AIDA INTERNATIONAL INSTRUCTOR STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 2009 COMPILED BY THE AIDA EDUCATION COMMISION: VERSION 2009-v1.

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1 AIDA INTERNATIONAL INSTRUCTOR STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 2009 COMPILED BY THE AIDA EDUCATION COMMISION: VERSION 2009-v1.0 (JANUARY 2009)

2 Contents 2. Contents Page 3. Training Standards Prerequisites, Required Documents, Individuals with Disabilities 4. Training Standards - Examination Policy for Students with Learning Disabilities, Control, Supervising Children, Student Freediver to Instructor Ratios 5. Training Standards Confined Water Training, Open Water Training 6. Training Standards Equipment Requirements, Advice on Teaching in Low Visibility, 7. Administrative Procedures Documentation, Issuing Certifications 8. Administrative Procedures Certification Fees for 2009, AIDA Bank Account Details, Using Pay pal, Replacement Card Procedures, Referral Procedures 10. Accepting Freedivers from other Agencies 11. AIDA Instructor Status Ethical Requirements, Renewing AIDA Instructor Status, First AID and CPR Training Requirements, Additional Requirements for Active AIDA Status 12. Levels of AIDA Instructor Status AIDA Pool Instructor, AIDA Instructor, AIDA Master Instructor, AIDA Instructor Trainer, AIDA Instructor Trainer 14. AIDA Core Course Levels Diagram 15. Risk Management Your Personal Health and Safety, The Role of Standards, The Role of Paperwork, Risk Assessment, 17. Quality Management Decisions, Appeals, Secrecy, Publishing, 19. AIDA* Freediver Course Outline 22. AIDA** Freediver Course Outline 27. AIDA*** Freediver Course Outline 32. AIDA**** Freediver Course Outline 37. AIDA Deep Tank Freediver Course Outline 41. AIDA Competition Freediver Course Outline 45. AIDA Competition Safety Freediver Course Outline 50. AIDA Monofin Freediver Course Outline version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 2 of 52]

3 Training Standards The following general training standards apply to all AIDA Courses. These standards relate primarily to matters of safety and therefore MUST be adhered to at all times by AIDA Instructors whenever training or supervising student divers undertaking AIDA training activity. Detailed standards for specific courses are addressed in the individual course outlines. General administrative procedures that apply to documenting, processing or administrating AIDA courses are listed in the next section. PREREQUISITES For all levels of certification beyond AIDA ** Freediver, you must screen and evaluate all student freedivers to ensure they meet the required prerequisites and possess the necessary knowledge and skills to enter the course. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS 1. Have each student freediver complete and sign the AIDA Medical Form at the beginning of each AIDA Course. If a student answers yes to any question in the Medical History section, the student must secure written medical approval prior to any in water activity. (N.B. Some countries may have additional medical screening requirements to this, please check with your AIDA National) a. Any question of medical fitness is solely the physician s area of expertise. Ultimately however you the instructor have the right to make the final decision about who you will accept into your freediving course after medical approval is obtained. Instructors have no obligation to accept every applicant. b. Student freedivers who are physicians cannot sign their own medical statement or give themselves medical clearance. 2. Review and have each student freediver sign the AIDA Liability Release and any other paperwork required by your AIDA National prior to any in-water activity regardless of the training level. INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES A disability is defined as a physical impairment that interferes with an individual s ability to perform required freediving motor skills. Although meeting skill performance requirements may be challenging, ADA Instructors can and should suggest adapted techniques and make reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities in learning freediving skills. People with disabilities may: 1. Participate in freediving activities after they obtain approval from a licensed physician. However you have the right to make the final decision about who you will accept into your course. Instructors have no obligation to accept every applicant. 2. Receive certification when they satisfactorily fulfil all performance requirements for the particular certification level version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 3 of 52]

4 EXAMINATION POLICY FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES Although it is preferable for students to read exam questions and answers independently, provisions may be made during written examinations for students who have learning disabilities such as dyslexia. These provisions may include, but are not limited to, the use of reading aids, reading out loud, or having someone read the questions and multiple choice answers to the student. The goal is to provide students with a testing environment that remains objective while allowing them to clearly understand the questions and possible answers. Choosing an examination method that best suits each student is left to the instructor s and student s discretion. CONTROL An Active AIDA Instructor must be present and in control during all freediving activities for any course that results in AIDA certification. SUPERVISING CHILDREN Some of the AIDA Courses may be conducted, with the permission of a parent or guardian, for young adults between the ages of 16 and 18. When working with student freedivers who are under the age of maturity according to local law, AIDA Instructors will: Look after the child s health, safety and welfare Ensure appropriate supervision during all instructional activities Whenever possible, meet the child s parents or guardians and explain to them the course goals and objectives Strive to keep parents or guardians informed and involved through verbal reports and updates Treat children, parents or guardians with respect regardless of age, race, gender and religious affiliation Honour all commitments made to children Discuss disciplinary problems with parents or guardians Not engage in inappropriate contact with children Respect a child s right to privacy and intrude only when health and safety demand Whenever possible, ensure that two adults are with children at all times If you have any questions about teaching children, please contact the AIDA International Training and Education Officer for further advice. STUDENT FREEDIVER TO INSTRUCTOR RATIOS Use discretion to determine if conditions warrant reduced ratios for student freediver or participant safety and control. Consider whether you can maintain appropriate control in the prevailing conditions, perform the required evaluations, meet the required standards and provide a positive experience for freedivers. 1. The maximum ratio for Knowledge Development sessions (review, classroom or lecture) is limited only by instructor control. When determining appropriate knowledge development session ratios, consider the students ability to hear and see clearly and interact with the instructor. 2. The maximum in-water ratio for confined water freedive training is 8 students per Active AIDA Instructor. With an AIDA **** Freediver acting as an Assistant, 4 additional students may be added to this ratio to a maximum of 12 students. 3. The maximum in-water ratio for open water freedive training is 4 students per Active AIDA Instructor. With an AIDA **** Freediver acting as an Assistant, 2 additional students may be added to this ratio to a maximum of 6 students. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 4 of 52]

5 CONFINED WATER TRAINING Confined water refers to either a swimming pool or an open water site that offers swimming-pool-like conditions with respect to clarity, calmness and depth. Whether conducted in a swimming pool or alternative confined water environment, the student freediver must always have access to either a floatation device or solid surface to support themselves at the end of each breath hold activity. OPEN WATER TRAINING Open Water is any body of water considerably larger than a swimming pool that exposes student freedivers to an environment similar to that used by freedivers training or freediving for recreation locally. 1. Use discretion to choose an open water site that represents an appropriate freediving environment while offering conditions conducive to completing the required training. Consider the following: a. water conditions including movement, temperature, visibility, depth and aquatic life b. course level c. course requirements d. number of students enrolled e. type of equipment, especially exposure protection, available f. weather conditions g. personal familiarity with the site h. access to first aid and emergency services i. other water users 2. The maximum depth for open water training dives must not exceed the depth specified in the individual Course Outlines. 3. Training dives must include all activities outlined in the particular Course Outline and must also include a. a briefing b. preparation to dive (donning and checking equipment) c. an entry d. an exit e. a debriefing 4. Conduct open water training dives only during daylight hours unless otherwise specified in the individual Course Outline. Daylight is defined as the time from one hour after sunrise until one hour before sunset. 5. Conduct no more than three open water training sessions in a single day. 6. Do not conduct open water training dives in caves, caverns, under ice or in any situation where vertical access to the surface is hindered. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 5 of 52]

6 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS 1. During all open water training freedives, each student freediver, assistant and AIDA Instructor must have: a. Mask b. fins or monofin ( as appropriate for the course) c. snorkel d. adequate exposure protection 2. During all open water training freedives, each AIDA Instructor must have within easy reach at all times: a. signalling device e.g. whistle, flare or radio b. timing device c. depth gauge d. floatation device e. guide line f. first aid kit g. oxygen administration kit capable of delivering oxygen to both breathing and non breathing casualties (in countries where this is required or permitted by local law) 3. Other equipment that may be required (see individual course outlines for full detail) includes: a. lanyard b. nose clip c. goggles d. bottom plate e. tags f. lights g. weights and weight belt h. underwater video camera ADVICE ON TEACHING IN LOW VISIBILITY When teaching in visibility of less than 10m, additional considerations are required. These include but are not limited to: Students must use lanyards on all dives other than those when acting as a safety diver A white or bright coloured rope should always be used A strobe or other light on the bottom plate will greatly assist student divers Instructor or an assistant should dive with the students as much as possible. This will normally involve reducing student:instructor ratios and/or making greater use of assistants Discourage "hangs" and any other form of static whilst the student is out of sight on the line. Introduce a communications system of regular tugs on the line to show that they are OK if the student stays still for any reason whilst out of sight of the instructor As the instructor will be making more dives whilst teaching in low visibility than in clearer conditions, ensure adequate surface intervals between dives to protect the instructor's own health Please consult each course outline carefully for instructions on when lanyards are to be employed and in any adverse conditions such as strong current, choppy water or cold use caution and take into account the health and safety of both yourself and your students, and also the level of confidence of your students version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 6 of 52]

7 Administrative Procedures The following administrative procedures apply to all AIDA Courses. These requirements are specific to documenting, processing, promoting and administrating AIDA Courses. Abiding by administrative procedures assists AIDA Instructors in documenting their adherence to AIDA training standards. It also helps AIDA Instructors better serve their students by avoiding certification processing delays and misunderstandings relating to course procedures. DOCUMENTATION 1. After completing training with a student freediver, personally sign and date the relevant section on the Course Completion Form. Your signature and date verifies completion of all the performance requirements for that course. Have the student also sign the Course Completion Form on completion of the part of the training they are undertaking with you. 2. Maintain Course Completion Forms and all other course paperwork for each freediver certified for a minimum of seven years, or longer if stipulated by local law. 3. To maintain AIDA Active Status, submit a completed AIDA Instructor Renewal form, a copy of your MFA/CPR certification and a copy of your Liability Insurance to the AIDA Education Commission together with your Membership fee at the end of every calendar year. ISSUING CERTIFICATIONS If you promote a freedive training course as an AIDA Course, you must conduct it following AIDA Standards and Guidelines and issue an AIDA Certification to all freedivers who satisfactorily meet the performance requirements for the course. If you conduct the final part of a student freediver s course, you are the certifying instructor. Before issuing a certification, you must ensure that the freediver has satisfactorily completed all the performance requirements for the course (knowledge development, confined water training and open water training). 1. As the certifying instructor, submit the students' details on the EXCEL file that is on the INSTRUCTOR Material in the Instructor Forum. 2. Rename the file (Your name) AIDA Student Certifications Send the file to pim.vermeulen@aida-international.org using the address you have registered to AIDA with 4. For **** certifications you also need to attach a copy of the student s Medical First Aid certification 5. Transfer the certification fees to AIDA by bank transfer or by Paypal at bank@aida-international.org. Please ensure that your payment is marked clearly with the name of the student/s it relates to and your name 6. Please note that it is helpful both for your own records, and for processing Master Instructor Applications, if you keep a record of all your student certifications on this document and add new students to the bottom of the list, clearly marked Do not withhold certification as a means of settling personal disputes. (However, as long as the student freediver is made aware upfront of what fees are due for the course and the certification, an instructor may withhold certification if the student does not pay for the course as originally agreed.) version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 7 of 52]

8 CERTIFICATION FEES FOR 2008 AIDA * Freediver 10 AIDA ** Freediver/Pool Freediver 20 AIDA *** Freediver/Pool Freediver 20 AIDA **** Freediver/Pool Freediver 20 AIDA **** Competition Freediver 20 AIDA Deep Tank Freediver 20 AIDA Competition Freediver 10 AIDA Monofin Freediver 10 AIDA Competition Safety Freediver 10 AIDA Instructor renewing before 1/4 50 AIDA Instructors renewing after 1/4 100 Replacement of a card 5 AIDA BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS Bank Name: UNION DES BANQUES SUISSES - Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) Bank address: Place Saint-François 1, 1002 Lausanne, Switzerland AIDA account nr: Q IBAN (International Bank Account Number) = CH Q (SWIFT ID: UBSWCHZH10A) AIDA International address: Rue du Petit-Beaulieu Lausanne, Switzerland Please ensure that you reference every financial transaction with your name, the date, and brief details about the students, for example their names or the lines on the excel spreadsheet that the payment refers to. USING PAYPAL Payment can be made to AIDA by Paypal at bank@aida-international.org Please ensure that you reference every financial transaction with your name, the date, and brief details about the students, for example their names or the lines on the excel spreadsheet that the payment refers to REPLACEMENT CARD PROCEDURES For student divers who have lost or never received their certification card, resubmit your EXCEL document or the Replacement Card Request Form to pim.vermeulen@aida-international.org together with the relevant payment by Paypal or Bank Transfer. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 8 of 52]

9 REFERRAL PROCEDURES Occasionally, student freedivers may begin their training with one instructor and wish to continue it elsewhere. For example, this may happen in cooler countries where students prefer to travel abroad to complete the open water training. In this instance, use the Course Completion Form to indicate which parts of the AIDA Course the student freediver has completed with you. Supply the student freediver with a copy of the Course Completion Form, signed by you to show what has been done, together with a copy of their Medical Statement, to take on to the new instructor. Any course may be conducted in this way provided the completion date of the last signed section of the Course Completion Form is less than 12 months previously. If receiving a referred student freediver, verify that the student has the proper referral documentation and that the referral has not expired. 1. Pre-assess the student s prerequisite knowledge and skills as necessary before any open water training 2. If you sign off the last section on the student s Course Completion Form, you are the certifying instructor. It is your responsibility to ensure all course completion requirements have been met and to submit a Certification Card Request to pim.vermeulen@aida-international.org and payment to AIDA by Paypal or Bank Transfer Your Questions about certifications All questions you have about the certifications please contact us at pim.vermeulen@aida-international.org version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 9 of 52]

10 Accepting Freedivers Trained By Other Agencies Equivalencies Occasionally you may have a freediver wishing to enrol on a course with you, who has already completed some training with another freedive agency. Although no freediver may be issued with an AIDA Freediver Certification without completing all parts of the relevant AIDA Course, in some cases, training completed with another agency may be used to meet the prerequisites to enrol on an AIDA Course. AIDA has already recognised some qualifications from other training agencies as equivalencies, as listed in the table below. TRAINING AGENCY LEVEL MEETS PREREQUISITE TO ENROL ON: Apnea Academy Level 1 AIDA ** Freediver Apnea Academy Level 2 AIDA *** Freediver Apnea Academy Level 3 AIDA **** Freediver Apnea Academy Instructor AIDA Instructor FREEDIVING ISRAEL Stage A AIDA *** Freediver FREEDIVING ISRAEL Stage B AIDA **** Freediver FREEDIVING ISRAEL Stage C AIDA Instructor FREEDIVING ISRAEL Instructor AIDA Instructor IANTD Open Water Freediver AIDA ** Freediver IANTD Advanced Freediver AIDA *** Freediver IANTD Master Freediver AIDA **** Freediver IANTD Instructor AIDA **** Freediver LIFRA (CMAS Belgium) 1* AIDA** Freediver LIFRA (CMAS Belgium) 2* AIDA** Freediver LIFRA (CMAS Belgium) 3* AIDA*** Freediver LIFRA (CMAS Belgium) Instructor AIDA**** + AIDA*** Exam NFDB Freediver AIDA ** Freediver NFDB Advanced Freediver AIDA *** Freediver NFDB Master Freediver AIDA **** Freediver NFDB Instructor AIDA**** Freediver Performance Freediving International Basic Freediver AIDA *** Freediver Performance Freediving International Intermediate Freediver AIDA *** Freediver Performance Freediving International Advanced Freediver AIDA **** Freediver Performance Freediving International Instructor AIDA Instructor version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 10 of 52]

11 AIDA Instructor Status AIDA Instructor Status provides individuals with services and opportunities that help them promote and teach freediving. As members of the world s largest freediver training agency, AIDA Instructors benefit from distinct marketing advantages from the public s recognition of AIDA. AIDA Instructors also benefit from access to AIDA s expertise at providing freediver training, through contact with the AIDA National or AIDA International Training Officer and through regular and internet updates on AIDA Training. Along with the benefits they receive, AIDA Instructors take on the responsibility to conduct themselves appropriately as professional representatives of AIDA. The following ethical requirements define how AIDA Instructors are expected to interact with AIDA and with the freedive community in general. ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS OF AIDA INSTRUCTOR STATUS As an Active AIDA Instructor, you must 1. Abide by the listed requirements and intent of all AIDA Standards and Procedures as published in the AIDA INSTRUCTOR STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES and other updates while conducting AIDA Courses. 2. Conduct yourself and your AIDA related activities in a professional manner 3. Be Active (renewed as an instructor for the current year with AIDA) to represent yourself as being capable of issuing AIDA Certifications 4. Not wrongfully disparage AIDA or other AIDA professionals 5. Exhibit common honesty in your AIDA related activities 6. Co-operate during official AIDA investigations by responding fully and promptly to inquiries RENEWING AIDA INSTRUCTOR STATUS To remain an Active AIDA Instructor, you must renew your AIDA Instructor Membership at the end of each calendar year. To do this, submit the AIDA Instructor Renewal Form together with a copy of your certification in basic Firs Aid and CPR training and your professional liability insurance for teaching freediving to pim.vermeulen@aida-international.org. And send the annual Renewal Fee, by Paypal or Bank Transfer. Instructors who qualify as AIDA Instructors after October 1 st in any given year, will be renewed free of charge for the following year. FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS All Active AIDA Instructors and AIDA **** Freedivers acting as instructional assistants should maintain current training in basic First Aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. Your AIDA National should be able to advise on which courses are acceptable. You will need to renew your training at least once every two years. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE All Active AIDA Instructors should maintain current liability insurance for teaching freediving. Your AIDA National should be able to advise on which insurance are acceptable. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ACTIVE AIDA STATUS In addition to these requirements set out by AIDA International, please check with your AIDA National for any additional requirements. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 11 of 52]

12 Levels of AIDA Instructor Status There are four levels of AIDA Instructor Status, as listed below: AIDA POOL INSTRUCTOR An AIDA Pool Instructor is an AIDA **** Freediver who has completed an AIDA Instructor Course with an AIDA Instructor Trainer, without completing the performance requirements for OW. An AIDA Pool Instructor is qualified to teach the Knowledge Development and Confined Water modules of the AIDA* Freediver, AIDA** Freediver AIDA*** Freediver and AIDA Monofin Courses. To be listed as Active with AIDA, the AIDA Pool Instructor must have submitted an AIDA Instructor Renewal Form together with the appropriate renewal fee to AIDA for the current year. The AIDA Pool Instructor must have also completed training in basic First Aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) within the last two years and the AIDA Pool Instructor must also hold current liability insurance for teaching freediving. AIDA INSTRUCTOR An AIDA Instructor is an AIDA **** Freediver who has completed an AIDA Instructor Course with an AIDA Instructor Trainer. An AIDA Instructor is qualified to teach the AIDA* Freediver, AIDA** Freediver, AIDA*** Freediver, AIDA Deep Tank Freediver and AIDA Monofin Freediver Courses. An AIDA Instructor is also qualified to teach the Competition Freediver and Competition Safety Freediver if the Instructor is also an AIDA Judge To be listed as Active with AIDA, the AIDA Instructor must have submitted an AIDA Instructor Renewal Form together with the appropriate renewal fee to AIDA for the current year. The AIDA Instructor must have also completed training in basic First Aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) within the last two years and the AIDA Instructor must also hold current liability insurance for teaching freediving. AIDA MASTER INSTRUCTOR An AIDA Master Instructor, AIDA MI, is an AIDA Instructor who has been ACTIVE for minimum 12 month and have issued at least 75 AIDA Certifications which of at least 50 has to be AIDA** Freediver and AIDA*** Freediver. AIDA Instructors who have met this requirement may submit the AIDA Master Instructor Application Form to the AIDA Training and Education Officer together with the application fee to gain this recognition. An AIDA MI is qualified to teach the AIDA* Freediver, AIDA** Freediver, AIDA*** Freediver, AIDA**** Freediver, AIDA Deep Tank Freediver and AIDA Monofin Freediver Courses. An AIDA MI is also qualified to teach the Competition Freediver and Competition Safety Freediver if the Instructor is also an AIDA Judge To be listed as Active with AIDA, the AIDA MI must have submitted an AIDA Instructor Renewal Form together with the appropriate renewal fee to AIDA for the current year. The AIDA MI must have also completed training in basic First Aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) within the last two years and the AIDA MI must also hold current liability insurance for teaching freediving. AIDA INSTRUCTOR TRAINER An AIDA Instructor Trainer, AIDA IT, is an AIDA MI who has been ACTIVE for minimum 12 month and have issued minimum 150 certification which of at least 25 has to be AIDA**** Freediver and successfully completed an AIDA Instructor Trainer Course run by AIDA International. An AIDA IT may conduct all AIDA freedive courses* including the AIDA Instructor Course. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 12 of 52]

13 * Note on Speciality Courses- Competition Freediver and Competition Safety Freediver You may only teach these courses if you are an active AIDA Instructor and also an AIDA Judge To be listed as Active with AIDA, the AIDA Instructor Trainer must have submitted an AIDA Instructor Renewal Form together with the appropriate renewal fee to AIDA for the current year. The AIDA Instructor Trainer must have also completed training in basic First Aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) within the last two years and the AIDA IT must also hold current liability insurance for teaching freediving. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 13 of 52]

14 AIDA Freedive Education AIDA INSTRUCTOR TRAINER AIDA MASTER INSTRUCTOR AIDA INSTRUCTOR AIDA FREEDIVER AIDA JUDGE and INSTRUCOTR AIDA FREEDIVER SPECIALTIES AIDA Competition Freediver AIDA Competition Safety Freediver SPECIALTIES AIDA MONOFIN FREEDIVER AIDA FREEDIVER AIDA DEEP TANK FREEDIVER AIDA FREEDIVER version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 14 of 52]

15 Risk Management As a freedive professional, it is important to understand your responsibilities and to know how to manage risks to avoid or minimise problems. Although you may not expect something to go wrong, when you teach or assist with a course, you should always practise risk management as a precaution. As well as helping prevent accidents, solid risk management techniques also offer a degree of liability protection because you can prove that you did everything that seemed necessary to avoid problems. Important reasons for practising risk management include: 1. Keeping freedivers safe the primary and most important need for risk management 2. Public relations and image control freediving will only grow and remain relatively unregulated as long as it is perceived by the public and by governments as safe 3. Liability protection risk management plays an important role in protecting you legally in case something goes wrong despite your best efforts. By following a proven standard of practise and by documenting your actions, you maintain a level of liability protection. 4. Long term insurance this is important for defence purposes and will only be available if risk is managed. The most important step is to reduce claims by preventing accidents. The second step is to reduce claim size by being able to defend what occurred through proper risk management. YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY Part of assuring the safety of your students is assuring your own safety as a professional. Because you freedive more frequently than most, you expose yourself to more risks of accident or injury than those who dive less often. Take steps to manage your risk and safety by: 1. Only teach freediving when you feel physically and mentally well and capable of conducting the course 2. Have a full annual medical check up with a doctor who understands freediving 3. Maintain an adequate surface interval between your dives when teaching, both to allow sufficient recovery from low oxygen levels and to prevent decompression sickness 4. Team teach with another AIDA Instructor when you have larger groups of students 5. Maintain personal dive accident and health insurance for yourself THE ROLE OF STANDARDS AIDA Training Standards help freedive instructors organise and conduct effective training courses. They also assist in reducing legal risk. Educational and professional standards establish much of the conduct or code of practise expected of a reasonably prudent freedive instructor. Responsibility for those standards falls on AIDA International and not on the individual. Adhering to accepted standards makes your teaching practises much easier to defend because you are following proven practises. Deviating from standards makes defending an instructor s teaching practices much more difficult because the burden shifts back toward proving that the individual s actions were prudent. THE ROLE OF PAPERWORK Forms, files and other course documentation show that the freedive instructor followed the standards and used the AIDA educational system as it was designed. Paperwork also provides the proof needed in many legal systems to show that the instructor acted appropriately. The forms that all student freedivers must complete as part of an AIDA Course document their understanding of the risks and requirements associated with freediving. The Liability Release establishes that the student version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 15 of 52]

16 freediver assumes or understands the risk and releases the instructor from liability. The Medical Statement warns the student of potential risks associated with medical conditions and provides assumptions of risk by the student/participant or transfers liability to a physician. Paperwork should be retained for each student in accordance with local law, or for seven years, whichever is longer. Failure to properly use the required documentation can make it difficult to defend a freedive instructor s teaching practices. RISK ASSESSMENT It is recommended (although not mandatory) that you conduct a written Risk Assessment prior to any course you teach. This should detail any risk that you or your students may be exposed to and the action taken by you to avoid, mitigate or deal with these risks. Not only does this help you become more aware of all risks but in case of incident it helps to show that you acted appropriately. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 16 of 52]

17 Quality Management All AIDA courses are subject to Quality Management procedures. AIDA International monitors all AIDA courses for quality control and risk management purposes. To enable this, Course Evaluation Surveys are routinely sent to student freedivers who have completed AIDA courses. These surveys ask participants specific questions about their training and how they were instructed. When survey participants provide answers that indicate possible lack of compliance with AIDA Standards, the AIDA Education Commission opens an inquiry. During 2008 at least one student certified by each Instructor will be contacted and asked to complete a questionnaire about their course. The AIDA Education Commission may also open an inquiry after receiving written complaints from student freedivers, other freedive professionals, or as a result of an incident occurring during AIDA training. An inquiry will NOT be opened based solely on hearsay or rumors. All Quality Management inquiries will be held fully confidential between the AIDA Education Commission and the AIDA Instructor concerned. All AIDA Instructors are expected to help maintain AIDA Standards as agreed on renewal of AIDA Instructor Status each year. In support of this obligation, AIDA Instructors must: 1. Report in writing all violations of AIDA Standards personally witnessed. This should be done by to the AIDA Education Commission within seven days of witnessing the violation. Please be specific and include as much detail as possible. 2. Not make false reports of Standards violations for competitive, political or financial reasons. Making a false report will definitive be grounds for action against the reporter. 3. Cooperate fully during all AIDA Quality Management inquiries by responding fully and promptly to information presented. Failure to respond to an inquiry, or purposely delaying a response, will result in an AIDA Instructor being temporary suspended until the matter is resolved. During all inquiries, if AIDA determines that the seriousness of a situation requires immediate action, the AIDA Instructor may be temporary suspended pending further investigation. QUALITY MANAGEMENT DECISIONS Any Quality Management decision will be made by the AIDA Education Commission. Decisions made by AIDA and any action required as a result of a Quality Management inquiry, are considered binding. Decisions may include but are not limited to: 1. Inquiry closed with no action required. 2. AIDA Instructor is counseled regarding AIDA Standards and procedures. 3. AIDA Instructor is required to sign an agreement stating that they understand the Standard(s) with which they may not have complied, and will do so in future. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 17 of 52]

18 4. AIDA Instructor is required to attend an Update program. This would normally involve assisting a member of the AIDA Education Commission with teaching the course that has resulted in the inquiry, to gain a better understanding of the course Standards. 5. AIDA Instructor is required to retake the AIDA Instructor course. 6. AIDA Instructor is suspended from AIDA Instructor status for a given period. This may be a set time or for the duration of the inquiry, until AIDA is happy that the instructor is able to teach within AIDA Standards. In case of suspension The AIDA Executive Board must be consulted. 7. AIDA Instructor is expelled from AIDA Instructor status. In case of expulsion The AIDA Executive Board must be consulted. The final decision is taken by the AIDA Disciplinary Commission. APPEALS Appeals regarding the decision of the AIDA Education Commission may be made to the AIDA Disciplinary Commission. If the DC deems the appeal worthy of a review, the DC will make their decision. A final appeal regarding the DC's decision can be made to the EC, if the EC deems the appeal worthy a review, their decision will be final. Appeals will only be taken into consideration within 10 days after the initial decision. It is wholly at the discretion of the AIDA Education Commission /AIDA Disciplinary Commission to decide whether or not an appeal is worthy of a review. SECRECY All questions and mail addressed to the AIDA Education Commission have to include full name, citizenship and address. People who send mail to the AIDA Education Commission will always remain anonymous outside of the commission and all information will also remain completely confidential. Anonymous mail will not be taken into consideration. Public commentary on the proceedings is not allowed while the case is under review. All parties involved should respect the process and need for the ability to proceed without addressing the public. The process can only work if all involved are able to speak freely. PUBLISHING The AIDA Executive Board will make all decisions about publishing information when it comes to an Instructor that is suspended or expelled, this include also all information about the case itself. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 18 of 52]

19 AIDA* Freediver Course Outline PREREQUISITES To enrol in the AIDA * Freediver course, an individual must: Be 18 years of age or older (16 years with parent or guardian consent) Be able to swim at least 100m non stop Have completed the AIDA Medical Form Have completed the Liability Release COURSE PURPOSE This course is designed to be an introduction to freediving for the complete beginner. It aims to help the student to develop basic skills, knowledge and safety procedures necessary to enjoy freediving safely within the limits of their experience. This course is not aimed towards competitive freediving but for recreational freediving only. Therefore the main focus in the course is freediving without a dive line and without dividing the skills into different competitive disciplines. The dives can be combinations of horizontal and vertical swimming. To conduct an AIDA * Freediver course, the following knowledge development, breath hold exercise and water session are to be included: KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT This presentation will take place in a classroom-like environment. The knowledge development should be conducted using the AIDA * Freediver Powerpoint slides. AIDA Instructors may supplement these slides with any updated information such as information specific to freediving in the local area. You may find it useful to have other reference books handy such as an anatomy atlas, freedive DVDs, magazine articles or reference books. Students should be provided with a hand-out of the slides to take away for future reference. The theory session will include: Equipment for freediving introduction to basic freediving equipment mask, snorkel, bi-fins, weightbelt, wetsuit Breathing for freediving - before a dive and on recovery, correct breathing and avoidance of hyperventilation. Breathing exercises Equalisation the need to equalise and basic equalisation techniques Safety for freediving, avoiding and reacting to blackout and loss of motor control Freediving and Scuba Diving - combining the two safely Key rules to remember for freediving safely All sessions may be conducted on one day however student comfort should be taken into consideration with special regard to water temperature, surface conditions and student fatigue. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 19 of 52]

20 BREATH HOLD EXERCISE (Static apnea) on land and/or in pool/confined water. The student freediver should have access to either a floatation device or pool side to support them at the end of the breath hold if it is done in water. After this session the student freediver will be able to: Demonstrate abdominal breathing and appropriate breathing techniques in preparation for a breath hold Demonstrate appropriate recovery and breathing techniques at the end of a breath hold, including safe body positioning Demonstrate how to train safely and effectively for static apnea with a training buddy Do short breath holds to experience both relaxation and contractions Demonstrate the appropriate rescue technique for a training buddy experiencing a loss of motor control or blackout WATER SESSION This session may be conducted in a deep swimming pool or in open water. A swimming pool of at least 20m in length and 4m of depth is recommended. The student freediver should have access to either a pool side or floatation device to support them on surfacing. In open water, the maximum depth of the freedives should be fixed by the instructor based on the students ability and limited to not more than 10m. The student should use bi-fins for all the dives. After this session the student freediver will be able to: Demonstrate how to prepare and don equipment for freediving. The student will be able to defog the mask, choose and don appropriate exposure protection, weightbelt if required, bi-fins and any other chosen equipment Demonstrate appropriate breathing techniques with a snorkel during preparation, and demonstrate appropriate recovery breathing Demonstrate appropriate duck dives If possible (not mandatory) beginning with pull downs descend slowly along a line, achieving comfortable equalisation of the ears, sinuses and mask either in a head up or head down position Demonstrate appropriate bi-finning style and technique with regard to body positioning, movement and position relative to depth and sides of a pool or bottom and other obstacles in open water such as a reef or following a rope Demonstrate how to freedive safely and effectively with a training buddy Supervise a buddy from the surface as they perform a freedive to a maximum of 10m Demonstrate the appropriate rescue technique of a buddy experiencing a loss of motor control or blackout EQUIPMENT Student Equipment mask, bi-fins, snorkel, appropriate exposure protection, weightbelt Instructor Equipment mask, bi-fins, snorkel, appropriate exposure protection, weightbelt, stop watch, depth gauge, first aid kit, oxygen administration kit (in countries where this is permitted or required by local law), guideline with bottom plate, and floatation device (if appropriate) Optional Equipment underwater video camera version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 20 of 52]

21 INSTRUCTOR SUPERVISION The AIDA * Freediver course may be conducted by an Active AIDA Instructor with current CPR and First Aid training (completed within the last two years). The instructor should carry liability insurance for teaching freediving. The maximum student diver-to-instructor ratio for open water training dives is four students per instructor (4:1). This may rise to six students per instructor (6:1) when the instructor is assisted by another freediver qualified to at least AIDA **** level. The maximum student diver-to-instructor ratio in confined water is eight students per instructor (8:1). With an AIDA **** Freediver acting as an Assistant, 4 additional students may be added to this ratio to a maximum of 12 students. ADMINISTRATION AND PAPERWORK Before commencing any in-water training, each student freediver must complete the following documents, for students aged under 18 years, both must be co-signed by a parent or guardian: AIDA Medical Statement this must be completed in full with students marking YES or NO to each of the medical conditions listed. If the student answers YES to any condition, they must seek medical approval before taking part in any in-water activity. The physician must sign the form to indicate this approval. Whether or not the student then is then accepted onto the course is left at the discretion of the instructor. AIDA Liability Release or local equivalent The AIDA Instructor should hold these documents on file for a minimum of seven years or longer if required by local legislation. CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES Freedivers who meet all the performance requirements outlined above may be certified as an AIDA * Freediver. The certifying instructor must submit an AIDA Certification Request via the Excel Spreadsheet in the IINSTRUCTOR Material found in the Instructor Forum to: pim.vermeulen@aida-international.org. This should be accompanied by payment of the certification fee by Paypal or Bank Transfer, ON THE SAME DAY. The certification request should mot be send later than 3 month from the certification date. KEY STANDARDS Prerequisite certifications: None Minimum Age: 18 or older (16 with parent/guardian signature) Minimum water session: 1 The course should be run over at least 1 day Student to Instructor Training: 8:1 (confined water), 12:1 (confined water with an assistant of certified to least AIDA **** Freediver), 4:1 (open water) ) 6:1 (open water with an assistant of certified to least AIDA **** Freediver) Minimum Instructor Rating: AIDA Instructor, Active with current First Aid and CPR Training (within 2 years) version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 21 of 52]

22 AIDA** Freediver Course Outline PREREQUISITES To enrol in the AIDA ** Freediver course, an individual must: Be 18 years of age or older (16 years with parent or guardian consent) Be able to swim at least 200m non stop without fins and at least 300m non stop with mask, fins and snorkel Have completed the AIDA Medical Form Have completed the Liability Release COURSE PURPOSE The AIDA ** freediver course is the foundation freediving course covering the necessary skills and knowledge for a non competitive recreational freediver to safely freedive with or without a guide line. It is designed to be a freediving beginners course for students who are already confident and happy in the water. The purpose of the course is to familiarise the student with the skills, knowledge, planning, organisation, safety procedures, techniques, problems, hazards and enjoyment of breath hold freediving. Students will be introduced to the basic disciplines of freediving; Static Apnea, Dynamic Apnea and Constant Weight freediving. The course is NOT aiming toward competitive freediving and shall not include competition rules and regulations. The static and dynamic sessions are to be used to teach breathing, relaxation, finning and safety techniques. In the OW sessions the student will use the skills they have learned in the pool sessions and will combine these with the basic skills of OW freediving such as equalizing, duck diving, vertical swimming, body positioning. To conduct an AIDA ** Freediver course, the following knowledge development, confined water dives and open water dives are to be included: KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT The knowledge development will take place in a classroom-like environment. A minimum of 2 theory sessions should be taught and these should be a minimum duration of 2 hours per session. The knowledge development should be conducted using the AIDA ** Freediver Powerpoint slides. Students should be provided with a hand-out of the slides to take away for future reference and to use to prepare for their exam. AIDA Instructors may supplement these slides with any updated information such as current world records or information specific to freediving in the local area. You may find it useful to have other reference books handy such as an anatomy atlas, freedive DVDs, magazine articles or reference books. The AIDA ** Freediver exam must be completed by any student certified as an AIDA ** Freediver. The passing score is 75%. Any missed questions should be explained to the student and the student must sign the bottom of the exam to indicate that this has taken place. If the student does not pass the exam on first sitting, they may resit after 24 hours. version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 22 of 52]

23 The theory sessions will include: Introduction to AIDA as an organisation Equipment for freediving Breathing for freediving Depth and Pressure- Equalisation Safety- BO and LMC Respect for the Aquatic Environment Freediving and Scuba Diving Key rules to remember for freediving safely Freediving Disciplines CONFINED WATER DIVES Static Apnea This session should be conducted in a swimming pool or similar confined water. The student freediver should have access to either a floatation device or the side of the pool to support them at the end of the breath hold. After this session the student freediver will be able to: Demonstrate abdominal breathing and appropriate breathing techniques in preparation for breath hold diving Demonstrate appropriate recovery and breathing techniques at the end of a breath hold dive Demonstrate how to train safely and effectively for static apnea in a swimming pool with a training buddy Perform a static breath hold of at least 2 minutes safely with a training buddy Demonstrate the appropriate rescue technique for a static apnea buddy experiencing a loss of motor control or blackout Dynamic Apnea This session should be conducted in a swimming pool or similar confined water. A swimming pool of at least 20m in length is recommended. The student freediver should have access to either the side of the pool or floatation device to support them on surfacing. The student should use bi-fins for all the dives. After this session the student freediver will be able to: Demonstrate how to prepare and don equipment for pool training Demonstrate appropriate breathing techniques in preparation for a breath hold dive Demonstrate appropriate recovery and breathing techniques at the end of a breath hold dive Demonstrate appropriate bi-finning style and technique for a breath hold swimming with fins, with regard to body positioning and movement Demonstrate safety techniques for retaining an awareness of body position within the pool and avoidance of other pool users during a pool training session. This may include following pool markings, recognising the distance covered by indications on the pool floor and lane organisation when training with other freedivers Demonstrate how to train safely and effectively for dynamic apnea in a swimming pool with a training buddy, covering a distance of at least 40m with bi-fins, both as the performing diver and the surface swimmer Demonstrate appropriate rescue procedures for a freediver attempting dynamic apnea, who suffers a blackout or loss of motor control on surfacing version 2009-v1.0, COPYRIGHT AIDA INTERNATIONAL 2007 [page 23 of 52]