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NAUI SCUBA DIVER CLASS
It's time to take that step; join us as a fellow diver and enjoy the sights and experiences of the underwater world.

This is the class that will put you on the road to becoming an accomplished SCUBA diver.  At the end of the class you will have learned the skills and developed the knowledge  necessary to dive safely without supervision to a depth of 60feet.   The card you earn will be necessary in order  for you to get your tanks filled at the dive store and to gain access to commercial diving expeditions such as charter boats and liveaboards and other adventure vacations.  Becoming a NAUI Scuba Diver is not only an enjoyable experience but is an achievement to be proud of.  You will have completed a class that is deemed one of the most thorough and informative for it's level, in the diving industry.

When shopping for a SCUBA class the following are important factors to consider.  Take into consideration the amount of in-water training and coaching that is included, safe divers are comfortable in the water and competent SCUBA skills are built on supervised practice time.   Also take into consideration what is included in the class fee.  Ask the instructor what the additional fees will be if you do not master the skills to complete the class within the prescribed time frame.   Lastly, ask about the level of post class personal involvement you can expect from your instructor in assisting you with meeting compatible fellow divers, finding suitable and safe starting dives and helping you to begin your future diving career.

   It should be noted that the student must complete the class requirements at a level satisfactory to the Instructor in order to earn the card. 

Classroom Session #1
1.      I like to use this classroom session to allow everyone to get to know each other, to get paperwork filled out and to discuss and set up a schedule.  We will also define the requirements to be met in order to receive a certification card
2.     Introduction to SCUBA Diving.  A general overview and orientation
3.    Diving Equipment.   Since you may not have purchased any scuba gear this section will describe the different equipment items paying attention to selection criteria, maintenance, equipment features and it's uses.
Pool Session #2: In this session we will to improve on our basic skills in the water and will learn more advanced techniques of how to solve possible problems such as sharing air, recovering lost equipment etc:   We will also learn the basics of navigation  with an underwater compass and some SCUBA rescue techniques.
Classroom Session #2.
1.    The science of Diving.  This section reviews the underwater environment and it's effects on our bodies and our equipment.
2.   Diving Skills:  The skills we use to assemble and put on our equipment.  We then go on to talk about techniques for swimming, skin diving, removing and replacing our equipment, and how to work and dive as a buddy team.
 Diving Expedition #1.   This will be our first expedition out onto the Ocean.  We will go out on a boat and visit a beginners local dive site.  This expedition normally takes about half a day.   This trip will include three dives.  Two will be SCUBA dives on a reef at a depth of 20 to 30 feet.   During these dives we will practice the skills that we learned in the swimming pool.   The other dive will be a snorkel dive which will allow us to practice our surface snorkeling skills.
Together we will  record the details in our log books and plan our dive times and surface interval in the way we learned in classroom session 3.
Pool Session #1.
This will be our first time in the swimming pool.   We will begin by doing a few swimming tests to get warmed up and to build some confidence in the water.   Then we will practice our snorkeling and skin diving skills.   You will also learn the basics of rescue and towing people to safety.   The final part of the pool session will involve scuba equipment.  You will use the SCUBA equipment in the pool and begin to become comfortable with basic skills such as buoyancy control, hand signals and swimming techniques.
Diving Expedition #2. This will be our second and final expedition out onto the Ocean.   On this expedition we will complete  two SCUBA dives during which we will practice the skills learned in the pool, and reinforce any skills that need extra work before completion of the class.   We may visit one of the local shipwrecks on the first dive which will be at a depth not exceeding 60feet.   The second dive will be at a shallower depth and will most likely be on a reef    On this diving expedition the student will plan and record their own dives under the supervision of the instructor.
Classroom Session #3.
1.    Avoiding Decompression Problems:
  This session teaches us the techniques of preventing decompression sickness.  We will learn how to use air dive tables which tell us how long we can stay at different depths on a dive, and helps us plan safe times and depth for repetitive dives.  We'll also look a little bit at dive computers, and we will take examples of simulated dives and plan them.
2.  Dive Planning. This section includes items that should be considered when planning a dive.  Followed by how to record the dive information in your log book.
3.  Diving Environment:  Types of dive sites, nature and diving environments you may encounter.  In particular the types of environment that you will encounter during the training dives.
4.  Diving Activities:  Overview of the next steps in expanding your diving knowledge, the diversity of underwater activities available, and ways of finding dive buddies with similar interests.
EXAM: All students must complete the final academic exam prior to beginning the diving expeditions.   The textbook may be used for reference during the exam.  The exam averages 90 minutes to complete, it contains 85 multiple choice questions and the passing grade is 75%.

WORKBOOK:  The workbook is viewed as homework and can be completed at home by the student at their own pace.  The workbook should be reviewed by the instructor when completed.

Additional Pool Sessions:  Occasionally, at the discretion of the instructor the student may be required to complete additional pool sessions prior to beginning the open water portion of the class. 

Additional Dives:   Occasionally, at the discretion of the instructor the student may be required to complete additional dives in order to complete the class