SCUBILITY DIVE BUDDY PROGRAM

The LifeWaters Advanced Diver Development Program was created to make true advanced divers. Under the old way of training a student could take an advanced course immediately following an open water course, and only have a total of 9 dives, all under the direct training of an instructor. The LW Advanced Diver Development program requires a new open water student to complete 4 LW Specialties or equivalent, combined with 25 logged dives. LW feels a diver will truly be advanced after this is accomplished. The LW Scubility program requirements are the same as the standard LW Advanced Diver Development program.

Who this course is for:

• Certified divers looking to assist disabled divers enjoy the underwater world and LW Instructors wishing to become an LW Scubility Instructor

Course prerequisites:

• Minimum age 18, 16 with parental consent
  
• Provide proof of:
  • Rescue diver certification
  • Current CPR and first aid certification

OR

• Advanced Diver certification with 40 logged open water dives

What you can expect to learn: The LW Scubility Dive Buddy Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

• Background information
  • Instructor awareness
  • Public acceptance
  • Lifestyle and personality
  • Social integration
• Common medical conditions and disabilities
  • Amputations
  • Asthma
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Hearing disorders
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Motor neurone
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Sight impairment
  • Spinal injuries
• Diving environment
  • Confined water
  • Open water
• Accessibility
  • Access to confined water
  • Access to open water
  • Liability and related legal considerations

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

• Sight impaired diver; show proficiency at giving and receiving tactile signals
• Complete 2 open water dives as a dive buddy, 1 sight impaired, 1 paraplegic
• Complete 2 open water dives as a student, 1 sight impaired and 1 paraplegic
• Complete 1 confined water training session with sight impaired diver (real or simulated)
• Equipment assembly / disassembly and adjustment
• Weight system assembly / adjustment with proper weighting
• Suiting up and de-suiting
• Pre-dive check of self and buddy
• Use of mask, fins and snorkel
• Entries; assistance with controlled seated, back roll, giant stride entries
• Equipment; suiting up of diver in the water
• Equipment; removal of divers equipment in the water
• Exits; assistance with shallow water and deep water exits LW Instructor Manual
• Tired diver tows
• Communication; show good communication / understanding skills on surface and at depth
• Dive planning; use of tables and PDC, logging of dives
• Demonstrate sound judgment in dive site suitability planning
• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive emergency planning and execution
• Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently
• Complete a panicked diver rescue drill (surface)
• Complete a distressed diver rescue drill (at depth)
• Be seen to be having fun during the course

What’s in it for you?

• Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are able to conduct dives with physically disabled divers
• Upon successful completion on this course, LW Assistant Instructors are able to functions as a Scubility Assistant
• LW Open Water Scuba Diving Instructors are eligible to enroll in the upgrade course to become a Scubility Instructor

SDI Scubility Dive Buddy minimum requirements:

• Complete all open water requirements efficiently
• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution​