Extended Range Diver

DURATION

Three days, day 3 will most likely be held some time after days 1 and 2. Day 3 must be completed within 4 months of day 2.

ENTRY GRADE

SAA Dive Leader + 50 dives with SAA Advanced Nitrox Diver qualification, or equivalent Nitrox qualification from another agency which must include accelerated deco [ppO2 deco up to 1.6 bar ].

INSTRUCTORS

This course will be a regional course run by qualified ERD instructors. This course must be lead by an Approved Extended Range Diving Instructor [ approved by the National Nitrox Coordinator ] , assisted either by other Approved ERD Instructors or instructors gaining their qualification.

The number of ‘Assistant Instructors’ must not exceed the number of Approved ERD Instructors. A register of Approved ERD Instructors is maintained by the National Nitrox Coordinator at Head Office.

Ratio: One Instructor for every two candidates for Dives 1 and 2: one Instructor for every student on Dive 3.

FACILITIES

Suitable classroom with teaching aids for formal presentations.

Suitable shallow open water dive site (10m maximum) for Dive 1.

Dive site with 30m maximum for Dive 2.

Dive site for Dive 3 with a maximum depth of 51m. Dependant on conditions the minimum depth for dive 3 will be 40 metres with a target depth of 45 metres or deeper subject to the maximum of 50 metres.

Equipment and materials for classroom and practical sessions, as detailed in ERD Course Instructor Notes

APPROVAL

CMAS approval to be sought from CMAS once a CMAS standard is developed. The SAA will propose this as a suitable framework for such a standard.

QUALIFICATION

Course Certification will be issued by SAA Head Office.

SYLLABUS

Instructor Briefing Assemble, Introductions, Administration

1. Theory Lesson -An Introduction to Extended Range Diving - 15 minutes

1. oWhat is ERD?

2. oWhy do it?

3. oWhat does it require

4. oThe SAA ERD Course

2. Theory Lesson -Personal Preparation for Extended Range Diving - 60 minutes

1. oAwareness, responsibility, attitude

2. oTraining, self-reliance, physical and mental preparation

3. oManaging stress, coping with narcosis

3. Theory Lesson -Decompression Diving - 45 minutes

1. oTools – Tables, PC Software, Dive Computers >

2. oRun Time Management

3. oRich Nitrox mixes, Oxygen Tracking

4. oGood Decompression Practice

4. Group Practical -Decompression Planning - 30 minutes

5. Theory Lesson -Personal Equipment - 45 minutes

1. oBottom Gas Systems

2. oDecompression Gas Systems

3. oCombining systems

4. oConfiguring Regulators and Gauges

5. oBuoyancy Compensators

6. oDiving Suits

7. oSupport Equipment

8. oSurface Survival

9. oEquipment Rigging and Configuration

6. Group Practical -Personal Equipment Preparation - 45 minutes

7. Practical -Dive 1 - 180 minutes

8. DAY 2

9. Theory Lesson -Group Equipment - 30 minutes

1. oThe Platform: Hard Boats, Ribs; Liaison with skipper

2. oDecompression Systems

10. Theory Lesson -Extended Range Dive Planning - 30 minutes

1. oDive Team Agreements

2. oDive Planning

3. oSupport Divers

4. oEmergency / Contingency Plans

1. Group Practical -Practical Dive Planning - 90 minutes

2. Practical -Dive 2 - 240 minutes

1. Dive Debrief, Open Forum - 30 minutes

2. DAY 3

15. Practical -Dive 3 - 8 hours

16. Open Forum and Course Debrief - 20 minutes