Lecture Notes

This section includes video of the classroom sessions. Poolside and underwater video clips of specific skills can be found in the Video section.

WEEK # TOPICS VIDEOS
1

Classroom 1 / Introduction to SCUBA


  • Introduction to instructor and each other
  • Basic classroom procedures and paperwork
  • Why do you want to do SCUBA?
  • History of SCUBA
  • Fitness in general and how it relates to SCUBA in specific
  • Instincts and habits
  • Equalization
  • Introduction to and selection of equipment (mask, snorkel, fins)

Pool 1 / Swim test and pool basics


  • SCUBA swim test
  • Small pool mask and snorkel training
  • Skin diving skills
  • Buoyancy compensator introduction (inflation and deflation)
  • Equalization
  • Fin fitting if necessary
  • Giant stride entry
  • Flutter kick
  • Surface dives
  • Displacement mask and snorkel clearing
(MP4 - 181 MB)
2

Classroom 2 / Physics of diving


  • Continue introduction to equipment (tanks, BCs, regulators)
  • Introduction to physics as it relates to diving (gas laws, water compared to air, buoyancy, pressure, volume, humidity, air consumption rates)
  • Hand signals to be used underwater

Pool 2 / Introduction to SCUBA


  • Continue swim test
  • Learn to connect regulator and BC to tank
  • Buddy check
  • Entry and warmup (practicing flutter kick and surface dives) before going on SCUBA
  • Entry practice
  • Practice mask clearing and regulator recovery
  • Introduction to and practice of neutral buoyancy
  • Practice regulator recovery
(MP4 - 236 MB)
3

Classroom 3 / Physics of diving (cont.)


  • Continue introduction to equipment (wet suits and accessories, dry suits, and weights and weight belts)
  • Continue with physics (direct and indirect effects of pressure on equipment and body)
  • Oxygen toxicity
  • Review of physics problems to finish this section

Pool 3 / Skills review and new skills


  • Review previous skills
  • Buddy check, entry, and warmup
  • Surface don and surface skills
  • Octopus use and ascents
  • Doff and don on the bottom
  • Continue practice of neutral buoyancy
(MP4 - 220 MB)
4

Classroom 4 / Care and planning in SCUBA


  • Decompression illness
  • Ingassing and outgassing
  • Introduction to dive tables

Pool 4 / Recovery and safety techniques


  • Review previous skills
  • Use automatic air inflators
  • Buddy check, entry and warmup
  • Assisting tired diver rescues and tows
  • Ditch and recovery of equipment
  • Simulated emergency swimming ascents
  • Continue practice of neutral buoyancy
 
5

Classroom 5 / Beyond diving: Advanced topics


  • Completion of dive tables
  • Altitude diving
  • Flying before and after diving
  • Diving with computers
  • Sport diving limits for each certification level
  • Dive planning
  • Air consumption rates

Pool 5 / Recovery and safety techniques (cont.)


  • Review previous skills
  • Do-si-do in small pool as an introduction to rescues
  • Weight belt use
  • Buddy check, entry, and warmup
  • Surface doff and don of weight belt
  • Rescue of unconscious victim
  • Review ditch and recovery and more complex situations
  • Continue practice of neutral buoyancy
(MP4 - 240 MB)
6

Classroom 6 / The ocean environment


  • First aid
  • Rescues
  • Compass use and navigation
  • Continuing education and specialty diving
  • Environmental factors and water movement
  • Marine life
  • Review of all class topics before exam
  • Final exam given

Pool 6 / Advanced techniques


  • Review previous skills
  • Buddy check, entry, and warmup
  • M to M resuscitation
  • Rescue techniques with weight belts
  • Alternate kicks
  • Counting kick cycles
  • Continue practice of neutral buoyancy
(MP4 - 137 MB)
7

Classroom 7 / Exam review


  • Grade and review exam

Pool 7 / Review


  • Review previous skills
  • Bailout techniques
  • Fun and games
  • Kick cycles
  • Water portion of exam in the ocean (end of week)