DIVEMASTER COURSE

Scapa Scuba is looking for Divemaster Trainee’s for this 2010 summer season. The position is for 8-12 weeks between May and the end of October. Ideally, the suitable candidate(s) will be certified as PADI Rescue Diver but we would consider an experienced PADI Advanced diver.

We are offering internship training with a Divemaster certification at the end of your time with us. There will be no charge for the Divemaster Internship course, or indeed for any other training we can provide for you - e.g. speciality courses, nitrox training etc. The only training expense to you would be materials [sold at cost and PADI certification. Alongside the dive centre we also run a dry suit manufacture and repair business and full equipment servicing which we would happily give you an insight into.

Candidates must understand that they will be working with Scapa Scuba in return for their Divemaster certification course, and that some days there will be no diving, instead surface cover on the shore or boat.

Please email any questions on this Divemaster Internship to diving@scapascuba.co.uk

Divemaster training is the first level of professional leadership within the PADI system of diver education.

If your love of Scuba diving interests you enough to make it your career then the PADI Divemaster course maybe just for you! The Divemaster course is designed to develop your leadership abilities by expanding your knowledge, judgement and skills to a higher and professional level. Thus allowing you to share your diving knowledge to students by demonstrating skills and offering your advice and encouragement as the student develops.

As a Divemaster you become a professional member of PADI and receive the benefits of the worlds largest recreational diving organisation. These include, a subscription to The Undersea Journal, information on job opportunities, member pricing on selected PADI materials and services.

As a Divemaster you can supervise and assist with training and non-training activities. They are often employed to help with classes or as a guide, diving from either the boat or shore. As a Divemaster you become a role model and accept limited responsibility for certified divers within the context of leading or managing diving activities. For this reason Divemasters are expected to follow established, responsible dive practises. They must also be enthusiastic about what they do, making diving fun and safe for those who ask advice or dive with you.

The course also deals with attitudes and judgements. As a Divemaster you may have to make decisions in a circumstance where there is no obvious right or wrong. Your training will further your ability to evaluate diving situations and choose the best action.

As a Divemaster you must have: -

• A high level of personal diving skills
• Instructor-level knowledge of diving theory
• Significant training in how to assist an instructor during training activities
• Be able to assume a role of responsibility for other divers in your charge.

Your Divemaster course will have a strong emphasis on all of these attributes

Prerequisites

To apply for this course a diver must:

• Be certified as a Rescue Diver or have equivalent rating
• Have logged at least 20 open-water dives
• Be 18 years of age by the starting date of the course
• Have a full medical signed by a licensed physician within the last year (can be arranged locally).
• Be in good physical condition for diving
• Experience in dry suit diving is an advantage but not a prerequisite. Dry suit speciality courses available.

By the end of your course you must have logged at least 60 open water dives.

Once certified as a Divemaster, you have achieved the first professional PADI level. You can then go for the Assistant Instructor Course or attend an Instructor Development Course which enable you to attend the PADI Instructor Exam.

Course Duration

The curriculum for Divemaster training is performance based and therefore the length of time required to complete the program is based on your personal development, logistical considerations and student numbers.

Course costs

Divemaster Internship - £450. Recommended duration: 6-8 weeks.

Why Scapa Scuba? We can offer you above and beyond any Divemaster curriculum. See how dry suits are made, suits area repaired, tanks are visually and hydrostatically tested. See how the full dive centre works ­ witness a centre in action! All available at no extra costs to you ………..

Costs include PADI Divemaster manual, Diving Knowledge workbook and PADI Encyclopaedia. Costs do not include PADI processing /membership fee to be paid direct to PADI on Divemaster application form (2005 cost - £53.46).

Other reading material recommended ­ all available through Scapa Scuba (not included in the course fee):

PADI Instructor manual
PADI Wheel and instructions for use
PADI Divemaster slates

The course training is divided into three sections:

1. Watermanship and Skills Assessment

This section involves 4 exercises to test your stamina, rescue skills and the development of 20 skills performed to demonstration level.

Stamina exercises: -

• 400m swim - Swimming non-stop without aids using any stroke or combination of strokes desired. Done in swimming pool.
• 15 minute water tread - With no aids and wearing only a swimsuit. Stay afloat by whatever means you choose for 15 minutes. For the last 2 minutes hands must be out of the water. Also done in a swimming pool.
• 800m snorkel swim ­ Swimming non-stop without use of arms or swimming on your back for 800m. Done in Open water either at the Churchill Barriers, or from the slip at Scapa Scuba headquarters.
• 100m inert diver tow - The candidate, in full scuba, must tow or push an inert diver in full scuba 100m without any assistance. Again done at Churchill Barriers, or from the slip at the Scapa Scuba headquarters.

Diver Rescue Assessment and Development
A Divemaster can prevent and manage diving accidents. As a role model Divemasters are expected to follow safe practise and maintain rescue skills for both prevention of and control of diving emergencies. They should also be able to demonstrate rescue skills to students.

You will be evaluated on your rescue skills in the rescue module as well as throughout the course making sure you uphold safe practise.

Confined Water skill Assessment and Development
Part 1 - By the end of part 1 the candidate should be able to demonstrate the skill of removing, replacing and clearing a mask in a manner that earns a score of 4 of higher. (Score 4:Exercise performed correctly and slowly enough to adequately exhibit or illustrate details of skill).

Part 2 - By the end of Part 2 the candidate must demonstrate 20 basic dive skills earning a 3 or higher. Total score for 20 skills must be at least 68 points.

You will participate in an Open Water course where you will shadow an experienced instructor and will be able to see the skills demonstrated to a high standard so you will know what to expect.

The skills…. To include:

1. Equipment assembly, adjustment, preparation, donning and disassembly
2. PADI pre-dive safety check
3. Deep water entry
4. Buoyancy check at the surface
5. 5 point decent
6. Removal and replacement of weight belt on surface
7. Removal and replacement of weight belt underwater
8. Fin pivot using both low pressure inflator and oral inflate methods
9. 5 point ascent
10. Snorkel to scuba exchange
11. Removal and replacement of scuba unit on the surface
12. Removal and replacement of scuba unit underwater
13. Hover motionless
14. Buddy breathing start stationary then swimming as donor and receiver.
15. Mask removal, replacement and clearing
16. Free flow regulator breathing
17. Emergency Swimming Ascent - CESA
18. Underwater swim without a mask
19. Regulator recovery and clearing
20. Air depletion exercise into Alternate Air source - stationary

2. Knowledge Development

Development of theoretical knowledge (initially via personal reading of the Divemaster materials) goes hand in hand with the growth of expertise and professionalism. This will give you a basis for problem solving circumstances you will face as a Divemaster and a foundation to further your knowledge for progression to Assistant Instructor or Instructor levels.

• EXAM - there are 8 exams in the sections listed below

  PADI Divemaster Conducted Programs
  Supervising Activities for Certified divers
  Supervising Students divers in Training
  Physics
  Physiology and First Aid
  Equipment
  Dive Skills and Environment
  Decompression theory and the Recreational Dive Planner

  To pass, you must score at least 75% or above in each section. You will receive instruction via Knowledge Reviews and the knowledge workbook prior to taking exams with your instructor so will be well prepared for them.

• ·Emergency Assistance Plan Every candidate must prepare an Emergency Assistance Plan. The plan should include sufficient detail to be useful as a reference in an actual emergency in a local area.

3. Practical Application

The practical application module applies all your skills & knowledge in a series of training exercises, which simulate all areas of being a practical Divemaster. You build up your confidence and experience of working with/supervising actual students in this part of the course.

There are 3 compulsory exercises in the Practical Application section.

Compulsory exercises…..

• Underwater Mapping
  Each candidate must produce a map of a local dive site. This will include; features above and below the surface, points of interest and how to find them, entry and exit points, potential hazards, directions, distances etc.
• Equipment exchange
  All equipment (except weight belt and exposure suit) must be exchanged between student and instructor (or between candidates) while buddy breathing in confined water. As with the other skills in the Divemaster program, to pass this exercise you must score a 3 or more (though this is not a demonstration).
  The goal of this exercise is show the candidate can cope with unanticipated stress and problems under the water.
  
• Divemaster Conducted Programs
  To gain confidence and experience, candidates must manage and run one of PADI’s Divemaster conducted programs. A full briefing prior to the dive, debriefing post dive and supervision of all students must be accomplished to pass this section. This will be completed under the watchful eye of an instructor and assessed on thoroughness and capability of handling students.

Throughout the course, candidates will have the chance to work with different diver levels ­

• Certified divers in open water
• Open Water diver students in confined water
• Open Water diver students in Open water
• Continuing education student divers in Open Water

This gives a solid foundation to build up experience of supervising other divers both in training and during recreational dives.

At Scapa Scuba the candidate completes the Divemaster Internship

The internship Divemaster gives the student time to master skills and more opportunity to work with both instructor and students learning PADI teaching methods.

Divemaster candidates must participate in at least:

• One PADI Open Water Diver course confined water-training session.
• Four additional confined water training sessions from any PADI course or program.
• One PADI Open Water Diver course open water training dive.
• One PADI Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver of PADI Speciality Diver course open water training session.
• Three additional open water training dives from any PADI course or program.
• One supervisory situation with certified divers not in a formal course.

Internship Objectives

During the internship the candidate will develop the ability to:

1. Organise the pre-dive set up of equipment by Open Water Diver Students for confined water and open water training.
2. Coordinate student diver flow during confined water and open water training dives.
3. Supervise Open Water Diver student divers not receiving the immediate attention of the instructor during confined and open water training.
4. Account for buddy teams entering and leaving the water by checking them in and out of the water.
5. Assist an Open Water diver student overcome a learning difficulty in confined water, or a continuing education student diver in open water.
6. Respond to, or prevent, diver problems as they occur in each section of the internship.
7. Demonstrate four or more skills for student divers in confined water.
8. Assist in the preparation of an open water training site.
9. Conduct an environmental assessment at an open water training site and report to the instructor appropriate recommendations about the suitability of the site for training entry-level and continuing education student dive.
10. Lead student divers on an underwater tour for pleasure. (A PADI instructor must directly supervise this tour, but the candidate conducts the tour as if the instructor were indirectly supervising).
11. Conduct environmental and diver assessment for supervising divers not in training and include recommendation based on the assessment in a pre-dive briefing, and take other appropriate steps based in the assessment.
12. Conduct an appropriate pre-dive briefing for a dive site.
13. Escort continuing education student divers on an indirectly supervised training dives and report observed performances to the instructor and assist with the problems, if any.

Continue your diver education!

Contact Scapa Scuba for further information!

Looking forward to seeing you soon!