INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FOR

DIVEMASTER COURSE
AUGUST 2005

COURSE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES

WHO CAN TEACH THIS COURSE?

This course can be taught by any ACUC Open Water Instructor or higher level. The Instructor must previ-
ously obtain from ACUC the materials needed to train and certify the candidates.

WHO CAN EVALUATE AND CERTIFY THIS COURSE?

This course can be evaluated and certified by an ACUC Open Water Instructor or higher level.

WHO CAN TAKE THIS COURSE?

This course can be taken by any Rescue Diver or similar from any organisation recognised by ACUC.

• Candidates can start the course right after they have been certified as Rescue Divers, and have
completed the First Aid Specialty, Oxygen Provider specialty and Teaching Assistant specialty
(alternatively to the Teaching Assistant specialty, the Instructor can provide the Teaching Techniques
course as part of the Divemaster course) however, they can not get their Divemaster certification un-
til they have completed at least 40 dives. The dives taken as the Open Water Check-out dives in the
Open Water Course, the Advanced Diver course, the Rescue Diver course and the dives done during
this course can be counted for the total 80 dives required to obtain the certification.
• Candidates must be at least 19 years old. Minors must have a written parental permission.
• Candidates coming from organisations other than ACUC must first complete the written examination
of the ACUC Rescue Diver course. The Instructor must ensure that these candidates have all the
knowledge and skills required by an ACUC Rescue Diver before they are allowed to proceed to the
ACUC Divemaster course, these include the specialties of First Aid and Oxygen Provider.
• Where the legislation requires it, candidates must pass a medical examination before starting any in-
water portion of the course. In any case, they must sign the ACUC medical release form.

CANDIDATE’S CLASSROOM TRAINING MATERIALS

All candidates must be given the ACUC Divemaster Kit. If the candidates do not have the specialty of
Teaching Assistant, then they must be provided also with the ACUC Teaching Techniques Manual

CANDIDATE’S OPEN WATER TRAINING MATERIALS

All candidates must be fully equipped according to the type of diving that is going to be done.

CANDIDATE’S CERTIFICATION

Candidates will be certified as ACUC Divemasters when they have complied with all the requirements.
These include:

• Minimum 80 Open Water Dives

• Pass the ACUC Divemaster written examination
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• Successfully complete the Check-out dives for the ACUC Divemaster course

CANDIDATE’S QUALIFICATIONS

Once completed the course, the ACUC Divemaster will be able to:

• Dive up to a maximum depth of 40 meters and always accompanied by at least another certified
diver.
• Be able to guide groups of certified divers in open water without supervision.
• Be able to guide groups of student divers in open water under the direct supervision of an Instructor
• Be able to teach snorkel diving without supervision
• Be able to teach scuba diving with direct supervision of an Instructor, except for the program of Intro-
duction to Diving in confined waters, which the Divemaster can teach without supervision or the Program of
Resort Diving which the Divemaster can teach with indirect supervision of an Instructor.

COURSE PURPOSE

The purpose of the Divemaster course is to start the training of individuals into the teaching, diver care and
group organisation areas of Scuba Diving. It is the first level of Leadership within ACUC. It is the first step
beyond recreational diving, where diving start to be a professional activity rather than just a recreational
activity. To be an ACUC Instructor everyone must have passed first by the ACUC Divemaster level or simi-
lar level from other organisations.

This course has been designed as a very safety and responsibility conscious course where the students
expand on the rescue and first aid techniques learned in previous courses. Teaching Techniques and
Group Care and Control Techniques are introduced. Also, decompression theory is studied in depth. Be-
cause this course is not considered by ACUC anymore “Recreational Diving”, the course emphasis is not
as mucho on being a “fun” course but rather the emphasis is placed in driving into the student the responsi-
bility of diver safety, care and control. Only responsible individuals should take this course. Because the
candidates are already divers, there is no need to wait for the end of the course in order to do the Check-
out dives. Check out dives can be done right after the theory has been completed for each part. Neverthe-
less, this is left at the discretion and logistics of the Instructor.

INSTRUCTOR:STUDENT RATIOS

Classroom theory: No maximum although 20 is recommended

Pool or confined water practices:
Check Out Dives:
Because candidates are already experienced certified divers there
is a maximum of 12 student per Instructor plus an additional 6 stu-
dents per Assistant or Divemaster
Because candidates are already experienced certified divers there
is a maximum of 8 student per Instructor plus an additional 2 stu-
dents per Assistant or Divemaster

These numbers are the maximum under excellent conditions. If conditions are not optimal the Instructor
must reduce the ratio according to safety considerations

THEORY AND PRACTICES

The minimum theory given during the course is that shown on the Divemaster manual, which is also shown
in the “Minimum Theory” chapter of this guide. Although there is no set time, as a guide a duration of 13
hours of theory should be given. Supervised practices of CPR and resuscitation methods should also be
done, as well as group control scenarios, in this time.

If candidates do not have the Teaching Assistant Specialty, an additional 8 hours of theory should be given
on this subject, using the ACUC Teaching Techniques manual for this purpose.
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ACUC INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FOR THE DIVEMASTER COURSE

The pool or confined water practices should be orientated to familiarize the candidates with the rescue ex-
ercises and group control exercises specified in the ACUC Divemaster manual. It is estimated that at least
6 hours minimum of pool practices will be needed

The open water Check out dives should be a minimum of 4 (2 hours) and should concentrate on Rescue
Techniques, Dive Organisation, both above and below the water and Group Control, both above and below
the water

MINIMUM THEORY

The minimum theory of the course is as explained in the Divemaster Manual, and is resumed next. The
page number refers to the page of the Divemaster Manual where that subject is discussed (please note that
page numbers might change slightly as new versions or different language versions of the manual are pro-
duced). Instructors are encouraged to use the following index to develop their own lessons plans.

PREFACE 5

INTRODUCTION 7
Dive Controller 7
Dive Guide 7
Divemaster 8

1. RESPONSABILITIES OF A DIVE CONTROLLER 9

RESPONSABILITIES 9
Suggested Guidelines for Planning and Organizing a Dive 10
Dive Site Considerations 10
Ocean 10
Lake 10
Quarry 10
River/Fast Water 10
Night 11
Ice 11
Cave 11
Boat 11
Deep Recompression Situations 11
Group Briefings 12
Pre-Dive Organization 12
Dive Site Control 12
Pre-Dive Briefing 12
Pre-Dive Examination and Evaluation 13
Organize Surface Cover 13
Water Entry 13
Dive 13
Dive Guide Functions 14
Water Exit 14
Post-Dive debriefing 14
Divemaster, Dive Controller and Dive Guide Kit 14

2. THE DIVEMASTER AND THE LAW 17

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 17
Introduction 17
Negligence and Duty of Care 18
Standard of Care 19
Liability Insurance 20
Waivers, Releases and Indemnity Agreements 20
Minors 21
Charter Parties 21
Wrecks and Salvage 22
Conclusion 23
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Update 24

3. DECOMPRESSION AND THE DIVEMASTER 25

DECOMPRESSION 25
Repetitive Diving and the Divemaster 26
The Decompression Table (1-10) and the Divemaster 26
Peculiarities in the US Navy Dive Tables 26
Cold Water Exposures and High Altitude Problems 26
Dive Table Terminology 27
Repetitive Diving and the Divemaster 28
When should a Divemaster take responsibility for making the repetitive dive calculations for
a dive party? 28
Problems of calculating group repetitive dives 29
Standard Divemaster methods for planning repetitive dives 29
The Decompression Table (1-10) and the Divemaster 32
Why must decompression-stop diving be discouraged? 32
Why must a Divemaster know how to use Table 1-10 and Emergency Procedures
32
What about Decompression Meters? 33
Peculiarities of the US Navy Dive Tables 34
Shallow water repetitive dives 34
Nitrogen penalties and multi-level procedures 35
Multilevel Procedures 36
Loopholes in the Haldanian Model: New Discoveries 37
Cold Water Exposures and High Altitude Problems 38
Cold water exposure 38
High altitude diving 40
Air travel after diving 42
DOPPLER ULTRASOUND BUBBLE DETECTOR 44

4. HANDLING DIVING EMERGENCIES 45

Background 45
Prevention 45
Fitness 45
Limitations 45
Vaccinations, Hygiene 45
Diet 46
Drugs 46
Marine Life 46
Personal Data Sheet 46
Focus on Prevention 47
ABUSED DRUGS 47
DEPRESSANTS 47
Alcohol 47
Sedatives 47
ANTIDEPRESSANTS 47
Amphetamines 47
MOTION SICKNESS 47
Phenothiazines 47
Hyoscine types 47
SMOKING 48
ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATIONS TO DIVING 48
RELATIVE CONTRAINDICATIONS TO DIVING 48
TEMPORARY CONTRAINDICATIONS TO DIVING 48
Emergency Situations and Procedures 49
First Aid in Emergency Situations 50

5. DIVEMASTER FIRST AID 51

Introduction 51
Elements of First Aid 51
Diagnosis 51
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Treatment 51
Disposition 51
Management of the Case 51
Golden Rules of First Aid 52
Hints for Treatment 52
Failure of Breathing 52
Bleeding 52
Shock 53
Signs and Symptoms 53
General Treatment 53
Established Shock Cases 53
Insect Stings and Bites 53
Minor 53
Severe 53
Animal Bites 54
Broken Bones 54
Limb Bone 54
Fractured Skull, Neck or Back 54
Dislocations 54
Sprains 54
Burns 55
Partial thickness 55
Whole thickness 55
Sunburn 55
Potential Diving Injuries/Conditions 55
Barotrauma Conditions 55
Barotrauma of Descent 55
Barotrauma of Ascent 55
Other Possible Problems 57
Carbon Dioxide 57
Nitrogen Narcosis 57
Carbon Monoxide 57
Marine Life 57
Drowning - Near Drowning 58
The Unconscious Diver 58
Exhaustion Syndrome 58
Heat Stroke 58
Hypothermia 58
First Aid Kit 59

6. SEARCH AND RECOVERY 61

Introduction 61
The Search 61
Diver Search Patterns 61
Dragging Methods 61
Body Recovery 62

7. BASIC SEAMANSHIP 63
Weather 63
Bad Weather 63
Charts 63
Safety Equipment 64
Divers Flag 64
Multi-Boat Diving 64
Leaving the Site 65
Rules for Ropes 65
Inspection 65
Care and Use of Ropes 65
A Rough Guide for Fibre Rope 66
Comparison Chart for Rope Characteristics 66
Wire Ropes 66
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Inspection of Wire Ropes
66
8. DIVE SIGNALS 67
Recall Signals 67
Surface Signals 67
Rope Signals 67
Lights 68
Emergency Signals (land or sea) 68
Radio 68
Lights 68
Smoke 68
Whistles 68

9. DIVEMASTER RECORD SHEET 69

DIVEMASTER EXAM
ANSWERS
(CONFIDENTIAL, ONLY FOR THE INSTRUCTOR) IMPORTANT

The student should mark with a “X” the MOST correct answer to the following ques- The matter
tions. S/he should mark only one answer, if more than one answer is marked the ques- outlined in
tion will be considered as erroneously responded. If s/he marks an answer and later he this Guide is
changes his mind, s/he should cross out the “X” and mark again with a “X” the answer
that s/he believes correct. This exam should not begin until it is indicated by the the minimum
evaluator. Once the exam is concluded it should be given to the evaluator. This exam to cover
must be sent to the ACUC Office. The Instructor can keep if he wants a copy for his ACUC
records.
standards.
Instructors
SECTION: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF DIVEMASTERING can teach
1. The Tube of Bourdon depth gauges are calibrated to measure the: beyond these
guidelines if
a) Relative Pressure they wish,
b) Pressure at the surface
c) Absolute Pressure however the
d) Pressure in Altitude minimum
ACUC
2. The Systole is:
standards
a) A piece of a depth gauge must be fully
b) The contraction of the heart muscle covered.
c) A capillary
d) A piece of a regulator

3. How long does it take approximately the blood to travel the organism:

a) 20 seconds
b) 20 minutes
c) 1 minute
d) 10 minutes

4. The Larynx is part of:

a) The circulatory system

b) The respiratory system
c) The sympatic system
d) The stomach
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ACUC INSTRUCTOR GUIDE FOR DIVEMASTER COURSE

5. The volume of approximately 0,5 litres of exchanged air is:

a) The volume of residual air

b) The volume of expiratory reserve
c) The volume of inspiratory reserve
d) The average volume

6. Which is the model used by the US Navy tables that are discussed in the ACUC Divemaster Manual?

a) The modified Haldane

b) The Bullhmann
c) The DCIEM
d) The Comex

7. You are the Divemaster of a Center and you do a dive with some students of a course of OWD that go
accompanied by their Instructor, by the Instructor Trainer of the Instructor and by the Director of the Center
in which you work. Who is the maximum responsible and therefore, the “boss” of that dive?

a) The Instructor
b) you (the Divemaster)
c) The Instructor Trainer of the Instructor
d) The Director of the Center where you work

8. You are the Divemaster of a Center and you do a dive with a group of divers that go accompanied by an
Instructor, by an Instructor Trainer and by the Director of the Center in which you work. Who is the maxi-
mum responsible and therefore, the “boss” of that dive?

a) The Instructor
b) you (the Divemaster)
c) The Instructor Trainer
d) The Director of the Center where you work

9. To comment with the divers the entrance and exit places from the water is part of:

a) The Debriefing
b) A Diving Course
c) The Briefing
d) The Norms of Navigation

10. The microbubbles detector by means of the “Doppler” effect is related with:

a) The Light
b) The Sound
c) The Touch
d) The Taste

11. You are the Divemaster of a Center and you do a dive with beginners (divers already certified, but with
little experience). Could you be considered legally responsible for calculating the profiles of the dive of
these divers?

a) No
b) Only if there is not a Instructor in the dive
c) Only if the divers request it
d) Yes

12. With how many “windows” do underwater computers usually work?

a) With 8
b) With from 2 to 20
c) With 6 and up to 36
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d) Only with 1

13. Who or what is Dueker?

a) A collaborator of Haldane
b) A critic of the Haldane model
c) The Inventor of the DCIEM tables
d) The brand name of an underwater computer

14. How many Atmospheres of pressure are there at 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) altitude?

a) 1.3 Ata
b) 0.7 Ata
c) 2.3 Ata
d) 0.3 Ata

15. What depth gauge type it is recommended to be used in Altitude Diving?

a) A capillary
b) A digital
c) One of Tube of Bourdon
d) Anyone of the previous ones

16. According to the DCIEM tables Which is the minimum interval to fly after doing a dive with decompres-
sion?

a) 6 hours
b) 12 hours
c) 18 hours
d) 24 hours

17. Next you will find one sentence that is not certain in what refers to the diver's good diet, indicate which
one is not certain

a) to not consume fatty or flatulent foods

b) to consume drinks with caffeine to stay alert
c) to not consume gassy drinks
d) to consume food with proteins

18. If the pregnancy is a contradiction to dive, what type of contradiction is it?

a) Absolute
b) Relative
c) Temporary
d) it is not a contradiction

19. A Mask Compression can produce a:

a) Descent barotrauma
b) Ascent barotrauma
c) Extra alveolar syndrome
d) Decompression accident

20. A Search Pattern that uses from 4 to 8 divers is known as:

a) The Shore Circular Expanded

b) The In Water Circular Expanded
c) Of Multiple Tow
d) Of Parallel Tow
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SECTION OF REVISION OF RESCUE KNOWLEDGE

21. One of the first things that we should know when planning a dive on our own is:

a. Our buddy's name

b. Where the nearest telephone is
c. The name of the nearest Dive Center
d. The exit group of the first dive

22. What should we do or know about sharks?

a. We will inform ourselves of the biology and danger of the sharks that live in those areas, by
means of books and asking the local fishermen.
b. Our movements should be paused because strong vibrations can alert sharks.
c. The menstruation blood does not attract sharks.
d. All the previous ones

23. The most important inert gas in the air is:

a. Oxygen
b. Argon
c. Nitrogen
d. Helium

24. If there are two rescuers to do a Cardio Pulmonary Reanimation which is the rhythm or compres-
sions:ventilations range to apply:

a. 5:2
b. 5:1
c. 15:2
d. 15:1

25. Which is a valid type of stress

a. Alucinogic
b. Physiologic
c. Ontologic
d. Chronologic

26. The lack of habit to travel in a boat can cause:

a. Vertigo
b. Stress
c. Sea Sickness
d. Decompression Accident

27. The confirmation of the personal material should be done in the:

a. 1st checkup
b. 2nd checkup
c. 3rd checkup
d. 4th checkup

28. If we have to jump in the water to go help a victim we will jump:

a. head first
b. feet first
c. Sideways
d. Backwards
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29. To signal the way back when we dive in a wreck which system can we use?

a. Luminous signalling
b. Line guides
c. Mixed system
d. All the previous ones

30. When we dive in currents we should:

a. To hold the regulator with a hand

b. To be tied up with a rope to the craft
c. To signal our position by means of surface float
d. To have a buddy at the surface indicating our position to the craft

STANDARDS

31. The Advanced Diver's certification, can it be an entry level certification (first certification level)?

a. Yes
b. No
c. Yes, but the diver should have at least 20 dives
d. No, it is a leadership level

32. The Divemaster is:

a. An entry level
b. A specialty
c. A leadership level
d. None of the previous ones

33. Which is the maximum depth recommended for an Advanced Diver?

a. 25 meters
b. 42 meters
c. 50 meters
d. 30 meters

34. A Divemaster should have as minimum the following specialties:

a. Wrecks and Night Diving

b. Rescue and Oxygen Provider
c. Oxygen Provider and First Aid
d. Night Diving and Oxygen Provider

35. Which is the recommended minimum of theory (classroom) hours for a Basic Diver's course?

a. It depends on the number of students

b. 12
c. 9.5
d. 18

36. How many diving hours must have as a minimum a diver that wants to get the Rescue Diver's cer-
tificate?

a. 15
b. 40
c. 60
d. 15
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37. How many diving hours must have as a minimum a diver that wants to get the Divemaster certifi-
cate?

a. 20
b. 40
c. 60
d. 80

38. Which of the following specialties or certifications it is not obligatory to be An ACUC Instructor?

a. Rescue
b. Oxygen Provider
c. Biology
d. First Aid

39. How many students is an Instructor able to, by himself, teach in the pool in an OWD course?

a. 4
b. 6
c. 8
d. 12

40. How many students is a Instructor able to, by himself, take in the checkout dives in an OWD
course?

a. 4
b. 6
c. 8
d. 12

TEACHING TECHNIQUES EVALUATION

41. What is the first thing that an Instructor should do with his students in the first theory class that he
gives?

a. To identify himself
b. To establish learning objectives
c. To revise the format of the lesson
d. To explain how the lesson will be evaluated

42. Which of the following one is not a Law of Learning?

a. Preparation
b. Evaluation
c. Exercise
d. Intensity

43. "If the ability that we want to teach is difficult, we should divide it in simpler blocks" Is part of the
Law?:

a. Of Preparation
b. Of Exercise
c. Of Effect
d. Of Intensity

44. To use the assistants efficiently is always important but mainly in:

a. The preparation of the topics to teach in the practical classes

b. The theory-practice class in the pool
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c. The general techniques in the pool
a. The preparation of the topics to teach in the theory classes
45. To revise the procedure to follow in the event of the buddy's loss is an information that should be
covered mainly:

a. When explaining the Philosophy of the Open Water dives

b. Preparation and Planning of the Dive
c. Information (briefing) Pre-dive
d. Information (debriefing) Post-dive

All sections must be passed with a minimum note of 80%