IndigoBlue
Contributor
GDI:Ok I can see that we have some different ideas going here. Lets break it down and start at the basic OW level training academics. Here is my suggestion for a starting point (a draft if you will)
Basic Requirements
Swimming Ability and Watermanship
Physical Status with Medical History
Expectations and Attitude
Examinations
Physics
Breathing Gases, Pressure/Density/Volumn Relationships, General Gas Law, Dalton, Henry, Charles, Boyles, Gas Mixtures (enriched air), Temperature Effects, Humidity, Buoyancy (Archamedies), Viscosity, Illumination, Vision, Acoustics, Thermal Qualities, Fundamentals of Compressed Gases as related to diving, Compressor Operation and Cascade Systems, Characteristics of Cylinder Materials and Fabrication, Characteristics of Thermal Protection Materials
Underwater Physiology
Direct/Indirect Effects of Pressure, Respiratory and Pulmonary Functions, Cardiac Function, CNS and Pressure, Effects of Narcosis, DCS: Contributating Causes and Treatments/Avoidance, Henry's and Boyles Laws and how it Effects the Human Body, Body Mechanics:Kinesiology, Buoyancy, Equalization: The Sinuses and Ear Mechanism
Equipment
Basic Equipment Requirements, Selecting and Purchasing Equipment, Equipment Configuration, Minimizing and Streamlining, Thermal Protection: Determining the Environmental Requirements, Diving Tools: Selection, Securing and Application, Instrumentation and Computers,Maintenance and Repairing Procedures, Functions and Design of a Regulator, BCD, SPG, Depth Gauge, Compass: USE and Navigation Techniques, Compressed Gas Cylinders: Inspections and Maintenance, Compressor Maintenance and Inspection Cycles, Open Circuit Scuba, Semi-Closed Circuit Scuba, Closed Circuit Scuba, Helmet Diving
Accident Analysis
Diving within Your Limitations, Buddy System Procedures, Rescue and Search Procedures: Self Reliance - Buddy Reliance, When Good Goes Bad, Prevention: Dive Planning, General First Aid, CPR and Oxygen Provision, Calling for Help, Divew Safety, Marine Life Injuries, Pressure Related Injuries or Illness, Correcting or Handling the Problem
The Environment
Training for Overhead Environments, Marine Life Identification: Avoidance and Contact, Low Vizibility and Dark Water Diving, Boat Diving Procedures, Shore Diving, Cold Weather Diving, Reading the Water: Waves, Tides and Currents, Entries and Exits, Weather General
Planning The Dive
The Individual Habits, Buddy Protocols, Communication Systems Below and Above Water, Emergency Procedures, Types of Diving, Dive Table Development and Theory, Dive Table Comparison (US Navy, Enriched Air, DCIEM, etc), Decompression Theories and Practices: Accepting the Risk, Repetitive Dive Planning, Tables and Computer Assisted Diving, Breathing Consumption Rates and Gas Planning Procedures, Dive Plan Violation Protocols, Conducting the dive.
Ok so these are some of the topics I feel that divers need to understand to effectively be a safe diver. I will be looking at the skills later. Comments Please
I presume this is JJ speaking, asking the question.
I believe you need to differentiate between a college course in scuba and the resort course that many if not most divers are interested in.
My own approach follows the continuum of what is natural for the customer. It goes something like this:
1) Swimming on the surface
2) Swimming underwater
3) Snorkeling on the surface
4) Surface diving and blast clearing the snorkel
5) Clearing the mask seated using the snorkel
6) Swimming and snorkeling with an exposure suit
7) Proper weighting with the exposure suit for swimming and snorkeling with neutral buoyancy
8) Donning the scuba unit
9) Breathing on scuba
10) Breathing underwater shallow on scuba
11) Clearing your regulator
12) Recovering your regulator
13) Clearing your mask on scuba
14) Air sharing shallow on scuba
15) Ear clearing
16) Descent procedures
17) Neutral buoyancy and hovering in the deep pool
18) Air sharing with ascent
19) Pool touring and buoyancy control
20) Ascent procedures
21) Cramp relief
22) Tows
23) ESA
24) EBA
25) Gear ditch & replace surface
26) Gear ditch and replace underwater
27) Pool rescue segment
28) Site survey for open water predive
29) Dive planning
30) Predive buddy checks
31) Entries and exits
32) Open water emergency skills
33) Open water touring with buoyancy control
34) Open water comprehensive skills check
35) Open water navigation
36) Open water ESA
37) Depth limitations based on air diving
38) Depth limitations based on nitrox diving
39) Boat diving procedures
40) Diving in currents
41) Surface consumption rate calculations and usage
42) Open water rescue
43) Ditching your weight belt at the surface (drill this a lot)
Then you can arrange the diving physics and physiology and biology around the skills outline, so that it all flows coherently. I prefer to give the written test near the end of all training, when the students have had a chance to assimilate more by their own experience during the training. That way the test is less of an academic waste of time.
You can actually unify all of the academic requirements around one single principle, just like Cousteau did back in the 1940s:
"Don't hold your breath while breathing on it!"
If you want to have the best instruction in the world, then it might as well be just line mine!
However 1000 instructors will give you 999 other answers.