Kayak Diving Specialty Outline

An outline for teaching Kayak Diving to Certified Divers.

Kayak Diving Course, Academics

COURSE STANDARDS AND OVERVIEW

This course is designed to be an introduction to kayak diving and to help the student develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for kayak diving.

Prerequisites

To qualify for the kayak diving course an individual must:1) Be certified as an Open Water Diver, or have an equivalent rating.2) Be 15 years of age or older.

Instructor Supervision

Kayak Diver courses may be conducted by an in Teaching status Open Water Instructor (or Instructor with a higher rating) who has been certified as an Kayak Diving Instructor. The maximum student to instructor ratio for open water training dives is four students per instructor (4:l).

Considerations for Open-Water Training

The Kayak Diving course is to include two open-water training dives, which may be conducted in one day. Both open-water training dives must be conducted from an open cockpit kayak. An open cockpit kayak is defined as a decked boat where the paddler sits on the deck, not inside as with traditional kayaks. It is recommended but not required that the kayak have hatches to gain access to below.

After the training dives, students are required to log their dives in their personal log books. All dives will be completed within the maximum depth and time limits specified by the certification of the least certified student diver in the class session.

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course covers the knowledge and techniques of kayak diving. The minimum number of recommended hours is l2, with time being equally divided between academic and actual water training sessions. To conduct a Kayak Diving course, the following is to be included:

1) the planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of kayak diving.

2) proper kayak diving etiquette - storage of personal equipment, personal conduct and care of the kayak.

3) basic common kayak terminology.4) specific kayak diving entries and exits.5) local kayak diving laws and/or ordnances6) overview of emergency/safety equipment needed on board private diving

vessels

When available and convenient, students interested in seamanship and kayak handling should be directed to specialised courses offered in this subject area (like those offered by private schools, colleges/universities etc. ). However basic seamanship and handling skills may be included in the course at the discretion of the instructor.

CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES

The certifying instructor obtains a Kayak Diving certification by submitting a completed signed PIC to Headquarters or the appropriate area office. The Instructor who conducts the final open water training session is to be the certifying instructor. The instructor certifying the student must ensure that all the certification requirements have been met.

KEY STANDARDS

Prerequisite Certification: Open Water Diver or equivalent ratingMinimum age: 15Recommended Course Hours: 12Minimum Open Water Training: 2 dives (2 days recommended)Student To Instructor Ratio: 4:1

All dives will be completed within the maximum depth and time limits specified by the certification of the least certified student diver in the class session.