Training BULLETIN A Training and Education Update for PADI Members Worldwide SECOND QUARTER 2013 Product No. 01222 In This Issue... Discover Scuba Diving What s New? 2 New Discover Scuba Diving Registration Requirement 4 What is the Discover Scuba Diving ecard? 4 Discover Scuba Diving FAQs 5 Using PADI s Copyrighted Materials 5 Check elearner Prerequisites 6 Tec Sidemount and Tec Course Integration 6 Upgrading Normoxic Trimix Divers to Full Tec Trimix Diver 6 Rebreather and Tec CCR Videos 6 Dive Skills Workshop For All Professional Level Candidates 7 Training Bulletin Required Reading This update is the primary training communication from your PADI Regional Headquarters to you. It announces PADI training standards and procedures changes and their implementation date. Your PADI Membership commitment requires you to keep abreast of PADI standards by reviewing and putting into practice the information in this quarterly update. The Training Bulletin is published quarterly by PADI, Professional Association of Diving Instructors 30151 Tomas, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 USA +1 949 858 7234 PADI 2013 All rights reserved
Discover Scuba Diving What s New? There are significant enhancements coming to the Discover Scuba Diving program in an effort to contribute to diver safety, participant enjoyment, and to help keep the diving spark alive in those trying scuba for the first time. The inwater content of Discover Scuba Diving has not changed. So what s new? Participant Guide Recognition ecard Special offers for participants New standards: Required materials Registration in seven days Using the New Discover Scuba Diving Participant Guide The new Discover Scuba Diving Participant Guide combines familiar program materials the Discover Scuba Diving brochure and flip chart into a convenient package, and offers premium incentives to participants. (Watch for more about all of the new features and benefits in the next The Undersea Journal.) Take note of these required materials changes in the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Instructor Guide. The new Discover Scuba Diving Participant Guide will replace the brochure as required participant material in June 2014. However, the sooner you begin using it, the sooner your diving consumers can begin taking full advantage of its features and benefits. As you ll see below, you can also use the guide as your tool to conduct the knowledge development briefing. This means that after June, 2014, your participants must have the new Participant Guide, and you have three instructional materials to choose from (pick one or use all three) to conduct your briefing and overview you can use the Discover Scuba Diving Participant Guide, the Discover Scuba Diving Flip Chart and/or the Discover Scuba Diving Cue Card. How to Use It: Step 1 Get the Discover Scuba Diving Participant Guide into your customers hands as soon as possible before the experience. This allows them to overview the program and see that it s the first exciting step toward becoming a scuba diver. Make sure participants personalize the guide by writing their name on the back cover. Participants who have time to completely review the guide will know what to expect and be better prepared for the briefing. Page 2 Training Bulletin Second Quarter 2013
Step 2 Participants can also read the removable liability release, non-agency disclosure and medical questionnaire in advance, and let you know if they will need medical clearance. This section also includes the Discover Scuba Diving Knowledge and Safety Review questions and participant statement. The whole section is removable, as you must retain it with your student records. Step 3 When it s time to start the experience, after participants complete the administrative paperwork, begin your briefing by having participants turn to page 4 in their guides. Use the bullet points as well as the photos and graphics to guide the discussion as participants follow along. Think of it as a mini flip chart. If participants have already read this section, you ll find that your briefing will progress smoothly as it becomes a review more than a presentation of new information. If they haven t already done so, have participants take the Discover Scuba Diving Knowledge and Safety Review in the participant guide insert. Go over this with them, explaining any questions missed. Step 4 As usual, conclude every Discover Scuba Diving experience by explaining how to take the next step and enroll in a PADI Open Water Diver course. Tell participants that they can try it out by accessing Section 1 of Open Water Diver Online for free as a benefit of taking your Discover Scuba Diving program. Encourage participants to take advantage of the other benefits outlined in their guide ScubaEarth TM, PADI Diving Society and a Discover Scuba Diving ecard. Point out the Frequently Asked Questions and Answers pages in the guide. Step 5 Finish by logging and signing off on the experience. Explain that divers routinely log their dives, and that this is just the start of diving adventures they ll want to document. There are two logs in the guide, one for the confined water dive and one for the optional open water dive, if taken. Although not required, if you choose to conduct the PADI Open Water Diver Course Confined Water Dive 1 skills with your participants, document that they have been completed by initialing them on the confined water log page so Discover Scuba Diving participants can get credit for this if they enroll in an Open Water Diver course. Step 6 Be sure to register all Discover Scuba Diving participants with your PADI Regional Headquarters. (See new registration time requirement, on next page.) Training Bulletin Second Quarter 2013 Page 3
May I Still Use my Flip Chart and Cue Card? Yes! You may use the flip chart in conjunction with the guide. However, the sequence of some topics has changed. For example, the segment about aquatic life is now the last topic in the guide while it s in the middle of the flip chart. Also, be aware that the Discover Scuba Diving Knowledge and Safety Review questions have changed slightly; and don t exactly match the questions on the flip chart. You ll find that your Discover Scuba Diving Cue Card continues to be a great reference in the water as it reminds you of skill requirements. The briefing points are also useful as reminders for participants, especially if there is a few hours gap between the confined water skill session and the optional open water dive. New Discover Scuba Diving Registration Requirement Effective 1 January 2014, you must register Discover Scuba Diving participants with your PADI Regional Headquarters within seven days (instead of 30 days) of the Discover Scuba Diving experience. The importance of early registration is that Discover Scuba Diving participants will receive program evaluation questionnaires soon after the experience, when it is fresh in mind. Participants surveyed earlier are more likely to remember details more accurately. With several convenient registration options, such as using the DSD Registration feature (click the Online Services tab on the PADI Pros Site), quick, easy registration is simple. If you have questions about or need assistance with registering participants, contact Customer Service at your PADI Regional Headquarters. What is the Discover Scuba Diving ecard? The ecard is recognition for participants who want to show others that they ve been scuba diving. It is clearly distinguishable from a PADI certification. It has no official use, but may have great commemorative value to someone who has breathed underwater for the first time. Participants access their ecard through ScubaEarth. In the future, DSD participants will be able to add a photo to their ecard, as well as have the option to make a donation to Project AWARE. Page 4 Training Bulletin Second Quarter 2013
Discover Scuba Diving FAQs Q: As an instructor, if I have more than one certified assistant, how many Discover Scuba Diving participants may I take on an open water dive? A: The maximum ratio of four participants to one instructor (4:1) may be increased by no more than two additional participants with the use of one or more certified assistants; (6:2+). Regardless of how many additional certified assistants are added, the total number of participants must never exceed six. The only time these maximum ratios apply is when all factors are favorable. Q: May a DSD Leader or Assistant Instructor conduct the initial skills training in a pool or confined open water for participants who will go on to the optional open water dive? A: No. Only a PADI Instructor may conduct the initial skills training for participants who will participate in the optional open water dive. Q: At what point in the briefing do I introduce out-of-air procedures? A: Overview procedures and use of alternate air sources when you cover equipment purpose and use, and hand signals. Assure divers that you will be monitoring air supply for them. Explain that in the unlikely event of an emergency, they can use your alternate air source. Show them where your and your assistant s alternate air sources are and how they function. Q: Can Discover Scuba Diving participants make subsequent dives at another location/different resort? A: They can, but only after repeating all components of the Discover Scuba Diving experience, including all paperwork. Each time a noncertified person wants to try diving via the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program, you must conduct a new Discover Scuba Diving program. The only exception is when participants make subsequent dives with the same instructor or dive operation within a few days of the initial experience. Using PADI s Copyrighted Materials Although the PADI Member License Agreement provides you with specific uses of PADI trademarks, these agreements do not allow for the reproduction or broadcast of PADI videos or printed materials including broadcast on personal or social networking websites. Reproducing or broadcasting PADI materials constitutes infringements of PADI s copyrights. PADI products are generally intended for a PADI Member s personal use (or within a member store/resort by associated staff), for teaching and promoting PADI courses. There are specific images and videos available that are designed to help you promote your PADI programs. You can find these at the PADI Pros Site: Toolbox/Marketing/Image/Logo/Video Gallery. To access these media files, you first read and agree to a click-through license agreement. The images and videos in this gallery are intended for public use, including website and social media broadcast. If you want to use other PADI published materials (text, images, videos) send a written request to your PADI Regional Headquarters Training Department. When requests are approved, specific usage guidelines will be provided to you. Please remember that copyright infringement is a crime. Violations of PADI s copyrights could result in loss of membership and legal action. Training Bulletin Second Quarter 2013 Page 5
Check elearner Prerequisites Although PADI elearning student registration information clearly explains the course prerequisites, anyone can sign up for and complete a PADI elearning program. Because programs cover knowledge development only, there is no prerequisite verification to participate. This is similar to how anyone can purchase a PADI Diver manual from you and read it, but not be qualified to take the course. To ensure that elearners are qualified to continue with the practical portions of the course, verify that they meet all other course prerequisites, including minimum age, minimum certification level, medical fitness and any other requirements. An erecord is verification that the individual completed the elearning segment; nothing else. It s up to you to verify that your student divers meet all course prerequisites and requirements. Reminder Tec Sidemount and Tec Course Integration Effective immediately, the Tec Sidemount Diver course can be integrated into the Tec 40, 45 or 50 courses. This allows suitably qualified members to credit their TecRec students with elements of the Tec Sidemount course, and then to complete their training with additional dives. Upgrading Normoxic Trimix Divers to Full Tec Trimix Diver Divers entering the TecRec system with a qualifying normoxic trimix diver certification from another training organization can now receive credit for their prior experience and count this towards their full Tec Trimix Diver certification. This simplifies the crossover process while ensuring thorough and effective training. For specific details on both these processes, please check the TecRec Blog (www.padi.com/tecrecblog) or the TecRec section of the PADI Pros Site TECREC Rebreather and Tec CCR Videos The PADI Rebreather and Tec CCR programs have videos on DVDs that enhance student learning. Divers taking these programs must have their own personal Recreational Rebreather and Advanced Rebreather Key Skills video (Product No. 70982), as it is a required student material. Effective immediately, the new Tec CCR Key Skills video (Product No. 71005) is also required student material for all Tec 40 CCR Divers or those enrolling in higher courses, (if they don t already have it). Please contact your Sales Representative for further details about these products. Page 6 Training Bulletin Second Quarter 2013
Dive Skills Workshop For All Professional Level Candidates When the revised PADI Divemaster course was released in 2010, the Dive Skills Workshop skills increased from 20 to 24 by the inclusion of the skin diving skills. The revised list of skills and the evaluation criteria can be found in Section Three Waterskills Development of the PADI Divemaster Course Instructor Guide in the PADI Instructor Manual. This skills workshop mirrors the one that is used in other PADI Instructor Development programs. When conducting the Skill Evaluation in the PADI IDC, PADI Assistant Instructor course, PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor program, or PADI IDC Staff Instructor course have the candidates complete the same 24 skills as listed in the PADI Divemaster Waterskills Development section and current Skill Evaluation Slate (Product No. 60228). Effective immediately, candidates in the PADI IDC, PADI Assistant Instructor course and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor program must score at least 82 points with no individual score below a 3. Update this performance requirement under Complete IDC, Assistant Instructor Course and Open Water Scuba Instructor Program in your PADI Course Director Manual: 6. Perform all 24 dive skills in the Skill Evaluation, scoring a minimum of 82 total points, with no individual score below 3. Also, PADI IDC Staff Instructor candidates need to score at least 96 points with no individual score below a 3. Update this performance requirement in the IDC Staff Instructor Course Guide in your PADI Course Director Manual: 3. Perform all 24 dive skills in the Skill Evaluation, scoring a minimum of 96 total points, with no individual score below 3. Download the revised IDC Candidate Information and Training Record Form (Product No. 10525), which references all 24 skills. The skill evaluation information and scoring criteria will be corrected in the next PADI Course Director Manual revision. INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT Training Bulletin Second Quarter 2013 Page 7
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