The underwater portion of the class starts out with bouyancy & trim skills. It's nothing terribly difficult ... Being properly weighted is key. You also want to make sure all your equipment is clipped off so it's not dangling. Last but not least, you need to be able to get around without using hands to steer. Keep those hands tucked in!
There are three hula-hoops to swim/weave through ... it's OK to touch them as long as you don't drag them with you. Then you descend to a spot on the bottom, stay there a bit, go to the surface, then go back down, hover for a bit, then descend to another designated spot on the bottom.
After that, there's a rectangular PVC frame about 5' long and about 3x3' sitting on the bottom. You have to swim through that without disturbing it too much. The last test involves picking up a metal bar - I'd guess about 5 lbs - and moving it about 5 feet.
Try to be the first group in the water, so your buddy can practice the course as much as possible before the evaluation begins. A few practice runs will make a big difference.
