PADI IDC In Krabi Thailand: Dive Skills

Dive Skills Circuit - 24 Skills To Demonstrate

Any Scuba Instructor should be able to perform all scuba diving skills effortlessly and flawlessly, BUT - the main concern during the IDC and particularly the IE is that they should be performed to demonstration quality so that a student diver (or Instructor Examiner) will be able to repeat the skill without difficulty. This means Slow, Exaggerated movements are essential, and the skills will include something that you don't usually do under normal circumstances; Signals that clearly show what you are doing or about to do.

All of these skills are an integral part not only of the IDC and IE, but of every dive course you will teach. I'd strongly advise you not to wait for the IDC to re-learn them, but to perfect them on any dive where you have the opportunity to safely practice the skills before your IDC.
Rod Bateman, Aqua Vision Course Director

Skills Session 1

1. Equipment Assembly, Adjustment, Preparation, donning and Disassebly.

2. Pre-Dive Safety Checks

Objective: Perform the pre-dive safety check. (Confined Water Dive 2) BWRAF commonly know as Begin With Review and Friend. There are several forms of buddy check, but almost all cover five most important principles.PADI will use BWRAF, which is broken down and describe below:

B - BCD - Check function of BCD. Press the inflator and deflator buttons to that BCD inflates and deflates with the air. Test the oral inflator. Operate all the air dumps to check that air can be dumped quickly. Ensure that straps (shoulder straps, cummerbund) can have no slack, and be lying flat.
W - Weights - If a weight belt be worn, check that the belt be secure, and the strap be arranged so that it can be released with the right hand of the diver. Ensure that weights on the belt be not likely to shift during movement, and be suitable for the diver. If a weight harness is worn, or the BCD possesses an integrated-weights system, test system for adequate operation. As some BCDs have integrated weights its important to ensure that the buddy be familiar with the weight system of the diver being checked, and be able to operate them in an emergency.
R - Releases - Locate and check that all of your buddy's releases be properly secured and you know how to undo them in an emergency. This includes their Velcro waist band and at least two shoulder clips. Many BCDs also have a chest and stomach clip. It's a good idea to touch each clip as you check it and even count each one out loud as you do so. Remember to check the tank strap and clip. You can do this by placing one hand on the bottom of the tank and the other on the first stage regulator and trying to move the tank up and down to see if the strap moves.
A - Air - Open air valve on tank. Most divers then close the tank a quarter turn for an added element of safety. Breathe the air through the regulators to ensure that it be fresh and dry: impure air is extremely dangerous underwater, but can usually be recognized through an unpleasant, often oily, taste or smell. Test operation of primary and secondary regulators. Both should breathe comfortably, and not 'free-flow' when purged. Check hoses for damage. Ensure that the secondary regulator (the 'octopus') be attached in the triangle between the chin and the base of the ribs, and can be released easily: this ensures easy access for a buddy in the event of an emergency.
F - Final Check - Conduct a final check of the diver. Ensure that hoses are clipped to the diver neatly, and be in the correct configuration. Make sure the diver have fins and a mask, and any other accessories (cameras, reels, knife, compass, torch etc.) needed for the dive. Check that these be secured to the diver, or else placed in a spot where they can be handed down once the diver be in the water. Correct anything else that need doing.

3. Deep Water Entry

Objective: Demonstrate appropriate deep-water entry(s).

4. Proper Weighting Bouyancy Check

Objective: Adjust for proper weighing, which is defined as floating at the surface with an empty BCD while holding a normal breath.

5. Snorkel and Regulator Exchange

Objective; Exchange snorkel for regulator and regulator for snorkel repeatedly while at the surface without lifting the face from the water. (confined water 2)

Skills Session 2

6. Descents

Objective: Demonstrate a descent using the appropriate 5 step method (SORTED)

Signal Buddy
Orientate - Look around, get your bearings to the boat or shore.
Regulator - Exchange your snorkel for your regulator.
Time - Note time / Start timer even / especially if using a dive computer.
Equalise while Descending - Lift low pressure inflator hose and deflate your BCD, Equalize while descending, looking down.

7. Regulator Clearing

Objective: Clear a regulator while underwater using both the exhalation and purge-button methods and resume breathing from it. Commonly the two methods demonstrated is the arm sweep method and the first stage grab method where the hose is traced to the regulator (confined water 1)

8. Mask Removal and Replacement + Clearing

Objective: Completely remove, replace and clear the mask of water while underwater. (confined water 2)
This demonstration uses the thumb to push the top of the mask to the head when purging the water from the mask, we believe this could sometimes be problematic as students 'may' pull the mask away from the face causing water to flood back in so an alternative is to press the middle top of the mask or to press the two top corners of the mask against the face.

9. Air Depletion / Alternative Air Source Combined

Objective: Respond to air depletion by signaling out of air, then securing and breathing from an alternative air source (AAS) supplied by a buddy for at least 1 minute while stationary. (confined water 3)

10. Alternative Air Source Assisted Ascent

Objective: Respond to simulated air depletion by signaling out of air, then securing and breathing from an alternative air source (AAS) supplied by a buddy, swimto the surface ans gain positive buoyancy for both divers.

Skills Session 3

11. Free Flow Regulator Breathing

Objective: To breath effectively from a free flowing regulator for not less than 30 seconds.(confined water 3)

12. Neutral Buoyancy - Oral and Low Pressure Inflation methods

Objective - Use both oral and low-pressure BCD inflation to become neutrally buoyant. Gently rise and fall in a controlled manner, during inhalation and exhalation. (confined water 3)

13. Ascents

Objective : Demonstrate an ascent using the appropriate five step method. (STELA) - Confined water 1

Signal buddy - Wait until instructor signals
Time - Note time
Elavate Arms - One hand over head, other on BCD control
Look Up - Looking up and atround as you ascend
Ascend - Swim Slowly to the Surface mainting neutral bouyancy.

14. CESA - Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent

Objective: Simulate a controlled emergency swimming ascent (CESA) by swimming horizontally underwater for at least 9 metres/30 feet while continuously exhaling by emitting a continuous sound. (confined water 3)

15. Neutral Buoyancy - Hovering

Using buoyancy control only, hover without kicking or sculling for at least 30 seconds (confined water 4)

16. No Mask Swim

Objective: Swim underwater without a mask for a distance of not less than 15 metres/50 feet, and replace and clear the mask underwater. (confined water 4)

Skills Session 4

17. Weight belt removal and Replacement (underwater)

Remove, replace, adjust and secure weight belt or weight system on the bottom in water too deep to stand up in. (confined water 5)

18. Scuba Unit Removal and replacement (underwater)

Remove, replace, adjust and secure the scuba unit and weights at the surface, with minimal assistance, in water too deep to stand up in. (Confined Water 5)

19. Scuba Unit Removal and replacement (surface)

Remove, replace, adjust and secure the scuba unit on the bottom, with minimal assistance, in water too deep to stand up in.. (confined water 5)

20. Weight Removal and Replacement (surface)

Objective: Remove, Replace, adjust and secure the weight at the surface, with minimal assistance in water that is too deep to stand up in.

IDC 24 Dive-Skills Circuit

Performing Dive Skills To Demonstration Quality. The Skill You Will Need To Perfect To Become A Scuba Instructor