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Dive Leader training concentrates on the responsibilities and safety aspects of leading an open water dive. Practical lessons in rescue management and rescue skills will give you the confidence and ability to deal with those unforeseen emergencies. Leading a dive will develop your enjoyment and experience as a diver.

Introduction

This is the third diving grade in the BS-AC grade sequence, and the next after Sports Diver. BS-AC consider the dive leader grade to be equivalent to the PADI Divemaster level.

Definition

A Dive Leader can plan and lead a range of dives including those requiring detailed dive, air and decompression requirements planning. They have the skill and level of knowledge to progressively extend both their own and others experience.

Dive Leaders are competent to marshal and supervise branch dives to locations well known to the Branch or using experienced Charter Boat skippers, or in conditions not normally described as 'challenging'. (N.B. while dive leaders are permitted to act as marshals under BS-AC rules, this does not apply in DUSAC, where dive marshals must be advanced divers or above).

Dive Leaders can dive to a depth which is initially limited to 35m but which can subsequently be extended progressively to a maximum of 50m. They can dive with any grade of diver including trainee Ocean divers, on dives supervised by a Dive Marshal. Dive Leaders can also progressively expand their own experience when diving with other Dive Leaders.

Training for Dive Leader involves much greater emphasis on gaining broader experience to supplement the 'formal' lessons.

Lesson Type	Code	Name	Contents
Theory lessons	DT1	The Role of Dive Leader	Personal skill development, building experience, site conditions, types of diving, no clear surface diving, drift diving, night diving, deep diving, Risk assessment, known and unknown sites, leading the less experienced.
	DT2	Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation	Assessing needs, priorities, clear airway, decision process, Artificial Ventilation AV), Cardio Pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
	DT3	Oxygen and Diving Incidents	Oxygen, decompression illness, burst lung, near drowning, shock, Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
	DT4	Casualty Assessment	Completing the casualty assessment forms.
	DT5	Oxygen Administration Equipment	Oxygen cylinders and regulators, pocket masks, oxygen kits, oxygen precautions.
	DT6	Oxygen Administration in Practice	Practicalities, administering oxygen, fluids, evacuation, missed decompression, entonox, safety considerations.
	DT7	Use of Oxygen Administration Equipment
	DT8	Dive Planning	Dive objectives, site information, charts, electronic position fixing, transits, tides, tide tables, tidal flows, weather.
	DT9	Rescue Management 1	Incident prevention, Incident pit, safety, recovering casualties from the water, first aid, records, emergency services, managing activities, delegation.
	DT10	Helicopter Operations	Helicopter evacuations, preparing for a lift.
	DT11	Rescue management 2	Crowd control, media management, incident reporting, legalities.
	DT12	Role of the Dive Marshall	Role of the dive marshal, check lists, diver briefings, marshalling the dive, charter boats, Shot lines, knots, lifting shot lines, Dealing with emergencies.
Dry Practical Lessons	DP1	Dive Marshalling 1
Dry Practical Lessons	DP2	Dive Marshalling 2
Open Water Dives	DO1	Open Water Lesson	Mid-water deployment of Delayed SMB
	DO2	Dive Leading Demonstration	Full demonstration of dive leadership
	DO3	Dive Leader Practice	Practice dive leadership.
	DO4	Shot Recovery	Lifting bags, recovering the shot, mid water deployment of DSMB.
	DO5	Rescue Management Scenarios	Practice management of certain incident scenarios.
	DO6	Diving and Rescue Skills Review	Mask clearing and AAS ascents from 15m.
	DO7	Rescue Skills Review	Rescue from 15m, towing with AV for 50m, CPR, Oxygen enriched CPR.

Instruction

All instruction is to be carried out or supervised by a Nationally Qualified Instructor, minimum Open Water Instructor. Other instructor requirements are as follows:

Dive Leader Syllabus

Introduction

Definition

Theory lessons

Dry Practical Lessons

Open Water Dives

Instruction