PADI Self Reliant Diver

[DevonDiver]

I decided to do some research, but found very little posted when I searched: "PADI Self Reliant".

The Instructor prerequisites are actually laudably (and suitably) high - so a lot of instructors won't be qualified/experienced to teach it - thus it won't be commonly marketed. All those zero-to-hero types will be gnashing their teeth - but they're the ones who should be taking the course, not teaching it.

I've considered offering the course, but I'm not sure on the return-on-investment to be gained from it - whether I'd have sufficient interest from potential students who meet the pre-requisites (100+ dives).

 

[drrich2]

Does the PADI Self-reliant Diver course have any advantages compared to the SDI Solo Diver course, aside from the greater geographic market penetration of PADI & so, over time, perhaps an eventual greater availability in more areas (though the reverse may be true now, since SDI's program has been out quite awhile, and PADI's is still fairly new)?

Richard.

 

[gypsyjim]

Funny how I had not even thought of the 100 dives as a factor.

You are probably correct in assuming that this course is not going to be a good fit for all dive ops/instructors. I am pretty sure I know of several divers who would be interested in a good course such as this, but I would think that the market for it is somewhat limited, especially if the agency sets and sticks to high standards. High standards in Instruction are no small thing, and that in itself will add to the cost of offering the class.

Hearing instructors such as yourself comment on those standards in a positive way is truly reassuring. I have decided to go sit in on the round table discussion in two weeks, to see what the PADI Course Director I know has in mind, with an eye on taking the class sometime soon.

Thank you all for responding.

 

[bluenose616]

Will the self-reliant course from PADI be acknowledged as a solo divers certificate amongst dive charters? What do you guys think?

 

[DevonDiver]

Will the self-reliant course from PADI be acknowledged as a solo divers certificate amongst dive charters? What do you guys think?

The course goals do strongly emphasize that the qualification is: "To develop the skills of planning and carrying out dives without a partner when preferred or necessary."

As such, it should be recognized by charters. Some education may be necessary, as the course title doesn't necessarily make that clear.

Full details of the course:

General Purpose

The purpose of the Self-Reliant Diver specialty course is to recognize and accept the role of the buddy system and its contributions to diver safety while identifying and developing self-reliance and independence while diving. There are two reasons for an experienced diver to take the Self-Reliant diver course:


• To develop the skills of planning and carrying out dives without a partner when preferred or necessary.
• To sharpen skills of diving self-reliance, making the diver a stronger partner in a dive pair or team.

This course covers when diving alone may be applicable, and the need to compensate for those situations, including dive planning, life support system readiness, adaptive training, equipment and responsibility.


This course is an introduction to self-reliant diving that helps student divers develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary to rely on themselves first, whether or not they are diving with a partner, including:


• The value and application of the buddy system.
• The philosophy of, and motivation for, diving without a partner.
• Potential risks of diving alone, and how to manage those risks.
• The value of equipment redundancy and what back-up equipment is needed.
• Dive planning and gas management.

 

[gypsyjim]

Does the PADI Self-reliant Diver course have any advantages compared to the SDI Solo Diver course, aside from the greater geographic market penetration of PADI & so, over time, perhaps an eventual greater availability in more areas (though the reverse may be true now, since SDI's program has been out quite awhile, and PADI's is still fairly new)?

Richard.

That is exactly the sort of question and discussion I was hoping to get rolling when I started this thread.

A way for even divers who are not instructors to get involved in the discussion and to learn and ask questions.

 

[Searcaigh]

Thanks Jim for starting this thread

This is probably the only other course I would think of taking to be honest with the sole reason of being able to "legally" dive solo when on dive trips.

I too frequently dive solo with my buddy Nikon, sometimes deliberately solo from entry to exit and frequently as part of a buddied dive plan with a pre-planned "I will stay down if you run out of gas and you will ascend while I stay below provided I have something to photograph" Happens to me occasionally when diving one of the wrecks on the east coast of UAE as I will be on Nitrox and I could be diving with somebody on Air and they will not be doing the same bottom time as myself without running into deco.

I noticed that the PADI course involves three dives ..... is that with or without an instructor / buddy?

 

[gypsyjim]

Thanks Jim for starting this thread

This is probably the only other course I would think of taking to be honest with the sole reason of being able to "legally" dive solo when on dive trips.

I too frequently dive solo with my buddy Nikon, sometimes deliberately solo from entry to exit and frequently as part of a buddied dive plan with a pre-planned "I will stay down if you run out of gas and you will ascend while I stay below provided I have something to photograph" Happens to me occasionally when diving one of the wrecks on the east coast of UAE as I will be on Nitrox and I could be diving with somebody on Air and they will not be doing the same bottom time as myself without running into deco.

I noticed that the PADI course involves three dives ..... is that with or without an instructor / buddy?

This is a course outline (from New Zealand, but that shouldn't make a difference)

http://www.techdivenz.com/pdfs/courses/srd.pdf

An English diver posted this after taking the class:

PADI goes solo - Divernet

He described the dives here:

Dive 1
After putting our kit together, we were ready to get wet. We entered the water and conducted buoyancy checks.
After a few adjustments to our weighting, we set off for a relaxed 200m surface swim. Once completed, Simon asked us to descend and hover for a minute at around the 4m mark.
Then it was down to the training platform to perform a simulated regulator free-flow, breathing from our alternative air source for two minutes.
We then performed SAC rate swims, by swimming for five minutes at 10m; the information was recorded on our slates. Finally, we deployed our DSMBs from depth, and ended the dive after completing our safety stops.

Dive 2
During the second dive we were required to demonstrate time, depth and gas-supply awareness by recording our depth and cylinder pressures at 10-minute intervals throughout the entire dive.
The first task was to conduct a “no-mask swim” covering a minimum distance of 18m. We then had to simulate an out-of-air emergency, deploying our redundant gas supply while continuously swimming.
Navigation skills were next on the list. Simon sent us off to find the Viscount cockpit and return to our starting point using compasses. This was followed by navigating our way to the Nautilus submarine and back using natural references. After another five-minute SAC rate swim and deployment of our DSMBs, we terminated the dive.
We calculated our SAC rates during the surface interval, for use on dive 3.

Dive 3
The last dive saw us enter the water, having first calculated and agreed on a turnaround pressure based on our SAC rates and rule-of-thirds gas management. We had to demonstrate depth, time and gas-supply awareness by writing the depth and time on our slates for each 20 bar of gas consumed.
We also demonstrated turnaround pressure and time-limit awareness, when either the pressure or time limit established during the briefing was reached, by writing the time or pressure (whichever came first) on the slate.
On the dive we again performed an emergency OOA drill, swapping to our redundant supplies as we swam.
We ended the dive by deploying our DSMBs, and ascended to 5m to conduct our last safety stop of the day. It was time for a well-earned cup of tea.

 

[knotical]

I noticed that the PADI course involves three dives ..... is that with or without an instructor / buddy?

During dives 1 and 2 the instructor must observe and assess.
Dive 3 may be indirectly supervised, which in PADI parlance means the instructor is ready to enter the water if necessary.
None of the underwater skills require a buddy but instructions for two of the dives say to maintain contact with your buddy on the surface.

 

[bluenose616]

I will be taking the PADI Self-Reliant Course within the next week, and the LDS does not have printed course material. I guess since this course is still very new to the states, materials will be coming at a later date. The LDS course director and I have had some dialog and the only thing that has been mentioned is the list of additional equipment that is recommended by PADI for the course. So I am not exactly sure what to expect, but will be more than happy to share my expirence when I complete the course.