Specialty Course Policies and Prerequisites

GENERAL PREREQUISITES

• Screening. In a pre-course session using selected skills, the instructor is to screen and evaluate all students to ensure that they possess the necessary diving skills to minimize risk. Also the instructor is to verify that the student has the prerequisite diver certification. Specialty courses with prerequisite certifications that are higher than Scuba Diver are listed in the respective course standard.
• Equipment. Students shall furnish and be responsible for the care and maintenance of their own diving equipment. The instructor shall initially assist the student in checking all student gear to ensure it is adequate and in proper working order.
• Open Water Dives. Required open water dives dedicated to the specialty activity vary for each course. One open water dive (which does not count toward the minimum number of dives required for a given course) is to be used as a screening and evaluation dive to determine the readiness of the students to perform the skills and activities appropriate for the particular specialty. This is not required when the students’ diving proficiencies are well known to the instructor. Some courses, because of the complexity of the training or the skills involved, have a higher minimum number of dives designated.

SKILL AND ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

• The desired learning outcome for each specialty course is essentially the same - the ability of the diver to demonstrate that the necessary skills and knowledge have been acquired needed to minimize risks and continue learning and gaining experience in the particular activity.
• The specific skill requirements, academic topics, learning objectives, and curricula for each course shall be tailored to achieve and document this outcome. Written exams shall be used to document knowledge in relevant subject areas. (See “Policies Applying to All Courses; Evaluation and Documentation.”)

Policies Applying to all programs

GENERAL

• Age. The minimum age for each program is to be reached by the water phase, unless otherwise specified. Registration.
• Content. Exact content and length of programs are to be keyed to program requirements, participant needs and local environments. Providers should use time as necessary to assure that a particular program meets or exceeds expectations.
• Supplemental Material. Programs are to expose participants to current knowledge. Outlines and textbooks or comparable materials are to be used as guides. Additional handouts, training aids, supplementary texts and similar materials may be used as deemed appropriate.

FORMS, RECORDS AND REPORTS

• Releases. No program provider shall allow participation by a minor without having first secured a release signed by parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s).
• Log Book Entries. A record of participation is to be kept through appropriate entries in each participant‘s training/diving log book. Entries are to be authenticated by the provider’s signature, stamp or seal.

OPEN WATER DIVES

• Required open water dives dedicated to the specialty activity vary for each course. One open water dive (which does not count toward the minimum number of dives required for a given course) is to be used as a screening and evaluation dive to determine the readiness of the students to perform the skills and activities appropriate for the particular specialty. This is not required when the students’ diving proficiencies are well known to the instructor. Some courses, because of the complexity of the training or the skills involved, have a higher minimum number of dives designated.