Supervision

• On-site supervision is needed following initial skill instruction and after all safety concerns have been emphasized.
• In open water context, there should be at least 2 adult supervisors present, one of whom is the teacher responsible for the group. A ratio of 1:8 students to supervisors or less depending on the size of training area, presence of any currents/other hazards and maturity of students.
• Service provider instructor should have certification with an accredited scuba certifying agency, such as ACUC (American Canadian Underwater Certifications), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), PDIC (Professional Diving Instructors Council), SDI (Scuba Diving International), SSI (Scuba Schools International), or equivalent.
• Check that service provider instructor has an annual renewal sticker for the current year on their scuba instructor card.
• Scuba instructor/assistant should be in-water supervising students at all times.
• Instructor must establish clear boundaries for the activity, especially depth, as follows:
  • 12 m (40 ft.) maximum for entry level diving courses
  • 18 m (60 ft.) maximum for full open water training and
  • 39 m (130 ft.) maximum for advanced or master diving courses.

Instructional Considerations

• Students must be of good general health and be free of flu/cold symptoms on the day of the activity to be able to participate in the water
• Students must be capable swimmers. They should be able to swim 200 m (on their fronts, with reasonable strength and coordination, with their face frequently in the water and without swimming aids (e.g., no PFD or goggles/mask).
• Students must be taught safety related practices relevant to participation in scuba activity, including, but not limited to:
  • Buddy diving
  • Basic communications above and below the water (hand signals)
  • Buoyancy regulation and control
  • Importance of coming up slowly
  • Equalization
  • Importance of always breathing while underwater
  • Ditching weight belt in emergency and establishing positive buoyancy at the surface
  • Entry and exit methods and controlled descents
  • Rescue techniques
  • Potential marine hazards – appropriate to open water location
  • Awareness of the hazards due to worsening weather, extreme tides, high winds, etc.
  • Decompression tables or a reliable method of calculating decompression requirements.
• Prior to open water diving, students must receive full instructional program (classroom, pool and/or other controlled environment) and be successful in all assessments, knowledge quizzes, etc. before continuing in open water.
• No diving into caves, shipwrecks or under ice which prevents direct access to the surface or in conditions of significantly reduced visibility (e.g., less than 3 m) or at night unless the students are specifically trained for these situations, e.g., advanced or master diving courses.
• Students are to be directed not to collect any natural objects or relics while diving unless appropriate training has been obtained, e.g., search and recovery or underwater archaeology specialty, etc. If picking up anything to show to others it must be carefully replaced exactly where it was found.
• Students should be instructed regarding safety protocols for any hazards in the area (e.g., strong currents, dangerous marine life, entanglement hazards, potential boat traffic, worsening weather conditions, etc.).
• Use buddy system.
• Instruct students on conditions contributing to and treatment of hyperthermia and/or hypothermia.
• Complete dive log after each dive.

Equipment/Facilities

• Service provider, usually the scuba instructor and/or dive centre checks and provides students with proper fitting snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins) and scuba equipment (air tank, regulator, buoyancy compensator and weight belt, etc.) It is highly recommended that the service provider, not the students assemble, and check all scuba gear prior to use for the “Discover Scuba or Try Scuba” experience.
• Carrying of dive knives is recommended if site has substantial vegetation or fishing occurring in the area or other potential ensnarement risks.
• Each instructor must  have and each diver should have a dive watch/bottom timer, depth gauge, compass, tank pressure gauge regulator, and octopus or alternate regulator.
• Ensure that the lake or ocean site has:
  • Safe entry and exit points with minimal water movement
  • No obvious dangers such as boat traffic
  • Current less than 0.5 knot
  • Stable weather, wave and water conditions and no thunderstorms
  • Minimum visibility of 3 m (10 ft.) underwater.
• Instructor should have emergency plan appropriate for the open water site.
• Instructor must know the location of the nearest decompression chamber.
• Instructor should have an 02 kit available on site of open water location.
• Decompression tables or a reliable method of calculating decompression requirements should be available.
• At the open water site, check the area for potential hazards. Put up a dive flag to warn boaters away from the area.
• If boat diving, the following is also recommended:
  • Visible dive flag, e.g., Alpha (blue and white) flag, in addition to the Diver Down (red and white) flag is recommended
  • Highly visible float with mermaid line
  • Descent/ascent line incorporating a safety stop facility
  • Ideally student’s buoyancy compensators should be fitted with whistles
  • First aid and 02 kit on board the boat would be ideal
  • Check that boat operator carries the basic boat safety gear on board, e.g., signalling device, spare paddle, bailer, life jackets, spare gas can, etc.