Info Published Standards for SSI, SDI, and PADI "solo" courses

[tursiops]

(post 1 of 2)
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The following information is taken directly from the written standards for each course.

SSI “Independent Diving”

Intent
The SSI Independent Diving program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to safely and comfortably dive without a designated dive buddy using redundant gas supplies.

Minimum Instructor Rating
An active status Independent Diving Specialty Instructor may conduct the Independent Diving Specialty program.

Student Prerequisites

• Minimum age: 18 years old.
• Have logged at least 75 open water dives totaling 50 hours or more.

Have the following SSI certifications, an equivalent from a recognized training agency, or provide proof of experience by showing at least five (5) logged experience dives in each of the following areas:

• Deep Diving
• Navigation
• Night & Limited Visibility

Have the following SSI certifications or equivalent from a recognized training agency:

• Diver Stress & Rescue

Duration

• Recommended hours for completion: 10-15.

Depth Limitations

• Maximum open water depth limit: 30 meters.

In-Water Ratios

• The student-to-instructor ratio is 4:1.

Proximity

• During in-water skill evaluations, the students must remain under direct supervision of the SSI Professional so that physical contact can be made at any time.

Requirements For Completion

• Complete all academic sessions and assessments outlined in the instructor manual for Independent Diving.
• Complete the program’s final exam.
• Complete at least one (1) pool/confined water session as outlined in the instructor manual for Independent Diving.
• Complete at least three (3) open water training dives as outlined in the instructor manual for Independent Diving.

Sequence

• A pool/confined water training session is mandatory prior to any training dives in open water.
• The purpose of this session is to assess the general skill level of the student, and to train them in the use of the specialty equipment prior to any open water training.

Certification

• Upon completion of all academic and in-water requirements, the SSI Professional may issue the program’s digital certification card.
• Certified SSI Independent Diving divers can dive with or without a designated buddy in environments equivalent to their training and within the recommended depth limits of their certifications.

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SDI “Solo Diver”

23.1 Introduction
The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards, and proper procedures for diving solo.
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in solo diving activities.

23.2 Who May Teach
An active SDI Solo Diver Instructor that has been certified to teach this specialty.

To qualify to teach the Solo Diver Program the instructor must:
1. Be minimum age 21
2. Have minimum 1 year teaching experience
3. Have certified 50 or more students at diver-level
4. This rating may be obtained by administrative upgrade, or by completing a course with an SDI Solo Diver Instructor Trainer but the prerequisites remain the same either way

23.3 Student to Instructor Ratio
Academic
1. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to ensure comprehensive and complete training of subject matter

Confined Water (swimming pool-like conditions)
1. N/A

Open Water (ocean, lake, quarry, spring, river or estuary)
1. A maximum of 8 students per instructor; it is the instructor’s discretion to reduce this number as conditions dictate

23.4 Student Prerequisites
1. Minimum age 21
2. SDI Advanced Diver or equivalent
3. Provide proof of 100 logged dives

23.5 Course Structure and Duration
Open Water Execution
1. Two dives are required with complete briefs and debriefs by the instructor
2. Dive plan must include surface interval, maximum no-decompression time, etc. to be figured out and logged

Course Structure
1. SDI allows instructors to structure courses according to the number of students participating and their skill level

23.6 Administrative Requirements
Administrative Tasks:
1. Collect the course fees from all the students
2. Ensure that the students have the required equipment
3. Communicate the schedule to the students
4. Have the students complete the:

a. SDI Solo Diver Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk Agreement Form​

b. SDI Medical Statement Form​

Upon successful completion of this specialty the instructor must:
1. Issue the appropriate SDI certification by submitting the SDI Diver Registration Form to SDI Headquarters or registering the students online through member’s area of the SDI website

23.7 Training Material
Required material:
1. SDI Solo Diver Student Manual
2. SDI Solo Diver I.Q Review
3. SDI Solo Diver Instructor Guide

Optional material:
1. SDI Solo Diver planning slate

23.8 Required Equipment
1. Basic open water scuba equipment as described in section three of this manual with exception of a safe second, or octopus, is not allowed as a redundant air source.
2. One of the following must be used to provide an additional independent regulator attached to an air source: pony cylinder, twin cylinders with isolation, H-valve, independent doubles, or SpareAir™

23.9 Approved Outline
Instructors may use any additional text or materials that they feel help present these topics.
The following topics must be covered:
1. Why We Must Solo Dive

a. History of buddy diving​

b. Pros and cons of buddy diving​

c. Pros and cons of solo diving​

d. Legal liability assumed by buddy diving​

i. How to use the solo diving waiver​

2. Who Must Solo Dive

a. Prerequisites and practicalities​

3. Solo Diving Mentality

a. Self-reliance​

b. Self-rescue​

4. When Not to Solo Dive

a. Overhead environments​

b. Decompression and deep diving​

5. Equipment for Solo Diving

a. Redundant air sources: pony cylinder, twin cylinders with isolation, independent doubles, SpareAir™​

b. Regulators​

c. Buoyancy compensator devices (BCD)​

d. Exposure suits​

e. Dive knives and other cutting tools​

f. Surface marker buoys and floatation devices​

g. Safety reels​

h. Underwater navigational tools​

i. Current and ascent lines​

j. Surface audible signaling devices​

k. Dye markers, signal mirrors or flares​

l. Emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs)​

m. Equipment configuration appropriate for solo diving; stream lining equipment​

6. Planning and Conducting a Solo Dive

a. Dive site selection and pre-dive considerations​

b. Filing notification of planned dive activities​

c. Contingency planning​

d. Equipment configuration appropriate for solo diving​

e. Gas management​

f. Avoiding entanglements​

7. Navigation

a. Why navigation skills are important to the solo diver​

b. Use of a mechanical compass​

c. Electronic compass​

d. Underwater diver tracking systems​

8. Management of Solo Diving Emergencies

a. Free-flowing regulators​

b. BCD inflator malfunctions​

c. Mask problems​

d. Managing currents​

e. Entanglements​

f. Unintended decompression obligations​

g. Panic and stress management techniques​

h. Use of surface marker buoys and location devices​

9. Review the SDI Solo Diver Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk Agreement Form

a. How students use the SDI Solo Diver Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk Agreement Form​

i. During training​

ii. Post training at dive locations​

23.10 Required Skill Performance and Graduation Requirements
Skills are to be performed in open water.
The student is required to demonstrate understanding of the techniques to properly execute a solo dive.

Swimming skills
1. 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

Scuba skills
1. Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
2. Limits based on personal gas consumption
3. Exact dive and/or decompression profile
4. Properly execute the planned dive within all predetermined limits
5. Equipment configuration appropriate for solo diving

a. Streamlining equipment​

b. How to use and carry a redundant air supply​

6. Proper descent / ascent rates
7. Proper safety stop procedures
8. Monitoring of decompression status equipment; tables, computers, equipment
9. Navigation skills

a. Demonstrate proficiency of navigation with compass​

10. Demonstrate emergency change over to a backup regulator or bailout scuba at a depth not exceeding 30 metres / 100 feet
11. Deploy surface marker and use of surface audible signaling device

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[tursiops]

Post 2 of 2
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PADI “Self-Reliant Diver”
(Standards, Learning Objectives, Activities, Performance Requirements)

Student divers must complete the knowledge development prior to the open water dives

Instructor Prerequisites
To apply for the PADI Self-Reliant Diver Specialty Instructor rating, you must:

• Be a Teaching status PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.​

• Have certified at least 25 divers.​

• Be a PADI Self-Reliant Diver or PADI TecRec Diver, or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.​

• Have logged at least 20 self-reliant dives (dives using redundant equipment and following techniques of self-reliance)​

Student Prerequisites
By the start of the course, a diver must:
1. Be certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver* or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.
2. Have a minimum 100 logged dives.
3. Be 18 years of age or older.
4. Successfully complete a dive skills assessment by a PADI Self-Reliant Diver Specialty Instructor.

Supervision and Ratios
Open Water Dives
A Teaching Status PADI Self-Reliant Diver Specialty Instructor must be present and in control of all activities, and must ensure that all performance requirements are met. The Specialty Instructor must directly supervise Dives One and Two.

The maximum inwater ratio for open water dives is eight divers per instructor (8:1). This ratio can't be increased with the use of certified assistants.

Site, Depths and Hours
Maximum: 30 metres/100 feet

Dives must be conducted within the no decompression limits of the dive computer or Recreational Dive Planner (RDP).

The PADI Self-Reliant Diver Specialty course includes three open water dives, which may be conducted in one day.

Hours (Recommended): 24

Forms
Student divers must complete and sign the PADI Self-Reliant Diver Training Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk/Non-Agency Acknowledgment Form.

Materials and Equipment
Required for Instructor
• PADI Self-Reliant Diver Specialty Diver Course Instructor Guide
• Equipment as outlined in the PADI Instructor Manual, General Standards and Procedures
• Examples of redundant air sources – pony cylinder, twin cylinders with isolation valve, H-valve and independent doubles

Required for Student Diver
• Equipment as outlined in the PADI Instructor Manual, General Standards and Procedures.STRUCTOR GUIDE
• Surface marker buoy, such as a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) or lift bag with at least 30 metres/100 feet of line
• Redundant gas source – pony cylinder, twin cylinders with isolation valve or sidemount configuration. Redundant gas supply must be configured so that the diver can access it with one hand
• Redundant dive computer or depth gauge and bottom timer
• Redundant surface signaling devices (both visual and audible)
• Knife/cutting tool (except where locally prohibited)
• Slate and pencil
• Back-up mask (recommended)

Assessment Standards
To assess knowledge, review the Knowledge Review with the student diver. The student diver must demonstrate accurate and adequate knowledge during the open water dives, and must perform all skills – procedures and motor skills – fluidly, with little difficulty, and in a manner that demonstrates little or no stress.

Certification Requirements and Procedures
For certification, student divers must complete all performance requirements for the Self-Reliant Diver Open Water Dives One, Two and Three. The instructor certifying the student diver must ensure that all certification requirements have been met.

 

[brsnow]

I am likely taking the SDI course this summer if offered. I have not found it offered in my area with SSI or Padi. I believe having used all 3 for others, the instructor at SDI might be best.

 

[CuzzA]

It all sounds like it should be basic scuba diving skills. The SSI rescue prerequisite is interesting. Isn't the rescue course taught so you can rescue your "buddy?"

When comparing times when a person is diving alone, solo diving is much less riskier than buddy diving because you know you're on your own. Whereas many buddy separation fatalities occur because they weren't mentally prepared to be solo, and consequently panic. Solo diving is a mindset.

Required for Student Diver
• Equipment as outlined in the PADI Instructor Manual, General Standards and Procedures.STRUCTOR GUIDE
• Surface marker buoy, such as a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) or lift bag with at least 30 metres/100 feet of line
• Redundant gas source – pony cylinder, twin cylinders with isolation valve or sidemount configuration. Redundant gas supply must be configured so that the diver can access it with one hand
• Redundant dive computer or depth gauge and bottom timer
• Redundant surface signaling devices (both visual and audible)
• Knife/cutting tool (except where locally prohibited)
• Slate and pencil
• Back-up mask (recommended)

I am in the less is more camp and some of the PADI course requirements or recommendations are contradictory to streamlining to reduce entanglement/drag. Plus the requirements/recommendations as stated then require a pocket.

My thoughts...

1. The risk of losing a mask is sometimes parroted with the same level of fear that kids were taught they'd be offered candy by creepers while stopping, dropping and rolling on fire. Leave a back up mask on the boat. In truth, a silicone strap will eventually fail. Replace it with a neoprene hook and loop strap and it will probably last a decade. Even in the event of a silicone strap failure, a properly fitted mask should hold a seal well enough to manage gas expansion or accidental exhaling through the nose, but still allow you to annoyingly finish the dive. If you lost your mask due to a wildlife encounter, I'm pretty sure a backup mask won't be doing you any good. We are solo diving, right?
   
   
2. Slate and pencil doesn't make sense. Who are you communicating with when solo diving?
   
   
3. Redundant computer, depth gauge and bottom timer is an excessive requirement for no stop diving, IMO. A better skill would be to learn to shoot your SMB from depth, pre-mark the line at ~10-20 ft. and remember you don't need a computer to count to 180-300 seconds if you're so inclined to do the safety stop. Any diver attempting to solo dive should be able to control their ascent without the aid of a computer or depth gauge. Not only can you feel when you're ascending too fast, you can certainly see it based on exhalation bubbles.

 

[CuzzA]

BTW, does a student actually do a solo dive before getting their solo diver certification?

 

[Wookie]

I find it interesting that SSI and SDI very specifically can tell anyone what the solo/independent diver is allowed to do while diving solo/independently.

PADI gives no such advice. Almost like they didn't want to issue self-reliant cards, but did so because someone else was doing it and they didn't want to lose a competitive advantage.

 

[Wookie]

BTW, does a student actually do a solo dive before getting their solo diver certification?

When you say solo, I assume you mean SDI.

I taught SDI solo for many years.

I never dove with the student. What the hell are they studying/practicing for?

It appears that PADI and SSI require direct supervision by the instructor.

 

[tursiops]

When you say solo, I assume you mean SDI.

I taught SDI solo for many years.

I never dove with the student. What the hell are they studying/practicing for?

It appears that PADI and SSI require direct supervision by the instructor.

There are three OW dives in the PADI course. Direct supervision is only required on the first two.

 

[Wookie]

There are three OW dives in the PADI course. Direct supervision is only required on the first two.

I see that now. I only read the first line in the standard.

 

[drrich2]

Isn't the rescue course taught so you can rescue your "buddy?"

While that's part of what the content lends itself to, I think there's a lot of value in the Rescue course in teaching mindfulness regarding diving, both topside and underwater, to anticipate and avoid problems. Oddly enough, there's some overlap with 'solo mentality.' You stop assuming the dive boat staff have everything covered and start doing some more thinking for yourself.