SAA 2004 2005 update'

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• SAA 2004 / 2005 update.

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What have we been up to?

• What has the SAA been up to in 2004?
• Launched Extended Range Nitrox Diver
• Gas Blender Course approval
• Updating our Training program to match CMAS and
  CEN regulations
• CMAS and access to certificates
• Rebreather policy.

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Extended Range Nitrox Diver

• Instructors Course Pack No.1
• SAA Bühlmann Extended Range EAD / CNS Tables
• SAA Bühlmann Extended Range Air Tables 60m
• Instructors Course Pack No. 2
• The CD-ROM - Instructors Pack
• The candidates written examination - Questions
• The SAA Extended Range Nitrox Diver (including
  accelerated decompression) Course Notes
• The candidates written examination Answers

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CMAS Course Approval

• The SAA Gas Blending course received CMAS
  approval this year.
• The Extended Range Nitrox Diver Course is also
  about to receive approval.
• Allows SAA to issue CMAS cards and allows cross
  over and recognition of certificates within CMAS
  federations around the world.

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Training Programme

• Revised to match with
• BS EN 14153 parts 1-3

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Training Programme

• The European Standards relating to recreational
  diving services have been prepared by CEN/TC
  329/WG 3 "Recreational Diving Services", with the
  aim of establishing a series of specifications
  for safe practice and the provision of a
  standardised service across Europe.
• Therefore these standards specify
• - necessary levels of experience and competency
  of scuba divers and scuba instructors,
• - safety practices and requirements for
  recreational scuba diving service providers
  appropriate to the different diving levels.
• In any case, they cannot substitute for nor
  impose upon legal requirements, the alteration of
  which is outside the competence of the
  CEN/CENELEC members. Therefore if the member
  countries standards are higher than the CEN
  standards they will apply. No member country can
  have a standard below the CEN standard.
• The Sub-Aqua Association has been involved in the
  development of the standards from the beginning
  and supports the aims of the CEN Standard. The
  SAA training standards exceed the CEN
  requirements both in the UK and world-wide
  through its membership to CMAS. The SAA also
  recommends following the HSE diving at Work
  Regulations 1997, which also exceed the European
  Standard.

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Training Programme

• We need standards of excellence to which we
  should aspire,
• not levels of badness to which we must not sink
  below.

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CEN Standards

• Level 1
• Diver under supervision
• Pool trained starting out in open water
• MUST be accompanied by an Instructor or Dive
  Leader
• Max Depth 12m

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CEN Standards

• Level 2
• Self sufficient diver (Autonomous)
• Open water certified
• Can dive with other level 2 divers
• Max Depth 20m

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CEN Standards

• Level 3
• Dive Leader
• Can NOT Instruct unless qualified as an
  Instructor also
• Minimum level for Instructor
• Needs First Aid, Oxygen Admin and Diver Rescue
  Skills

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Training Programme

• We are re-shuffling some of the areas of our
  programme to more closely follow the norm mainly
  because the Manual was due for a re-write and it
  made sense to do it now.
• However we will not be removing any of our
  training which is in excess of the standards
• We will be providing the manual in an electronic
  format to all clubs with PowerPoint presentations
  for all lectures, Instructor notes and handouts
  where necessary. So that all Instructors have an
  up to date standard to follow.

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CMAS Certificates

• CMAS have agreed with the SAA that all diving
  organisations within the UK that meet the CMAS
  standards can access CMAS brevets (C Cards) via
  the SAA in the same way that BSAC does at
  present. This should work well especially with
  the present good working relationship that have
  been built up between all the Diving Agencies.

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CMAS Certificates

• AIMS OF THE CMAS INTERNATIONAL DIVER
  
• CERTIFICATES SYSTEM
• It is intended that, no matter where in the world
  a diver receives training, he or she will be able
  to visit other areas and be accepted as a diver
  with competence and experience equal to that
  indicated by the qualification held.
• The CMAS International Diver Certificates are
  evidence that the holder has received training up
  to the minimum level defined for each grade of
  certificate. They should then be allowed to
  participate in diving activities to the extent
  that a holder of the equivalent national
  certificate would be. No need to be accompanied.
• It is not the aim of the system that the holder
  of a CMAS International Diver Certificate should
  be given the equivalent national certificate.
  However, they should be accepted for training to
  the next higher level.
• CMAS levels are used by the HSE in all the ACOP's
  for Diving as a cross reference between the
  organisations.

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CMAS Certificates

• 1- 4 Diver Grades
• 1- 3 Instructor
• Speciality cards including Nitrox, Gas Blending,
  ERND etc.
• What does it cost?
• The price of the card which is agreed with the
  agency.

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Rebreather Policy

• We are looking at updating our rebreather policy.
  We are not looking at a course at this point as
  we already have a trimix course in the pipeline.
• Part of the present guideline is
• Diving with a buddy who is open circuit, and not
  qualified on the type of rebreather in use can
  only be covered if they are fully conversant with
  the equipment and any emergency procedures
  required and can prove it. This is for the
  protection of the OC diver. In the extreme
  scenario where the CCR diver was to be fatally
  injured on the dive, how could the OC diver prove
  that they had done everything possible to prevent
  this, if they cannot prove, in a court of law,
  that they are competent in the system being used.

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Rebreather Policy

• Who decides when someone is FULLY CONVERSANT with
  a rebreather?
• The person may know how to use a rebreather but
  does that qualify them to instruct an OC diver in
  their use?
• What are the rescue procedures for mixed diving?
• What is the way forward?
• There arent many rebreather divers compared to
  OC divers but unless rebreathers are in the water
  they are a very noisy bunch.
• We have a project team looking at a workable
  policy which will protect both the OC and
  Rebreather diver.
• The policy will hopeful be ready for the middle
  of this year.

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• Thats some of the things the SAA have been up to
  over the last year.
• Thank You