Self-Reliant Diver Course
At one point or another, many divers have found themselves alone during a dive, whether it was intentional or not. Self Reliant Diving is the practice of self-reliant scuba diving without a “dive buddy. ”Self-Reliant diving” is now seen by many experienced divers & some certification agencies as an acceptable practice for those divers suitably trained & experienced. Rather than relying on the traditional buddy diving safety system, “Self-Reliant divers” should be skilled in self-sufficiency and willing to take responsibility for their own safety while diving.
Please choose START YOUR E-LEARNING TODAY (on the "start date" below) if there is no class currently scheduled, the classes we have scheduled won't work for you OR you would like a private class* (*additional fees may apply). We will contact you to get a course scheduled that works for you.
Availability: In Stock
What to expect in this course:
The Self Reliant Diver course is one of the most challenging recreational courses you can take. Your instructor will challenge you with no mask swims, recording your SAC rate, affixing spare gas sources, general dive planning and pre-dive preparation. Whether you want to dive alone or just want to be better prepared for diving with others (especially your family, children or less experienced divers), the goal of this class is to make a diver completely self sufficient, for themselves and others.
Who this class is for:
- The certified advanced diver who is interested in learning how to dive independent of a dive buddy
- The certified advanced diver who is interested in strengthening their buddy team diving skills
- Underwater photographers or videographers
- Adults diving with their children as their dive buddy
Our Self-Reliant Diver certification class fee includes:
- Your online learning, tests, & one-on-one instructor review
- 4 instructor-led dives in open water
- Self-Reliant Diver e-certification & processing fees
- When should/shouldn’t you solo dive
- Pros and cons of buddy diving & solo diving
- Legal liability assumed by buddy diving
- Who must solo dive?
- The Self-Reliant diving mentality
- Equipment for Self-Reliant diving
- Planning & conducting a Self-Reliant dive
- Navigation
- Management of Self-Reliant diving emergencies
- How to plan dive limits based on personal air consumption rate
- Plan exact dive and properly execute the planned dive within all predetermined limits
- Equipment configuration appropriate for solo diving
- Proper descent/ascent rates
- Proper safety stop procedures
- Monitoring of decompression status equipment: tables, computers, equipment, etc.
- Navigation skills – demonstrate proficiency of navigation with compass
- Demonstrate emergency change over to redundant air supply (not to exceed 100’/30 meters depth)
- Deploy surface marker buoy (SMB)
- Use of audible signaling device
Course Requirements:
Self-Reliant diver certification prerequisites:
- Proof of Advanced Diver Certification
- 21 years or older
- Proof of 100 or more logged dives
- Approved diver medical form
- Liability waiver
Gear requirements:
- Standard scuba gear (regulators, BCD, weights, tanks, computer, redundant inflation source, redundant timing and depth gauge or 2 computers, redundant cutting tools, redundant visual and audible signaling devices, etc.)
- Personal scuba gear (2 masks, fins, snorkel, boots – student must own).
- Independent air source (pony bottle with independent regulators – first and second stage and SPG, twin cylinders with isolation – “doubles”, single cylinder with H-Valve, or independent doubles – “sidemount”)
- Spare mask (must be carried during dive)
- Compass
- SMB or lift bag
Class requirements:
- 200 metres/600 feet surface swim in full scuba equipment, configured for local diving conditions; must be non-stop and performed in an open water environment
- Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
- Plan dive limits based on personal air consumption rate
- Plan exact dive
- Properly execute the planned dive within all predetermined limits
- Equipment configuration appropriate for solo diving
- Proper descent/ascent rates
- Proper safety stop procedures
- Monitoring of decompression status equipment; tables, computers, equipment, etc.
- Navigation skills – demonstrate proficiency of navigation with compass
- Demonstrate emergency change over to redundant air supply (not to exceed 30 metres/100 feet)
- Deploy surface marker buoy (SMB)
- Use of audible signaling device
Time requirements:
- 2 – 4 hours for online learning
- 12 – 16 hours* of instructor led surface & in-water training (over 2 days)
