The University of Texas
Underwater Science and Scuba Program
KIN 213: Advanced Scuba: Diving Leadership

Spring 2010


General Information

Instructor: Peter Oliver
Office: Texas Swimming Center (TSC) 2.202
Phone: 512-476-6639 (mobile)
Office hours: Monday & Wednesday: noon-1 p.m. and by appointment
e-mail: p.oliver@mail.utexas.edu
Class website: www.longhornscuba.com

Co-instructor: Navin Jagannath

Course Purpose and Scope

This program is designed to prepare experienced and knowledgeable scuba divers for diving leadership, including the techniques of diving instruction and the organization and conducting of safe and enjoyable open water dives for certified divers. It presumes advanced scuba knowledge and skills equivalent to those of a NAUI Master Scuba Diver.

The student will learn these skills, techniques, and information through instructor presentations, preparation and delivery of their own in-class presentations, and internship participation in training of entry-level diving students–in both a pool and an open water environment.

When all necessary requirements are met, successful completion of this course can qualify the student to apply for certification as a NAUI Assistant Instructor and/or NAUI Divemaster.

Note: Completion of all NAUI requirements for either of these ratings may take longer than one semester, depending upon individual ability and persistence. Therefore, achieving NAUI AI or DM certification is not a requirement for completion of this course and does not enter into grading criteria. Standards and requirements for these ratings are contained in the NAUI Standards & Policies Manual. A summary of these requirements will be found below. If you are unable to complete the certification requirements in the time frame of a single semester, we will gladly allow you time to complete whatever is needed.

Course Prerequisites

The course presumes advanced knowledge in physics, physiology, environment, and diving skills as shown by certification as a NAUI Master Scuba Diver or by taking and passing the NAUI Master Scuba Diver Exam. If you do not have the rating and wish to “challenge out” the exam, there are both a textbook and a study kit that includes a DVD available to assist you to prepare.

You must have certification in Scuba Rescue (from any nationally recognized agency), including appropriate First Aid and CPR training. General and scuba-related First Aid, CPR with AEDs, and emergency oxygen administration are included in this course, but Scuba Rescue certification is not.

Course Topics

Diving Leadership
Teaching and Learning Theory
Instruction Techniques
Risk Management and Legal Aspects of Diving Leadership
Problem and Accident Management
Rescue Techniques
Organizing and Conducting Dives and Diving Excursions for Certified Divers
Environmental Considerations for Safe Diving
Appropriate Topics in Boating and Seamanship
Protection of the Marine Environment

Specialty Topics: As part of the class, we will conduct courses in three adjunct areas: First Aid, Professional-Level CPR with Automated External Defibrillation, and Emergency Oxygen Administration. On the days scheduled for these classes, we may well continue beyond the normal ending time.

Student Presentations: You will prepare and make two evaluated classroom presentations. One will be a short teaching presentation to a simulated scuba class on a selected diving-related topic. The other will be a presentation of a planned dive vacation trip for recreational divers that you will research, plan, and offer to the class, who will be simulating a group of divers to whom you are marketing your trip. PowerPoint presentations and/or the use of training/teaching aids is encouraged. Lesson/presentation plans should be submitted as printed documents for the record, either as text or as printed PowerPoint files with notes pages.

Swimming and Diving Skills: There are certain watermanship skills that you must achieve for certification as a NAUI Dive Leader. A detail listing of these skills is below. It is your responsibility to develop your swimming and scuba skills to the point that you can meet the standard. We will devote a certain amount of class time at the beginning of the semester to pool work for demonstration, practice, and evaluation of these skills. For any skills that you are not able to complete in that time frame, you will have to find additional times to practice on your own or with a partner until you can successfully perform them.

Class Meetings

Classroom: Monday 5:00-8:00 pm in TSC Classroom (Room 1.106).
Internship: To be arranged. See below.

Leadership development is largely a matter of taking responsibility and learning by doing. You should have any reading assignment completed before coming to class so that you can intelligently participate in the discussions and workshops. Consult the schedule (below) so that you know what is expected for each class.

Confined and Open Water Internship Training: Times to be individually scheduled.
In addition to our regular classroom meeting, you will participate in a leadership-trainee roll with the entry-level scuba class. You will:
1) Meet weekly with at least one of the seven Basic Scuba pool lab sections.
2) Assist as a divemaster, safety diver, and student-diver escort with at least one complete set of entry level open water training dives at the end of the semester.

Open Water Training and Divemastering: The class will meet for three scheduled open water sessions during which you will perform in leadership roles for practice and evaluation. For efficiency, the actual diving in these sessions will be very limited, and we will cycle the leadership roles among the class members so that everyone will be able to practice in the variety of roles. Open water dives/drills will include: Rescue Skills Practice, Accident Management, Conducting Briefings and Debriefings, Assisting and Escorting Student Divers, Conducting Dives for Certified Divers. One of these open water meetings will be on a weekend afternoon and evening and will include a night dive (see the schedule below).

Required Texts

NAUI Leadership and Instruction textbook
NAUI First Aid / CPR textbook
These texts are available at:
        Royal Scuba (4403 Guadalupe)
       Tom’s Dive & Swim (5509 Burnet Road, NE corner with Koenig Lane)
       Oak Hill Scuba (6156 Hwy 290 West, at end of Ben White Expressway)
The texts may be supplemented by appropriate handouts.

NAUI Standards and Policies Manual
As a NAUI leader, you should be familiar with the membership and instructional standards of your Association. We will provide the NAUI S&P on a CD. If you wish to purchase a printed copy, it can be ordered from NAUI.

Grading Criteria

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following two areas:

A. Knowledge (50% of final grade):
The written exam will occur at the fnal class meeting of the course. It is composed of two standard NAUI exams—the NAUI Assistant Instructor Exam and the NAUI Divemaster Exam. There will be no makeups. For certification at either the Assistant Instructor or the Divemaster rating, you must score at least 75% in the exam for that rating.

B. Practical/Participation (50% of final grade):
      Class Participation (class attendance and assignments                   (10%)
      Internship at entry-level pool labs and open water training dives         (30%)
           Performance will be evaluated by course instructors using a
           standardized evaluation sheet. You must accumulate a minimum
           of eight confined water and four open water evaluations with
           passing scores.
      Diving and watermanship skills performance                           (10%)
      Writing/teaching Project 1 (classroom teaching)                          (P/F)
       Writing/teaching Project 2 (dive trip research and presentation)         (P/F)
Class Participation: Active participation in all class activities is essential. This includes class discussions and lab experiences. Missed entry-level course lab sessions may be made up by attendance at an alternate lab section (there are seven sections available throughout each weekly cycle). Makeup sessions will not be offered for other classes or assignments missed.

Grading Scale
      A = 90 +
      B = 80-89
      C = 70-79
      D = 60-69
      F = 59 -

Summary of NAUI AI/DM Certification Requirements

For supporting documentation you must provide:
      Photocopies of all of your diving and various health care provider certifications
      Verification of the required dives–see below
      Medical examination signed by a physician unconditionally approving you for diving.

General prerequisites and/or certification requirements for NAUI Assistant Instructor or Divemaster are:
      18 years of age
      Verification of good physical condition as evidenced by a medical examination for diving within the preceding 12 months.
      Appropriate diving experience:
           For AI at least six months diving experience with a minimum of 20 logged dives;
           For DM at least one year of diving experience with a minimum of 25 logged dives.
      NAUI Master Scuba Diver Certification or equivalent experience and knowledge
           Knowledge can be demonstrated by passing the NAUI Master Diver examination; experience, by logbook).
      Certification in Scuba Rescue.
      Certification in First Aid and CPR/AED.
      Certification as an Emergency Oxygen Provider.

Watermanship Skills: You must demonstrate the following:

A. Swimming skills:
      – Swim 450 yards (407 m) nonstop, any stroke(s), within 10 minutes.
      – Swim underwater 25 yards (23 m) on one breath–no dive-in or push-off.
      – Transport another person of similar size 50 yards (46 m).
      – Demonstrate survival swimming for 20 minutes (tread water, float, “drownproof”, etc.)

B. Skin Diving Skills:
      – Using snorkeling equipment, swim 900 yards (823 m) nonstop, within 18 minutes.
      – Skin Diving Ditch and Recovery: Surface dive to the bottom in at least 8 feet (2.5 m) of water; remove and place on the bottom mask/snorkel and fins; surface and rest briefly; surface dive, recover and don all gear, surface with the mask and snorkel clear of water upon surfacing.
      – Skin Diving Rescue: Enter the water; swim 50 yards (46 m); retrieve a diver simulating unconsciousness from a depth of at least 8 feet (2.5 m); stabilize the victim on the surface; initiate and continue simulated in-water rescue breathing while transporting the diver 50 yards (46 m) to an exit.

C. Scuba Skills:
      – Scuba Lifesaving Transport: Transport an inert scuba diver 100 yards (91 m) on the surface within four minutes. The airway of the diver being transported should be maintained clear and protected at all times.
      – Buddy breathe (sharing a single regulator) with another diver while swimming horizontally underwater for four minutes. Each buddy (in turn) is to be without a mask and the donor of air for two minutes during the swim. The receiver of air retains their mask on their face.
      – Scuba Ditch and Recovery: Descend to the bottom in at least 8 feet (2.5 m) of water; remove and place on the bottom mask/snorkel and scuba unit. Shut off air, swim 25 feet (7.6 m) horizontally; ascend exhaling; rest briefly; dive and swim horizontally to the equipment; recover and don the equipment; ascend breathing normally. The total exercise is to be completed within five minutes.
      – Scuba Bailout: Enter water at least 8 feet (2.5 m) deep carrying mask/snorkel, fins, weight belt, and scuba unit (air shut off and regulator purged); settle to the bottom; assume a stationary location, and don equipment. Throughout, maintain control and possession of all gear. After donning all gear, surface normally and tread water at the surface for five minutes without using the BC floatation, snorkel, or scuba.
      – Scuba Equipment Exchange: First diver submerges in at least 8 feet (2.5 m) of water wearing complete diving equipment. Second diver submerges wearing only wetsuit and weight belt. While buddy-breathing, the second diver receives and dons mask/snorkel, fins, and scuba/BC unit from first diver, and the pair make a buddy-breathing horizontal swim of 25 yards (23 m). Both buddies are to remain submerged until the final ascent, which is to be made after switching to alternate air source air sharing. The exercise is to be completed with all equipment in place within five minutes.

A Final Note on the Criteria for Certification as a NAUI Divemaster or Assistant instructor:

NAUI’s credo emphasizes diving safety, and the ultimate requirement for NAUI certification at any level is our “loved one” standard. This applies all the way from certifying a beginning diver (“Would I trust this person to be a dive buddy with my loved one?”) to qualifying a NAUI Instructor (“Would I trust this person to teach my loved one to dive?”). In the case of a NAUI Leader, this translates to: “Would I trust this person to act as divemaster / guide / escort for my loved one, whether a diving student or a certified diver?” This is admittedly a somewhat subjective criterion, but it has worked for almost 50 years, and NAUI has an enviable record for safety and producing safe, comfortable divers. This criterion for certification is independent of your course grade, but it will be a determinant in whether the staff is willing to recommend you for NAUI membership. If course staff has any reservations about your leadership ability and certification, we will meet with you and other NAUI Instructors who can evaluate and offer their independent counsel, evaluation, and recommendation.

Upon successful completion of certification requirements, you can complete a NAUI Leadership Application and pay the requisite NAUI membership fee to be registered as a NAUI Assistant Instructor or Divemaster.

The Small Print

Honor Code: The core values of the University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the University is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community. (http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/events/sjs_honorcode.php)

Special Accommodations for Students with a Disability: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities.  For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at (512) 471-6259, VP: (512) 232-2937 or via email at ssd@uts.cc.utexas.edu.  Please notify the professor of any special accommodations that you may need prior to the end of the second week of class. (http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/)

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University.  Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.  For further information, the student may refer to the Web Site of the Student Judicial Services, Office of the Dean of Students (http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/).


Class Schedule
This is a Dynamic Schedule and may be modified or added to depending on need

Week 1

January 25

Class topics:
      Class orientation
      Risk Awareness
      Complete Paperwork
      Lab sections selection and assignments
      Class Presentation Projects assignments

Introduction to NAUI
Becoming a leader
Assisting with instruction

Orientation to the dive locker

Reading: NAUI Leadership & Instruction: Capters 1, 2, 3, 5

BRING SWIMSUITS and SNORKELING GEAR

Pool:
      Watermanship skills (swimming and snorkeling)


Week 2

February 1

Bring documentation for verification of certifications / experience.

Class topics:
      Teaching and learning theory
      Instructional techniques

Reading: NAUI Leadership & Instruction: Chapter 16 (Ch. 17 recommended)

BRING SWIMSUITS and DIVE GEAR

Pool:
      Watermanship skills (scuba)
      Rescue Skills review


Week 3

February 8

Class topics:
      Anticipating and Preventing Accidents
      Rescue Techniques Review
      Emergency Action Plans
      Problem and Accident Management

Reading: NAUI Leadership & Instruction: Chapter 11, 12

BRING SWIMSUITS and DIVE GEAR

Pool:
      Watermanship skills – as necessary


Week 4

February 15

Class topics:
      Divemastering
      Conducting Dives for Certified Divers
      Group Control
      Planning and Organizing Dive Activities
      Divemaster Duties
      The
Role and Responsibilities of Dive Guides

Reading: NAUI Leadership & Instruction: Chapter 6, 8, 9, 10
      NAUI Standards & Policies

BRING SWIMSUITS and DIVE GEAR

Pool:
      Watermanship skills – as necessary


Week 5

February 22

Class topics:
      Conducting Briefings and Debriefings
      Boating and Seamanship for Dive Leaders
      Environmental Considerations and Diving

Reading: NAUI Leadership & Instruction: Chapter 14
      Dive Briefing and Debriefing Outlines
       Briefing Supplement for Boat-Based Diving

BRING SWIMSUITS and DIVE GEAR

Pool:
      Watermanship skills – as necessary


Week 6

March 1

Class topics:
      Legal Aspects of Dive Leadership
      Risk Management

      Review classroom presentation evaluation criteria
      Staff classroom presentation demonstration

Reading: NAUI Leadership & Instruction: Chapter 13
      NAUI Standards & Policies
      NAUI Risk Management Handbook

BRING SWIMSUITS and DIVE GEAR

Pool:
      Watermanship skills – as necessary


Week 7

March 8

Class topics:
      Classroom Teaching Presentations


Spring Break:

Reminder: Basic Scuba Open Water Weekends are April 24-25, May 1-2, May 8-9. Go online to the class website and sign up to participate in at least one complete two-day Basic Scuba open water training section.


Week 8

March 22

Class topics:
      Dive Trip Presentations


Week 9

March 29

Class topics:
      First Aid
           General First Aid, Part 1

Reading: NAUI First Aid / CPR textbook


Week 10

April 5

Open water Dives/Drills – Session 1
Meet at Lake Travis – Barstow’s Windy Point Park at 5:00 pm


Sunday afternoon/evening – Extra Open Water Session

April 11

      Open water Dives/Drills – Session 2 and night dive
      Meet at Lake Travis – Mansfield Recreational Area (Scuba Park on Dam Side)
    No later than 4:00 pm

      Cook out between dives. Bring whatever you want to grill, etc.


Week 11

April 12

      First Aid
           General First Aid, Part 2
           Marine Life Injuries
           Scuba-related Injuries

Reading: NAUI First Aid / CPR textbook


Week 12

April 19

Open water Dives/Drills – Session 3
Meet at Lake Travis – Barstow’s Windy Point Park at 5:00 pm


Week 13

April 26

Class topics:
      Emergency Oxygen Provider
      Adult, Infant, Child CPR
      Automated External Defibrillation

      Other course wrap up

Reading: NAUI First Aid / CPR textbook


Week 14

May 4

Class topics:
      Course evaluation (UT)
      Course Evaluation (NAUI)
      Assistant Instructor Exam
      Divemaster Exam
      Sign off on NAUI paperwork for those who will be certified as Assistant Instructors or Divemasters this semester.