Prior to Arrival, Prospective Students should adhere to these In-Water Preparatory Recommendations, at a minimum: DIVER PHYSICAL SCREEN TEST: Minimum PST Physical Screening Test Swim 500 yards (450 M) breaststroke or sidestroke [in minutes] 12:30 REST: 10 MINUTES Push-ups [in 2 minutes] 50 REST: 2 MINUTES Sit-ups [in 2 minutes] 50 REST: 2 MINUTES Pull-ups [in 2 minutes] 6 REST: 10 MINUTES Run 1.5 miles [in minutes] 12:30 NOTE: You should consult your physician or other health-care professional before starting any exercise regime or other fitness program to determine if it is right for your needs. This is particularly true if you (or your family) have a history of medical illnesses or ailments that could be made worse by a change in physical activity. Do not start a fitness program if your physician or health-care provider advises against it.
Mask, Fin, Snorkel: 1. Candidate should be able to fill mask with water while wearing it and breathing comfortably through mouth. Practice should include speaking/singing with mask flooded. Additional practice includes doing flutter kicks or push-ups on pool side while mask is flooded with water while counting cadence. 2. Candidate should be comfortable breathing through snorkel on water surface. 3. Candidate should be comfortable filling mask with water while submerged and then forcefully exhaling in order to clear mask. 4. Candidate should be comfortable filling mask and snorkel with water while submerged and then forcefully exhaling in order to clear mask and snorkel without breaking the surface of the water with face and then continuing to breathe comfortably. 5. Candidate should be comfortable swimming with mask and fins while breathing through a snorkel. Practice should consist of swimming at a comfortable pace while intermittently flooding snorkel with water (i.e., submerging 2 to 3 feet),then surfacing, without face breaking the surface of the water, forcefully exhaling water out of the snorkel and then continuing to breathe normally from snorkel. This exercise should be continued for several minutes without signs of panic or inability to continue clearing snorkel. 6. Candidate should be comfortable retrieving mask and snorkel on bottom of pool (12 feet), donning (putting on) mask and snorkel on bottom, clearing mask, ascending to surface, then clearing snorkel via forceful exhale upon reaching surface without breaking the surface of the water with face, and then continuing to breathe comfortably. Drown Proofing:
1. Candidate should be comfortable floating on surface with hands held together behind back with ankles crossed (tied loosely) for 5 minutes (at a minimum). 2. The goal is to rest comfortably on the surface exerting minimal effort. Focus should be placed on utilizing lungs for buoyancy and gently rolling head to side to take breaths when necessary. 3. Practice should consist of fully inflating lungs on the water surface and attempting to relax and float for as long as possible. When necessary, roll back or to the side by utilizing a gentle leg thrust to breach the surface and take a deep breath; relax and wait for the buoyancy of your lungs to return you to the surface. Repeat steps as necessary until at least five minutes have elapsed. Finning: 1. Bay Swims are a regular and mandatory aspect of training at NDSTC. Bay swims are a unique and somewhat difficult skill to perfect outside of the Dive School environment. 2. Each candidate must display that they are able to combat a 1 knot current by finishing each surface fin evolution in the allotted time limit. 3. It is in the best interest of the candidate to practice for bay swims (500 yd, 1000 yd, 2000 yd, etc.) by focusing on flutter kicks while training/preparing to arrive for school. 4. The key component to successfully passing Bay Swims is to master proper form utilizing the flutter kick technique: in the prone position, face up, using only the legs kicking with fins for propulsion. Candidate is not allowed to utilize their hands for propulsion and must maintain contact with the emergency flotation vest around their neck. It is especially helpful to practice flutter kicking outside of the water as well, using fins, if available, or some form of weight/resistance.
5. Optional preparation includes finning on back in any available pool or open water (with a safety observer). In-Water Proficiency: 1. One of the more challenging evolutions during SCUBA training will be the In-Water Proficiency (IWP). In this evolution the student will be required to tread water in full SCUBA gear including a weight belt and twin SCUBA cylinders for at least one minute and then orally inflate their horse collar flotation device. 2. This requires strong lower extremity strength and finning technique. 3. It is recommended that prospective students practice treading water with fins while carrying substantial extra weight and then trying blowing up a balloon while remaining on the surface. DIVER TRAINING GEAR LIST The following uniforms and equipment are required for all students: Full Sea Bag Medical and Dental Record Service Dress Blues or Summer Whites (as directed per season) Service Khakis Navy Working Uniform (NWU) prescribed uniform of the day for daily training Boots - one pair of issue boots (steel-toe) White T-shirt (crew neck) x 6 Navy sweatshirt/pants Students who wear eyeglasses must have two military issue pairs Watch cap Running shoes: 1 pair (required), 2 pair (recommended) UDT swimming trunks: 2 pair minimum (will be issued on Day 1) Towel: x 2
Notebook, pens, pencils, high-lighter, calculator, index cards Combination lock For students requiring prescription mask lenses mask must be black, low volume, with certified and tempered glass. NON-TINTED. Boonie Cover (to be ordered per class via Training Team Proctor) Army, Air Force, and foreign national candidates are expected to bring their service equivalents of these prescribed uniform items. Army Class B uniform with short-sleeved shirt is acceptable and preferred during summer months, however it is a good idea to have dress uniforms as well, as the training team may require this to be worn for check-in/graduation. ACU and the newer ASU is acceptable as a daily working uniform. Civilians who do not regularly wear a uniform in performing duties may wear khaki, black, or navy blue pants with solid colored, button down dress shirt (short or long sleeves). NDSTC CHECK-IN PROCEDURES Upon arrival at Northwest Florida Beaches Int l Airport (ECP) 1. Take shuttle to NSA-PC, or 2. Call NDSTC for duty driver (Arrange for transport at least 72 hours in advance if you plan to utilize the duty driver). Upon arrival at NSA-PC: 1. Immediately check-in at NDSTC Quarterdeck (orders will be stamped). 2. Check-in at the Gateway Inns (student barracks). 3. If you arrive on a weekend you must check-in with Student Control the following Monday if your course of instruction does not begin on the same day.
Indoctrination (Day 1): 1. Arrive in the appropriate Dress uniform (blues or whites) at 0600. 2. Proceed to the assigned classroom (posted on the Quarterdeck). 3. Stand-by for uniform inspection. 4. Further instruction will be provided upon completion of uniform inspection. Return to NDSTC