Advanced SCUBA Skills for Scientific Diving

Please check the official study guide for the most up to date course information

Advanced SCUBA Skills for Scientific Diving

University
University of Algarve
Module
1. Transferable Skills
Teacher
Semester
Semester 1
Credits
3

This course have an extra cost, is not included on the tuition fee! 

Students should contact the CCMAR Dive Centre (https://www.ccmar.ualg.pt/page/dive-center) for information on prices.

 

This course is designed to train students in advanced SCUBA dive skills, such as stability, team work, problem solving and situational awareness, through  well structured dive planning and strong academic knowledge on gas properties and hazards, gas strategies and management, decompression and adequate equipment use for scientific diving activities. 

An international certification, according to norm NP EM 14153-02, may be awarded through an additional training module.  

 

Course Contents


The class program will be focused on:
Theory component:
a) Physics and physiology:

  • Gas laws
  • Gas properties
  • Gas Toxicity (O2)
  • Hipercapnia
  • Gas poisoning (CO2)
  • Narcosis
  • Use of Helium 

b) Gas management 

  • Calculating appropriated gas supply and gas types for scientific research 
  • Calculating adequate gas reserves 
  • Dive gas and decompression gas
  • Gas rule of half’s and rule of thirds and its application in to scientific diving 

c) Decompression theory

  • Bulman algorithm versus VPM for decompression
  • Dive computer, dive tables and software 
  • Minimum decompression profiles 
  • Emergency decompression
  • The use of enriched gases for decompression acceleration

d) Scientific diving planning 

  • Teams
  • Task assignments 
  • Situation awareness 
  • Risk assessment 

e) Scientific Diving SCUBA equipment

 


Practical application:


a) Underwater stability (buoyancy mastery, trim, balance)
b) Propulsion methods adequate for silty and fragile environments (frog, flutter, modified frog, modified flutter, helicopter turn, backward)
c) Basic manipulation and operation of regulators (including back up) and masks
d) Underwater tank valve manipulation 
e) Use of safety buoys
f) Team position and problem solving 
g) Managing out of gas situations
h) Managing adequate ascend profiles, including minimum decompression while sharing gas to an out of gas diver.
i) Underwater data acquisition on a pre-set monitoring site. 

This class as an entry level prerequisite for students which is to have an Open Water Diver certificate. 
If students successfully pass the class, an international certification is awarded.

 

Initial Competencies

This class has an entry level prerequisite for students which is to have an Open Water Diver certificate or equivalent.

 

Final Competencies

Students will be able to plan in a safe and efficient manner a dive to collect quantitative data from a pre-set underwater monitoring area.

 

Additional information regarding teaching methods

  • The methodology will be theory classes with power point.
  • Theoretical exercises focusing advanced dive planning will be done with all students in an interactive manner.
  • Out of the water practice of the future water skills.
  • Underwater practice after teacher demonstration.
  • Repetition until mastery is obtain.

 

Further course information can be found here: https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C004276/2022
 

There is a limited number of places for each course in the first semester.  Students should contact the Diving Centre as early as possible to guarantee their place.