Divemaster OVERVIEW AND QUALIFICATIONS The NAUI Divemaster rating is the highest NAUI leadership level certification with the exception of instructor. The program is designed to train experienced and knowledgeable divers to organize and conduct enjoyable open water dives for certified divers. An active-status NAUI Divemaster is qualified to organize and conduct dives for certified divers if the diving activities and locale approximate those in which the divemaster is trained. Additional training, knowledge or experience is necessary for the divemaster who desires to organize highly specialized activities, such as wreck penetration, cavern, ice, or other technical dives or enter a new locale. An active-status NAUI Divemaster is qualified to organize and conduct NAUI recognition programs (such as International Diver) and award appropriate recognition materials to participants. An active-status NAUI Divemaster is qualified to organize and conduct Refresher Scuba training for certified divers. An active-status NAUI Divemaster is qualified to assist an active-status NAUI Instructor in diving courses. An active-status NAUI Divemaster who completes a NAUI-DAN First Aid Instructor orientation, who has completed all required NAUI-DAN orientation modules and is using the NAUI-DAN training and support materials, may teach the NAUI-DAN First Aid programs. If all other prerequisites are met, a current NAUI Divemaster is qualified to enter a NAUI Instructor Training Course (ITC). Leadership members of NAUI are entitled to benefits detailed in the Association Bylaws and in these standards. A NAUI leader may renew membership annually in any one of several statuses by meeting renewal requirements. NAUI Standards and Policies Manual ( 2016 Edition, v1.1) 315
WHO MAY CONDUCT Leadership courses may be taught by active-status NAUI Instructors using NAUI materials and who have met the requirements to teach leadership courses as approved by the NAUI Board of Directors. However, such authorization is a privilege that can be suspended or revoked in writing as per the Designated Instructor Review Procedure. The specific reasons(s) for suspension or revocation of privileges (such as a required update or failure to comply with standards) will be disclosed in a letter of notification and a copy of the Designated Instructor Review Procedure will be provided with the letter. PREREQUISITES Age. Minimum is 18 years by the water phase of the course. Certification/Experience/Knowledge. Current registration as a NAUI FIT Program graduate. Current certification in NAUI First Aid for Dive Professionals or equivalent. Current certification in NAUI Oxygen Provider or equivalent. A minimum of 60 logged open water scuba dives with a minimum of 30 hours bottom time. Dives shall be varied in environment, depth, and activities. The instructor is to ensure adequate student knowledge and capability before any open water training and shall use skill or other evaluations to do so. One open water dive (which does not count toward the minimum number of dives required for the course) may be used as a screening and evaluation dive. This is not required when the student s diving proficiencies are well known to the instructor. Equipment. Candidates shall furnish and be responsible for the care and maintenance of their own diving equipment. The instructor shall initially assist candidates in checking all their gear to ensure it is adequate and in proper working order. Materials. Contact the NAUI Training Department for current requirements. Medical Approval. Verification of good physical condition as documented by a medical examination and unconditional approval for diving by a licensed physician within the preceding 316 NAUI Standards and Policies Manual ( 2016 Edition, v1.1)
12 months. In no event will medical approval be accepted wherein the physician signing the certificate is the student. POLICIES Ratios. Standard ratios apply. (See Policies Applying to All Courses: Assistants and Ratios. ) The instructor is to accompany students during the first training dive in excess of 60 feet (18 m). Academics (estimated hours). 20 hours. Practical Application. MINIMUM REQUIRED HOURS. 10 hours. (In addition, students may expect to spend time outside of class hours researching dive sites, organizing notes and generally preparing for dive briefings and activities.) MINIMUM REQUIRED DIVES. The minimum number of open water divemastering activities is 10. Activities include on-site instructions, course director demonstrations, and student divemaster performances. Performing as a divemaster does not necessarily require that the student divemaster complete a particular dive, as defined in these standards, to meet the learning objective for the activity. DEPTH. The maximum depth for any open water dive during this course is 130 feet (40 m). No dives are to require actual staged decompression. However, simulated staged decompression may be added to the ascent of a norequired-stop dive. Any simulated decompression time spent deeper than 25 feet (7.6 m) must be included in the actual dive time. Equipment. See Policies Applying to All Courses: Equipment. Materials. See Policies Applying to All Courses: Forms, Records and Reports. Course Results. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION. Upon completion of all certification requirements, each leadership graduate must complete a NAUI membership application, which the instructor will process in accordance with current procedures. Applicants will NAUI Standards and Policies Manual ( 2016 Edition, v1.1) 317
be registered as leadership members in the appropriate category and status and be sent new member information. REQUIREMENTS ACADEMIC General. Students are to be provided with the knowledge needed to organize and conduct minimal risk open water dives as a divemaster. Practical, on-site demonstrations by the instructor or staff are to be presented wherever possible. Diving Equipment. Common equipment problems, recognition of unsafe or improperly assembled equipment, variations in types of gear, incorrect wear and handling, and pre-dive equipment checks. Diving Safety. Actions to be taken if an emergency occurs, including effective use of assistants and equipment, underwater communications, diver recall methods, search techniques, assists and rescues, victim care and handling, emergency and first aid equipment, accessing emergency systems, and accident reports. Techniques and problems associated with open water rescues. Areas to be covered include rough water rescue considerations, conducting search and recovery operations, and treatment, care and handling of unconscious divers. Diving Environment. The physical and biological aspects of the diving environment with emphasis on the local area, including plant and animal life, the importance of fostering a regard for ecology and conservation, pollution, water movement, and characteristics, tides, currents, waves and surf, shore and bottom conditions, surface hazards and wind effects. NAUI Orientation. Business of Diving Instruction. Legal concepts such as negligence, standard of care, the necessity for liability insurance, waivers and indemnity agreements, taking of artifacts and game, and the legal relationship between boat owner, captain, instructor, and divemaster. NAUI-specific information shall be included. Methods of Instruction (teaching techniques and student evaluation) Teaching theory. Oral communications. 318 NAUI Standards and Policies Manual ( 2016 Edition, v1.1)
Teaching Presentations: Classroom (This requirement may be waived if candidate has completed a NAUI Assistant Instructor course.) Each candidate is to present at least four assigned teaching presentations selected from the list of the 10 core diving knowledge topics. Each presentation is to be formally evaluated, but not graded for record. Presentations are to be 5 to 10 minutes in length. Divemaster Duties. GENERAL. Techniques involved in planning, organizing and controlling a group dive. Included shall be: the analysis, selection and pre-dive evaluation of a dive site, pre-dive meetings and briefings, debriefing, divemaster checklists and logs, use of safety divers, divemaster responsibilities and dive flag use. Special procedures for working as a dive guide, leading trips and working with instructors on open water training dives are to be covered in detail. SHORE DIVING. Organizational problems of shore diving in salt and fresh water environments, including problems of entry and exit point selection, hazards, signals, flags, floats, surface support stations, current, tides, wind, sunburn, chilling, crowd control, small boat and other aquatic traffic. BOAT DIVING. Techniques involved in small and large boat diving, including required boat equipment and licensing, navigation and rules of the road, boating etiquette and safety, refueling, anchoring, docking, weather conditions and broadcasts, as well as charts, navigation aids and sources of information. The captain/divemaster relationship, diver management from a boat-based operation, ladders, platforms and safety lines, boat diving etiquette, equipment stowage, safety procedures, and boat rescue techniques. Small boat diving (two to six divers) versus large boat diving operations are to be discussed. NIGHT AND LIMITED VISIBILITY DIVING. Procedures used and problems that can arise. Daytime reconnaissance of the night dive site is to be NAUI Standards and Policies Manual ( 2016 Edition, v1.1) 319
emphasized, as well as planning and safety procedures, lights (underwater, surface, shore, and boat), special equipment, typical and local hazards, buddy lines, rope signals, diver recalls, underwater communications, diving limits, lost diver problems, checklists, and problems associated with limited visibility diving both underwater and on the surface. DEEP & SIMULATED DECOMPRESSION DIVING. The problems a Divemaster must avoid or deal with in an emergency decompression situation. It is to be emphasized that the need for decompression diving should be avoided in recreational diving. Included are the planning, concepts, methods and equipment used in such diving. The student divemaster is to have a thorough knowledge of decompression and repetitive dive tables, dive computers and to know the first aid, treatment and transportation techniques for emergencies involving decompression sickness and suspected lung overpressure injuries. Altitude considerations and restrictions on flying after diving are to be covered. REQUIREMENTS SKILLS Divemastering. Students are to demonstrate satisfactory open water skills and perform in divemaster roles for practice and evaluation during the planning and conducting of the required open water dives. All such activities are to be performed under the direct supervision of an active-status NAUI Instructor. The purpose is to evaluate the candidate in both knowledge and the ability to apply it in the performance of practical work. The evaluated activities also further the student divemaster s training in dive management. Perform scuba diving skills as listed below during an open water dive. The staff is also to use this dive to demonstrate the organization and conduct of a day dive for certified divers. Skills are to include: Pre-dive gear check for self and buddy. Entry, buoyancy check, swim to and from dive area, and exit. Distance swim - 880 yards (805 m) total during the dive. 320 NAUI Standards and Policies Manual ( 2016 Edition, v1.1)
Descents, underwater swimming, and ascents. Make a simulated decompression stop at 15 feet (4.6 m) for five minutes. Mask clearing, including removal and replacement. (In cold water environments when mitts and hood seals are used, confined water removal and replacement is sufficient.) Remove, replace and clear a regulator. Regain primary regulator from behind the shoulder; replace and clear. Maintain proper buoyancy using weights, breathing, and BC. Complete a night dive as a diver. During this dive the staff will demonstrate the organization and conduct of a night dive for certified divers. The dive is to be conducted in an area previously dived by the class during daylight. Performing as a divemaster using safety divers and assistants, control a satisfactory rescue of a diver simulating an underwater accident in open water, including organizing a search, transporting victim to shore or boat, victim care and accessing emergency systems. Prepare and present at least one pre-dive briefing for practice and one for evaluation. The briefing is to be evaluated on depth of coverage as well as safety and control measures. Evaluators are to remember the student is not an instructor and may not possess polished instructional skills. Performing as a divemaster, assisting an active-status NAUI Instructor, organize, and assist during an early open water experience for a class of student divers. This may be accomplished by having the divemaster class act as entry level student divers and individually rotating through the divemaster role during a single dive. Performing as a divemaster, organize and conduct a beach dive for certified divers, to be evaluated for the record. Performing as a divemaster, organize and conduct a boat dive for certified divers, to be evaluated for the record. If a boat dive is not possible, an alternate beach dive in a significantly different setting from that of the previous dive is allowed. NAUI Standards and Policies Manual ( 2016 Edition, v1.1) 321
Organize and conduct a night or limited visibility dive for certified divers, to be evaluated for the record. If night diving is not possible, a simulation should be utilized. The student divemasters may run multiple dives on the same day up to a maximum of three scuba dives and one skin dive. The greatest possible variety of diving situations should be used. Open water should follow pre-dive briefings as closely as possible. After each dive, the student divemaster is to conduct a debriefing. All diving activities are to be logged. REQUIREMENTS EXAMS Completion of Required Training Materials. Contact the Training Department for current requirements. Online training requirements may be completed prior to attendance or prior to completion of the course. Completion of Required Examinations. See Policies Applying to All Courses: Evaluation and Documentation. 322 NAUI Standards and Policies Manual ( 2016 Edition, v1.1)