Snorkel diving badge
A snorkel diving badge is generally a diving badge that is intended to prepare for the diving certification. In contrast to the lifeguard badges, each organization has different badges at different levels of difficulty. As confirmation that the exam has been passed, you usually receive a certificate and a patch.
Germany
In Germany, the German Snorkel Diver Badge (DSTA) is approved by the German Life Rescue Society ( DLRG ) and the German Snorkel Badge in levels I, II and III is approved by the water rescue service . The exams each consist of a practical part, in which one should learn how to use a diving mask , fins and snorkel , and a theoretical part, in which one should learn the most important rules of conduct and basics of diving physics , as well as the most important underwater signs.
Examination conditions of the DLRG
At the DLRG, the snorkel diving badge is part of the specialist training in water rescue services , but it can also be purchased individually.
Requirements:
- Minimum age 12 years
- Diving fitness
- German lifeguard badge in bronze
Practical test (must be completed completely in ABC equipment ) :
- 600 m fin swimming (of which 200 m in prone, back and side position)
- 200 m fin swim with one fin and arm movement
- 30 m distance diving without starting jump
- 30 seconds time dive
- Take off the diving mask at a depth of at least 3 m, put it back on and blow out
- submerge 3 m three times within one minute
- Combined exercise:
- 50 m swim in prone position with arm activity, dive 3 to 5 m deep and pull up a 5 kg diving ring
- 50 m towing a partner
- Performing CPR for 3 minutes
Theoretical exam:
- written exam
- Demonstration and explanation of the most important underwater signs (mandatory signs)
Examination conditions of the water watch
Level I.
The level I German snorkel badge is part of the training to become a level I junior water rescuer.
Requirement:
- Minimum age 8 years
- German youth swimming badge in silver
Practical exam:
- Swim with a fin at least 100 m and a maximum of 200 m without time limit and without a break, of which at least 50 m, a maximum of 100 m in the chest position and at least 50 m, a maximum of 100 m in the supine position
- at least 50 m, maximum 100 m snorkeling swim without jumping with ABC equipment; four times diving down and pulling up a small diving ring, water not deeper than 2.50 m
- Dive to a depth of 1.80 m to 2.50 m, flood diving mask under water (removing and putting on are not required here) and blow out or empty under the water surface. The diving mask should be empty when diving out
- minimum 25 m, maximum 50 m towing under the armpit; Rescuers swim with fins, rescued persons swim without fins
- At least 10 m, maximum 12 m distance diving in NBC equipment
- Time diving for at least 10 seconds and a maximum of 15 seconds
- "Proper" diving down (head or foot), up to a maximum of 2.50 m and picking up a small object (for example: diving ring)
Theoretical exam:
- Breathing, overbreathing, and pendulum breathing
- Water pressure and temperature
- Cause and detection of injuries to the cranial cavity
- Basic equipment
- Snorkeling technique: diving mask, fins, snorkel texture, effect, care
Stage II
The German snorkel badge of level II is part of the training to become a junior water rescuer of level II.
Requirements:
- Passed examination of the level I snorkel badge
Practical exam:
- Swim at least 100 m, maximum 200 m with one fin without time limit, arm movement is permitted
- at least 150 m, maximum 200 m snorkeling swim without starting jump with ABC equipment, six times correct diving down and picking up a small diving ring each; the water is not deeper than 3 m and the snorkel must be blown out
- Flood diving mask under water and blow or empty it under the water surface; the diving mask should be empty when diving out
- 50 m towing under the armpit, rescuer swims with fins, rescued person swims without fins
- minimum 15 m, maximum 18 m distance diving without starting jump and without ABC equipment
- at least 15 seconds, maximum 30 seconds time diving with little change in location
- 3 - 5 m deep diving and picking up a small object (for example: diving ring)
- Three deep dives in ABC equipment (3 - 5 m) with blowing out the snorkel
- Swim 20 m with NBC equipment, dive to a depth of at least 3 m and retrieve an object and bring it back to shore
- At least 450 m, maximum 600 m snorkeling, of which at least 150, maximum 200 m in prone, back and side positions
- Jump from the edge of the pool with NBC equipment (such as package jump, step forward)
- Chain search with ABC equipment (system search)
Theoretical exam (in addition to level I) :
- Repetition of breathing, overbreathing and pendulum breathing
- Oxygen overpressure in the brain (surface blackout)
- Injuries: sunburn, hypothermia, ruptured lungs, circulatory overload
- cramps
- Apnea diving: maximum diving depth depending on the lung volume, etc.
- local regulations (carry life buoy)
Stage III
The German snorkel badge of level III is part of the training to become a junior water rescuer of level III.
Requirements:
- Passed the examination of the level II snorkel badge
Practical exam:
- Swim at least 400 m, maximum 500 m with one fin without time limit, arm movement is permitted
- 100 m snorkeling swim without jump start with ABC equipment, diving down six times and * bringing up a small diving ring each time; The water depth is preferably 3 m; blow out the snorkel each time
- descend to at least 2 m; Take off diving mask under water, put it back on and blow out under the water surface; the diving mask should be empty when diving out
- minimum 25 m, maximum 30 m distance diving with a start jump without ABC equipment
- at least 2 × 25 m, maximum 4 × 25 m distance diving, with a break of 2 minutes each
- Time diving for at least 30 seconds and a maximum of 45 seconds with a change of location of at least 10 m
5 m deep diving and retrieving two 5 kg diving rings; then hold the rings over water for 15 seconds
- Swim 50 m without NBC equipment, submerge, bring a person up from a depth of at least 2 m, tow 25 m and bring it to shore
- At least 800 m, maximum 1000 m snorkeling swim, of which at least 500 m in the prone position and at least 150 m each in the supine or side position
- Jump from a height of 1 m (or from the starting block) with ABC equipment (step or parcel jump)
- System search, chain diving, target diving at least 15 m, maximum 20 m on a leash, half-circle diving, offset by half a meter on the leash (search small area)
Theoretical exam (in addition to level II) :
- Injuries: barotrauma (medical terms), glottis spasm, torn eardrum
- local regulations (carry buoy)
- Hand and line signs (OK, submerge, emerge, emerge)
- Types of system search
Austria
The Austrian snorkel diving badge, the snorkeling test , is approved by the Austrian Water Rescue (ÖWR). Like the German snorkel diving badge, the exam consists of a practical part of the course, which, including the corresponding exams, is to be divided into 6 exercise units of 30 minutes each and a theoretical part that is to be worked out in 3 exercise units of 30 minutes.
Examination conditions of the ÖWR
Requirement:
- Minimum age 10 years
- Medical certificate of fitness for snorkeling diving
- Before the start of the course, the participants must prove their swimming skills
Practical exam:
- 200 m snorkeling, of which 100 m in the crawl style and 100 m in the supine position without arm activity (with ABC equipment)
- 3 m deep freediving (with ABC equipment)
- 15 m distance diving (with ABC equipment)
- Bring up mask and snorkel from 2 m depth; the mask must be blown out underwater
- master the technique of swimming with the ABC equipment
- diving in style (with ABC equipment)
- correct entry or jump into the water with the ABC equipment
- 10 m snorkeling and diving back the same distance at about 2 m depth; this exercise is to be performed five times in a row (with NBC equipment)
- important hand signals for snorkelers
- 50 m towing of a snorkeling companion (with ABC equipment)
Theoretical exam:
- Equipment knowledge (basic equipment) for snorkel divers
- physical basics (air, pressure, Archimedes)
- medical knowledge of snorkel diving (eardrum, pressure equalization, hyperventilation, heat balance, cramp)
- safety rules
Switzerland
Examination conditions of the SLRG
The young freediver in Switzerland is similar to the German snorkel diving badge and the Austrian snorkel test. He is trained in Switzerland by the Swiss Lifesaving Society (SLRG) . Each participant receives basic training in freediving and swimming . Important course components are: • Safe handling of fins, masks and snorkels • Explanation of the various effects of depth on the human body • Know the safety rules in diving • Repetition in emergency aid
Requirements:
- Minimum age 11 years
- Youth certificate of the SLRG
Practical test (must be completed completely in ABC equipment) :
- 200 m swimming
- 200 m style swimming with equipment
- Lifeguard
- Dive to the bottom and head to a depth of 2.5 m
- Distance diving 15 m
- Plate diving (bringing up 6 plates from a depth of 2.5 m)
- Jump with equipment from a height of 50 cm
- Orientation exercises under water
Theoretical exam:
- sufficient knowledge of the safety rules and the underwater language
- Immediate life-saving measures (youth certification)
Swim tests from swim sports
Swimsports , the amalgamation of all swimming sports associations in Switzerland, has developed a comprehensive methodological and didactic concept for learning to swim with the Swiss swim tests . Of the 60 different tests, 8 deal with the topic of "ABC diving" (fins, diving mask and snorkel). The requirements are oriented towards practice and are very varied and challenge beginners to advanced. Here are two examples:
- Test 1
50 m swimming, correct use of mask and snorkel, 50 m swimming with ABC equipment, 10 m distance diving, roll forwards followed by swimming, drop backwards with mask.
- Test 8
100 m swimming with fins (women 63, men 60 seconds), 400 m swimming with alternating breathing, 90 m swimming 10 m diving rescue victims from 3 m depth 50 m transport rescue and ventilation, 3 times 30 seconds diving with 10 seconds break, square diving with 6 m side length at 3 m depth, competition roll turning 10 m from the pool edge in 15 seconds.