The Essentials of Diving Course is designed to cultivate the essential techniques required by all sound divers, on all dives, irrespective of level or environment. The Essentials of Diving course performs a two-fold function within Capital Divers training curriculum:

1) For the average recreational diver who has no desire for technical training, It provides a toolbox with which they can build and hone their basic diving skills. Helping them develop a higher level of comfort and confidence in the water.

 2) Functioning as a prerequisite for all Technical classes here at Capital Divers, The Essentials of Diving class provides the diver who may have aspirations of more advanced diver training with the tools that will contribute to a greater likelihood of success.

 As an introduction to the Hogarthian equipment configuration and the principles of DIR The Essentials of Diving course is perfectly suited to the novice diver wishing to enhance their enjoyment of scuba diving as well as the seasoned diver wishing to further hone some of those fundamental skills divers need. Many divers have found that by incorporating even a few DIR principals into their diving it has enhanced both their safety and their fun. All of us should, from time to time, look over our own shoulders and maybe get a fresh look at dive procedures, protocols and equipment configuration.

You will go to your next dive with either a brand new set of skills or a brand new approach to your same set of skills. This class truly has something to offer everyone.

Prerequisites

Must be a minimum of 16 years of age

Must be a certified open water diver from a recognized training agency

Duration

The class is normally conducted over a 3 day period.

Course Limits

Student to instructor ratio is not to exceed 6:1 during any in-water training and should be adjusted downward to account for bad conditions and/or poor visibility

Maximum depth 60 feet/18 meters

No decompression

No overhead environment diving

Course Content

Combining lecture and in-water sessions, this course focuses on the fun of diving by reducing stress and increasing diver proficiency through proper control of buoyancy, trim, propulsion, teamwork, and other DIR principles.

Recommended Training Materials

Doing it Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving.

Academic Topics

Why The Essentials Of Diving Course?

Diver proficiency

Buoyancy and trim

Streamlining and equipment configuration

Propulsion techniques

Situational awareness

Communication

Breathing gas overview

Dive planning and gas management

Diver preparedness

Land Drills & Topics

Dive team protocols

S-drill and valve-drill

Equipment fit and function

Propulsion techniques

Pre-dive drills

Surface marker deployment

Required Dive Skills & Drills

Demonstrate proficiency in safe diving techniques; this would include pre-dive preparations, in-water activity, and post-dive assessment.

Demonstrate awareness of team member location and a concern for safety, responding quickly to visual cues and dive partner needs.

Efficiently and comfortably demonstrate how to donate gas to an out-of-gas diver and swim                                    to your designated exit point even while potentially managing other problems.     

Efficiently and comfortably demonstrate how to donate gas to an out-of-gas diver followed by a slow, direct ascent to the surface.

Comfortably demonstrate at least two propulsion techniques that would be appropriate in delicate and/or silty environments.

Demonstrate a safe and responsible demeanor throughout all training.

Demonstrate proficiency in the ability to deploy a spool and a surface marker.

Demonstrate good buoyancy and trim.

Demonstrate proficiency in underwater communication.

Demonstrate basic equipment proficiency and an understanding of the DIR equipment configuration.

Demonstrate aptitude in the following open water skills: mask clearing, mask removal and replacement, regulator removal and exchange, long hose deployment.

Demonstrate safe ascent and decent procedures.

Equipment Requirements

Each student should have, and be familiar with, all of the following required equipment.

Cylinders: Students must provide their own cylinders. Either twin or single cylinders, twin cylinders will be equipped with a dual outlet isolator style manifold.

Regulators: The Primary second-stage must be on a 5- to 7-foot. One of the first-stages must supply a pressure gauge and provide inflation for a dry suit (where applicable).

Backplate System: A rigid and flat platform, of metal construction with minimal padding. The system should retain a minimalist approach with no unnecessary components.

Buoyancy Compensation Device: A diver's buoyancy compensation device should be back-mounted and minimalist in nature. It should come free of extraneous strings, tabs, or other material. Wing size and shape should be appropriate to the cylinder size(s) employed for training.

At least one depth-measuring device

At least one timekeeping device

Mask and fins:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Mask should be low volume; fins should be rigid, non-split

At least one cutting device

Wet Notes

One spool with 100 feet of proper cave cord

Exposure suit appropriate for the duration of exposure

NOTE:

In advance of starting class you should consult with a Capital Divers representative to verify equipment requirements. Whether or not a piece of equipment fulfills our equipment requirement remains at the discretion of Capital Divers and its instructor representatives.

Participants are responsible for providing all equipment or for making provisions to secure the use of necessary equipment before the start of the course.