Try dive information

[steve f]

I've taken several try-divers in over the years & have developed my own format (gauged against the individuals ability/nervousness) which I find works well; at least they seem to enjoy themselves even if they don't always join up. However, for peace of mind I thought I'd just check to see what BSAC have to say on conducting a try-dive & having scanned the web pages, cannot find anything. Given the excellent & comprehensive nature of the BOH & from what I?ve seen of the instructors handbook, (forgive me if I've missed anything) I would expect there to be a section somewhere on recommended practices for try-dives i.e. minimum qualifications, does it have to be an instructor or can any diver do it, suggestions of what to include, maximum depth (we do have the luxury of a 4Mtr. pool), try-diver/instructor ratio's etc. Most instructors worth their salt should have their own ideas on these issues but I would still expect to see some guidance notes for anyone taking their first try-diver in.

[Mike Halligan]

Steve,
You have e-mail.
Mike

[John Williams]

Steve,
You have e-mail.
Mike

Any chance that we could all see the content of that Email...especially if it has an answer?

John

[Mike Halligan]

John,
Sure, the directly relevant is .........

"Organisation of ?Try dive?
Personnel -
These sessions always require two people, one of whom must be a NQI. They frequently require four or more to fill the roles described in the risk assessment in Classroom, Storeroom and Pool as well as on the poolside. It is possible when student numbers are exceptionally small (no more than 2) that the same Instructor might cover both classroom and pool, whilst another covers storeroom and poolside. However, constraints on the use of Assistant, Theory and Practical Instructors must be borne in mind when assigning such tasks.

It is imperative that an adequate safety briefing be given BEFORE any student enters the water. The BSAC provides in its Ocean Diver syllabus a theory session to meet this need. Whilst Assistant Instructors may deliver this briefing, in-class supervision by a NQI is mandatory. Assistant Instructors may also deliver advice regarding the organisation of BSAC, costs, timing etc. (contained in another Ocean Diver theory session). Again, they should be supervised in-class by a NQI.

In-water instruction by an Assistant Instructor is permissible, so long as the briefing and de-brief are supervised by a NQI. The structure of the pool session can follow that defined for the first Ocean Diver lesson. Pool instructors must know what has been covered in the classroom, to relate back in their own briefing. Where numbers of students are higher (e.g. free Try-dive week, recruitment drives) then a general organiser is helpful, meeting students at the door, feeding them into the classroom in groups, others might convey full and empty cylinders between pool and store.

The time and effort involved in maximising input from Assistant Instructors will be repaid by their early achievement of NQI status through the TI / OWIC / PI route. At the time of writing, there are at least four Assistant Instructors in the Branch. There are, however, at least ten qualified instructors available to assist and supervise as necessary.

Equipment:
Students will require ?
Basic kit (mask, fins and snorkel); Scuba set (BCD, cylinder, regulator and contents gauge).
They should be reminded to provide swimwear, T shirt for pool use and towel.

Pool instructors will require ?
Basic kit; Scuba set, which may be based on an ?A? frame but must always have an Octopus; Appropriate slate for pool lesson.

Classroom instructor will require ?
Materials for two theory sessions; Means of presentation.


The student experience
Ideally, the student should know precisely when and where (s)he is expected to arrive and then be accompanied by a competent person thereafter. A relatively new member, with vivid recall of their own experience, is probably best placed to fill this role. The first port of call is the classroom for a safety briefing, then they should change into swimwear and be met on the poolside, steered safely away from the water?s edge. The selection of properly fitting kit should be swiftly followed by introduction to a nominated pool instructor when the session can begin.

After their underwater experience, students should be debriefed and encouraged before they change and are met once more, to be given the factual information necessary for them to make an informed choice about joining the Branch.

Experiences to avoid ?

? Lack of clear direction; ? Being kept hanging around;
? Changing too early; ? Lugging heavy gear;
? Standing in the pool before/after diving;
? Other people wandering around apparently aimless;
? Lack of confidence or clarity in what is presented."

There is more, composed in the nature of a Risk Assessment, that I have not reproduced here. It must be said that the document is idealised and is tailored strictly to the circumstances of our Branch and the current time.

HTH
Mike

[steve f]

Thanks for e-mail Mike. AISI this is a risk assessment/guidance style document that has been drawn up off your own back covering your club during try-dives. However, I reiterate my point that no-where in the BOH, or instructors manual does it give mention to conducting a Try-Dive let alone cover any of the points in my earlier posting. Perhaps it?s an oversight on BSAC?s part which will be updated in the near future, or is there a specific reason for the info not being there in which case I would like to know why.

[tony dwyer]

Steve

you have mail. I'd appreciate any feedback.

regards

Tony

[John Williams]

Steve

you have mail. I'd appreciate any feedback.

regards

Tony


Once again....care to share it?

John

[Mike Halligan]

Thanks for e-mail Mike. AISI this is a risk assessment/guidance style document that has been drawn up off your own back covering your club during try-dives.

It is.

I'm surprised you didn't find the broad outline, though. There was once a course (of 1 wet and 2 dry lessons IIRC) that was certificated and transferable within a fixed period to a credit against Ocean Diver (then Club), but I've no knowledge of it ever being used.

All the best,

Mike

[PeteM]

I'm surprised you didn't find the broad outline, though. There was once a course (of 1 wet and 2 dry lessons IIRC) that was certificated and transferable within a fixed period to a credit against Ocean Diver (then Club), but I've no knowledge of it ever being used.

It was two wet and two dry, effectively it was the first two lessons of each type for CD

Pete

[tony dwyer]

As per request!

..how about sharing it on the forum so all can see it?

..John

This is a guide that I recently issued to other instructors in our club:
**********************
Basildon Sub-Aqua Club
**********************

Conducting a ?Try Dive?

Things to remember before you start.

? The person you are taking in has probably never used SCUBA underwater before
? They may be anxious and apprehensive
? They really want to enjoy the experience
? An enjoyable experience could lead to them joining our club


Meeting the ?Try Diver?

? Show enthusiasm and smile a lot ? display a confident and capable manner. Be cheerful, you want to enjoy the experience too.
? Have them fill in a ?Try Dive? consent form.
? Only tell them things they need to know, but answer any questions honestly and as simply as you can.
? Re-assure them if any signs of anxiety are evident.
? Advise them to wear a T shirt over their swimsuit
? Remind them that they have to give the Treasurer ?10


Things to tell them:

? You will be with them all the time and you will be in control
? How to clear their ears ? demonstrate and have them do it before they get into the pool
? Breathe normally through the mouth all the time ? do not hold breathe
? Basic signals (have them copy you)
o OK
o UP
o Down
o Something wrong (point at problem ? if fear / anxiety, point at head)
o Slow down

In the Pool

At the Poolside

? Have the kit assembled quickly ? do yours first. Don?t bother explaining too much what you are doing, it will only confuse them. It?s OK to tell them what the cylinder, BC and regulator are, but don?t get too detailed. If using a Mini-B, ensure that there is about 2 kgs of weight in the internal pouch. Check that the air is on and everything works.
? Have them choose a mask & fins from the club kit, if they don?t have their own. If not using a Mini-B, have them select a weight belt with 4 kgs of lead.
? Place both sets of kit including mask & fins at the pool edge
? Conduct a simple briefing:
o Explain that you won?t go deeper than 6 ft and that you will be with them all the time.
o Tell them that at the start, they will be holding your left wrist with their right hand, in order to promote stability. It will also provide warning if they are frightened, as they can squeeze!
o Remind them of ear clearing and tell them to exhale through the nose to relieve mask squeeze.

Total time used ? maybe 5 minutes!

In the Pool ? the shallow end - on the surface

? Have the ?Try Diver? get into the pool on their own via the steps
? Have them do the ?Spit? thing with their mask
? Help the ?Try Diver? to put on the weight belt
? Help the ?Try Diver? to put on the SCUBA set
? Tell them to hold the side of the pool with one hand, while you put their fins on for them.
? Tell them to put the mask on, check the straps
? Don your own kit. Try to appear comfortable and very skilled. It will boost their confidence.
? Do a quick check of their kit and your own ? DON?T go through a detailed buddy check with them, they will not understand and you will confuse and maybe worry them.

Total time used ? maybe 5 minutes!

Going Underwater - How to do it!

? Firstly ? be relaxed, you need to enjoy this too.
? Standing up - Have them put the regulator in and tell them to breathe normally through their mouth ? BIG OK?s!
? Still standing up, have them place their face in the water while breathing ? get down with them so you can see what?s happening ? BIG OK?s!
? Tell them that the next step is them lying on the bottom and breathing ? while holding your left wrist and that once you have an OK from them, you will both swim off.
? Have them lower themselves in the water, while you dump ALL the air from their BC, using the inflator dump button.
? IF OK ? swim slowly towards the deep end ? checking that the ?Try Diver? clears his / her ears and equalises their mask.
? Don?t take them past the 6 ft point.
? Do a couple of lengths like this, with you controlling their buoyancy. It?s better if they are slightly negative rather than buoyant. You will know if they are worried, you will have nail prints in your wrist and the ?Try Diver? will be rather rigid.
? If they are relaxed and confident, it is in order to have them let go of your wrist. Be prepared to help them maintain stability.
? The chances are that a confident ?Try Diver? will fin far to fast and charge about the pool. Have them slow down, otherwise you will be chasing them.
? Monitor their air, some will use it quickly.
? If he or she is very confident, it?s OK for them to have a go at some simple skills. These include:
o Fin pivots (buoyancy)
o Regulator recovery (in hand only)
o Basic mask clearing
? At about 9:50 or If their air runs low take them to the shallow end and dekit them.
? Do a short debrief, offer praise to help reinforce the experience.
? Put weight belt, weights, mask & fins back in the club bag. Ensure that the equipment officer gets the SCUBA set back. You might ask the ?Try Diver? to help carry the kit,
? Invite them to join us at the pub for a drink and chat.

[John Williams]

Ta...I think others will be pleased to see what your branch does and compare it to what they do.

They are likely to pick up on some good points from your plan (and from the one above).

You never know - we might even see some more examples and be able to lift some good ideas from there too.

Together we might even come up with something that BSAC might even want to adopt and circulate.

All the best


John

[steve f]

Let?s hope so, after all isn?t that one of the reasons for being in a club? And the above notes seem to be a good example of the sort of thing that?s required (with a bit of tailoring to suit). What prompted me to post, I guess, was dismay that a regular club activity which is possibly the most powerful recruitment tool we have, hardly gets a mention in any of the various manuals.
It?s basic dive leader skills, IMO with a bit more care, but a few guidance notes available for those doing it first time around and to make sure we?re all singing off the same hymn sheet (and, of course to cover backs) wouldn?t hurt & might even help towards someone joining.

Steve

[tony dwyer]

I wrote the notes above a short while ago in order to give new instructors a consistent method of conducting the session. Each Instructor will imprint their own style but the steps should be consistent.

regards

Tony