Underwater Environment

OVERVIEW

This course is to expose the diver to the physical and biological aspects of the diving environment with emphasis on the local area. This course will draw much of the subject material from related sciences, e.g., oceanography, limnology, geology, biology and ecology. The use of movies, slides and handouts are an important part of this course. Trips to aquariums and oceanariums will be most helpful. Effort should be made to expose the student divers to several diving environments, e.g., lake vs. ocean, rocky reef vs. sand beach. (May be for skin or scuba divers.)

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Subjects to be covered are as follows:

• Plant and animal life - identification, relationships, dangers, regulations, uses - food collections and aquaria.

• Conservation and pollution - problem areas and possible solutions.

• Water movement and characteristics - tides, currents, waves and surf, temperature, pressure, density, buoyancy, visibility and sound.

• Shore, bottom and surface conditions - features, hazards, natural aids to navigation and wind effects.

• Diving locations - sources of information, use of charts, arranging and planning of dives.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE

• Age. Minimum is 15 years. (Junior certification for ages 12 - 14 years is allowed. See “Policies Applying to All Courses”: Age, Junior Certification.”)

• Certification: Scuba Diver certification or the equivalent is required. The instructor is to ensure adequate student knowledge and capability before any open water training and shall use skill or other evaluations to do so.