Advanced Open Water Curriculum

Advanced Open Water Curriculum

Class 1

Equipment

Advanced Dive Tables:

    Table History
    Review
    Table Variations between agencies
    Altitude Tables
    Decompression
    Extreme Exposure
    Nitrox
    Computers

Class 2

Diving Physics

    Gases
        Nitrogen (N2)
        Oxygen (O2)
            Aviator     (Grade-A)
            Medical     (Grade-B)
            Technical   (Grade-C)
        Helium (He)
        Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
        Carbon Monoxide (CO)
        Other (Argon, Neon, Hydrogen)

    Composition of Air
        N2             78.084%
        O2              20.946%
        Argon             . 934%
        CO2               .033%
        Rare Gases     .003%

    Pressure - Force per unit volume...i.e. lbs/in2, kg/cm2
        Gage Pressure
        Absolute Pressure
        PSIA
        Atmospheres
        Partial pressure

    Temperature
        Fahrenheit
        Celsius
        Absolute

    Density - Weight per unit Volume...i.e. lbs/ft3, kg/m3
        Sea Water -     64lbs/ft3
        Fresh Water-    62.4lbs/ft3

Archimedes Principle (Buoyancy)

Sea Water 64 lbs/ft3

    Lead              708         lbs/ft3
    Wood (Dry)       30          lbs/ft3
    Gold             1204         lbs/ft3
    Steel             490         lbs/ft3
    Solid Cork         11.5        lbs/ft3
    Air                .08         lbs/ft3

Boyles Law

P1V1=P2V2

Charles Law

V1/V2 = T1/T2

Henry's Law

VG/VL= constant/Partial pressure

Dalton's Law

Pt = pp1+pp2+pp3+ etc

General Gas Law
P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2

Tissue Half Times

Weather Topics

Systems

    High Pressure
    Low Pressure
    Cold Fronts
    Warm Fronts
    Stationary Fronts
    Troughs
    Convection Thunderstorms
    Tropical Systems (Hurricanes, Tropical Storms, Tropical Depressions)

Prevailing Conditions

   Summer
    Convection Storms
    SE Trades
    SW Trades
    Warm Waters (82-85)

   Fall
    Stationary Fronts
    Northeasters
    Hurricanes
    Declining Water Temps (80's to 70)

   Winter
    Strong Cold Fronts
    Cool Water (70)

   Spring
    Unpredictable Strong fronts
    Northeasters
    Warming water

Sea States

Data Sources

    Buoy Data
    Satellite
    Websites

        Weather Channel          www.weather.com
       Scuba Odyssey           www.cbscubaodyssey.com
       NOAA                   www.noaa.gov
       Navy Wave Model        http://surfinfo.surfline.com/html/fnmocOLD.html
       Ntl' Weather Service    http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
       Ntl' Hurricane Center    http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
       Weather Underground    http://www.wunderground.com/
       Buoy Data               http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
       Intellicast               http://www.intellicast.com/

Class 3

Why Navigate?

Assuring feeling of returning to the same boat you left (Ocean gets very lonely during the night-time)
Not having to walk miles on the beach with heavy equipment
Maintaining a buddy team
Finding special locations
Finding lost objects
Night Diving
Less than perfect visibilities
Caverns
Cave / Wrecks

Underwater Navigation

Natural Navigation
Magnetic compasses, pressure gages & watches
Lines
Electronic Devices
Maps/Slates

Components of Navigation

Direction
Distance (fin kicks/time)
Depth
Currents

Natural Navigation

Sun / Moon Angle
Map (mental or drawn)
Prevailing reef structure
Landmarks
Seamarks
Orientation (wrecks)
Ridges in the sand
Sounds (surf, shrimp)
Depths

Magnetic Compasses

Components
Preferences
Headings
Reciprocal Headings
Patterns
Search Patterns
Magnetic Anomalies

Lines

Line material/size
Running Lines
Reels
Entanglement
Descending Lines
Direction Lines
Permanent Lines
Search Patterns

Electronic Devices…Not widely used in recreational diving

Maps

Basic hand drawn (slate)
Illustrations
Topographical maps
Aerial Images

Surface Navigation (land)

Road Maps
Precise directions
Cell Phone for directions

Surface Navigation (at sea)

Topographical Maps
Dead Reckoning
Watching where other boats are
Fathometers
Loran
GPS

Why Night Dive?

Nocturnal ocean life
Photo opportunities
Excitement
Additional Horizons

Concerns

Lighting
What’s beyond the lights
Navigation
Equipment Failure
Things that go "bump" in the nite

Equipment

Primary Light
Back up Light
Glow Sticks
Strobes
Warm Cloths

Techniques

Placement of additional equipment
Signaling
Charging Batteries
Locating Buddy
Locating Boats
Locating entry points
Caverns become caves

Zero Visibility Diving ... Why?

Work
Search
Rescue

Concerns

Everything is tactile
Lights are ineffective but needed
Limits of close vision clarity
Heightened sensations

Techniques

Know your air consumption
Know where all your equipment is located
Avoid any possible entanglements
Carry a knife
Develop a 3-D map of your environment
Make it a limited volume environment
This will most likely be a solo adventure

Tech Diving

Cave
Wreck
Tri-mix
Re-breather
Extreme Depths

Class 4

Certifications

Diving is very certification conscious
PADI Influence

Agencies

NASE/WASI Worldwide
PADI
NAUI
YMCA
SSI (NASDS)
MDEA
BSAC
Los Angeles Divers
PDI
OFDA

Progression (NASE)

Open Water
Advanced Open Water
Advanced Open Water +
Nitrox
Rescue
Rescue +
Specialties
Divemaster
Assistant Instructor
Open Water Instructor
Master Instructor
Instructor Trainer
Regional Trainer

Progression (HSAI)

HSAI Trained Assistant
HSAI Training

Tech Diving

TDI
NACD
NSS
NOAA

Specialized

HSAI
DAN
DIR

Pro Diving

Training Cost

Student Kits
Membership (multi agency cost)
Insurance
Pool
Equipment (Upkeep & Replacement)
Air
Assistance
Boat Fees
Hotel
Vehicle wear

Insurance

DM and above
$1 million/ $3 aggregate
$500/yr Instructor $250 Divemaster

Membership

Minimum students/year & class size
~$125/student
Insurance requirement
Reinstatement

Equipment

Tech Rigs
Rebreathers
Trimix
Full Face Masks
Surface Supply
Lanyards
Scooters
Cameras & Strobes
Videos

Underwater Photography Primer

Camera
Strobe
Film
Lens
Backscatter
Subjects
Models
Composure

Open Water

Four Deep Dives (80 to 130ft Repetitive)
One Navigation Dive
Two Drift Dives
One Limited Visibility/Night Dive