Dive Leader

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The dive leader (English for dive guides often also dive guide or dive guide ) describes minimum requirements for training and Certification Fees for experienced scuba divers , in the international standard ISO 24801-3 and the relevant European standard EN are set 14153-3. Various diving organizations offer diving training that meets the requirements of the dive leader. A certification (diving license), which corresponds to the Dive Leader, entitles the holder to independently lead a group of trained divers in open water. While many diving schools and diving centers employ professional divers certified as dive leaders as dive guides, the majority of them work in clubs on a voluntary basis and part-time. Most diving organizations recommend a dive leader not to go deeper than 30 or 40  meters . However, a few organizations even allow 50 or 60 meters. After successfully completing a training equivalent to that of the Dive Leader, what has been learned can be deepened and expanded in special courses, training as a diving instructor assistant (according to ISO 24802-1) or diving instructor (according to ISO 24802-2).

The prerequisite for starting training as a Dive Leader is completion of training as an Autonomous Diver (according to ISO 24801-2) or one of the higher, non-standardized intermediate levels. In many diving schools, about 40 to 100 dives documented in the logbook and a current certificate of a diving suitability test must be submitted to a diving doctor before the start of the course .

Because the usual certifications for recreational divers are not official documents, they are merely recommendations. Nevertheless certification cards that comply with the dive leader, come just for professional dive guide a professional card matter of them - thanks to the international standard - allows to accept jobs worldwide. If an accident occurs in a group diving together, the behavior of a diver who is certified as a dive leader or equivalent will normally be assessed differently than that of a diver with a lower certification level due to his training in a possible legal dispute or by insurance . Therefore, it can make sense for a diver with a certification equivalent to a dive leader to take out additional insurance.

Training according to ISO 24801-3

Around 1.7 million people worldwide are trained in accordance with ISO 24801 every year. Despite the common standardization, the diving courses of individual diving organizations differ considerably in content, expansion and philosophy. However, the minimum requirements defined in the ISO standard guarantee that a diver can easily change training organization.

The following training courses meet the requirements of the standardized dive leader:

CMAS ***

Overview of the CMAS training system

The CMAS  *** (three star) training goes beyond the requirements defined for the Autonomous Diver. CMAS requires you to pass a theory test before you can practice in open water (e.g. in a lake or sea). Therefore, the basic understanding of the student divers is built up in usually 6 theory lessons . After passing the theoretical test, diving practice is learned, practiced and tested during six to ten lessons in open water. Part of the course are several apnea exercises, such as distance and time diving. After successful completion, what you have learned can be deepened and expanded with special courses or the CMAS TL * (one-star diving instructor). CMAS recommends a three-star diver with an appropriately trained buddy to dive to a maximum depth of 40 meters. For three-star diver aged 10 to 14  years , a maximum depth of 15 meters is recommended.

The focus of the CMAS *** training is on leading diving groups. Basically, the diver should learn to master all the exercises and techniques of the CMAS ** (two-star) training under additional stress and while leading a group of several divers perfectly and safely for everyone involved. The following topics are covered in the CMAS *** course:

In order to take part in a CMAS *** course, a diver must have a CMAS ** or an equivalent certification and have had at least 20 dives recorded in the logbook since completing the two-star training. In total, he should have at least 50 dives and be at least 16 years old. For a certification - the completion of the three-star training - an experience of 100 dives is necessary. A CMAS Gold course can be attended from the age of 10. These children's diving courses only differ in that the same content is taught in a child-friendly manner.

The diving guide training of the individual CMAS member organizations (e.g .: VDST , TSVÖ or SUSV ) may differ from the regulations and designations of the CMAS.

IDEA Dive Master

The IDEA Dive Master course ( DM , English for diving masters ) is a diving guide training that corresponds to the standardized dive leader. This training is intended to provide a diver with the skills and knowledge to safely lead a group of trained divers as a diving guide. An IDEA Dive Master should be able to support a diving instructor with training. In addition to group leadership, the course conveys all the knowledge about diving that is contained in the diving instructor training that builds on it. The didactic topics included in the diving instructor training are of course excluded . The training includes about 40 hours of theory lessons and an exam as well as at least 20 open water dives. IDEA recommends DM divers diving to a maximum depth of 40 meters. After successfully completing the Dive Master course, what you have learned can be deepened and expanded with so-called specialties or in the IDEA Assistant Instructor or IDEA Instructor course.

The IDEA Dive Master course includes the following topics:

  • Apnea diver rescue
  • Run a rescue
  • Conduct briefings
  • Assist with basic diving courses
  • Organize dives
  • Scientific diving
  • Dive Masters duties and responsibilities
  • Contingency plan
  • Diver rescue
  • Deep and decompression diving
  • environmental Protection
  • Diving equipment

To attend an IDEA Dive Master course, a diver must have an IDEA Rescue Scuba Diver and an IDEA Advanced Open Water II Diver certification or an equivalent certification. In total, he should have at least 60 dives and be at least 18 years old. A first aid course with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must also be completed beforehand.

NAUI Divemaster

The NAUI Divemaster course ( DM , English for diving masters ) is a diving guide training that corresponds to the standardized dive leader. This training is intended to provide a diver with the skills and knowledge to safely lead a group of trained divers as a diving guide. A NAUI Divemaster should be able to support a diving instructor with training. In addition to group leadership, the course conveys all the knowledge about diving that is contained in the diving instructor training courses based on it. The didactic topics included in the diving instructor training are of course excluded . The training includes about 20 hours of theory lessons and an exam as well as about 10 open water dives. NAUI recommends DM divers diving to a maximum depth of 40 meters. After successfully completing the Divemaster training, what you have learned can be deepened and expanded with so-called specialties or in the NAUI Assistant Instructor or NAUI Instructor course.

The NAUI Divemaster course includes the following topics:

  • Apnea diver rescue
  • Night diving
  • Run a rescue
  • Conduct briefings
  • Assist with basic diving courses
  • Organize dives
  • Scientific diving
  • Duties and responsibilities of a divemaster
  • Contingency plan
  • Diver rescue
  • Deep and decompression diving
  • environmental Protection
  • Diving equipment

In order to participate in a NAUI Divemaster course, a diver must have a NAUI Master Scuba Diver and a NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver certification or an equivalent certification. In total, he should have at least 60 dives and be at least 18 years old. A first aid course with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must also be completed beforehand.

PADI Divemaster

Overview of the PADI education system

The PADI Divemaster course ( DM ) is a diving guide training in which a diver can learn all the content required by the ISO standard for a dive leader. In addition to group leadership, the course conveys all the knowledge and practical skills about diving that is contained in the instructor development course that builds on it. The didactic topics included in the diving instructor training are of course excluded . In 12 theory and various practical lessons, the contents of the Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver course are repeated and deepened, and new ones are learned and trained. A diver certified as a PADI Divemaster may assist a diving instructor with training. If the Divemaster has additional training and qualifications, he may teach some courses himself or under supervision, such as For example: Discover Scuba Diving (DSD), Digital Underwater Photographer (DUP), Emergency First Response (EFR), Underwater Naturalist , etc. PADI allows Divemasters to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters. After successful completion, what you have learned can be deepened and expanded with so-called specialties or in the Instructor Development Course (IDC).

The PADI Divemaster course consists of three main parts:

1. Aquatic fitness and diving skills:
  • Water suitability and endurance
  • Demonstration quality diving skills
  • Rescue skills
2. Development of theoretical knowledge:
  • Divemaster role and characteristics
  • The supervision of diving activities for certified divers
  • Assisting in diving training
  • Introduction to diving theory
  • Diving physics
  • Diving physiology
  • Diving equipment
  • Decompression Theory and the RDP
  • Training courses that can be carried out independently by the Divemaster
  • Risk management
  • Diving as a business
  • Your diving career
3. Practical application:
  • Making an underwater map
  • Program that can be carried out by the Divemaster
  • Training internship, option 1, accompanying real diving courses
  • Training simulations, option 2, role play

Prerequisites for a Divemaster course are the PADI Rescue Diver certification ( RD ) or an equivalent certification, at least 40 dives entered in the logbook, a minimum age of 18 years and usually a current medical certificate. A PADI Emergency First Response course or comparable first aid course with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that is less than 2 years old is also required . At the end of the course, a diver must have at least 60 dives documented in the logbook.

SSI Dive Guide

Overview of the SSI training system

The SSI Dive Guide course ( DG ) is a diving guide training that is equivalent to the standardized dive leader. The whole training lasts about 40 hours, which includes dives and a theoretical training as well as an exam. The SSI Dive Guide is allowed to lead trained divers and plan dives. He is also entitled to teach snorkeling courses independently . SSI allows Dive Guides to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters. After successfully completing the dive guide training, what you have learned can be deepened and expanded with the SSI Divemaster training.

To take an SSI Dive Guide course, a diver must have completed at least the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver , SSI Diver Stress & Rescue or equivalent. In addition, the completion of 5 special or an SSI Specialty Diver training and 40 dives recorded in the logbook is required. The minimum age is 18 years and for a certification as a dive guide a permanent position at an SSI dive center is mandatory.

Further training

In addition to the above, the following training courses correspond to the Dive Leader according to ISO 24801-3:

Diving organization Training / certification
American Nitrox Divers International AND I Divemaster DM
British Sub-Aqua Club BSAC Dive Leader DL
Global Underwater Explorers GUE Recreational Diver Level 3 Rec 3
International Association for Handicapped Divers IAHD Three Star Diver ***
International Scuba Diving Academy ISDA Divemaster DM
National Academy of Scuba Educators NOSE Divemaster DM
National Diving League NDL Divemaster DM
Association of German diving instructors VDTL Gold / Dive Leader DL
Worldwide Academy of Scuba Educators WASE Dive Master DM
World Organization of Scuba Diving WOSD Dive Leader DL

criticism

Critics accuse dive training organizations of issuing too many Dive Leader-like certifications in order to optimize the organizations' profits. Because of the great competition in the tourism industry and the many diving guides looking for jobs, the earning potential for diving guides worldwide is very modest. In addition, they often see themselves in direct competition with better-trained diving instructors when applying for a job. In many places only diving instructors are employed for the task of diving guides.

It is often criticized that it is possible, with only very limited experience as a diver, to exercise the responsible role of diving guide, which could endanger the safety of the guided divers.

The training organizations counter that not only divers who pursue the goal of working as diving guides or diving instructors benefit from such training. The higher the proportion of divers with better training in a group, the safer diving becomes for everyone involved.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Recreational diving services - Requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers - Part 3: Level 3 - Dive leader (ISO 24801-3). ISO , accessed April 29, 2015 .
  2. ↑ Dive Leader. Do you want to extend your personal diving skills and plan and lead dives for others? British Sub-Aqua Club, accessed on March 1, 2019 (English): " The training also prepares you to dive to depths of up to 50 meters in a range of challenging conditions, following a series of post-qualification depth progression dives. "
  3. ↑ Plongée en bouteille. Plonger en bouteille et se former au sein de la FFESSM. Fédération française d'études et de sports sous-marins, accessed on March 1, 2019 (French): “ ... à partir de 18 ans: brevet plongeur level 3 (P3), autonomy à 60 m . "
  4. ↑ 945,000 certifications ( Worldwide Corporate Statistics 2013 (PDF;. 232 kB) Data for 2007-2012 PADI February 2013 filed by the original on November 2, 2013 ; accessed on November 1, 2013 (English). ) At a market share of 56%, ( Greg: . 2013 market Share of Scuba Certification Agencies (PADI, NAUI, SSI) DiveBuddy.com, July 25, 2013, accessed November 1, 2013 (English). ) result in a market of about 1.7 million .
  5. ↑ Learn to dive. CMAS *** (3 stars). Dortmund idiving.de, accessed on February 28, 2014 .
  6. ↑ a b three-star diver D3 CMAS.CH. CMAS.CH, accessed on February 28, 2014 .
  7. ↑ Diver Dolphin 1 CMAS.CH. CMAS.CH, accessed on March 6, 2014 .
  8. ↑ Junior CMAS 3 *. European Diving School, Ramatuelle, accessed February 28, 2014 .
  9. ↑ Certificate. (PDF) No. EUF - CB 2007 004. European Underwater Federation (EUF), accessed on October 27, 2015 .
  10. ↑ a b c diving instructor training ( memento from July 16, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  11. ^ Courses leadership. IDEA Europe, accessed October 27, 2015 .
  12. ↑ Certificate. (PDF) No. EUF - CB 2007 004. European Underwater Federation (EUF), accessed on December 2, 2013 .
  13. ↑ a b c Divemaster - NAUI Worldwide. Dive Safety Through Education. In: naui.org. February 13, 2019, accessed February 13, 2019 .
  14. ^ Courses leadership. NAUI Worldwide, accessed December 12, 2016 .
  15. ↑ a b Divemaster. dive.steha.ch, accessed on September 15, 2017 .
  16. ↑ a b PADI Divemaster course (pdf). (PDF; 51 kB) PADI, accessed May 30, 2010 .
  17. ↑ a b START DIVING COURSE. In: divessi.com. Retrieved February 13, 2019 .
  18. ↑ a b SSI Dive Guide. Retrieved February 13, 2019 .
  19. ↑ SSI training system - Dive Professional. SSI International, accessed November 19, 2012 .
  20. ↑ EUF Certified Training Systems / Training Organizations. European Underwater Federation (EUF), accessed April 21, 2017 .
  21. ^ A b Shane E. Paterson: SCUBA Diving. Agencies. University of Georgia , Athens, archived from the original on October 28, 2006 ; accessed on April 3, 2014 .
  22. ↑ Georg Wolf: Diving Instructor: Dream Job or Nightmare? (No longer available online.) In: diving . Archived from the original on June 22, 2013 ; Retrieved March 18, 2013 .