The Ocean Diver Course

Definition

A diver who is competent to dive with another Ocean Diver or with a Sports Diver, within the restriction of conditions already encountered during training. They can conduct dives with a Dive Leader (or higher) to expand their experience beyond conditions encountered during training, under the supervision of a Dive Marshal. Ocean Divers are initially restricted to the maximum depth experienced during training, but this can subsequently be extended progressively, under the supervision of a Nationally Qualified Instructor (NQI), to a maximum of 20m. Ocean Divers will not have sufficient experience or knowledge to be partnered with trainee divers or to take part in stage decompression stop dives. Ocean Divers can only conduct dives where other suitably qualified divers, who can act as surface support, are present and the dive is properly Marshaled.

Course Content

The Ocean Diver course consists of

• 7 Classroom lessons
• Theory assessment
• Basic swimming assessment
• 5 Sheltered water lessons
• 5 Open water lessons/dives
• minimum of 120 minutes underwater time

Open water diving should encompass experience of at least four of the following:

• shelving shore dive,
• steep shore dive ,
• low (2-4m) visibility dive ,
• drift (0.25-0.5kn) dive,
• small boat dive,
• large boat dive,
• wall dive,
• dive in protective clothing.

LESSON SUMMARY