualification Proof Of Additional Dives (If required) One Current Colour Photograph of yourself (passport size) Expiry Date: / CSC No. with your name written on the back 50p Charge for Credit / Debit Card payments Cheque made payable to the SAA for £12.50

Office Use Only Grade:

Signed: Date:

Please return this form to the address at the top of the page Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system.

SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] Form SCCC 12/10 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 Application for SAA-CMAS Instructor Card Minimum Diving Grade - Dive Supervisor

Section A. To be completed by the Applicant Name: SAA Membership No: Address: SAA Club Name: SAA Club No: City: Telephone: County: Mobile: Country: Email: Post Code: D.O.B. Age:

Existing Diving Grade: Date Obtained: Existing Instructor Grade: Date Obtained: Signature: Date:

Section B. To be completed by the Club Diving Officer Club Diving Officer's Name: SAA Membership No:

I have inspected the candidate's original certificates and confirm them to be genuine. Furthermore, I endorse this Diver's application

Signature: Date:

SAA-CMAS Equivalencies Club Instructor 1 Star * Open Water Instructor 2 Star ** Regional / National Instructor 3 Star ***

Section C. Information that must accompany this application I Wish To Pay By Credit / Debit Card Photocopies of: Card No. Your highest SAA Diving Qualification Your Instructor Qualification One Current Colour Photograph of yourself (passport size) Expiry Date: / CSC No. with your name written on the back 50p Charge for Credit / Debit Card payments Copy Of Current Medical Form (Self Certified Acceptable) Cheque made payable to the SAA for £12.50

Office Use Only Grade:

Signed: Date:

Please return this form to the address at the top of the page Note the information submitted on this form will be stored on a computer system.

SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] Form SCIC 12/10 SAA Head Office Space Solutions Business Centre Sefton Lane Liverpool L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 Change Of Committee Form

Club Name: Date Of Changes: SAA Number:

Secretary Diving Officer Full Name: Full Name: Address: Address:

City: City: County: County: Country: Country: Post Code: Post Code: Telephone: Telephone: Email Address: Email Address: Qualification:

Chairman Treasurer Full Name: Full Name: Address: Address:

City: City: County: County: Country: Country: Post Code: Post Code: Telephone: Telephone: Email Address: Email Address:

We now require a copy of the Diving Officer's current Diving Qualification to accompany this form ** Failure to send a copy of the Diving Officer's current Diving Grade will result in the form being returned **

We the undersigned verify that we have access to a current copy of the SAA Club Guidance Manual and agree to abide by the minimum standards laid down therein. We also confirm that any Open Water Instruction will be overseen by an Open Water Instructor or above. We accept the National Diving Officer has the right to check our diving standards at any time.

Diving Officer: Chairman ** Failure to sign will result in this form being returned **

Contact Name & Telephone Number Contact Name: Telephone Number:

Time, Day & Place of Pool and Dry Meetings Pool Location: Meeting Location:

Time: Time:

Day: Day:

SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Business Centre, Sefton Lane, Liverpool, L31 8BX Page 1 of 1 Telephone: 0151 287 1001 Email: [email protected] Form COC - 10/10 EXAM SERVICE

INTRODUCTION

The SAA training programme requires a certain theoretical standard of knowledge for each qualification. It is with this in mind that the SAA offers a free service to all club diving officers whose responsibility it is to ensure that this standard is maintained. Diving officers may still choose to set their own exams, use the SAA exams, and mark them in-house or use the free marking service provided.

OBJECTIVES

To ease the workload on diving officers by providing each club with a set of regularly revised, ready to use examination papers.

To provide a set of papers to test the training programme.

To provide model answers and marking schemes for all papers to aid marking in-house and to ensure uniformity in marking nationwide.

To provide an address to which club diving officers can send completed papers, marked impartially by a team of instructors and then returned, as soon as possible with the recommendations as to the pass or failure of the candidate. It must be stressed that the final decision rests with the club diving officer.

To collate nationwide, the results of the exams, in order to assess the training programme as a whole. These results will be strictly confidential and will be used only to improve training.

USING THE SERVICE

Each club will be issued with a set of examination papers free of charge, to photocopy as required. These exams will then be sat by the candidates in the usual way. The completed exams can be marked in-house or can be posted to the exam co-ordinator for marking.

Clubs wishing to mark papers in-house, can obtain free sets of model answers and marking schemes, by writing to the exam co-ordinator enclosing a photocopy of the DO's diver qualification and proof of membership. The club will then receive marking schemes up to and including the DO's grade. It is hoped that the provision of this service will increase the number of papers marked within the clubs, particularly for lower grade examinations.

In order to monitor the service, it would be appreciated if clubs marking exams in-house, would send a copy of the new exam feedback/results form. This information is strictly confidential and will only be used to improve the service and update the training scheme.

Page 1 of 1 6.9 INSURANCE STATEMENT

The SAA shall indemnify its members in line with the Insurance policies held by the SAA at the time, subject to the contents of this Guidance Manual being upheld.

Insurance Policies 1. Public & Products Liability (3rd party) 2. Club Officers legal liability

3rd party insurance cover for non-SAA members exists to support Clubs in attracting prospective new members. It will not cover non-SAA members whilst on open water dive trips.

The 3rd party cover will apply to Clubs and protect the Clubs from claims by, or claims arising from the actions of, the following groups –

Prospective Members – Any diver undertaking initial training within the pool or classroom environment. Cover will extend only for a maximum of 8 consecutive weeks after which the prospective member must join the SAA or cover ceases. This is to enable prospective members to assess the Club and vice versa, or to enable generic “Try Dive” sessions to be conducted. It is recognised that not all “Try Dive” candidates are prospective members, but they will still be covered.

Visitors – Any person attending a Club function, training, pool or classroom session who is not an SAA member. This is to enable bone fide visitors / guests to attend Club functions (i.e. Club Dinners / guest speakers at Club nights etc.) for a specific occasion. This is not to be used to circumvent Associate Membership and this cover is limited to 8 occasions, per Club, per calendar year commencing 1 January.

Friends / relatives of SAA members attending pool sessions - It is recognised that occasionally friends or relatives may wish to attend and swim at pool sessions, and such activity is encouraged and covers the Club under the 3rd party insurance. This does not include scuba training. This is not to be used to circumvent Associate Membership and is limited to 8 times, per person, per calendar year commencing 1 January.

Close family (i.e. children of the member) who are not members of the SAA are covered by the SAA 3rd Party Insurance to attend club pool sessions as part of normal family life. This covers swimming and snorkelling. It does not cover use of scuba. There is no restriction to the number of times the child can attend. This subsection is designed to recognise that the children of members will often have to attend with the parent for child care reasons, as well as such attendance forming part of a cohesive healthy family activity.

Guest Divers - A guest diver is a diver who is not a member of the SAA Club organising the particular dive or trip in question. This diver will either be a member of another SAA Club (in which case insurance is in place provided the member is operating as per SAA Guidelines), or not an SAA member in which case they must have their own 3rd party insurance provision. The SAA 3rd party insurance cover will not extend to cover the actions of non-SAA members on open water dive trips. SAA members / Clubs will be covered by the 3rd party insurance for open water trips (provided they dive / operate within SAA guidelines) irrespective of whether their buddy, or other guest, is covered by 3rd party insurance.

No claim on the SAA 3rd party insurance will be entertained by virtue of the actions of a non SAA guest diver. Any liability such a guest diver sustains will be met either by them

July 2014 Page 1 of 2 6.10 INSURANCE STATEMENT personally or by them ensuring they have appropriate insurance of their own. (For example; if an uninsured guest diver drops a weight belt and damages the boat, any claim against that person will be theirs to sort out. If an SAA member drops a weight belt and damages the boat, any claim would likely be covered under the terms of the SAA 3rd party insurance. The presence of an uninsured diver on the trip will not invalidate the cover of the SAA member).

Where various groups and individuals are on the same dive charter boat then the SAA insurance simply covers the SAA members and the presence of other groups or individuals is of no consequence as they are not part of the SAA group and simply happen to be diving from the same boat at the same time.

July 2014 Page 2 of 2 6.10 FISH SIZES

REGULATIONS FOR FISH SIZES CAPTURED AROUND THE BRITISH ISLES

DEMERSAL CM PELAGIC CM

BASS 36 HERRING 20 BLACK SEA BREAM 23 MACKEREL BLUE LING 70 North Sea only 30 BRILL 30 other 20 COD 35 HORSE MACKEREL 15 CONGER EEL 58 DAB North Sea 23 SHELLFISH Other 15 FLOUNDER 25 NORWAY LOBSTER GREY MULLET 20 overall 8.5 HADDOCK 30 (Irish Sea) W Scotland 7.0 HAKE 30 carapace 2.5 LEMON SOLE 25 (Irish Sea) W Scotland 2.0 MEGRIM 25 tail 4.6 PLAICE North Sea 27 (Irish Sea) W Scotland 3.7 Other 25 LOBSTER POLLACK 30 overall 24 RED MULLET 15 carapace 8.5 RED SEA BREAM 25 SPIDER CRAB 12 SAITHE 35 SCALLOP SHAD 30 (ICES Division Vlld) 11 SOLE 25 other 10* TURBOT 30 CLAM WHITING 27 (ICES Division Vlld) 4 WITCH 28

*There is a minimum landing size of 11 cm for UK vessels landing between 55 deg N on West coast of Scotland and S Wales/English border.

NOTE: Irish Sea comprises ICES Division VI IA, North Sea includes ICES sub-area IV and ICES division lla S 64 deg N. West of Scotland comprises ICES division VIA.

NB Regional minimum landing sizes for crabs vary throughout England and Wales. This information is contained within SI497/1 986.

This information is correct as at 1st September 1992 and is intended for guidance only. It is not a comprehensive statement of the law, which is subject to change. Full information and advice may be obtained from your local Ministry of Agricultural Foods & Fisheries office. SAA Club Order Form 05/18 Send to: SAA Head Office, Space Solutions Bus. Ctre, Sefton Lane, Lpool, L31 8BX Tel: 0151 287 1001 e-mail: [email protected] Club Name:…………………………………………………………………… SAA No …………………………….. Name:………………………...……………………………………..………………... Position in club: ………………..……… Address:…………….…………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code……………...……….. D.O. sign (requ'd for sales of certificates)………………………………………………………………………………………. BOOKS, WALLETS AND AIDS Ref No Price Qty Req Amount £ SAA Filofax qualification book S002 15.00** SAA Diver Log Book Insert for filofax (52 dives) A002/I 5.00 SAA Instructors Manual CD B010 5.00 SAA Bühlmann Nitrox System (with EAD tables) B024 12.00* A4 Executive Wallet F003 10.00 SAA Nitrox EAD Tables V015 5.00 SAA Bühlmann Deep Stop Handbook(with planner) V004 12.00 SAA Bühlmann Deep Stop Tables/Planner V004/C 5.00 Student Training Material (Lets Dive/ Student Course Manual B048 15.00 plus 7GB storage USB)

CERTIFICATES (For Qualification Book) * * * * Snorkeller S003 1.00 Advanced Snorkeller S004 1.00 Elementary Diver S005 1.00 Open Water Diver S018 1.00 Club Diver S006 1.00 Dive Leader S007 1.50 Dive Supervisor S008 1.50 ABLJ/SJ Course S009 1.00 Dry Suit Course S010 1.00 SAA Equivalent S011 1.00 PRESENTATION CERTIFICATES A5 size * * * Try a Dive W007 1.50 Snorkeller W009 1.50 Advanced Snorkeller W010 1.50 Elementary Diver W011 1.50 Open Water Diver W020 1.50 Club Diver W012 1.50 Dive Leader W013 1.50 Dive Supervisor W014 1.50 NOTES: P&P plus VAT is included unless stated. Please make cheques payable to the SAA £ Credit Card No: CSV Expiry Date: ** Members name required when ordering replacement qual book

SAA New Starter pack includes Student Course Note Manual & Decompression System, All prices inclusive of p&p CHILD PROTECTION

SAA Policy on Child Protection

Working in partnership with children and their parents/carers is essential for the protection of children. Education and Good Practice are the key to this as Judith Unell’s report on Criminal Record Checks Within the Voluntary Sector, concluded that "the additional information made available to voluntary bodies through criminal record checks is of minimal relevance to child protection". As a National Governing Body (NGB) the SAA has a responsibility to protect all of its members, especially those who are vulnerable.

The SAA recognise the statutory responsibility of the Social Services Department to ensure the welfare of children and has adopted the guidance procedures of the Sports Coach UK (scUK), which was developed in conjunction with the NSPCC, Amateur Swimming Federation (ASF) of Great Britain and Childline.

The guidance is based on the following principles:

• The child’s welfare is paramount.

• All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

The SAA strongly recommends that all its clubs adopt ‘good practice’ in the care of children. To this end the SAA in partnership with the scUK will help to educate those involved in the training of children who are taking part in the activities of our clubs.

As caring adults, divers and instructors we see this as not only a ‘Duty of Care’ but also a widely accepted responsibility to protect children from any form of abuse.

SAA Vice-chair

Page 1 of 6 7.0 CHILD PROTECTION

The following NSPCC guide on the subject is reproduced by the kind permission of the NSPCC and the ASF:

Child abuse is a very emotive and difficult subject - especially if you think your child or a child you know is being harmed. This leaflet is written for everyone involved in children's sport. You may be a parent wanting to ensure your children are as safe as possible at the club; a teacher or helper worried about a child you coach or concerned about the behaviour of the club manager or coach; a sports development or National Governing Body (NGB) officer who is worried about the behaviour of the team manager or club secretary. This leaflet explains what child abuse is, how to recognise it and what to do if you have concerns. It offers advice for parents, coaches and sports organisations to ensure they do everything they can to protect children from abuse.

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE? Child abuse is a term used to describe ways in which children are harmed, usually by adults and often by people they know and trust. It refers to the damage done to a child's physical or mental health. Children can be abused within or outside their family, at school and even in the sports environment. Child abuse can take many forms:

• Physical abuse, where adults: - physically hurt or injure children (e.g. by hitting, shaking, biting or burning) - give children alcohol, inappropriate drugs or poison - attempt to suffocate or drown children.

In sport situations, physical abuse might also occur when the nature and intensity of training exceeds the capacity of the child's immature and growing body. • Neglect includes situations in which adults: - fail to meet a child's basic physical needs (e.g. for food, warm clothing) - consistently leave children alone and unsupervised - fail or refuse to give children love, affection or attention.

Neglect in a sports situation might also occur if a teacher or coach fails to ensure children are safe or exposes them to undue cold or risk of injury. • Sexual abuse. Boys and girls are sexually abused when adults (male or female) use them to meet their own sexual needs. This could include: - full sexual intercourse, masturbation, oral sex, fondling - showing children pornographic books, photographs or videos, or taking pictures for pornographic purposes.

Sport situations which involve physical contact (e.g. supporting or guiding children) could potentially create situations where sexual abuse may go unnoticed. Abusive situations may also occur if adults misuse their power over young people.

• Emotional abuse can occur in a number of ways. For example, where: - there is persistent lack of love or affection - there is constant overprotection, which prevents children from socialising - children are frequently being shouted at or taunted - there is neglect, physical or sexual abuse.

Page 2 of 6 7.0 CHILD PROTECTION

Emotional abuse in sport might also include situations where parents or coaches subject criticism, bullying or unrealistic pressure to perform to high expectations.

HOW WOULD YOU RECOGNISE A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED?

There are signs, which could alert you to the fact that a child might be being abused. These would include: • unexplained bruising or injuries

• sexually explicit language or actions

• sudden changes in behaviour

• something a child has said

• a change observed over a long period of time (e.g. the child losing weight or becoming increasingly dirty/unkept).

However, it is important to note that a child could be displaying some or all of these signs, or behaving in a way, which is worrying - this does not necessarily mean the child is being abused. Similarly, there may not be any signs, you may just feel something is wrong. If you are worried, it is not your responsibility to decide if it is abuse but it is your responsibility to act on your concerns and do something about it.

Social Services and the Police have a duty under the Children Act to ensure children are protected and to help those who have been abused. They are trained to deal with child abuse and should be contacted when there are concerns. They will give you advice an, take responsibility for any action which is necessary.

What should I do if I have concerns? If you have noticed a change in the child's behaviour, first talk to the parents or carers. It may be that something has happened, like a bereavement, which has caused the child to be unhappy. However, if your concerns are about sexual abuse or violence, talking to the parents or carers might put the child at greater risk.

If your concerns remain or you cannot talk to the parents/carers, consult the person in charge or someone you can trust. It is the responsibility of the person in charge to make the decision to contact Social Services.

If the person in charge is not available, or the concerns are about him/her, or you do not feel appropriate action has been taken, you must contact Social Services or the Police yourself. The number is in the phone book. If you want to talk things through to gain some advice, you can phone the NSPCC free Helpline: 0800 800 500. This operates 24 hours a day, every day. You do not have to give your name but it is helpful if you can.

Page 3 of 6 7.0 CHILD PROTECTION

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

Social Services have a responsibility to investigate all concerns about child abuse. They do this jointly with the Police. This may involve talking to the child and his/her family and/or gathering more information. If allegations have been made against a coach or member of staff, this may involve suspension or disciplinary proceedings. If a crime has been committed, criminal investigations will take place.

What should I do if a child tells me s/he is being abused? Always: • stay calm - ensure the child is safe and feels safe

• show and tell the child that you are taking what s/he says seriously

• reassure the child and stress that s/he is not to blame

• be honest, explain you will have to tell someone else to help stop the abuse

• make a note of what the child has said as soon as possible after the event

• maintain confidentiality - only tell others if it will help protect the child.

Never: • rush into actions that may be inappropriate

• make promises you cannot keep

• take sole responsibility - consult someone else (the person in charge or someone you can trust) so you can begin to protect the child and gain support for yourself.

If I do something, might it make things worse?

Taking appropriate action if you are worried about abuse is never easy - it takes courage but it protects a young life. You may be upset about what the child has said or you may worry about the consequences of your actions. Sometimes people worry about children being removed from their families as a result of abuse, but in reality this rarely happens. However, one thing is certain - you cannot ignore it. The effects of abuse on children can be devastating, especially if children are unprotected or do not receive help to cope with the abuse. The most serious effect is that children can and do die as a result of abuse. They can develop behavioural difficulties, problems at school,

Page 4 of 6 7.0 CHILD PROTECTION

their development can be delayed and they can become depressed and withdrawn. Some of these problems, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood

WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MY CHILD OR CHILDREN IN MY SPORT FROM ABUSE?

If you are a parent or carer: • check to see if the club has a policy which ensures children are protected and kept safe from harm

• check that staff and volunteers are carefully recruited, trained and supervised

• know how to voice your concerns or complain if there is anything you are not happy about

• ensure your children know how to voice their concerns or complain if there is anything they are not happy about

• encourage your child to talk to you about any worries.

If you are a coach/member of staff/volunteer: You can reduce situations for abuse of children and help to protect staff and volunteers by promoting good practice. Everyone should be aware that, as a general rule, it does not make sense to:

• spend excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others

• take children alone in a car on journeys, however short

• take children to your home.

Where any of these are unavoidable, ensure they only occur with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge in the organisation or the child's parents.

You should never: • engage in rough, physical or sexual games, including horseplay

• allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form

Page 5 of 6 7.0 CHILD PROTECTION

• allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged

• make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun

• let allegations a child makes go unchallenged or unrecorded. Always act.

• do things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves. However, it may be sometimes necessary for your staff or volunteers to do things of a personal nature for children, particularly if they are very young or disabled. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of parents. In an emergency situation, which requires this type of help, parents should be fully informed.

In such situations, it is important to ensure all staff are sensitive to the child and undertake personal care tasks with the utmost discretion.

WHERE CAN I GET FURTHER HELP? Useful 24 hour free telephone numbers for advice or further help: Childline: 0800 1111 NSPCC Helpline: 0800 800 500

Useful publications:

Protecting Children - A Guide for Sportspeople The National Coaching Foundation and NSPCC (1995) Available from Coachwise (0113 231 1310) Our Duty of Care Child Care Northern Ireland (1995) Available from Child Care NI (01232 234499)

Page 6 of 6 7.0 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

THE RULES OF THE S.A.A.

OTHER REGULATIONS EXCLUDED

1. No regulation or article prescribed by or pursuant to any statute concerning companies shall apply to the company, but the following shall be the Articles of Association of the Company.

DEFINITIONS

2. In these Articles: -

"the Act" means the Companies Act 1985 (as amended by the Companies Act 1989) including any modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force.

"the Articles" means the Articles of the S.A.A.

"the Board" means the Board of Enquiry.

"clear days" in relation to the period of a notice means that excluding the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.

"the Electoral Committee" means the Electoral Committee of the S.A.A. for the time being.

"executed" includes any mode of execution.

"the Executive" means the Executive Council of the S.A.A. for the time being.

"Member" means any of the classes of member referred to in Article 4.

"the Memorandum" means the Memorandum of the S.A.A.

"National Council" means the National Council of the S.A.A. for the time being.

"Office" means the registered office of the S.A.A.

“S.A.A. Office Administrator” shall mean the S.A.A.’s office administrator/manager at the S.A.A.’s head office

"the S.A.A." means the Sub-Aqua Association.

"the seal" means the common seal of the S.A.A.

"Secretary" means any person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the S.A.A.

"the United Kingdom" means Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

“Informal Complaints Procedure” means the informal complaints procedure of the S.A.A referred to in Article 9(j) as may be amended from time to time by the National Council.

Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural number, and vice versa.

Page 1 of 15 8.0 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender.

Expressions referring to writing shall, unless the contrary appears to be construed as including references to printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form. Unless the context otherwise requires, words or expressions in these Articles bear the same meaning as in the Act but excluding any statutory modification thereof not in force when these Articles become binding on the S.A.A.

MEMBERSHIP

3. The number of individual Members with which the S.A.A. propose to be registered shall be unlimited.

4. There shall be four classes of membership: -

1) National Council or Executive Members. Members of the National Council or the Executive for the time being shall be members of the S.A.A. for so long as they hold office.

2) Member Clubs. Any club whose objects are similar to those of the S.A.A. which has been accepted as a Member by the Executive and which has paid all moneys due to the S.A.A. shall be a Member Club of the S.A.A.

3) Individual Members. Members for the time being of any club which is a Member Club of the S.A.A. are automatically Individual Members of the S.A.A. Any Individual Member shall automatically cease to be such if he ceases to be a member of a Member Club, or if the Member Club of which he is a member, ceases to be a Member Club.

4) Honorary Members. Any person, club, corporation, association or institution, whose membership of the S.A.A. the National Council considers might be conducive to the interests of the S.A.A. shall be an Honorary Member.

5. Only those members specified in Article 37 shall be voting members of the S.A.A.

6. Applications to become a Member Club shall be made in writing to the S.A.A. Office Administrator and shall state the following information:-

1) the objects of the club, corporation, association or institution;

2) the address to which it wishes all notices and communications from the S.A.A. to be sent;

3) the qualification of the person who is or is proposed to be the diving officer of the club;

4) any subscription due under Article 7;

5) the names and addresses of all individual members of the club.

7. (a) The annual subscription is payable by Member Clubs and Individual Members and shall be such as may from time to time be prescribed by the National Council (having taken into account the existing and future financial requirements of the S.A.A. and at all times acting in the best interests of the S.A.A. and its Members).

Page 2 of 15 8.0 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

(b) The annual subscription shall be due on the first day of January of each year. Clubs who have a student membership base may, on formal application to the National Secretary, vary their subscription year to coincide with the academic year i.e. September to August.”

(c) Every application under Article 6 shall be accompanied by a remittance to cover the appropriate subscription from the date of application to the following Thirty First day of December in that same year.

(d) New members joining the SAA shall be provided with a copy of the SAA Diver Training Manual as part of the SAA joining package where:- a/ they are training up to and including a standard of club diver. b/ Members of one household shall not be required to purchase more than one copy.

8. It is the duty of every Member to ensure that a standard of training and diving procedure is maintained to a degree which is approved by the National Diving Officer of the S.A.A. and approved to sufficient standards of the National Council.

MISCONDUCT

9. (a) Subject to 9.(j) below upon notification of any allegation of misconduct by any Member, the Executive Committee will appoint a Board of Enquiry to investigate and establish the facts of the alleged misconduct. Such Board must consist of at least 3 S.A.A. Members, to include at least one National Council or Executive Member, and shall be appointed by the Chairman of the S.A.A. If it is the Chairman who is the subject of the allegation or any person who is in any way directly associated with the Chairman, then the Board of Enquiry shall be appointed by the Executive with the exception of the Chairman.

(b) Upon notification of an alleged act of misconduct, the Executive may, at their discretion, immediately suspend the Member forthwith, pending the outcome of the Board of Enquiry.

(c) Following the appointment of a Board of Enquiry, it must complete its enquiry as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event, within 12 weeks from the date of its appointment. If its enquiry cannot be completed within this period, the Chairman of the Board of Enquiry MUST submit an interim report in relation to the status of the enquiry, together with a proposed time scale for completion of such enquiry, to the Chairman of the S.A.A. The Chairman of the S.A.A. may then grant a further extension of 12 weeks to allow the enquiry to be concluded. If the subject matter of the enquiry is subject to external investigation by any third party (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the police or other governmental or regulatory body of whatsoever nature), then the Board of Enquiry will be suspended until that investigation is concluded.”

(d) Prior to the meeting of the Board of Enquiry, the Board or any member thereof may make any such telephone enquiries, correspondence and meetings as deemed fit for the purpose of gathering all material information and the establishing of all relevant facts pertaining to the allegation.

(e) At the meeting of the Board, a Chairman shall be appointed. There shall be the opportunity for the Member or his representative to be heard. The Board or the Member or his representative may call any other relevant persons to give evidence in

Page 3 of 15 8.0 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

the proceedings, or alternatively, the Board may produce statements taken from any relevant witnesses.

(f) At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board may at its discretion issue a verbal decision, but in any event will issue a written statement of reasons for their decision to the Member and to the Members of the National Council. The Board may also, at its discretion, continue the enquiry for the purpose of further investigation to be made, and in this instance, shall call a further meeting as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(g) The Board in issuing its decision, may expel, suspend, issue a written warning, or impose at its discretion any conditions or penalties as it deems necessary. Any decision of the Board must be passed by a majority vote. In the event of there being equal votes, the Chairman of the Board shall have a casting vote. The Executive shall ensure that a competent Minutes Secretary is in attendance at any meeting of the Board to take a true account of the meeting. Furthermore, the said Minutes Secretary will issue typed Minutes of the meeting to the Members of the Board and shall issue a written note of the Decision of the Board, together with a statement of reasons, to the Member, the National Council, and any other relevant persons. Such Minutes Secretary shall be independent of any Member of the Board.

(h) The Member may appeal to the National Council against the findings of the Board. Such an appeal must be made in writing to the Secretary stating the grounds of appeal within 21 days of the issue of the statement of findings of the Board to the Member. The appeal will be heard at the next meeting of the National Council. The Member or his representative shall have the opportunity to be heard at the National Council meeting. The National Council and the Member or his representative may call to be heard any relevant persons as deemed necessary.

(i) Any Member or his representative or any other persons called by the Member to speak in his defence shall not be entitled to any expenses incurred in attending the meeting of the Board of Enquiry or of the National Council. The National Council, however, may award at its discretion reasonable expenses to any person who has attended either meeting.

(j) The S.A.A. will, wherever possible, follow the guidelines set out in the Informal Complaints Procedure as a means of resolving a complaint involving a member and shall only implement the provisions of Article 9(a) to (i) in the event that the Informal Complaints Procedure has either not resolved the matter complained of, or if the subject matter of the original complaint is considered by the Executive to be sufficiently serious as to merit the instigation of the said misconduct provisions without first having followed the Informal Complaints Procedure. (follow procedure as shown in the black book)

DISSOLUTION

10. If a motion calling for the dissolution of the S.A.A. shall be passed at any general meeting of the Members of the S.A.A. the motion thereafter within two calendar months be submitted to a postal ballot of voting Members and shall be passed only by a two-thirds majority of those entitled to vote under Article 37.

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THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE

11. The management of the S.A.A.'s affairs shall be vested in a National Council comprising the following elected officers: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Diving Officer, Executive Officer and Regional Representatives, together with any persons co-opted in accordance with Article 21.

12. (a) The election of members of the National Council shall be organised by an Electoral Committee of three persons appointed by the S.A.A. Office Administrator and approved by the Executive.

(b) No person shall serve on the Electoral Committee if he is a member of or is standing for election to the National Council or a relative of any person standing for election. One member of the Electoral Committee shall be designated secretary of the Electoral Committee.

13. (a) Not later than 4 months before the annual general meeting the S.A.A., Member Clubs shall be invited by the Executive to nominate in writing to the secretary of the Electoral Committee candidates for the posts of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Diving Officer, and Executive Officer Each Member Club will also be entitled to nominate a representative for the region to which it belongs. The Executive will divide the Member Clubs into regional groups according to their registered addresses.

(b) Nominations must reach the secretary of the Electoral Committee in writing not later than one month from the date on which the invitation to nominate was posted.

14. Any person nominated under Article 13 must be an Individual Member of the S.A.A. Each nomination shall be signed by two officers of a Member Club and countersigned by the nominee to signify his willingness to serve in the post to which he is nominated.

15. In the event that there are two or more nominations for any of the posts mentioned in Article 13, the secretary of the Electoral Committee shall send ballot papers containing the names of the nominees for the posts of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Diving Officer and Executive Officer, to all Member Clubs. Member Clubs within each region shall also be sent a ballot paper containing the names of nominees, if more than one, for representative of their particular region. The ballot papers will be posted not later than 2 months from the date on which the invitation to nominate candidates under Article 13 was posted.

16. Member Clubs in receipt of ballot papers shall each be entitled to one vote for one nomination to each of the posts mentioned in Article 13. Ballot papers must be returned to the secretary of the Electoral Committee not later than 1 month after the ballot paper was posted to the Member Club. The nomination receiving most votes for a particular post shall hold that post following the next Annual General Meeting of the S.A.A. (subject to the provisions of Article 24). In the case of there being equal votes for a particular post, the candidates with tied votes will go forward to a further ballot of the member clubs until an outright winner is established, or the other candidate(s) withdraw their nomination(s).

17. In the absence of two or more nominations for any post, then the unopposed nominee shall be deemed to have been elected as if by ballot and shall hold the post following the next Annual General Meeting (subject to the provisions of Article 24).

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18. Executive Members and Regional Representatives (and as mentioned in Article 21) will hold their post from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting to conclusion of the next following their election/appointment.

19. For the purposes of day to day management of its affairs, the National Council shall delegate all its powers, except as would be inconsistent with these Articles, to the Executive consisting of all the persons mentioned in Article 11 save regional representatives.

20. A member of the National Council retiring at any meeting shall retain office until the close of the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

21. The Executive may appoint as co-opted members any person who in its opinion would further the interests of the S.A.A. The number of such co-opted members shall not exceed 4 at any time. Such a member so co-opted shall retire at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting next following his appointment but thereafter may again be co-opted to serve on the Executive.

22. The National Council may appoint an appropriate person who is willing to fill any casual vacancy in the number of elected members of the National Council as specified in Article 11. A National Council Member so appointed shall hold office only until the next following Annual General Meeting. If not re-appointed at such Annual General Meeting, he shall vacate office at the conclusion thereof.

23. National Council or Executive Members shall not be entitled to any remuneration for their services but the S.A.A. may pay National Council Members reasonable and proper out-of- pocket expenses actually incurred by such members in connection with the affairs of the S.A.A. Further the S.A.A. may pay National Council Members reasonable and proper remuneration for necessary professional services actually rendered to the S.A.A. which would otherwise have required the employment of an independent contractor.

24. The office of a National Council or Executive Member shall be vacated if the member:-

1) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally which may have, in the opinion of the Executive, a detrimental effect on the interests of the S.A.A.; or

2) he is, or may be, suffering from mental disorder and either:-

3) he is admitted to hospital in pursuance of an application for admission for treatment under the Mental Health Act 1983 or, in Scotland, an application for admission under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960; or

4) an order is made by a court having jurisdiction (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder for his detention or for the appointment of a receiver, curator bonis or other person to exercise powers with respect to his property or affairs; or

5) he resigns his office by notice in writing to the S.A.A.; or

6) he fails to renew his membership of the S.A.A.; or

7) he is directly or indirectly interested in any contract with the S.A.A. and fails to declare the nature of his interest to the National Council and the Executive; or

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8) he is removed from office by an ordinary resolution of the S.A.A.; or

9) he shall for more than 9 consecutive months have been absent without the consent of the National Council, from meetings of the National Council held during that period and the National Council resolve that his office be vacated. 10) is elected to another position on the Executive or National Council.

25. Upon vacation of the office of National Council Member each National Council Member shall deliver to the National Council all documents (including correspondence, notes, memoranda and other documents of whatsoever nature and all copies thereof) made or compiled or acquired by the National Council Member during the currency of his membership of the National Council and concerning the S.A.A.

26. A National Council Member or Executive Member shall not have any vote in respect of any contract in which he is interested or any matter arising therefrom.

COPYRIGHT

27. A National Council Member or Executive Member or Member shall at the request of the Chairman of the S.A.A. execute a deed of assignment to assign free of charge the copyright of any work produced while acting in their capacity as a Member of the National Council or Executive or otherwise as requested by the S.A.A.

GENERAL MEETINGS

28. The S.A.A. shall in each year hold an Annual General Meeting and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. Not more than 15 months shall elapse between the date of one Annual General Meeting of the S.A.A. and that of the next. The Annual General Meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Executive shall specify.

29. All general meetings other than the Annual General Meetings shall be called Extraordinary General Meetings.

30. The National Council or the Executive may call general meetings and, on the requisition of members pursuant to the provisions of the Act, shall forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting for a date not later than eight weeks after receipt of the requisition. If there are not within the United Kingdom sufficient National Council or Executive Members to call a general meeting, any member of the National Council or the Executive or any Member Club may call a general meeting.

31. The Secretary shall accept motions from the National Council, Executive or a Member Club. Motions submitted by a Member Club shall be signed by at least two officers of the same club.

32. No Member shall be entitled to bring any special business before any general meeting unless he shall have given notice in writing of such special business to the Secretary so as to be received by him 21 days before the date of the annual or extraordinary general meeting.

33. All general meetings shall be called by at least 21 clear days' notice but a general meeting may be called by shorter notice if it is so agreed: -

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1) in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and

2) in the case of any other meeting by a majority in number of the Member Clubs having a right to attend and vote at the meeting and being a majority together representing not less than ninety-five per cent of the Members.

3) The notice shall specify the date, time and place of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted and in the case of an annual general meeting shall specify the meeting as such.

34. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of, notice of a meeting by any person entitled to receive notice, shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

35. Notice of every general meeting shall be given in the manner hereinbefore authorised to:-

1) Member Clubs except those who (having a registered address outside the United Kingdom) have not supplied to the S.A.A. an address within the United Kingdom for the giving of notices to them by the relevant date;

2) the auditor of the S.A.A. for the time being;

3) all National Council Members and Executive Members.

PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

36. All business shall be deemed special that is transacted at a general meeting with the exception of:-

1) the consideration of the minutes of the previous annual general meeting and of any extraordinary general meeting which may have occurred since the date thereof;

2) the appointment of scrutineers for any poll or show of hands which may be required;

3) the Chairman's address;

4) the reports of members of the Executive;

5) the consideration of the accounts and balance sheets for the preceding financial Year;

6) the announcement of the results of the election of members of the National Council for the ensuing year;

7) the appointment of auditors and the fixing of their remuneration;

8) motions for which due notice has been given;

9) such other business (without prejudice to the provisions of the Act) as the Chairman may select provided that the Chairman is not hereby empowered to treat as ordinary

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business under this Article business which would otherwise be treated as special business.

37. Only the following shall be entitled to vote at general meetings of the S.A.A.:-

1) one person elected by the National Council to act as its representative at that meeting;

2) a duly authorised representative of each Member Club.

3) Each of the above is entitled to one vote. However a representative of a Member Club will not be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless the Member Club which he represents has paid all moneys presently payable to the S.A.A.

38. Any National Council Member, Executive Member, Individual Member or Honorary Member may attend and speak at any general meeting of the S.A.A., unless a member is currently subject to the Disciplinary Procedures as stated in Article 9.

39. Any Member or Member Club which is the subject of an item on the agenda of a general meeting shall be entitled to be present at the said meeting and to make any comments as desired, but shall not be entitled to vote on that item. In respect of a Member Club being the subject of an item on the agenda for a general meeting, only one representative of the said Member Club may be permitted to speak at said meeting on behalf of said Club, and no individual member from the said Member Club may be entitled to vote on the item in question.

40. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of members is present. Save as herein otherwise provided a quorum shall be 10% Member Clubs entitled to attend and vote (whether in person or by proxy.)

41. If within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of Members, shall be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned until such other day and at such other time and place as the National Council may determine and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, those persons present and entitled to vote shall be a quorum.

42. (a) The Chairman of the S.A.A. or in his absence the Vice-Chairman shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the S.A.A. or if there is no such Chairman or Vice- Chairman, or if they shall not be present within one hour after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting or shall be unwilling to act, those persons present and entitled to vote shall elect one National Council Member to be chairman at the meeting.

(b) If at any general meeting no National Council Member is willing to act as chairman or if no member of the National Council is present within one hour after the time appointed for holding the meeting, those Members present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

43. The chairman of any general meeting may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present, (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place but no business shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place. When a meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original general meeting. Save

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as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted at any adjourned meeting.

44. (a) At a general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands by those entitled to vote unless before, or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll is duly demanded.

(b) Subject to the provisions of the Act, a poll may be demanded:-

1) by the chairman of the meeting; or

2) by a majority on a show of hands by those present and entitled to vote.

45. (a) Unless a poll is duly demanded a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority, or lost or not carried by a particular majority and an entry made to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or the proportion of votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.

(b) If a poll is held then each Member Club shall have one vote. The representative of the National Council shall be entitled to one vote only on a poll.

(c) The demand for a poll may, before the poll is taken, be withdrawn but only with the consent of the chairman of the meeting and a demand so withdrawn shall not be taken to have invalidated the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made.

46. Except as may be provided in Article 45, if a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such a manner as the chairman of the meeting directs and he may appoint scrutineers (who need not be members) and fix a time and place for declaring the result of the poll. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.

47. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting shall be entitled to a casting vote in addition to any other vote he may have.

48. A poll demanded on the election of a chairman, or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time as the chairman of the meeting directs, not being more than 30 days after the poll is demanded. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded. If a poll is demanded before the declaration of the result of a show of hands and the demand is duly withdrawn, the meeting shall continue as if the demand had not been made.

49. No notice need be given of a poll not taken forthwith if the time and place at which it is to be taken are announced at the meeting at which it is demanded. In any other case at least 14 clear days' notice shall be given specifying the date, time and place at which the poll is to be taken.

50. A resolution in writing executed by or on behalf of each Member who would have been entitled to vote upon it if it had been proposed at a general meeting at which he was present shall be as effectual as if it had been passed at a general meeting duly convened and held

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and may consist of several instruments in like form each executed by or on behalf of one or more Members.

51. Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions given by special resolution, the business of the S.A.A. shall be managed by the National Council and the Executive who may exercise all the powers of the S.A.A. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the National Council or the Executive which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. The powers given by this Article shall not be limited by any special power given the National Council or the Executive by the Articles and a meeting of the National Council or the Executive at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the National Council or the Executive.

52. The National Council or the Executive may from time to time, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, to be the agent of the S.A.A. for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion’s (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the National Council or the Executive under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they determine including provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such agent and authority for the agent to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion’s vested in him. Before any such appointment is made, any Member of the National Council or the Executive with a direct or indirect material interest in said appointment must make known to the National Council, or Executive said interest and shall not be entitled to any voting rights pertaining to any powers conferred by this Article.

53. The National Council may exercise all the powers of the S.A.A. to borrow money, and to mortgage or charge its undertaking and property or any part thereof for any debt, liability or obligation of the S.A.A.

54. All cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments and all receipts for moneys paid to the S.A.A. shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be in such manner as the National Council or Executive shall from time to time by resolution determine.

55. An interest of a person who is for any purposes of the Act connected with a Member of the National Council or the Executive shall be treated as an interest of the Member.

56. No National Council or Executive Member shall be held personally liable for any debt, liability or obligation of the S.A.A.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE

57. The National Council and the Executive may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit but the National Council shall meet at least twice in every year and the Executive shall meet at least four times in every Year. Questions arising at any meeting, including at a National Council meeting the election of a representative to vote at any general meeting of the S.A.A., shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. At least six members of the National Council may and the Secretary on the requisition of at least three members of the National Council shall, at any time summon a meeting of the National Council. At least three members of the Executive may and the Secretary on the requisition of at least two members of the Executive shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Executive. All National Council members in respect of a

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National Council meeting and all Executive Members in respect of an Executive Meeting shall be given at least 14 clear days' notice of a meeting. It shall not be necessary to give notice of a meeting of either the National Council or the Executive to any member for the time being absent from the United Kingdom.

58. The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the National Council shall be twelve of which 3 shall be Executive Members.

59. The continuing members of the National Council and the Executive may act notwithstanding any vacancies in their body, but, if and so long as their number is not reduced below the number fixed as the quorum, the continuing member or members of the National Committee or Executive may act only for the purpose of filling vacancies or for calling a general meeting of the S.A.A.

60. The chair at meetings of the National Council or the Executive shall be taken by the Chairman or in his absence the Vice Chairman of the S.A.A. If neither the Chairman or Vice Chairman is present within I hour after the time appointed for the meeting, the members present may appoint one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

61. (a) The National Council or the Executive may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of a member or members of the National Council, or other persons as they think fit. Any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the power so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the National Council or the Executive. Such delegation may be withdrawn by the National Council or the Executive at any time.

(b) A committee may elect a chairman of its meetings. If no chairman is elected or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within one hour after the time appointed for holding the same, the members present may choose one of their members to be chairman of the meeting.

(c) The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of a committee shall be two thirds of the committee members.

(d) A committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks fit. Questions arising at any committee meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the committee members present and in the case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second casting vote.

62. All acts done by any meeting of the National Council or the Executive or a committee shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any member or that they or any of them were disqualified, be valid as if such member had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a member.

63. A resolution in writing, signed by all the Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the National Council, Executive or of a committee of the National Council or the Executive, shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the National Council or the Executive or (as the case may be), a committee of the National Council or the Executive duly convened and held.

64. Every minute of any meeting of the National Council or Executive or of a committee, if signed by the chairman of such meeting or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the business transacted at that meeting without any further proof of the facts stated therein.

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65. The duties and functions of officers, co-opted members, servants, coaches, co-ordinators, advisors and committees shall be as the National Council by resolution may from time to time determine and all descriptions and duties expected of such appointment holders will be put in writing. The National Secretary will hold a copy in the ‘National Council Guidance Manual’. The post holder and Chairman of any such committees will be provided with a copy of such duties, relevant rules, and job descriptions as are relevant for the purpose of carrying out their functions and duties.

INSURANCE

66. (1) It is the duty of every Member Club to ensure that all persons who participate in any diving-related activities within the auspices of a Member Club or the S.A.A. are valid Individual Members of the S.A.A. or bona fide guests of the Member Club(s) in question as laid down in the insurance document and policy schedule of the S.A.A.’s insurers.

(2) All such diving activities referred to in (1) above which are undertaken in the name of a Member Club and/or the S.A.A. must fall within the guidelines of the S.A.A. as set out in the S.A.A. Guidance Manual.

(3) Members of the 500 Club will continue to have insurance cover which will cover them while diving and all events when they are on S.A.A. business. This will be provided for them by the S.A.A.

THE SECRETARY

67. Anything required or authorised to be done by or to the Secretary may, if the office is vacant or if for any reason the Secretary is not capable of acting, be done by or to any officer of the S.A.A. authorised generally or specifically in that behalf by the National Council or the Executive.

THE SEAL

68. The National Council shall provide for the safe custody of the Seal, which shall only be used by the authority of the National Council or of a committee of the National Council authorised by the National Council in that behalf and every instrument to which the Seal shall be affixed shall be signed by two members of the National Council and shall be countersigned by the Secretary.

ACCOUNTS

69. The National Council or the Executive shall cause accounting records to be kept in accordance with present legislation, with respect to: -

1) all sums of money received and expended by the S.A.A. and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place;

2) all sales and purchases of goods by the S.A.A.; and

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3) the assets and liabilities of the S.A.A.

70. (a) Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the S.A.A. and to explain its transactions.

(b) The books of account shall be kept at the office or at such other place as the National Council by prior arrangement or the Executive think fit and shall be open to the inspection of members of the National Council by prior arrangement between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.

71. The National Council shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the S.A.A. or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being members of the National Council and no Member (not being a member of the National Council) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the S.A.A. except as conferred by statute or authorised by the National Council or by the S.A.A. in general meeting.

72. The National Council shall from time to time cause to be prepared and to be laid before the S.A.A. in general meeting such profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and reports as are required by statute.

73. A copy of every balance sheet, profit and loss account, and report by the National Council which is to be laid before the S.A.A. in general meeting, together with a copy of the auditors report, shall not less than twenty one days before the date of the meeting, be sent to every Member Club (who will be responsible for the distribution to its Individual Members) entitled to receive notice of general meetings, subject to the Act. This Article shall not require those documents to be sent to any person of whose address the S.A.A. is not aware.

NOTICES

74. (a) A notice may be given by the S.A.A. to any Member either personally or by sending it by post to his registered address appearing in the register of members. A Member whose registered address is not within the United Kingdom and who gives to the S.A.A. an address within the United Kingdom at which notices may be given to him shall be entitled to have notices given to him at that address, but otherwise no such Member shall be entitled to receive any notice from the S.A.A. Where a notice is sent by post, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the notice and to have been effected at the expiration of 5 clear working days after the letter containing the same is posted.

(b) The accidental omission to give notice of any meeting of the S.A.A. to, or the non- receipt of notice of any meeting by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

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NATIONAL CERTIFICATES

75. The issuing of National Qualifications by any person so qualified to issue the same will only be made to individual Members who have satisfied the criteria for that particular qualification, as determined by the National Council and the S.A.A. Training Programme. Any aforementioned person issuing any National Qualification without such criteria having been met shall be subject to the Disciplinary Procedures of the S.A.A. as stated in Article 9.

WINDING UP

76. On a winding up of the Company, the net assets of the S.A.A. will be equally distributed to the Member Clubs.

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DISMISSAL

The rules of the S.A.A. empower the Executive to immediately suspend and ultimately to expel any member or appointed officer of the association, at National or Regional level, whose conduct may bring the SUB-AQUA ASSOCIATION into disrepute.

INFORMAL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

ARTICLE 9 (j)

INTRODUCTION

Effectively used this procedure will demonstrate to the membership the commitment of the SUB-AQUA ASSOCIATION to the principal of equal fairness to anyone who may have a grievance.

This document sets out the procedure for dealing with an Informal Complaint, which may arise from someone feeling, aggrieved about the way in which they may have been treated.

This procedure does not replace or alter any of the Articles of the Association. It is intended that it is to be used alongside them.

GUIDELINES

The Informal Complaints Procedure will deal with any grievance in a fair and just manner with the intention where possible of achieving a resolution within a climate of cooperation.

It can be used as an initial investigation into any allegations of misconduct and it would form the basis of an enquiry if it were decide to have a full Board of Enquiry.

All complaints should be acted upon as quickly as possible. In any case within 28 days of the complaint being made.

Where possible the matter should be dealt with locally, in most cases by the Regional Representative.

It may be that the complaint is against a Regional Representative or that the Regional Representative is unable to deal with the complaint. In this case the Executive will appoint an independent person, who all parties agree to, to look at the matter.

All parties involved will be made aware of how the procedure works and should be kept informed as to how the enquiry is progressing.

Care should be taken to ensure that the reputations of all parties are NOT unjustly affected in any way.

If a complainant wishes to remain anonymous then this should be respected, where practicable.

The following are some examples of the kind of complaint that may be encountered. This list is by no means exhaustive, not being mentioned here shouldn’t mean that the complaint couldn’t be dealt with by this procedure.

Page 1 of 2 9.0 INFORMAL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

• Writing letters or making communications abusive of other persons and publishing the same. • Actively undermines the position of members of the National council or appointed officers. • Operating outside the rules of the SAA. • Misuse of SAA National or Regional funds. • Neglects the duties and functions to be reasonably expected from a council member or appointed officer. • Amending, for recirculation, circular and publications produced by the National Council or Executive without their authorisation. • Activities of a nature that would discredit the SAA. • Discrimination of any kind. • Harassment, sexual and racial. The person appointed to deal with the complaint should speak to the complainant and where appropriate the person subject of the complaint in order to familiarise him/herself with the nature of the complaint and will then take immediate action with a view to resolving the problem. This may be achieved without recourse to a written report.

If a resolution is not possible, the person who dealt with the Informal Procedure will submit a written report under confidential cover.

If it is found during an Informal Procedure that the matter is of a sufficiently serious nature. Then the matter will be passed by the person dealing to the Executive Committee and will be dealt with under the Articles of the Association.

Whilst it is important that every member of the SAA has the right to be dealt with in a fair and just manner the reputation of the Association MUST also be preserved.

DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS WITHIN THIS PROCEDURE.

Those responsible for dealing with a complaint should bear in mind that the procedure is aimed at achieving a resolution rather than establishing innocence or guilt.

• Not necessary for an aggrieved person to prove case beyond all reasonable doubt. • Each complaint must be decided on the basis of the balance of probability. • The procedure is intended to provide fairness to all parties including persons against whom the complaint has been directed.

It is not the purpose of this procedure to provide any punishment of the person against whom a complaint is made.

Often, a grievance centres upon the word of one person against another, with little or no supporting evidence.

Any person involved in a complaint has the right to be supported at any stage by someone of his or her choice.

Page 2 of 2 9.0 TECHNICAL INFORMATION

10.1 ELEMENTARY NITROX 10.2 MANIKIN HINTS AND TIPS 10.3 RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE 10.4 SITA RISK ASSESSMENT INFO 10.5 CEN REGULATIONS

Page 1 of 1 10.0 What is Nitrox?

• Nitrox is any mix of Nitrogen and Air.

• Normoxic Nitrox is normal air. (21% Oxygen and 79% Nitrogen)

• Hyperoxic Nitrox is a mix with more than 21% Oxygen –Hyperoxic mixes are known as Enriched Air or Enriched Air Nitrox

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 What is Nitrox?

•EANx X is the % of Oxygen

• Safe Air (Refers to a mix between 22% and 50%)

• SAA has four basic mixes – EAN 28 This is 28% Oxygen – EAN 32 This is 32% Oxygen – EAN 36 This is 36% Oxygen – EAN 40 This is 40% Oxygen

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 Elementary Nitrox

• How long has it been around ?

– Some experiments done in the 1870’s – 1910/1912 various tests done using Nitrox while riding a bike – Lots of work done during the war (lots of progress) – Started to be used as a sports gas in the 1970’s

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 Elementary Nitrox

• How do you name a mix ?

– Oxygen content always named first • EAN32 is 32% Oxygen and therefore 68% Nitrogen. • EAN40 would be 40% Oxygen and 60% Nitrogen.

• Note both figures must add up to 100%.

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 Elementary Nitrox

• Air is a Nitrox Mix.

– Air is 21% O2 and 79% Nitrogen. – All mixes for the Nitrox diver are just air enriched with Oxygen

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 Elementary Nitrox

• Why Use Nitrox?

– Nitrox is safer than air if used correctly. –Nitrox reduces the chances of illnesses which are associated with diving. – Nitrox increases the time that can be safely spent underwater.

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 Elementary Nitrox

• Each mix has a Maximum Operating Depth (MOD)

– 28% 40 Metres MOD – 32% 33 Metres MOD – 36% 28 Metres MOD – 40% 25 Metres MOD

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 Elementary Nitrox

• Equipment Differences

• You must only use Oxygen in Service cylinders

– Oxygen Clean plus Oxygen Compatible makes equipment in Oxygen Service.

• Oxygen Compatible means suitable for use with pure oxygen. • Oxygen Clean refers to equipment which has been cleaned for use with pure oxygen.

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 Elementary Nitrox

•Current Cylinder markings for Europe are Black, but tend to be any colour with a “Nitrox Sticker” in black.

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 Elementary Nitrox

•All mixes “MUST” be tested prior to use. • Mixes are tested using a Gas Analyser • Calibrate the Analyser and connect to the cylinder to be tested. • Turn on valve and allow a gentle flow of the gas to pass the analyser for about 15 seconds. Log the percentage reading

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 SUMMARY

• More Oxygen than Air for Nitrox used in Diving • Less Nitrogen, so safer for shallow dives • Tried and tested over a long period • Naming mixes by the percentage of Oxygen • Shallow diving gas

• To Dive without an Instructor using Nitrox you must take a Nitrox Diver course, ask your DO for details

copyright Sub Aqua Association version 1.1 WWW.SAA.ORG.UK

Guidance for SAA Manikin Training. Trust me I’m Plastic

MANIKINMANIKIN HINTSHINTS && TIPSTIPS

1 August 2005 Edition 2:0 Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge the substantial support given to the Sub Aqua Association by Chris Aller [Simulaid Manikins] and the diving industry. Paul Womack of the Divers Warehouse [Otter], Tony Gallagher of Apex & Martin Parker of A.P.Valves [Buddy] who have been full of support for this manikin project.

“This level of support is tremendous and shows these companies leading the way with support for improving Diver Training & Diver Safety” said Paul Johnson-Ross former SAA National Diving Officer.

“The future is safe the future is now” E(S)W

2 MANIKIN HINTS & TIPS

SAA Manikin Pack

August 2005

Document Issue: 2:0 Project Hector

3 DOCUMENT UPDATE LIST.

! Edition 1.01 - Launched 2003. ! Edition 2.0 - Updates to Simulaid contact details (August 2005)

4 Photograph copy right – SAA

I met a diver few years ago, who had researched diver manikin use in one form or another since 1994. His input to this project was invaluable. The research and knowledge gained over the years from these strange home made manikins put together from old bed frames & old shop manikins filled with all sorts of strange materials proved invaluable. His favourite manikin called Hector would arrive at various inland dive sites with even no head attached, clearly causing much merriment from many including myself; and there lies another story.

On behalf of all divers - Thank you E. ( S ) W.

5 MANIKIN TRAINING CONTENTS

TRAINING ORGANISERS & INSTRUCTORS:

" SAA SAFETY POLICY

! Club Guidance

" TRAINING PROGRAMME

" SITE PERMISSIONS

" SIMULAID LTD CONTACT DETAILS

! Manikin price details

" FEATURES & CONSTRUCTION

! Features & Construction continued ! Adult Manikin 1328 ! Weighting ! Handling & Transporting ! Manikin Storage ! Manikin Dive Equipment ! Preparation at dive site

" MANIKIN DEPLOYMENT

! Idealised Dive Profile ! Manikin deployment continued

" MANIKIN REGISTRATION & TRAINING RECORD SHEET

# [For Diver Rescue Instructors only] 6 MANIKIN TRAINING INTRODUCTION

SAA SAFETY POLCY

The Health, Safety and welfare of all personnel participating in activities endorsed by the Sub Aqua Association (SAA) is of paramount concern to the Elected Officers and Employees of the organisation. This concern is reflected in the manuals, guidance and training offered by the organisation.

Our priority is to ensure that every member of the clubs affiliated to the SAA are provided with effective training and guidance so as to enable them to undertake the sport of recreational Diving and its related activities in as safe a manner as is reasonably practicable.

The elimination of personal injury is our ultimate goal, we firmly believe that all accidents are preventable and that a “Zero Accidents” target is achievable.

Health, Safety and Environmental considerations are a shared responsibility. Commitment to safety is a team obligation involving all participants working together through consultation and co-operation. We believe that it is unacceptable for any individual to observe non-compliance with best practise and accepted safety standards without immediately addressing and correcting that non-compliance with the personnel concerned.

Confidence in the safety of any undertaking requires open communication between all concerned parties. We recognise and support the right of all persons to express their concerns and expect those apprehensions to be addressed and, where applicable, rectified.

7 MANIKIN TRAINING INTRODUCTION

This Training pack has been put together as a result of 12 months of open water trials conducted by a team of SAA Instructors across the UK. They where tasked by the then National Diving Officer, Paul Johnson-Ross, to look at the suitability of manikin use for Controlled Buoyant Lifts and to develop a safe method of deployment.

We would recommend that SAA Club’s, where practical, use a manikin as a casualty, or if that is not possible use the following guidelines for CASUALTIES.

A Controlled Buoyant Lift for Dive Leader - [20m to 10m]: • Should ideally be a SAA diver rescue examiner or a SAA diver rescue trained diver. Failing that an O.W.I or at least a Dive Leader.

Assisted Ascent for Dive Leader - [10m to 3m]: • Dive Leader or above.

Clubs wishing to use manikins for controlled buoyant lifts should seek advise from there Regional Representative or the SAA National Diving Officer.

The introduction of manikin use for controlled buoyant lifts will remove the need where practical for a live casualty to be used. Training & Safety standards are greatly increased as a result, a “Duty of Care” clearly demonstrated.

The Emergency Services have been using them for years, and for us it opens up a whole new area of training.

8 MANIKIN TRAINING INTRODUCTION

Training Requirements:-

Candidates must be SAA members of at least 18 years of age with a current UK Sport Diver medical form or self certified, and have the endorsement of their Club Diving Officer (who should be aware of the ability level required).

To deploy manikins you should be qualified to Open Water Instructor with SAA Diver Rescue. Some basic training is recommended, seek guidance from your Regional Rep or SAA National Diving Officer. [SAA Manikin Hints & Tips recommended]

A significant level of motivation and skill is needed to maintain the skill levels to deploy and lift the manikin so it is recommended it is practised.

Site Permissions:

The manikin looks very life like, and will course emergency actions if left underwater or on the surface unattended.

You must ask permission to use a manikin at any in land dive site.

If you loose a manikin in the open sea you must report this to the coastguard. Care of the public, who may react thinking its real and putting themselves at risk is your primary concern here.

9 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DETAILS

Contact Details for the Manikins are as follows:

Dan Europe Services (UK) Ltd, Unit 7, Phoenix Park, Telford Way, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3HE

For Orders please contact:

Debbie Matthews – Telephone: 0870 872 8888 or Fax:0870 871 3333

For any other information contact:

Chris Aller, Simulaids Ltd, EMP House, Telford Way, Coalville, Leicestershire. LE67 3HE

Telephone: 0870 871 2222 Fax: 0870 871 3333 mobile 07989 406 902. e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Web: www.simulaids.eu.com

The list below supports an agreed SAA package and a guide price of £700 plus vat. (NOTE – prices will change overtime)

• A 1328 manikin • A short wet suit • Spare Lungs • Spare faces • Delivery to your door

10 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DETAILS

Features and Construction:

The Adult Water Rescue manikin’s skeleton consists of coated steel cable, fittings and hardware. The manikin is articulated, and can be used safely for Controlled Buoyant Lifts with in the normal SAA training programme. [Deployment training recommended]

Adult Manikin model number 1328: [As used on the SAA Diver Rescue Course]

• Manikin weight – approximately 40lbs

• Manikin submerged weight without dive equipment – approximately 105lbs.

• Manikin will perform life like when submerged with dive kit as an unconscious casualty.

• Cables and limbs are replaceable. ( Contact Simulaids customer services ).

• The manikin comes with two stainless steel spring clips retaining the neck bolt in position. These are best replaced with stainless steel key rings as the clips can be lost under water, the head then falls away. This is the only small problem encountered by the trial team.

• DO NOT FIT A DRY SUIT TO THIS UNIT.

11 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DETAILS

Features and Construction:

The manikin is designed to take on some weight by filling with water through the small holes in the legs and arms.

For the controlled buoyant lift the manikins torso needs to fill with water, and this is done by opening the valve located on the shoulder and placing the manikin in the water with all its dive kit fitted. [BC PARTLY FILLED]. (see photographs 4 & 5)

The manikin will lay horizontal and as it takes on board water via the small holes and the torso fill point, it will move to a vertical position. The manikin is ready for use when air is released from the buoyancy BC and sinks VERTICALLY.

SAFETY NOTE: THE MANIKIN MUST BE TETHERED TO THE SHORE OR BOAT DURING THIS OPERATION AT ALL TIMES.

Weighting:

The weighting guidelines are as used by the SAA manikin trial team.

• Without the short wet suit supplied fitted, the manikin requires one pair of ankle weights 2lbs each minimum to deploy with dive kit in fresh water.

• Short wet suit supplied and fitted the manikin requires 8lbs to 9lbs on a weight belt for fresh water. Ankle weights can also be fitted which helps with manikins vertical profile while lifting.

• Normal diver corrections for sea water weighting apply to the manikin.

• All weighting is based on a standard BC and single cylinder.

12 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DETAILS

Handling & Transporting:

Moving the manikin to dive sites is easy, just place in the car as a passenger and apply a seat belt. A wet manikin is best placed in a plastic bag or allowed to drain & dry before transporting. (see photographs 2 & 3)

The manikin when not retaining water is light & easy to handle. When full of water it becomes more the weight of a real body, so please plan to use two or more people to move around. Safe lifting and handling procedures to be followed at all times.

Manikin Storage:

Drain the Manikin after each days use. Store the unit at room temperature. If the manikin is stored in cold temperatures, the vinyl may stiffen. It will return to normal flexibility when it is returned to a warmer temperature.

Manikin Dive Equipment:

All dive equipment used on a manikin should be in service. Cylinder testing and contents should be used as if the manikin were a live casualty.

SAA Guidelines for gas/air planning apply to the use of the manikin, and it is the responsibility of the instructor to include a full buddy check of the manikin before it is entered into the water.

For repetitive deployment from the surface as for the SAA Diver Rescue Course each instructor must check the contents gauge before redeployment starts and should satisfy them selves sufficient air/gas is available to complete the task in hand.

(see photograph 8)

13 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DEPLOYMENT

Preparation at dive site:

• Remove from vehicle.

•Visual check of the manikin. Looking for damage . • Dress manikin with Supplied wet suit. [no dry suit to be used] (photograph 1)

• Take manikin to waters edge and lay down.

• Attach weight belt etc.

• Assemble & test manikins dive kit. (photograph 7)

• Fit dive equipment to manikin. (photograph 11 & 14)

• Check contents gauge. (photograph 8)

• Attach tether to a secure point on the manikin and to the shore or boat. (photograph 17)

• Inflate BC slightly.

• Place manikin in the water and monitor.

• Manikin will lay horizontal but will move to a vertical position after 5mins.

• Check manikin is ready by deflating the BC, manikin will start to descend.

• Inflate BC quickly.

• Manikin ready to use.

• Report to the Dive marshal that the manikin is ready and its air/gas contents.

• The Manikin must not be left unattended.

14 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DEPLYMENT

The manikin is to be set on the bottom and rescued, so careful consideration of suitable dive sites should be planned for. In water visibility should be constantly monitored, and all diving stopped if viz reported as unsafe.. [On going Risk Assessment]

Deployment of the rescue manikin for a controlled buoyant lift is basically a controlled buoyant lift in reverse. Easy I hear you say & so it is, if practised & practised again to remain current.

The guidance now given works, how ever slight variations will exist on technique between divers to support their personnel dive equipment, configuration and set up.

Manikin deployment must be via a tight shot line by which the manikin is tethered, so in the event of the manikin being released retrieval is a simple task.

Having towed your manikin to the shot line which is free fromt knots and snags, you then tether the manikin by just looping around the shot and returning to clip back to the manikin.

OK signal to your dive buddy. Reduce your own & then the manikins buoyancy until you and it start to descend.

At 3 metres put air into the manikin BC and stop for a bubble check on the manikin & your dive buddy.

OK signals, then descend in a slow controlled manor achieved by keeping the manikin slightly more buoyant than yourself, this takes away the risk of the manikin driving you. [Slower the better].

Once the manikin is on the bottom the tether is removed and stowed in the BC’s pocket. Visually check manikin for leaks and that the area around manikin is safe.

Signal to the candidate that the manikin is now ready to lift.

Their lift assessment now begins, whether a SAA Dive Leader or SAA Diver Rescue Course lift profile being used.

15 MANIKIN TRAINING IDEALISED DIVE PROFILE

Whilst the time scale for the dive is indicated on the dive profile, please do not take these as requirements. These are the minimum times in which the dive is theoretically possible. Do NOT use these as targets times. The profile shown is taken from the SAA Diver Rescue Course which uses manikins for the controlled buoyant lift.

16 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DEPLOYMENT

1 Before leaving for the dive site remove the wet suit and complete a head to toe check on the manikin. You are looking for broken limbs or material damage.

If no damage or concerns replace the wet suit on to the manikin.

NO dry suits to be fitted because the manikin needs to take on board water for some of its body weight.

2

Transporting the manikin to site you secure safely including its arms as shown in the picture.

The manikin should be transported in a safe and secure manor in what ever vehicle being used.

3

If there is water remaining in the manikin which has not drained, a large plastic bag is very useful to protect the car.

17 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DEPLOYMENT

4 5 Though the manikin takes on board water via the small holes in its arms & legs, we need the main torso to fill as well. The pictures clearly show the position of the torso bung & that it needs to be open. The bung cover needs tucking away under the wet suit.

6 Take the manikin and all its dive equipment near to where it will be put into the water safely.

Fit weight belt of 8lb to 9 lb, Ankle weights of 2lbs each. Fit the fins & mask at this stage its easier, though you will find your own routine.

78Put together the manikin dive kit and test fully. Check gauge contents & note.

Air contents to the dive marshal when confirming manikin is ready for use.

The dive equipment must be in a fully serviced state, & be appropriate for the environment to which it is being used.

18 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DEPLOYMENT

9 10 13

11 12

14 15

To make life easier it is advised two people work with each other while placing the BC in position and putting the manikin in the water.

• Bring the manikin to the sitting position and support with knee. • Bring the BC to the back of the manikin. • Unclip shoulder buckles bring around the manikins shoulder. Reconnect and pull straps tight. • Waist straps are connected in the same way. See photographs above for guidance.

19 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DEPLOYMENT

THE TETHER

16

The Tether length 2m to 2.5m

The tether is a rope of 8mm to 10mm diameter and about 2m to 2.5m long. Trials found any longer and it just gets in the way.

The tether ends shown are the most cost effected method, but quick release clips could be used both ends.

Quick release Clip size is important, bear in mind you may have thick gloves on.

17

20 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DEPLOYMENT

18 One end of the tether must be securely attached to the manikin or its BC.

Once towed to the free running shot line the tether is placed around the shot line, returned & clipped securely back to the manikin or BC.

The manikin is now connected to the shot line by a simple loop of rope ready to deploy.

19 Instruct your dive buddy to monitor the free running of the tether along the shot during the descent. It keeps them in eye contact & easy to monitor while deployment is taking place.

You reach the bottom. OK signal to buddy. Untether the manikin from the shot line, keep fining to a minimum.

20 Stowing the tether into the BC’s pocket is a simple task but care should be taken to keep the rope under control & your buddy in view at all times.

Great care not to over fin & reduce VIZ is very important.

OK signals. Now signal that the manikin is ready to lift.

21 MANIKIN TRAINING MANIKIN DEPLOYMENT

Photograph copyright – SAA

We hope you find these Hints & Tips useful. Manikins are fun and open up a whole avenue of skills training for divers not looked at before. The team who put this pack together though sceptical of the manikin at first are avid supporters now.

A manikin casualty which increases safety, & that you are able to deploy to a known bottom, set negatively buoyant has to better test the rescue skills of any diver.

If you are ever called upon to perform a controlled buoyant lift, which I hope you never are, what better way to have checked your skills than by doing a SAA Diver Rescue Course.

To be able to bring a buddy diver to the surface in a controlled manor is the height in my personnel opinion of basic buddy diving skills.

Note: Dive Rescue Instructors please make sure you have filled out the manikin trained record sheet in this pack when you have successfully completed this training to the satisfaction of your course coordinator or regional representative. A copy goes to the Diver Rescue National Coordinator to register you as being current on manikins.

THANK YOU.

Eric ( Spider) Webb SAA National Diver Rescue Course Coordinator 22

Copy right of photographs unless other wise stated – SAA SAA Manikin Record sheet

This is to certify that……………………………………………………

Has successfully attended and passed the SAA Diver Rescue manikin update Programme at an Open Water Site.

They have been certified to use ‘’Simulaids Rescue manikins’’ on SAA Diver Rescue Courses.

A copy of this training record will be held at the head offices of the SAA and a second copy held by the National Coordinator.

If you have any questions regarding this record please contact the SAA Head Office on 0151 287 1001

Your SAA membership number: [……………………]

Your SAA Diver Rescue Instructor number: [……………………]

Signed………………………………

Print your name as well please………………………………………….

Date………………………......

To be signed off as valid only by the National Diving Officer or the National Coordinator until the Regional Representative or Course Coordinator has received & passed manikin training.

Coordinator Sign & Print……………………………………………….

Date…………………………

23 NATIONAL DIVING OFFICER.

MEMMEMORANDUM

20 May 2002

Subject: Risk Assessment for Instructors & Dive Marshalls

We are currently part of a multi agency working party including BSAC, PADI, TDI/SDI and others working with the HSE to create a set of risk assessment guidelines for both the volunteer and paid Diving Instructor. This, it is hoped, will be available later this year, but I have received a few enquiries for guidance in the meantime. The best guidance document I can suggest is the HSE Approved Code of Practice [ACOP] “Recreational Diving Projects” ISBN 0 7176 1496 4 produced by Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, available from HMSO bookstores.

As volunteers we are not required by law to carry out a risk assessment. It will however be regarded as best practice, and is a system we are encouraging clubs to undertake. It is covered in more depth in Lecture L5 of your Instructor Manual, if you did not receive L5 contact Irene or Carol at head office and a copy will be dispatched to you. We shall be making Lectures available to download from the website later in the year, in Adobe Acrobat PDF format and also PowerPoint as a basis for Instructors to prepare their own lesson.

A risk assessment should not be regarded as some black art to be feared and doubted, it is simply a name given to part of the Dive Plan. We have always checked the weather, the tides, the sea state, our access, and egress from the water. Are the divers experienced enough, have they the right equipment, is the safety equipment available and is it serviceable? All of this is common sense and many of the checks are so routine they are almost sub-conscious. It simply remains for you to write down what you have considered, and if you consider it to be safe. If you have an area of your plan that highlights a risk – for example a drift dive in a current, record your measures to neutralise or control the risk – the use of SMB’s and boat cover perhaps.

Do not forget to be aware of the risks to the public from your dive party and their equipment. Could someone cut themselves on the RIB’s propeller? Could a toddler pull a twin set over onto themselves? The answers are easy to see, but a simple note of your actions will suffice.

Lastly having made a good, safe Dive Plan – the Project Plan in HSE terminology – stick to it, and you will have a good safe dive. RISK ASSESSMENT

SUB AQUA ASSOCIATION

RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE FOR CLUBS WITHIN THE SAA FEBRUARY 2005

Page 1 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

CONTENTS

Subject Page

Contents 2 Acknowledgements & Useful Web Sites 2 Introduction 3 What is a Risk Assessment 3 Codes of Practice 3 Definitions 3 Five Basic Steps to Creating a Assessment Document 4-5 Creating Your Risk Assessment Document 5 Assessment Document Example (appendix a) 6 Risk Assessment Document (blank) (appendix b) 7 On Going Document Blank (appendix c) 8 Assessment Document Aide Memoir 9 Further Information 10

Acknowledgments

The Sub Aqua Association would like to thank the following for their assistance and contributions in compiling this aid memoir to creating a Risk Assessment document.

Kevin Whiteley SAA National Instructor Pat Coates SITA administration Office Bill McCormack National Diving Inspector (HSE) John Gorton Direct Learning Tim Johnstone Health & Safety Manger (Smith & Nephew) Phil Crombie Diving Operations Strategy Team (HSE) Andrew Wigley HSE infoline

Page 2 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

INTRODUCTION

For years the majority of Diving Supervisors and Instructors have been quite afraid of those dreaded words RISK ASSESSMENT. We as Dive Supervisors and Instructors have a DUTY of CARE to those who we are supervising or teaching To ensure that the environment we are operating in is as safe as we can possibly make it for all those involved. As dive leaders and above we have always carried out a Risk Assessments without even thinking about it each and every time we get into the water by putting together a dive plan, which includes looking at the weather, tides, buddies etc. Building a Risk Assessment is nothing more than the same only we document our findings and relay to others our assessment of the risks involved in our diving environment.

This document has been put together with the help of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It contains notes and information to assist you as planners and trainers in putting together a written Risk Assessment To minimise the risk for whatever type of sport diving activities you may be undertaking, whether it is in the classroom, swimming pool or open water. This document and recommendations have been developed along side all UK sport divertraining organisations.

WHAT IS A RISK ASSESSMENT

Whatever you may think a risk assessment is, it is a no more than a written document and common sense approach to spotting a potential hazard. Identifying who or what may be affected by those hazards and taking the necessary action to combat the risks. Therefore reducing the harm to anyone or anything, this includes non diving participants and the general public, whilst recording your findings as documentary evidence.

CODES OF PRACTICE

Being members of the Sub Aqua Association there are two codes of practice which should also be taken into consideration when planning diving activities and compiling a Risk Assessment document:

1. SAA Safe diving practices

2. HSE Approved Code of Practice, (ACOP) Recreational Diving Projects “ISBN O 717614964”

Scuba Diving is a hazardous activity, however quite a number of the risks involved are already minimised to a certain degree by our high standards and procedures during diver training. Example being the likely hood of a diver having problem clearing their ears due to the water pressure, this is minimised by the techniques taught to all divers early on in diver training. This then is no longer a significant hazard as a control measure is in place when the diver adheres to the procedures taught.

DEFINITIONS

RISK Is the chance that somebody will be harmed by a Hazard

HAZARD Anything that may cause harm

Page 3 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

THE FIVE BASIC STEPS TO CONSIDER WHEN CARRYING OUT A RISK ASSESSMENT

Carrying out these five basic steps will assist you in compiling a comprehensive risk assessment document. More often than not the majority of risks will be the same for each diving location. However we must not get complacent and take familiar locations for granted because and each dive is unique and may alter from hour to hour.

Step One IDENTIFIYING THE HAZARDS

Identifying the hazards can be as complex as you make it, have a common sense approach and don’t get carried away. Only identify hazards which are significant to your diving purpose. Include potential concerns no matter how trivial as these can lead to more serious hazards. These concerns may have been overlooked and any hazard may have more than one risk so do not take things for granted. Some hazards are applicable to all diving sites where others will be more specific to certain locations.

Examples: Drift diving (time and state of current) Night diving

Step Two WHO MAY BE HARMED AND HOW

The majority of hazards will apply to all divers but don’t forget others within the group such as trainees and spectators who also may be in the vicinity. Simply thinking how a person may be harmed may be the remedy to prevent the hazard, such as a cylinder being laid down not left standing on the pool side. Examples: Divers, Trainees and Public.

Step Three EVALUATE THE RISK

Consider how likely it is that each hazard could cause harm, this will determine whether or not you need to do more to reduce the risk. Even after all the precautions have been taken some amount of risk will remains. What you have to do is decide for each significant hazard is whether this remaining risk is HIGH MEDIUM or LOW Your real aim is to make all risks low, if this is the case then an element of common sense, experience and prior knowledge should determine the out come. A point to remember is a risk may change from a low risk to a high risk and vice versa throughout a diving period hence the need for on going evaluation.

GENERIC and SPECIFIC RISK`S

The difference between Generic and Specific are, The majority of hazards involved with Scuba Diving are the same for all aspects of diving whether in the pool or in open water sites (Generic). An example being pressure damage to ears and lungs can occur at any location. However there are times when (Specific) control measures are put into place for a specific activity or location such as for night diving or deep diving. Whatever the location or diving activity you may be undertaking there MUST BE AN ON GOING EVALUATION.

Step Four RECORDING YOUR FINDINGS

Once you have identified the hazards and put into place the control measures to minimise the risk, write them down and keep a written record for reference during the activity and for future use. This can then remind you of the potential hazards at a particular location or dive site. It will also show that a proper check had been carried out for each location and diving activity.

Page 4 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

Step Five REVIEW ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE AS NESSESSARY

During any dive you should be aware of things that may change, such as divers getting tired, different gas mixes, underwater visibility and not forgetting the unpredictable weather. The list is endless so you must be aware of all changing circumstances with regards to your risk assessment and update accordingly. Example: Visibility underwater getting worse, the use of a buddy lines or the need to abort the dive.

CREATING YOUR OWN RISK ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT

Risk Assessment documents as we have already said can be used in a court of law both for the positive side and the negative. Having a Risk Assessment document one no matter what shape or form it takes is better than none at all. Creating your own risk assessment document and the format it takes is down to the individuals. Documents can be created and kept on file for site specific to be used time and time again, (BE AWARE THINGS DO CHANGE) also be aware things change form hour to hour while on a dive site, so changes must be made and recorded. One piece of sound advice is “KEEP IT SIMPLE” don’t get bogged down with pages and pages of writing. Listed at annex a. is an example of a Generic/Specific risk assessment document.

These are examples of potential hazards. Looking at who is at risk, the control measures either Generic or Specific and the relevant assessments put into place to minimise the risk of injury.

Annex a. Example Risk Assessment Document Annex b. Blank Document Annex c. Blank on going document/Aide Memoir (Double sided waterproof document)

Page 5 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

Pool Training EXAMPLE RISK ASSESSEMENT Appendix a

No Hazard Who is at Control measures put in place to reduce risk Update and Review Risk 1 Trip Slip or Fall All Divers Pool discipline, no walking in fins, all briefed on how to carry equipment, the buddy system. 2 Pressure Damage Trainee’s Trainees to receive specific instruction for equalization to: Ears Mask

3 Falling Equipment All Correct stowage of equipment briefing of trainees.

Open Water Diving No Hazard Who is at Control measures put in place to reduce risk Update and Review Risk 1 Cold water All Pool discipline, no walking in fins, all briefed on how to carry equipment, the buddy buddy system. 2 Low Visibility All Divers Trainees to receive specific instruction for equalization

3 Net entanglement All Divers Correct stowage of equipment briefing of trainees.

Boat Diving No Hazard Who is at Control measures put in place to reduce risk Update and Review Risk 1 Propeller Injury Divers Qualified boat handler, Propeller guard fitted, Use of SMB or delayed SMB Correct entry and exit to boat. 2 Lost Divers Divers Qualified boat handler, Propeller guard fitted, Use of SMB or delayed SMB correct entry and exit to boat. NOTE: The above lists are taken at random of potential Hazards from a variety of diving activities and do not constitute a full Risk Assessment document.

Page 6 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

BLANK ASSESSMENT Appendix b

Name……………………..…………………..…….Date…….………………..Location…………………………………………………………...………………………………..

No Hazard Who is at Risk Control measures put in place to reduce risk Update and Review

Page 7 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

ON GOING RISK ASSESSMENT Appendix c

Hazard Who is at Risk Control Measures Review And Update Put Into Place

Page 8 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

RISK ASSESSEMENT CHECK LIST □ Identify The Hazard □ Who is at Risk □ Evaluate the Risk □ Record Your Findings □ On going/Update Regularly □ (Generic or Specific)

POOL/TRAINING OPEN WATER BOATS □ Slip Trip or Fall □ Access to Water □ Propeller Injury □ Pressure Injury □ Running out of Gas □ Lost Divers/ Boat □ Run Out of Air □ Return to Entry Point □ Other Boats □ Falling Equipment □ Weather Change □ People Unwell □ Equipment Malfunction □ Low Visibility □ Engine Malfunction □ Panic □ Depth □ Weather Conditions □ Flooding Mask □ Water/Air Temp □ Stowage of Kit □ DCI □ Entanglement □ Current □ Use of Buddy Lines □ Free Flow □ Wet Decking □ Apprehension □ Cramp/Exhaustion □ Loss of Communications □ Separation □ Injury from Sharp Metals □ Entry and Exits □ Exhaustion □ Bites and Stings □ Run out of Fuel □ Cold □ Dehydration □ Inversion □ Sun Burn □ Rapid Ascents □ Over Weighted

NOTE! This is NOT a complete Risk Assessment guide, plus any hazard may fall into one or more categories

Page 9 of 10 10.3A RISK ASSESSMENT

Futher Information:

1. Approved Code of practice (ACOP) Recreational Diving Projects Books L105-ISBN 0-7176-1496-4

2. Diving at work regulations 1997(Statutory Instruments 1997 No 2776) –ISBN 0-11 - 065170-7

3. HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk

4. Are you involved in a Diving Project? HSE leaflet INDG266 and Five steps to Risk Assessment – HSE leaflet IND163 (rev 1)

5. To order HSE Regulations: To order HSE publications: The Stationary Office, HSE Books PO Box 276 PO Box 1999 London SW8 5DT Sudbury, Suffolk Tel: 0870 600 5522 CO10 2WA www.hmso.gov.uk www.hsebooks.co.uk

Useful Web Sites www.sita.org.uk www.directlearning.net www.hse.gov.uk/diving www.hsebooks.co.uk www.hmso.gov.uk www.freesafety check.co.uk (courses) www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/1997/c97140.pdf complete quantative scuba diving risk assessment

Page 10 of 10 10.3A

SITA

RECREATIONAL DIVING PROJECTS RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE FOR DIVE PROFESSIONALS

Scuba Industries Trade Association

THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE RECREATIONAL SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY Introduction This booklet contains notes and suggestions on the process of developing a risk assessment document for your diving at work operations. It advises you as a Contractor and/or Supervisor on how to minimise the risk when conducting recreational diving activities. This document and its recommendations have been developed in coordination with all the UK diver trainer organisations. It represents an industry wide guide to assist those working in Great Britain to comply with the Risk Assessment requirements of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997.

Definitions

Hazard - anything with the potential to cause harm. Risk - the likelihood that someone or something would be harmed by the hazard. Sources of Information

Legislation Approved Code of Practice Diving at Work Regulations 1997 - Recreational Diving Projects - (Statutory Instruments 1997 HSE Books L105 - No. 2776) - ISBN 0-11-065170-7 ISBN 0-7176-1496-4

Information Leaflets For further health and safety Are you involved in a Diving information Project? - HSE leaflet INDG266 HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk Five Steps to Risk Assessment - Leaflets can be downloaded from HSE leaflet INDG163 (rev 1) this website free of charge

To order HSE Regulations To order HSE publications The Stationary Office, PO Box 276, HSE Books, PO Box 1999, London SW8 5DT - Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA - Tel: 0870 600 5522 - Tel: 01787 881165 - fax: 0207 873 8200 - fax: 01787 313995 - website: www.hmso.gov.uk website: www.hsebooks.co.uk For all your enquiries on workplace health and safety HSE Infoline, HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG - Tel: 08701 545500 - fax: 02920 859260 - Email: [email protected] What is Risk Assessment?

A Risk Assessment is nothing more than a common sense approach to identifying significant hazards; who or what is likely to be affected by those hazards; the risks associated with those hazards and what measures you will take to control the risks thereby reducing the harm to anyone or anything during any dive or diver training operation, and then recording what you have done. You will need to review the assessment periodically or whenever there is significant change. The important thing to decide is whether an identified hazard is significant, and whether you can ensure the risk of harm is low or negligible before embarking on your dive.

Risk assessment is already inherent in the way divers go about organising their diving and training through careful dive preparation and planning.

The consideration of risk inherent in diver training and supervised dives is already paramount in all diver training organisations' course contents, standards and procedures.

A Risk Assessment is simply a way of recording the significant hazards and what measures you will take to reduce the risk of harm on each and every dive. Don't be over complicated. Checking for hazards is common sense.

In taking action, ask yourself these two questions: Can I get rid of the hazard altogether? If not, how can I control the risks so that harm is unlikely?

For example:- Hazard: Cold water Risk of: Hypothermia Risk Control Measure: Choose appropriate, well fitting exposure protection in good order; reduce dive time; monitor student divers carefully for early signs of cold; brief student divers on appropriate signals to indicate chill; prepare to exit water early if necessary; have warm clothing and shelter available at site. Generic vs On Site Risk Assessment

A Diving Contractor is responsible for ensuring that before the start of the diving activity (project), a suitable generic risk assessment has been prepared. Generic risks are those that you have fore knowledge of and can therefore put control measures in place in advance of the activity.

This generic risk assessment should be supplemented with an on site risk assessment immediately before the dive, detailing any previously unforeseen hazards and the special precautions or procedures necessary to reduce the risk; as well as re-evaluating those on the generic risk assessment.

Hazards and risks should be continuously monitored during any dive or diving related activity. Dive Supervisors should be prepared to put any contingency plans into place at any point during the dive.

How to Build a Risk Assessment Document

Here are some example significant potential hazards, their consequences and risk control measure recommendations, to help you build your own generic and on site risk assessments. Please be aware that this is a non exhaustive list of examples.

Diving is inherently a hazardous activity; however, the known risks are already minimised to some degree by adherence to your diver training organisations' standards and procedures, e.g. the likelihood of a diver having a mask squeeze is minimised as mask equalisation techniques are taught to all divers in the earliest stages of training. This is therefore no longer a significant hazard as the control measure is in place whilst adhering to your diver training organisations' course contents, standards and procedures. Potential Hazards, Risks and Risk Control Measures KEY: B = Boat P = Pool S = Shore

Hazard: Low visibility Risk of: Diver separation leading to diver injury Possible Risk Control Measure: Reduce student to instructor ratios accordingly; ensure diver separation procedures are included in briefing. Abort dive if necessary. S/B

Hazard: Debris Risk of: Physical injury to diver Possible Risk Control Measure: Change entry and exit sites; change dive sites; move debris; change method of entry; abort dive. S

Hazard: Cold water Risk of: Equipment failure/malfunction Possible Risk Control Measure: Choose appropriate equipment for the environment. Ensure that only well maintained, regularly serviced equipment is used. S/B

Hazard: Wet decks Risk of: Injury to diver, eg; slipping Possible Risk Control Measure: Brief facility rules. eg; No running. No walking with fins on. Buddy assistance with donning and removing dive kit. P/B

Hazard: Trips and falls Risk of: Injury to diver Possible Risk Control Measure: Brief divers on how to put on and take off scuba equipment and to be aware of and look out for possible obstacles in their path whilst walking or moving in diving equipment. Brief divers to carry any diving equipment with caution. P/S/B

Hazard: Running out of gas Risk of: Injury to diver (DCI, lung over expansion injury, drowning, death). Possible Risk Control Measure: Ensure cylinders are adequately filled before entering the water. Ensure cylinder valve is open. Ensure equipment is in good working order and in service. Brief divers to monitor their gas supply during dive and on emergency out of air procedures. Ensure all divers entering the water perform a buddy check. S/B

Hazard: Fishing line, nets, kelp, obstructions Risk of: Panic, entrapment or entanglement, injury to diver, running out of air. Possible Risk Control Measure: Ensure equipment is streamlined on all divers. Ensure buddy procedures in place. Ensure divers have diving tool/knife for cutting or attracting attention. Change site or dive plan if necessary. S/B

Hazard: Deteriorating weather Risk of: Injury to divers Possible Risk Control Measure: Plan dive using updated weather forecast. Have contingency site. Continuously monitor conditions prior to and during dive. Reassess student diver comfort level. Diver recall system in place. Abort dive if necessary. If diving from a boat notify coastguard of position in advance. S/B

Hazard: Boat propeller Risk of: Injury to diver Possible Risk Control Measure: Only competent skippers to operate boat. Brief boat exit and entry techniques. Whilst on the surface all activities are controlled by the skipper. Brief divers to look and listen for boat during ascent. Advise location for safety stops. Use surface markers wherever feasible. B

Hazard: Currents Risk of: Diver separation Possible Risk Control Measure: Agree dive plan with skipper. Buddy procedures in place. Utilise tide tables where appropriate. Plan to start dive against current (unless drift dive). Monitor air and diver comfort continuously. Be prepared to abort dive. Consider carrying appropriate surface detection aids. Have contingency exit points available. S/B Example Generic & On Site Risk Assessments

Hazard Risk of: Generic Risk Control Measure

Cold Water Equipment Choose appropriate equipment for the Malfunction environment. Ensure that only well maintained, regularly serviced equipment is used

Cold Water Hypothermia Choose appropriate, well fitting exposure protection in good order; reduce dive time; monitor student divers carefully for early signs of cold; brief student divers on appropriate signals to indicate chill; prepare to exit water early if necessary; have warm clothing and shelter available at site.

Potential Diver Maximum ratio defined by Low separation Contractor/Supervisor; (ratio may be visibility reduced further pending site specific risk assessment); Buddy separation procedures in briefing for divers

Hazard Risk o f: On Site Risk Control Measure

Debris at Injury to diver Select alternate entry site entry site

Lower Diver separation Reduce ratios (be specific); Buddy than separation procedures in briefing for divers expected visibility (be specific)

Please note, the above are random samples of potential hazards and do not constitute a full risk assessment. SITA Publication This publication was produced in association with the Health and Safety Executive, and the following scuba training organisations ©2002

Scuba Industries Trade Association 29 Ravenswood Avenue, West Wickham, Kent BR4 0PN Tel: 020 8777 6740 Fax: 020 8777 3349 pat@ sita.org.uk www.sita.org.uk CEN REGULATIONS

INTRODUCTION

The European Standards relating to recreational diving services have been prepared by CEN/TC 329/WG 3 "Recreational Diving Services", with the aim of establishing a series of specifications for safe practice and the provision of a standardised service across Europe.

Therefore these standards specify: necessary levels of experience and competency of scuba divers and scuba instructors,  safety practices and requirements for recreational scuba diving service providers appropriate to the different diving levels.

In any case, they cannot substitute for nor impose upon legal requirements, the alteration of which is outside the competence of the CEN/CENELEC members. Therefore if the member countries standards are higher than the CEN standards they will apply. No member country can have a standard below the CEN standard.

The Sub-Aqua Association has been involved in the development of the standards from the beginning and supports the aims of the CEN Standard. The SAA training standards exceed the CEN requirements both in the UK and world-wide through its membership to CMAS.

The requirements specified are minima; they do not preclude the provision of additional training or the assessment by a training organisation of additional competencies. The European Standards represent a tool for comparison of existing (or future) qualifications. In no way do they represent a course programme nor do they imply that course programs and scuba certifications issued by different nations or organisations must necessarily correspond to these levels.

The European Standard prEN consists of the following parts: prEN 14153-1, Recreational diving services - Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers - Part 1: Level 1 – "Supervised Diver" prEN 14153-2, Recreational diving services - Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers - Part 2: Level 2 – "Autonomous Diver" prEN 14153-3, Recreational diving services - Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers - Part 3: Level 3 – "Dive Leader" prEN 14153-1, Recreational diving services - Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers - Part 1: Level 1 – "Supervised Diver" prEN 14413-1, Recreational Diving Services - Safety related minimum requirements for the training of scuba instructors - Part 1: Level 1 prEN 14413-2, Recreational diving services – Safety related minimum requirements for the training of scuba instructors – Part 2: Level 2 prEN 14467, Recreational diving services – Requirements for recreational scuba diving service providers

Full copies of the above standards can be obtained from the British Standards Institute Publications.

Page 1 of 1 10.5 CMAS INFORMATION

11.1 STANDARDS FOR DIVERS AND INSTRUCTORS 11.2 DIVER TRAINING PROGRAM 11.3 10 GOLDEN RULES

Page 1 of 1 11.0 Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques

World Underwater Federation

C.M.A.S. STANDARDS & REQUIREMENTS DIVER AND INSTRUCTOR

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 1 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION...... 3 AIMS OF THE CMAS INTERNATIONAL DIVER CERTIFICATES SYSTEM...... 3 DEFINITIONS OF DIVER AND INSTRUCTOR GRADES...... 3 ONE STAR DIVER...... 3 TWO STAR DIVER ...... 3 THREE STAR DIVER ...... 3 FOUR STAR DIVER...... 3 ONE STAR INSTRUCTOR ...... 3 TWO STAR INSTRUCTOR ...... 3 THREE STAR INSTRUCTOR...... 3 THE FORM OF THE CMAS INTERNATIONAL DIVERS CERTIFICATES ...... 4 PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING EQUIVALENT GRADES FOR NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS...... 4 PROCEDURE FOR ISSUING INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES...... 4 C.M.A.S. NUMBERING SYSTEM...... 4 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS ...... 5 ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION ...... 5 DIVING LOG BOOKS ...... 5 VALIDITY OF INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES ...... 5 AWARDING CMAS INTERNATIONAL DIVING CERTIFICATES ...... 5 CMAS ONE STAR DIVER ...... 6 a. Definition ...... 6 b. Entry requirements...... 6 c. Course content...... 6 Knowledge...... 6 Skills...... 6 d. Assessment...... 6 CMAS TWO STAR DIVER ...... 7 a. Definition ...... 7 b. Entry requirements...... 7 c. Course content...... 7 Knowledge...... 7 Skills...... 7 d. Assessment...... 7 CMAS THREE STAR DIVER...... 8 a. Definition ...... 8 b. Entry requirements...... 8 c. Course content...... 8 Knowledge...... 8 Skills...... 8 d. Assessment...... 8 CMAS FOUR STAR DIVER...... 9 a. Definition ...... 9 b. Entry requirements...... 9 c. Course content...... 9 d. Assessment...... 9 CMAS ONE STAR INSTRUCTOR...... 10 a. Definition ...... 10 b. Entry requirements...... 10 c. Course content...... 10 Knowledge...... 10 Skills...... 10 d. Assessment...... 10 Skills...... 10 CMAS TWO STAR INSTRUCTOR...... 11 a. Definition ...... 11 b. Entry requirements...... 11 c. Course content...... 11 Knowledge...... 11 Skills...... 11 d. Assessment...... 11 Skills...... 11 CMAS THREE STAR INSTRUCTOR...... 12 a. Definition ...... 12 b. Entry requirements...... 12 c. Course content...... 12 d. Assessment...... 12 Skills...... 12

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 2 INTRODUCTION The system of CMAS International Diver Certificates exists to allow divers who have been trained in accordance with the standards of CMAS to have their qualification recognised in countries throughout the world which are part of the CMAS family of divers. CMAS International Diver Certificates can be obtained in two ways: 1. A diver who holds a diving qualification awarded by a National Federation which is a member of the CMAS Technical Committee, and whose qualifications have been recognised by the Technical Commit-tee, can obtain the CMAS International Diver Certificate which is recognised as equivalent to the national certificate held. In some countries the CMAS International Certificate will be awarded in place of a national certificate. 2. A diver who has been trained by a diving school or centre which is recognised directly by CMAS will be awarded the CMAS International Diver Certificate appropriate to the standard reached.

AIMS OF THE CMAS INTERNATIONAL DIVER CERTIFICATES SYSTEM It is intended that, no matter where in the world a diver receives training, he or she will be able to visit other areas and be accepted as a diver with competence and experience equal to that indicated by the qualification held. The CMAS International Diver Certificates are evidence that the holder has received training up to the minimum level defined for each grade of certificate. They should then be allowed to participate in diving activities to the extent that a holder of the equivalent national certificate would be. It is not the aim of the system that the holder of a CMAS International Diver Certificate should be given the equivalent national certificate. However, they should be accepted for training to the next higher level. The principles governing the CMAS International Instructor Certificates are precisely the same.

DEFINITIONS OF DIVER AND INSTRUCTOR GRADES The system consists of four levels of diver qualification and three levels of instructor qualification. In all cases, increased competence and experience is indicated by an increasing number of stars in the description and the emblem. ONE STAR DIVER A diver who is competent in the safe and correct use of all appropriate open water scuba diving equipment in a sheltered water training area and is ready to gain open water diving experience in the company of an experienced diver TWO STAR DIVER A diver who has gained some open water diving experience and is considered ready to take part in dives partnered by a diver of at least the same or a higher grade. The two star diver may dive with a One Star Diver in sheltered shallow water . THREE STAR DIVER A fully trained, experienced, and responsible diver who is considered competent to lead other divers of any grade in open water. FOUR STAR DIVER A three star diver who has attained a higher than average level of knowledge and ability supported by broad experience. He will be competent to use divers and diving in order to achieve major tasks or project objectives. ONE STAR INSTRUCTOR A three star diver who has a knowledge of the techniques of diving instruction and is competent in practical instructional skills: he is qualified to direct and certify a full CMAS One Star Diver Course. TWO STAR INSTRUCTOR An experienced one star instructor who has the knowledge, skills, and experience required to teach groups of divers in the classroom, pool, and in open water, and to assist in the training of One Star Instructors. He is qualified to direct and certify all CMAS diver levels and all CMAS snorkel Instructor levels. THREE STAR INSTRUCTOR A fully experienced two star instructor who is competent to train all grades of divers and instructors and to take responsibility for the conduct of diving schools, centres, and specialised training courses and events.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 3 THE FORM OF THE CMAS INTERNATIONAL DIVERS CERTIFICATES For each level of diver and instructor, C.M.A.S. produces a. a double sided plastic pocket card The front side of the card is the C.M.A.S. one with • a tri dimensional C.M.A.S. hologram • the diver or instructor level of the card holder For the divers, this side is printed in red and for the instructors in blue.

The reverse side is the Federation or CDC one with • on its ¼ upper part, the logo and the name of the federation or CDC • the Name, First Name and country of the card holder • the number of the card ( see below C.M.A.S. numbering system ) • the expiry date of the card ( five year after issuance for all the instructor cards ) b. a round badge to stick on the wet suit c. a wall diploma PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING EQUIVALENT GRADES FOR NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Any federation wishing to obtain recognition of their national certificates and equivalence with International Certificates must fulfil certain obligations. 1. The Federation must be affiliated to the CMAS Technical Committee. 2. They must submit full details of their training, evaluation, and certification system for each grade requested to the C.M.A.S. Technical Committee. Alternatively, if they have not established such a system they may undertake to follow the system offered and detailed by CMAS. 3. Subject to approval by the C.M.A.S. Technical Committee, the equivalence will be proposed for approval by the Executive Bureau. Should there be any part of the national system which requires amendment or clarification then it may be necessary for an appointed observer to witness the training or evaluation procedures in use before equivalence can be granted. PROCEDURE FOR ISSUING INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES From January 1st, 2003, all the C.M.A.S. cards have to be ordered to C.M.A.S. They can be ordered by affiliated federation, recognised CDC or individuals. Federations and CDC have to use the relevant C.M.A.S. purchase orders which can be fulfilled directly on the C.M.A.S. web site ( [email protected] ) Except for the individual orders, all the information required to personalise the card with the information concerning the card holder are in charge of the Federation or the CDC. Federations and CDC must send quarterly to C.M.A.S. HQ the list of the issued cards with the following data • Name • First Name • Nationality • Full address of the card holder • C.M.A.S. code number of the card C.M.A.S. Numbering system All the cards must be numbered as follows: XXX/Y00/ZZ/99/888888 Where XXX = Olympic acronym of the country of the federation or CDC Y = F for Federation O for CDC 00 = Code number given by C.M.A.S. ZZ = Level of the card ( P1, P2, P3, P4, I1, I2, I3 ) 99 = Year of issuance in two positions 888888 = Sequential number in 6 position mandatory yo initialise to 000001 ean year on January 1st

Exemple 1: ESP/F00/I3/02/000025 Is the 25th card issued in 2002 by the Spanish federation and the card holder is a *** Instructor

Exemple 2: If the 168th card issued in 2003 by the Italian federation is a *** Diver, its number will be ITA/F00/03/P3/000168

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 4 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS National regulations will generally recommend a medical examination to determine the student’s fitness to dive before awarding the first International Certificate. Periodical medical examinations carried out by doctors having specialised knowledge of the requirements of diving are also strongly recommended. A suitable form of medical examination is available from CMAS if required and the assistance of the Medical Commission can also be requested.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION There are two methods currently in use to assess the competence and ability of divers and instructors under training. In the traditional system a period of training is generally followed by a final examination in which all of the required skills and knowledge are assessed. This method is usually more physically demanding and more likely to induce stress and apprehension in the student. However, it will prove suitable where these factors are considered appropriate. In the second, more modern, system the increasing skill and ability of the student are assessed continuously and the student’s rate of progress adjusted accordingly. Since the instructor is able to assess the student’s competence and knowledge at regular intervals during the training programme, and during their diving experience, far more information can be gained on the student’s true strengths and weaknesses and any such weaknesses can be adjusted during the programme. Thus, at the end of the period of training the student will have reached the required level of competence with a minimum need for final assessment . Although the second system is considered more desirable in the context of teaching diving as a leisure activity, elements of both approaches are usually present in most national systems. The instructor should consider a skill as acquired if the student has successfully carried it out one or more times in real conditions during the course of one or more dives. There is no laid down marking system. Each element in the training programme, once carried out successfully, is marked as adequate in the training records. The chronological order of the training programme elements is not inflexible. Certain elements from a later part of the programme can be carried out before the completion of all elements of the earlier part of the programme. This allows for the aptitude of the student to be recognised, and for the practicality of the diving facilities and opportunities to be considered. However, all elements must be completed before the certificate can be awarded. A higher level certificate cannot be awarded before a lower level certificate. When assessing the difficulty of a diving or training experience it is important to take into account not only the depth at which the activity takes place, but also the temperature of the water and its clarity. Suggested depth ranges are shown in the ‘Requirements’ section for each certificate.

DIVING LOG BOOKS It is compulsory that all students maintain good records of their diving and training experience. Dives should be noted in a diving book. While most national log book, and the award of qualifications may be noted in this, or another federations will supply these, a log book is also available from CMAS.

VALIDITY OF INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES The period of validity placed on the International Diver Certificates issued by CMAS is that of their equivalent National Certificate. International Instructor Certificates have an expiry date fixed at five year from the date of their issue.

AWARDING CMAS INTERNATIONAL DIVING CERTIFICATES All divers wishing to obtain a CMAS International Diving Certificate must satisfy certain conditions. 1. They must a). be a member of .a Federation which is a member of the CMAS Technical Committee, or b) be a student at a CMAS recognised diving school. 2. In the case of 1 (a) above, they should hold the national diving certificate of their Federation which has been recognised by the International Certificates Commission as being equivalent to the appropriate CMAS International Certificate. 3. It is recommended that they hold a current diving medical certificate confirming their fitness to dive. 4. They must satisfy all other conditions of the certificates detailed in the following section. 5. They must be familiar with the CMAS Code of International Diving Signals, and the International Diving Code.

The detailed conditions and recommended content of the training course for each certificate level will be found in the CMAS publication “CMAS Training Programmes and Standards”. The following is a summary of this information.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 5 CMAS ONE STAR DIVER a. Definition A diver who is competent in the safe and correct use of all appropriate open water scuba diving equipment in a sheltered water training area and is ready to gain open water diving experience in the company of an experienced diver. b. Entry requirements Must be at least 14 years old. c. Course content Knowledge Must have a basic understanding of : Pressure/volume relationships and their effect on the diver and his equipment. What the body needs to sustain life and the complications caused by being underwater. The purpose, function, and features of sports diving equipment to be used in the course, and its correct use. The rules of safe diving, self help, and elementary rescue procedures. The techniques of no-decompression diving. Skills Be competent in the preparation, care, and use of sports diving equipment, adjustment of buoyancy, maintenance of water-free air ways. Be able to control movement in all directions and to swim using fins efficiently and economically, and be able safely to enter and leave the water. Be able to perform self-rescue techniques and basic buddy rescue techniques. Be able to act as a member of a diving group under supervision, and demonstrate the required discipline. Motion from G.A. the CMAS one star diver (must) have a minimum of 5 open water dives. d. Assessment In the ‘continuous assessment’ system the above knowledge and skills will be assessed at various points during the course, and the certificate will only be awarded if the diver is judged to have reached the required standard In order to achieve the level of CMAS One Star Diver the students should demonstrate in the course of the programme that they have the ability to carry out the following in sheltered water. 1. Enter the water by jumping or diving and swim free style at least 100 metres, without the use of equipment. 2. Prepare and fit diving equipment including cylinder, regulator, life jacket/B.C., mask, fins, weight belt, snorkel, diving suit appropriate to the conditions envisaged, and other accessories. 3. Demonstrate techniques for entering and leaving the water under different conditions; jetty, diving boat, small boat, beach. 4. Demonstrate techniques for leaving the surface and making a descent, and for making a controlled ascent to the surface. 5. Demonstrate techniques for maintaining position and self-support at the surface, with and without use of mask and regulator. 6. Refit mask underwater, and remove and replace regulator mouthpiece. 7. Demonstrate familiarity with alternate air sources and/or shared breathing techniques, and their use in an emergency, together with the associated safety signals. 8. Demonstrate techniques for controlling buoyancy underwater, and for providing positive buoyancy at the surface. A test, using oral or written techniques, can be used to establish that the diver’s standard of knowledge matches that outlined in ‘Knowledge’ above. The assessment will normally be made in accordance with the rules of the National Federation, but when awarded directly at a CMAS recognised diving school the assessment must be made by an Instructor of at least CMAS 1 Star grade.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 6 CMAS TWO STAR DIVER a. Definition A diver who has gained some open water diving experience and is considered ready to take part in dives partnered by a diver of at least the same or higher grade. The two star diver may dive with a one star diver in sheltered shallow water. b. Entry requirements 1. Must be at least 15 years old. 2. Should have a 1 Star CMAS Diver certificate or equivalent 3. No specified number of dives are necessary to start the course 4. Must have minimum 20 open water dives at time of certification, of which at least 10 should be in the 10-30 meter range. A dive must be minimum 20 minutes and maximum 2 dives per day. c. Course content Knowledge Must have a basic understanding of : Diving physics and physiology, the causes and effects of diving-related illnesses and disorders. Basic first aid, resuscitation techniques. The problems associated with diving to greater depths, calculation of air requirements, correct use of decompression tables. The selection of dive sites and the principles of dive planning. The principles and practices of underwater navigation. Skills Be competent in the use of mask, fins, and snorkel. Be able to swim on the surface wearing full diving equipment but using a snorkel. Be fully familiar with use of the diving equipment at medium depths. Be competent in self-rescue and buddy rescue techniques from depths in the lo-30 metre range. Be familiar with the use of buoyancy adjustment equipment. Be competent in the use of decompression tables for single and consecutive dives. Be competent in practise of underwater navigation. d. Assessment In the ‘continuous assessment’ system the above knowledge and skills will be assessed at various points during the course, and the certificate will only be awarded if the diver is judged to have reached the required standard. In order to achieve the level of CMAS Two Star Diver the students should demonstrate in the course of the programme that they have the ability to carry out the following under diving conditions. 1. Demonstrate competence in the use of mask, fins, and snorkel, by swimming 800 metres, with a snorkel dive to 5m depth for a horizontal distance of 10m. 2. Be able to swim on the surface wearing full diving equipment but using a snorkel, at least 500 metres, and swim on the back or side for 1OOm without using snorkel or regulator. 3. Demonstrate full familiarity with the equipment while diving in the lo-30 metre range, replacing mask and regulator mouthpiece. 4. Demonstrate self-rescue and buddy rescue techniques from depths in the lo-30 metre range, followed by surface tow of victim. 5. Demonstrate ability to assist a diving partner who is ‘out of air’ through use of alternate air source or buddy- breathing techniques, including a safe return to the surface. 6. Demonstrate use and control of buoyancy adjustment equipment without use of emergency air supply. 7. Demonstrate use of decompression tables for single and consecutive dives. 8. Be able to act as a member of a diving team, both while submerged, and during the surface preparation for the dive. 9. Demonstrate ability to navigate underwater with and without use of compass over a distance of 50 metres. A test, using oral or written techniques, can be used to establish that the diver’s standard of knowledge matches that outlined in ‘Knowledge’ above. The assessment will normally be made in accordance with the rules of the National Federation, but when awarded directly at a CMAS recognised diving school the assessment must be made by an Instructor of at least CMAS 2 Star grade.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 7 CMAS THREE STAR DIVER a. Definition A fully trained, experienced, and responsible diver who is considered competent to lead other divers of any grade in open water dives. b. Entry requirements 1. Must be at least 16 years old. 2. Should have a 2 Star CMAS Diver certificate or equivalent 3. No specified number of dives are necessary to start the course 4. Must have minimum 50 dives at the time of certification of which 20 dives should be on the 30 meter range. c. Course content Knowledge Must have a comprehensive understanding of : Diving physics and physiology, the causes and effects of diving-related illnesses and disorders and their treatment. Diving first aid, resuscitation techniques. The problems associated with diving beyond 30 metres, calculation of air requirements, correct use of decompression tables. The selection of dive sites, the principles of dive planning, and the selection and assessment of divers. The principles and practices of underwater navigation. The basic principles of seamanship and small boat handling. Hazards due to flora and fauna or resulting from local and weather conditions. The legal responsibilities of divers. Skills Be fully competent and familiar with sports diving equipment,* and its use at all depths. Be competent in the organisation of diving activities for groups both from the shore and from boats. Be competent in self-rescue and buddy rescue techniques from depths in the lo-30 metre range, and the care and treatment of victims. d. Assessment In the ‘continuous assessment’ system the above knowledge and skills will be assessed at various points during the course, and the certificate will only be awarded if the diver is judged to have reached therequired standard. In order to achieve the level of CMAS Three Star Diver the students should demonstrate in the course of the programme that they have the ability to carry out the following under diving conditions. 1. Demonstrate competence in the use of mask, fins, and snorkel, by swimming 1500 metres, followed by a 10 metre surface dive to recover an object. 2. Demonstrate fitness and ability to support self and/or victim following fast surface swim of 100 metres and 20 second surface dive, a surface period of 10 seconds maximum followed by a further snorkel dive to 3m to recover a mannequin of 1.5 kg apparent weight, to be towed on the surface for 50m. 3. Wearing full equipment, swim on the surface 1000 metres using snorkel. 4. Demonstrate self-rescue and buddy rescue techniques from depths in the lo-30 metre range, followed by surface tow of victim. 5. Demonstrate ability to navigate underwater with and without use of compass during a dive .. 6. Demonstrate ability to handle ropes and tie knots underwater. 7. Be able to participate in the normal running of a dive boat. 8. Be able to lead a group underwater, maintaining control, following a dive plan and route, and returning safely to the surface from any depth range. 9. Demonstrate the ability to use charts and tide tables in the selection and location of dive sites.

A test, using oral or written techniques, should be used to establish the diver’s standard of knowledge. The assessment will normally be made in accordance with the rules of the National Federation, but when awarded directly the assessment must be made by an Instructor of at least CMAS 2 Star grade and confirmed by the responsible National Technical Committee.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 8 CMAS FOUR STAR DIVER a. Definition A three star diver who has attained a higher than average level of knowledge and ability supported by broad experience. He will be competent to use divers and diving to achieve major tasks or project objectives. b. Entry requirements 1. Must have held a 3 Star Diver Certificate for at least 2 years. 2. Must have been a member of his Federation for at least 5 years. 3. Must have carried out at least 100 dives, under varying conditions, since obtaining 3 Star Diver Certificates. c. Course content It is not considered that this level will be reached following a course of fixed content, but rather as the result of experience acquired over an extended period and incorporating a broad range of conditions and requirements. d. Assessment The diver must be able to prove his capabilities in organising diving expeditions and other diving activities with a particular stress on safety and emergency procedures, and by proving his competence in a given specialised area or in a scientific discipline. The assessment will be made at a national level by a panel composed of 3 Star Instructors and confirmed by the responsible National Technical Committee.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 9 CMAS ONE STAR INSTRUCTOR a. Definition A three star diver who has a knowledge of the techniques of diving instruction and is competent in practical instructional skills: he is qualified to direct and certify a full CMAS One Star Diver course. b. Entry requirements 1. Must hold a 3 Star Diver Certificate. 2. Must be at least 18 years old. c. Course content Knowledge Must have a basic understanding of : The principles of teaching. The learning process. Instructional methods appropriate to sport diving. Equipment used in diving instruction. Skills Be able to control and lead a group of students in sheltered open water. Be able to instruct a group of students in sheltered open water. Be able to teach the contents of the 1 Star Diver course to a group of students in a surface/classroom Situation and in open water Be able to communicate effectively with the students at all times. d. Assessment In the ‘continuous assessment’ system the above knowledge and skills will be assessed at various points during the course, and the certificate will only be awarded if the instructor is judged to have reached the required standard. If the ‘testing’ system is used then the final assessment should establish the instructor’s ability to carry out the following under sheltered water diving conditions. Skills 1. Demonstrate the ability to control and lead a group of students in a dive in sheltered open water. 2. Demonstrate the ability to instruct a group of students in basic diving techniques in sheltered open water. 3. Demonstrate familiarity with the contents of the 1 Star Diver course and the ability to teach a group of students in a surface/classroom situation and in open water. 4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with the students at all times.

The assessment will be made at a national level by a panel composed of 2 Star and 3 Star Instructors.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 10 CMAS TWO STAR INSTRUCTOR a. Definition An experienced one star instructor who has the knowledge, skills, and experience required to teach groups of divers in the classroom, pool and open water, and to assist in the training of One Star Instructor. He is qualified to direct and certify all CMAS diver levels and all CMAS Snorkel Instructor levels.. b. Entry requirements 1. Must hold a 1 Star Instructor Certificate. 2. Must be at least 19 years old. 3. Must have gained further practical instructional experience since obtaining 1 Star Instructor Certificate. c. Course content Knowledge Must have a complete understanding of : The Principles of teaching. The learning process. Instructional methods appropriate to sport diving. Equipment used in diving instruction. Skills Be able to control and lead a group of students in varying diving conditions. Be able to instruct a group of students in open water conditions. Be able to teach the contents of the 1,2 and 3 Star Diver courses to a group of students in a surface/classroom situation and in open water. Be able to communicate effectively with the students at all times. d. Assessment In the ‘continuous assessment’ system the above knowledge and skills will be assessed at various points during their course, and the certificate will only be awarded if the instructor is judged to have reached the required standard. If the ‘testing’ system is used then the final assessment should establish the instructor’s ability to carry out the following under sheltered water diving conditions. Skills 1. Demonstrate the ability to control and lead a group of students in a dive to take place in open water. 2. Demonstrate the ability to instruct a group of students in selected diving techniques in sheltered and open water. 3. Demonstrate familiarity with the contents of the 1,2 and 3 Star Diver courses and the ability to teach a group of students in a surface/classroom situation and in open water. 4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with the students at all times.

The assessment will be made at a national level by a panel composed of 3 Star Instructors.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 11 CMAS THREE STAR INSTRUCTOR a. Definition A fully experienced two star instructor who is competent to take responsibility for the conduct of diving schools, events, to train all grade of divers and instructors and centres, and specialised training courses and b. Entry requirements 1. Must hold the 2 Star Instructor Certificate. 2. Must be at least 20 years old. 3. Must have gained considerable instructional experience since obtaining 2 Star Instructor Certificate, probably including experience at Regional or National level. c. Course content It is not considered that this level will be reached following a course of fixed content, but rather as the result of experience acquired over an extended period and incorporating a broad range of conditions and requirements. The instructor should have an excellent knowledge of all subjects covered in the diver and instructor courses u to this grade, and should be thoroughly competent to teach all theoretical and practical aspects of these courses. Additionally he should be capable of applying teaching skills and experience to related topics not forming part of a standard course. d. Assessment In the ‘continuous assessment’ system the above knowledge and skills will be assessed at various points during the instructor’s diving experience and the certificate will only be awarded if the instructor 1s judged to have reached the required standard. If the ‘testing’ system is used then the final assessment should establish the instructor’s ability to carry out the following under all diving conditions. Skills 1. Demonstrate the ability to control and lead a group df students in a dive planned to take place in open water. 2. Demonstrate the ability to instruct a group of students in selected diving techniques in sheltered and open water. 3. Demonstrate familiarity with the contents of the full range of Diver and Instructor courses and the ability to teach groups of students in a surface/classroom situation and in open water. 4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with students or other audiences at all times. 5. Demonstrate the ability to compose a training programme to. fit any stated requirement, location, or situation.

The assessment will be made at a national level by a panel composed of selected 3 Star Instructors appointed by the responsible National Technical Committee.

C.M.A.S. TC Standards & Requirements Diver/Instructor Version 9/2002 12 Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques

World Underwater Federation

C.M.A.S. Diver TRAINING PROGRAM

CMAS TC Version 9/2002

CMAS TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 1

THE C.M.A.S. INTERNATIONAL DIVERS CERTIFICATES SYSTEM The C.M.A.S. has established standards which form the basis of a system of International Divers Certificates, which are recognised by all national federations and other bodies which are member of the C.M.A.S. Technical Committee. The standards describe the knowledge and skills required in order for a diver to be granted the appropriate C.M.A.S. International Divers Certificate. The certificates may be awarded as an equivalent to a national qualification held by the divers, or may be awarded directly by a C.M.A.S. recognised Diving School or by certain national federations. The standards describe four grades of divers • One Star Diver * • Two Stars Diver ** • Three Stars Diver *** • Four Stars Diver **** Details of the standards will be found in the C.M.A.S. publication “ Standards and Requirements ” In most cases divers will be trained in accordance with the training programmes used by their national federation, and these will have been closely considered during the process of granting approval for International Certificate Equivalents. The Diver Training Programmes outlined here are intended to: 1. Act as an example to federations wishing to become members of the C.M.A.S. Technical Committee, and aiming to issue divers certificates which will have equivalent C.M.A.S. International Divers Certificates. 2. Indicate to existing members of the Technical Committee the current standards of training considered necessary in order to reach the minimum levels of proficiency required for the award of C.M.A.S. International Divers Certificates 3. Act as a basis for the training programmes to be adopted by C.M.A.S. recognised Diving Schools for courses resulting in the direct issue of C.M.A.S. International Divers Certificates. The programmes are described as a sequence of theoretical and practical lessons, wherever possible the practical lesson builds on theoretical knowledge already taught to the student. Suggestions are offered on the time each lesson can be expected to occupy in a normal programme. The lessons have been given codes to describe their place in the programmes. For example, “ 2T6 ” is a theoretical lesson ( T ) for two stars diver ( 2 ) and is the sixth in the sequence ( 6 ). 1P2 is therefore the second practical lesson in the one star diver programme.

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 2 ONE STAR DIVER

TRAINING PROGRAMME A diver who is competent in the safe and correct use of all appropriate open water scuba diving equipment in a sheltered water training area is ready to gain open water diving experience in the company of an experienced diver. Practical teaching sessions should take place in a swimming pool or confined water with swimming pool like conditions. THEORY LESSONS PRACTICAL LESSONS 1T1 Course aims and administration 1P1 Introduction to equipment 1T2 Introduction to equipment 1P2 SCUBA Skills 1 1T3 Elementary signals 1P3 Snorkelling and SCUBA Skills 2 1T4 Pressure/Volume relationships 1P4 SCUBA Skills 3 1T5 Principles and use of SCUBA 1P5 SCUBA Skills 4 1T6 Basic physiology 1P6 Rescue Skills 1T7 Buoyancy devices 1P7 SCUBA Skills review 1T8 Diving suits & other equipment 1P8 Skills assessment 1T9 Equipment care 1P9 5 Open Water Dives 1T10 Self Rescue & Buddy Rescue 1T11 Safe Diving Practices 1T12 Site selection, Conservation

CONTENT OF THEORETICAL LESSONS 1 T 1 COURSE AIMS AND ADMINISTRATION This introductory lesson should explain the purpose of the training programme and its position in the diver certification system, the relation ship between the school/club/federation and C.M.A.S., and the basis of the C.M.A.S. International Divers Certificate System. Administrative details concerning meeting times and location, timetable, equipment to be supplied or brought. Aims of the course, organisation of the school/club. Logbook and qualification records. (Time: 20 minutes ) 1 T 2 INTRODUCTION TO DIVING EQUIPMENT The selection, purpose and function of the mask, fins, snorkel and weight belt. Mask, fins, snorkel: construction, features, fitting, maintenance, testing, suitability Weight belt: features, fitting, release operation, importance of neutral buoyancy Brief description of SCUBA elements Equipment to be used on the course Warnings about breath-holding, squeeze ( Time: 30 minutes ) 1 T 3 ELEMENTARY SIGNALS Reasons for using hand signals underwater and at the surface. Importance of using the C.M.A.S. International Code of Underwater Signals. Diver to diver signals Diver to surface party signals Signals to be used during course Importance of response to signals ( Time: 25 minutes ) 1 T 4 PRESSURE/VOLUME RELATIONSHIP The basic physics affecting diving Atmospheric pressure and hydrostatic pressure, absolute pressure. Relationship between pressure and volume ( Boyles laws ). Gases under pressure, composition of air. Effects of pressure on body air spaces, changes in pressure. Compression problems: mask squeeze, ear and sinuses under pressure, equalisation. Expansion problems, breath holding.. Buoyancy factors and adjustment ( Time: 40 minutes )

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 3 1 T 5 PRINCIPLES AND USE OF SCUBA The function of SCUBA, in principle only. Reduction of air pressure from high to ambient. Ability to carry large amount of air with the diver.. The air cylinder, its charging and care The regulator, its function and care Pressure gauges and other ancillary equipment Using SCUBA, preparation and fitting. ( Time: 30 minutes ) 1 T 6 BASIC PHYSIOLOGY The human life support system, the respiratory system, the metabolic process. The gas exchange within the lungs, the role of each gas. Exhaustion, drowning, hypoxia, hypothermia, prevention. ( Time: 40 minutes ) 1 T 7 BUOYANCY DEVICES Importance of wearing a buoyancy compensator for comfort during the dive and for use in an emergency, at the surface or underwater. Essential features of different types. Suitability for different types of diving. Dangers of rapid ascent, controlling ascent Use for buoyancy adjustment, recommended procedure Methods of inflation, MP air, HP air, oral, CO2, advantages / disadvantages Preparation, fitting, care ( Time: 30 minutes ) 1 T 8 DIVING SUITS AND ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT Need for protection in all but warmest waters, abrasion and marine life protection. Equipment to be used on course. Advantages / Disadvantages of different types. Wet / dry suits. Selecting a suit, type. Fitting and care. Instrumentation, depth gauge, watch, compass, HP gauge, combinations, decompression computers. Lamp, knife, buoys, lines, bag, slate. Time: 30 minutes ) 1 T 9 EQUIPMENT CARE Importance of a proper maintenance procedure for all diving equipment. Pre-dive preparation, after-dive care. Value of fresh water rinse and general cleanliness Special care for perishable items, rubber, suits. Prevention of corrosion to metal parts. Protection for damage in transport. Regular testing and servicing. Storage, off-season. ( Time: 30 minutes ) 1 T 10 SELF RESCUE AND BUDDY RESCUE Accident prevention through careful planning. Recognise the signs and take early action. Assess the required action and select, correct course of action. Self-help an self-rescue techniques. Correct techniques for shared ascent, buoyant ascent, and free ascent. Expired air resuscitation, on the surface and in the water. Towing and landing a victim. Summoning and using help. ( Time: 40 minutes ) 1 T 11 SAFE DIVING PRACTICES The correct conduct for open water diving practice. The dive leader, his role in the dive. Dive planning, to identify and avoid problem areas. The buddy system and essential elements in dive safety. Pre-dive preparation, equipment checks, briefing.

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 4 Entry, buoyancy check, descent, conduct of the dive, ascent, surfacing, leaving the water. Emergency procedures, separation. The International Diving Code. International Code of Signals. ( Time: 40 minutes ) 1 T 12 SITE SELECTION AND CONSERVATION How to choose a dive site. What features to look for and what to avoid. The effect of weather and tides. Marine and aquatic life, what to look for, how to recognise it. Attitude to marine life and the environment, importance of conservation. Reasons to dive and things to do. Dangerous marine life, avoidance, treatment. ( Time: 30 minutes )

CONTENT OF PRACTICAL LESSONS 1 P 1 INTRODUCTION TO EQUIPMENT In this course the student will be introduced in mask, fins and snorkel and their use, an will gain an appreciation of the effects of mask squeeze and ear clearing in shallow water. The buddy system will be employed from the first opportunity. Fitting the mask, adjustment, demisting, ear clearing. Fitting the snorkel, surface breathing, clearing by blowing and displacement. Fitting the fins, adjustment, correct finning action, practice period. Surface swimming, surface dives, and surfacing technique using mask, fins and snorkel. Treading water, vertical finning, surface support stroke. Brief introduction to SCUBA, fitting, breathing and swimming. Adjusting buoyancy. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 1 P 2 SCUBA SKILLS 1 Assembling the SCUBA set, fitting and checking the regulator, air supply, fit of harness, buoyancy/weight equipment. Entering the water, breathing from the aqualung in different attitudes, checking and adjusting buoyancy. Finning and moving while wearing SCUBA. Remove, replace and clear mouthpiece. Remove, replace and clear mask. Breathe from alternative air supply. Static sharing SCUBA. Surfacing and leaving water. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 1 P 3 SNORKELLING AND SCUBA SKILLS 2 Snorkelling skills, entering the water, leaving the water. Feet first descent. Surface dives while swimming. Longer breath-hold dives. Removing and recovering basic equipment. Using and fitting a weight belt. Repeat mask and snorkel clearing SCUBA skills, entering and leaving the water. Improve mouthpiece clearing and mask clearing technique. Improve finning technique. Demonstrate buoyancy control. Share SCUBA following “ out of air ” simulation. Remove SCUBA at surface. ( Time: 60 minutes )

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 5 1 P 4 SCUBA SKILLS 3 Further entry techniques. Improve basic techniques, mask clearing, finning. Mobility exercises, rolls, buoyancy control. Remove and replace weight belt underwater. Remove and replace SCUBA underwater. Surface, fit snorkel and swim on surface using snorkel while wearing SCUBA, replace SCUBA mouthpiece and descend. Exit from water via ladder from deep water. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 1 P 5 SCUBA SKILLS 4 Improve familiarity with buoyancy device or life-jacket. Inflate for surface support. Control buoyancy at bottom and in mid water. Control rate of ascent by release of air, demonstrate ability to stop. Use of buoyancy for lift in an emergency, controlled buoyancy lift. Rapid dumping of air, use of alternative inflation systems. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 1 P 6 RESCUE SKILLS Controlled buoyancy lift of victim to surface. Surface support and towing. Correct position for expired air resuscitation at surface, importance of neck extension. Calling and signalling for help. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 1 P 7 SCUBA SKILLS REVIEW In this lesson, all the equipment which will be used on open water dives, including suit, is introduced and the skills already learned are practised while fully equipped. Exercises are carried out in the full depth of sheltered water available and the opportunity is taken for final improvement of any techniques still required. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 1 P 8 SKILLS ASSESSMENT All skills learned so fare are checked and assessed to ensure that they can be performed at the required standard. The combination of exercises is performed in sequence will also provide a measure of the student’s fitness and stamina. It must be remember that, after this lesson, suitable students are considered ready to continue their training in open water. ( Time: 60 minutes ) On completion of each lesson the instructor should assess the student’s ability and ensure that they have adequately acquired the skills included in each lesson. It is particularly important that this assessment is made during lessons 1P4 and 1P6. 1 P 9 5 OPEN WATER DIVES

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 6 TWO STAR DIVER

TRAINING PROGRAMME The two star diver is a diver who has gained some open water diving experience and is considered ready to take part in dives partnered by a diver of at least the same or a higher grade. The two star diver may dive with a One Star Diver in sheltered shallow water . The course must be conducted by qualified instructors and supervised by an instructor of at least one star grade. The early practical teaching sessions should take place in sheltered open water, following which the diver should gain experience in a broad range of varying water conditions. THEORY LESSONS PRACTICAL LESSONS 2T1 Diving related illnesses 2P1 Open water diving procedures 2T2 First aid and rescue procedures 2P2 Rescue skills 2T3 Calculating air requirements 2P3 SCUBA skills – open water practice 2T4 Nitrogen absorption 2P4 Unterwater Navigation 2T5 Deep diving 2T6 Decompression tables Dives 1 -20 2T7 Dive planning and organisation 2T8 Unterwater Navigation Knowledge Assessment Skills Assessment

CONTENT OF THEORETICAL LESSONS 2 T 1 DIVING RELATED ILLNESSES Revision of effects of pressure on the body, gas laws, partial pressures. Ear and sinus disorders: causes, prevention, treatment Burst lung ( Pneumothorax, Emphysema ), symptoms, causes, first aid, treatment. Hypoxia: causes, treatment. Decompression sickness ( basic introduction only ). Nitrogen narcosis: causes, symptoms, treatment. Carbon monoxide poisoning: causes, symptoms, treatment. Carbon dioxide poisoning: causes, symptoms, treatment. Oxygen poisoning: causes, symptoms, treatment. Exhaustion, hypothermia, hyperthermia. Drowning: causes, first aid, treatment. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 2 T 2 FIRST AID AND RESCUE PROCEDURES Expand on lesson 1T10, and prepare for lesson 2P2. Analysis of the accident. Whether to assist or rescue. Assess, plan, act Reaching the victim, recovering the victim. Towing methods. Landing the victim, on a beach, on a boat. Techniques to be employed and why. Expired air resuscitation External cardiac compression. Aftercare. ( Time: 40 minutes ) 2 T 3 CALCULATING AIR REQUIREMENTS Importance of pre-dive planning. Identifying stages of dive: descent, main dive, ascent, stops, reserve. Air consumption rates. Cylinder sizes and pressures. Calculating air available for the dive. Calculating air needed for the dive. Practice calculations. ( Time: 40 minutes )

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 7 2 T 4 NITROGEN ABSOPRTION Absorption of gases in liquids, absorption of air into body tissues. Toxic effects of gases. Physiological problems; narcosis. Decompression sickness, mild forms, severe forms. First aid and treatment for decompression sickness. Avoidance of decompression sickness. ( Time: 40 minutes ) 2 T 5 DEEP DIVING The problems related to deep diving. Reasons for and against deep diving. Physiological problems, narcosis, decompression. Depth limitations. Physical problems, buoyancy, thermal isolation, air density and purity. Equipment considerations. Planning requirements. Response to emergencies. ( Time : 30 minutes ) 2 T 6 DECOMPRESSION TABLES Used to avoid decompression sickness and related problems. Principle of operation, review of nitrogen absorption. The form and layout of the tables. Using tables for no-stop diving. Single dives. Multiple dives. Diving at altitude. Flying after diving. Keeping records, log-books. Instrumentation used. Importance of planning. Practice in decompression table use. ( Time: 90 minutes ) 2 T 7 DIVE LANNING AND ORGANISATION Planning is an essential element of diving safety. Avoid the predictable problems. Make allowance for all predictable needs and for emergencies. Planning your own dives. Site selection, objectives, timing, personnel, weather, tides. Pre-dive preparation. On-site organisation. ( Time: 90 minutes ) 2 T 8 UNDERWATER NAVIGATION Underwater navigation, without a compass. The compass, types, suitability. How to use a compass when diving. Taking a bearing, planning a course. ( Time: 30 minutes )

KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT Before granting the qualification, the instructor should ensure that the student has retained and understood the knowledge required to be a safe two star diver. The assessment will usually take the form of a prepared written text using “ multi choice ” questions which allow a coverage of many topics in a short period. Weaknesses which are suggested by the result of this paper can then be investigated by further oral questioning if necessary.

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 8 CONTENT OF PRACTICAL LESSONS AND EXPERIENCE DIVE 2 P 1 OPEN WATER DIVING PROCEDURES Practice snorkelling skills in open water, medium distance swim with surface dives. Experience in dressing in all appropriate equipment for dive, equipment checks, buddy checks. Water entry, buoyancy checks. Leaving the surface. Buddy diving, conduct during the dive. Exchange signals. Ascent and surfacing procedure. Leaving the water. Debriefing and equipment aftercare. ( Time: 120 minutes ) 2 P 2 RESCUE SKILLS Following lesson 2T2, the skills described should be practises in an open water situation. Towing victim on the surface, various methods. In-water E.A.R. Removing equipment. Towing and landing to a beach, to a small boat. Practice E.A.R. and E.C.C. on land. Complete emergency exercise. ( Times: 90 minutes ) 2 P 3 SCUBA SKILLS OPEN WATER REVIEW Improve diver’s confidence by repeating skills acquired in one star course in the open water situation. Various forms of water entry. Buoyancy adjustment procedures, use if weight belt and buoyancy compensator. Review surface and underwater signals. Remove and refit mask at medium depth. Remove and replace mouthpiece at medium depth. Practise buddy breathing and use secondary air supply or octopus. Leaving the water on a beach, into a boat. ( Time: 90 minutes ) 2 P 4 UNDERWATER NAVIGATION Using a compass on land. Using a compass on the surface. Using a compass underwater. Swimming in straight lines, swimming reciprocal courses. ( Time: 60 minutes ) EXPERIENCE DIVES The 20 dives which go to make up the experience of the two star diver should cover a suitably wide range of different diving conditions and, as far as possible, include the following: • Beach dives with sloping entry. • Sea water dives. • Fresh water dives. • Diving from small boats. • Diving from larger boats. • Limited visibility dives. • Diving during the night • Moving water dives • Dives in cold water. • Dives to 25 / 30 metres. It is appreciated that this combination of variety of dives will not always be available to the dive centre or club. However, the underlying principle is that the diver’s experience should equip him for a variety of diving conditions, and should not represent a repeat of a similar experience on each occasion. Each dive should be at least 20 minutes duration and should be in the 10 – 30 metres depth range. SKILLS ASSESSMENT The diver’s ability should be assessed by the instructor during the course of the dives being carried out. It will not normally be necessary to carry out a final assessment of all skills at the end of the course, but this can be done if the need exists. It is preferable to check one or two skills on each experience dive and to look for a steadily improving ability over this period.

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 9 THREE STAR DIVER

TRAINING PROGRAMME The three star diver is a fully trained, experienced and responsible diver who is considered competent to lead other divers of any grade in open water. The course must be conducted by qualified instructors and supervised by an instructor of at least two star grade. The course will require the availability of suitable open water diving sites, together with some specialised facilities. The dive experience element of the qualification will require the diver to accumulate a broad range of experience under varying conditions and varying depths. THEORY LESSONS PRACTICAL LESSONS 3T1 Small boat handling 3P1 Small boat handling 3T2 Underwater navigation 3P2 Underwater navigation 3T3 Underwater search and recovery 3P3 Underwater search and recovery 3T4 Compressor operation 3P4 Compressor operation 3T5 Accident management 3P5 Assisting a dive organiser 3T6 Organising a group dive 3P6 Acting as a dive organiser 3T7 Physics / physiology review) Further experience as dive organiser: 3T8 Diving equipment review 40 experience dives Knowledge assessment Skills assessment

CONTENT OF THEORETICAL LESSONS 3 T 1 SMALL BOAT HANDLING A preliminary to practical experience in small boat handling. Basic seamanship, weather, tides. “ Rules of the road ”, obligations of the boat handler. Buoyage. Ropes and their use, knots. Using boats for diving, types, suitability. Outboard engines and their use. Safety equipment and special equipment. Boat handling techniques, launching, anchoring, loading, low speed / high speed, emergency action. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 3 T 2 UNDERWATER NAVIGATION Underwater navigation, without a compass. The compass, types, suitability. How to use a compass when diving. Taking a bearing, planning a course. Measuring distance, time, depth. ( Time: 40 minutes ) 3 T 3 UNDERWATER SEARCH AND RECOVERY TECHNIQUES Situations requiring use of these techniques. Planning and selection of appropriate techniques. Search methods: compass search, Jackstay search, grid search, circular search, swim-line search. Marking and evaluation an object. Lifting with buoyancy, calculations. Attaching lifting bags, air supply, the lift. Safety considerations. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 3 T 4 COMPRESSOR OPERATION Principles of operation of a compressor. Purity of air, filtration. Operating procedures, filling cylinder. Compressor controls. Use of storage bank. Records and legal obligations. ( Time: 60 minutes )

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 10 3 T 5 ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT What can go wrong. Avoiding accidents, importance of planning. Actions in an emergency. Weather and water conditions. Condition of divers, fitness, health, experience. Missing diver(s). Boat breakdown. Diving related problems. Injuries. Rescue management. First aid and aftercare management ( Time: 60 minutes ) 3 T 6 ORGANISING A GROUP DIVE Composition of group. Selection of dive site, access, transport. Timetable, planning requirements. Personnel, dive group composition. Equipment needs, safety equipment. Diver briefing. Diver log, records. Safety precautions. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 3 T 7 PHYSICS / PHYSIOLOGY REVIEW A review of material from 1T5, 1T7, 1T8, 1T9 together with a general review of future trends and current developments. The gas laws. The human life-support system. Effects of pressure on the body. Diving disorder, symptoms, treatment. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 3 T 8 DIVING EQUIPMENT REVIEW A review of material from 1T5, 1T7, 1T8 et 1T9 together with a general revue of future trends and current developments. Cylinders, care, testing. Regulators, performance, servicing needs. Protective clothing, suitability for type of diving, care. Buoyancy systems, .relationship to other equipment Diving equipment as a “ system ”. Instrumentation, new developments. National standards, legal requirements. ( Time: 60 minutes ) KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT Before granting the qualification the instructor should ensure the student has retained and understood the knowledge required to be a safe C.M.A.S. three star diver. The assessment will usually take the form of a prepared test using “ multi-choice ” questions which allow the coverage of many topics in a short period. Weaknesses which are suggested by the result of this paper can then be investigated by further oral questioning if necessary.

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 11 CONTENT OF PRACTICAL LESSONS 3 P 1 SMALL BOAT HANDLING The student should gain sufficient experience to be capable of handling z small boat, up to 5.5 m length, in normal diving conditions.. Checking and preparing a boat prior to use by divers. Launching, loading, starting, leaving mooring / berth. Sage operation under conditions not exceeding Force 4. Techniques for use with divers, following divers, picking-up divers. Action in an emergency. Return to mooring / berth. Removal from water ( if appropriate ). (Time: 45 minutes ) 3 P 2 UNDERWATER NAVIGATION Using a compass on land. Using a compass on the surface. Using a compass underwater. Swimming in straight lines, swimming reciprocal courses. Taking bearings and planning courses. Measuring / estimating distance. Show ability to bring back a dive team to the departure point ( Time: 60 minutes ) 3 P 3 SEARCH AND RECOVERY Identify area to be searched. Select technique to be employed. Prepare equipment, brief personnel. Carry out search plan, locate object. Evaluate object and select lifting equipment. Secure lifting equipment and bring object to surface. Bring object ashore or to new location. ( Time: 2 – 3 hours ) 3 P 4 COMPRESSOR OPERATION Pre-operation checks, starting procedure. Inspection of cylinders prior to filling. Connection of cylinders to compressor panel. Charging operations, use of bank. Shut-down procedure, care of filters. ( Time: 60 minutes ) 3 P 5 ASSISTING A DIVE ORGANISER Understand all the pre-dive planning requirements. Consider the allocation of divers and dive-leaders / instructors. Consider the timing requirements. Ensure that equipment required is available / functioning. Record all activity. Plan for emergency procedures. Adapt plan to site / facilities. ( Time: 4 hours ) 3 P 6 ACTING AS DIVE ORGANISER 3 P 7 As for 3P5, carried out under supervision but following student’s plan. ( Time: 4 hours ) EXPERIENCE DIVES The CMAS Three Star Diver must have minimum 50 dives at the time of certification of which 20 dives should be on the 30 meter range The dives logged should demonstrate the diver’s broad experience of diving under varying conditions and ver a period of time suitable for the accumulation of skills and knowledge. The log should indicate those dives where the diver has been responsible for other divers or for the planning of the diving operation. SKILLS ASSESSMENT The main qualities to be assessed by the instructor will be the student’s ability to organise and lead other divers, together with a demonstration of competence in the areas covered by the programme. The three star diver must be “ fully trained ” and should therefore not display areas of weakness in the practical performance of diving.

C.M.A.S. TC Training Program Diver Version 9/2002 12 TheThe 1010 GoldenGolden RulesRules ofof

DiveDive likelike youryour shadowshadow !! Don’tDon’t leaveleave anyany tracetrace BeBe aa sensiblesensible partpart ofof underwaterunderwater world,world, notnot anan alienalien !!

1.1. Never Never enterenter thethe waterwater throughthrough reedreed,, livingliving coralscorals oror waterwater plants.plants. 2.2. Control Control youryour buoyancybuoyancy 3.3. Keep Keep distancedistance fromfrom coralscorals andand otherother animalsanimals andand dodo notnot ststirir upup thethe sedimentsediment 4.4. Take Take carecare wherewhere droppingdropping anchoranchor duringduring boatsboats divesdives 5.5. Do Do notnot chase,chase, touchtouch oror feedfeed wildwild animalsanimals 6.6. Do Do notnot spearfishspearfish (( forfor funfun ),), anan dodo nonott buybuy oror collectcollect souvenirssouvenirs such such asas coralscorals andand shellsshells 7.7. Be Be veryvery carefulcareful whenwhen divingdiving inin cacaves.ves. BubblesBubbles andand simplesimple contactcontact may may destroydestroy theirtheir delicatedelicate lifelife 8.8. Keep Keep thethe divingdiving placesplaces cleanclean 9.9. Learn Learn aboutabout thethe underwaterunderwater lilifefe andand avoidavoid anyany destructiondestruction 10.10. Urge Urge youryour buddiesbuddies toto followfollow thesethese rules,rules, tootoo RECOMMENDED READING

Name of Book/Leaflet Author’s Publishers

SAA Books

The SAA Bühlmann DeeP-Stop Available from SAA Sales Shop System Handbook

Student Diver Tool Box Course Notes – DeeP Stop Edition SAA Nitrox Diver - Course Notes. DeeP-Stop Edition SAA Diver First Aid SAA Oxygen Administration for Divers SAA Instructor Guide SAA Basic Boat Handling SAA Extended Range Nitrox Diver Recommended Reading

Diving & Subaquatic Medicine Edmonds/Lowry/Pennefather Butterworth Heinemann 3rd Edition Diving Medicine 2nd Edition Bove/Davis W B Saunders Company Diving Medicine for Scuba Edmonds/McKenzie/Thomas J L Publications Divers Illustrated Physiology 5th Edition MacKenna/Callander Churchill Livingstone Deeper into Diving Lipman The Decompression Matrix Bob Cole ISBN 0 9520934 2 1

Rebreather Diving Bob Cole Sub-Aqua Association

An Introduction to Technical Palmer Underwater World Publications Diving Deco for Divers Mark Powell Aquapress First Aid Manual British Red Cross/St. John Ambulance/St Andrews RYA Day Skipper Book Royal Yachting Association Resuscitation for the Citizen Resuscitation Council UK 9 Fitzroy Square London W1P 5AH Recreational Diving Health & Jacqui Welham Total Control (Anglia) Ltd Safety Handbook

Statutory Instruments

Health & Safety, The Diving at 1997 No. 2776 HMSO Work Regulations 1997 Recreational Diving Projects ISBN 0 7176 1496 4 HMSO Diving at Work Regulations

Page 1 of 2 Jly ‘09 RECOMMENDED READING 1997 Approved Code of Practice Recreational diving services - prEN 14153-1 BSI UK Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers - Part 1: Level 1 – "Supervised Diver" Recreational diving services – prEN 14153-2 BSI UK

Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers - Part 2: Level 2 – "Autonomous Diver" Recreational diving services - prEN 14153-3 BSI UK Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers - Part 3: Level 3 – "Dive Leader" Recreational Diving Services - prEN 14413-1 BSI UK Safety related minimum requirements for the training of scuba instructors - Part 1: Level 1 Recreational diving services – prEN 14413-2 BSI UK Safety related minimum requirements for the training of scuba instructors - Part 2: Level 2

Page 2 of 2 Jly ‘09