Self-Reliant Diver Course
During the Self-Reliant Diver course, you learn about potential risks of diving alone and the value of equipment redundancy and necessary back-up gear. During three scuba dives, you develop skills for self-reliance and independence, while becoming a stronger partner in a dive pair or team.
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Prerequisites
- Be certified to the Advanced Open Water Diver level
- Be 18 years of age
- Logged 100 dives
Equipment
- Standard dive equipment: mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, BCD, dive computer
- Compass
- Delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) with 100 feet of line
- Redundant surface signaling devices (both visual and audible)
- Knife or cutting tool
- Slate and pencil
- Backup-up mask (recommended)
- Redundant dive computer or depth guage and bottom timer *
- Redundant air source (e.g. pony cylinder with mounting bracket, regulator, and SPG) *
* provided for course by DockSide Dive Center
During the course students will be required to complete the following exercises:
Practical Skills
- Preform self-reliant predive check
- Establish your Surface Air Consumption Rate (SAC)
- Use your SAC rate to establish cylinder size and pressure requirements when planning a dive
During the three open water dives the following skills will be performed:
Waterskills
- Conduct surface buoyancy check with all standard and specialized equipment
- Perform a relaxed, nonstop, 200 meter/yard surface swim with all all standard and specialized equipment
- Demonstrate neutral buoyancy while wearing all standard and specialized equipment
- Perform a Surface Air Consumption (SAC) rate swim at level depth for 5 minutes and record for later calculation
- Demonstrate ability to switch to redundant air supply within 30 seconds
- Deploy a DSMB from the bottom
- Swim underwater for at least two minutes, covering at least 18 meters/60 feet, without a mask
- Navigate, without surfacing, to a predetermined location and return using a compass
- Navigate, without surfacing, to a predetermined location and return using natural references
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