Open Water Dives:

Open Water Dive One:

During Open Water Dive 1, under instructor supervision, the student will:

1. Listen to and participate in the briefing and dive planning session for the dive.

2. Prepare, and with a buddy don and adjust, scuba equipment with minimal instructor/staff assistance.

3. Enter the water in the manner determined during the briefing.

4. Adjust the weight so that the student floats at eye level with an empty BCD and holding a normal breath.

5. Descend in a controlled manner using a descent line or sloping bottom contour to provide control and reference to a depth not greater than 12 metres/40 feet.

6. Under direct instructor supervision, explore underwater to gain experience.

7. Exit the water as determined during dive planning.

8. Attend the instructor’s debriefing.

9. Log the dive for instructor signature.

Open Water Dive Two:

During Open Water Dive 2, under instructor supervision, the student will:

1. Listen to and participate in the briefing and dive planning session for the dive.

2. Prepare, and with a buddy don and adjust, scuba equipment with minimal instructor/staff assistance.

3. With a buddy, perform the predive safety check.

4. Enter the water in the manner determined during the briefing.

5. Adjust the weight so that the student floats at eye level with an empty BCD and holding a normal breath.

6. *Flexible Skill:  Cramp Removal.

7. *Flexible Skill:  25 metre/yard Tired Diver Tow.

8. *Flexible Skill:  Snorkel/Regulator Exchange.

9. Using the five point method, descend in a controlled manner using a descent line or sloping bottom contour to provide control and reference to a depth not greater than 12 metres/40 feet.

10. Achieve neutral buoyancy by inflating the BCD (or dry suit if used) with the low pressure inflator.

11. Clear a mask that has been partially flooded.

12. Clear a mask that has been fully flooded.

13. Recover and clear a regulator at depth.

14. In a stationary position, secure and breathe from an alternate air source provided by another diver. Students alternate roles as donors and receivers.

15. Ascend properly using an alternate air source as either the donor or receiver and establish positive buoyancy at the surface.

16. Under direct instructor or certified assistant supervision, explore underwater to gain experience.

17. Using the five point method, ascend at a rate no faster than 18 metres/60 feet per minute while maintaining buddy contact.

18. Establish buoyancy at the surface by removing weights at the surface using the quick release mechanism of the weight system.

19. Exit the water as determined during dive planning.

20. Attend the instructor’s debriefing.

21. Log the dive for instructor signature.

Open Water Dive Three:

During Open Water Dive 3, under instructor supervision, the student will:

1. Listen to and participate in the briefing and dive planning session for the dive.

2. Prepare, and with a buddy don and adjust, scuba equipment with minimal instructor/staff assistance.

3. With a buddy, perform the predive safety check.

4. Enter the water in the manner determined during the briefing.

5. Adjust the weight so that the student floats at eye level with an empty BCD and holding a normal breath.

6. Using the five point method, descend in a controlled manner to 6-9 metres/20-30 feet using a visual reference only.

7. Achieve and maintain neutral buoyancy underwater by inflating the BCD orally.

8. Clear a mask that has been fully flooded.

9. *Flexible Skill:  Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent.

10. Optional Skill:  Buddy breathe in a stationary position.

11. Option Skill:  Perform a buddy-breathing ascent from a depth of 6-9metres/20-30 feet .

12. Explore underwater to gain experience.

13. Using the five point method, ascend at a rate no faster than 18 metres/60 feet per minute while maintaining buddy contact.

14. *Flexible Skill:  Remove and replace weight system at the surface.

15. *Flexible Skill:  Remove and replace scuba unit at the surface.

16. Exit the water as determined during dive planning.

17. Attend the instructor’s debriefing.

18. Log the dive for instructor signature.

Open Water Dive Four:

During Open Water Dive 4, under instructor supervision, the student will:

1. Listen to and participate in the briefing and dive planning session for the dive.

2. Prepare, and with a buddy don and adjust, scuba equipment with minimal instructor/staff assistance.

3. With a buddy, perform the predive safety check.

4. Enter the water in the manner determined during the briefing.

5. Adjust the weight so that the student floats at eye level with an empty BCD and holding a normal breath. If this adjustment is made with a full cylinder, add enough weight to compensate for air used during the dive (usually about 2 kg/5 lbs).

6. Using the five point method, perform a descent with no visual reference

7. to a depth no greater than 18 metres/60 feet.

8. Achieve neutral buoyancy and hover underwater in midwater using only buoyancy control and without swimming, sculling or using fins.

9. Remove, replace and clear the mask while underwater.

10. *Flexible Skill:  Underwater Navigation with Compass

11. Explore underwater to gain experience.

12. Using the five point method, ascend at a rate no faster than 18 metres/60 feet per minute while maintaining buddy contact.

13. Exit the water as determined during dive planning.

14. Attend the instructor’s debriefing.

15. Log the dive for instructor signature.

Dive Flexible Skills: May be conducted during any Open Water Dive at the Instructor's discretion (except as noted), provided students have mastered the skill during confined water dives).

1. Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA) Only on dives 2, 3 or 4

   • Perform a controlled emergency swimming ascent from a depth of 6-9 metres/20-30 feet and establish positive buoyancy at the surface.

2. Cramp Removal

   • Perform a simulated cramp release for self and buddy at the surface.

3. Tired Diver Tow

   • Tow a simulated tired buddy 25 metres/yards on the surface in scuba equipment

4. 50 Metre/yard Straight Line Surface Swim with Compass

   • Perform a 50 metre/yard surface snorkel swim in a straight line keeping the face in the water and using the compass only for direction reference

5. Snorkel/Regulator Exchange

   • Clear water from the snorkel at the surface and resume breathing through the snorkel without removing the snorkel from the mouth.

   • Alternately breather from snorkel and regulator at surface without lifting the face from the water.

6. Remove/Replace Weight System and Scuba Unit at Surface

   • Remove and replace the weight system at the surface in water too deep to stand up in.

   • Remove and replace the scuba unit at the surface in water too deep to stand up in.

7. Underwater Navigation with Compass only on dives 2, 3 or 4

   • Perform a navigation swim with a compass underwater in a straight line out and back on a reciprocal course.