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Multilevel Certification, an explanation;
Based on the student’s ability to successfully challenge the HSA Physical Performance Standards, we developed the Multilevel Certification, a performance-based method of assessing and accommodating the disabled diver’s specialized needs. The basic theory for this type of certification is:
Level A.
The student has successfully challenged all of the HSA physical Performance Standards, demonstrating that he or she can safely scuba dive, solve basic personal emergencies, help another diver in distress, and perform basic rescues.
Level B.
The student has successfully challenged those HSA Physical Performance Standards that demonstrate their ability to safely scuba dive, and to solve basic emergencies. However, they are unable to successfully challenge those Performance Standards that demonstrate their ability to help another diver in distress.
Therefore, the Level B diver is certified to scuba dive with Two Dive Buddies who are certified Level A or above. In the case of an emergency, this system will provide an effective dive buddy for all members of the dive team.
Level C.
The student has successfully challenged those HSA Physical Performance Standards that demonstrate their ability to safely scuba dive. However, they are unable to successfully challenge those performance standards that demonstrate their ability to independently solve basic personal emergencies, or to execute basic scuba skills, such as, descending, swimming underwater, or operating their own BCD (buoyancy control device).
Because some of the basic scuba skills must be performed for them by a dive buddy, they are certified to dive with Two Dive Buddies, one certified Level A or above, the other assisting buddy certified at the minimum as a Rescue Diver. This assisting buddy would preferably be an HSA-certified Instructor, Assistant Instructor, DiveMaster, or Open Water DIve Buddy.
The Benefits of the HSA
Physical performance Standards and Multilevel Certification are:
1. It standardizes the appropriate action to take when a student cannot successfully challenge certain physical performance standards. This enables the Instructor to function within the realm of the familiar, i.e. performance standards, rather than the unfamiliar, i.e. disability types.
2. A standardized course of instruction creates more diving opportunities and safer divers by ensuring that all procedures for safe diving are mestered.
3. There are certain special skills that a disabled diver needs, over and above those of the able-bodied diver.
HSA
Basic Open Water Scuba Diver
1. General
This course is the basic HSA entry-level certification course in SCUBA diving, It is designed to accommodate a wide variety of disabilities while maintaining a high level of safe diving practices. |
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2. Course Objectives
This course is complete entry-level certification course in SCUBA diving offering three (3) levels of certification based on the student’s ability to fulfill HSA performance requirements.
3. Qualification of Graduates
When successfully completed, course graduates will be considered competent to engage in open water skin and SCUBA diving activities without direct supervision, providing:
a. Diving activities approximate those in which the diver was trained.
b. Dive site environment and conditions resemble those encountered during training.
c. Diver complies with all HSA recommended diving procedures.
d. Maximum sport diving depth of 130 feet/ 40 meters.
4. Who May Teach
This course may be taught by an active Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor in good standing.
5. Prerequisites for Entering Course
a. No prior certification is required, however, it is recommended that familiarity with the aquatic medium and basic swimming skills be acquired prior to
course enrolment.
b. Minimum age for Basic Open Water SCUBA Diver Certificaiton is 15 years old. Students, age 10 through 14 may be accepted into this course in accordance with HSA Junior Basic Open Water SCUBA Diver course standards.
6. Required Academic Minimums
a. Review and sign HSA Guidelines for Safe Diving
b. Plan and execute a deep dive, a night dive, and a wall/mid-water dive.
c. Multi-level diving, dive table and computer use.
d. Navigational techniques, including topographic and / or compass methods.
e. Local marine life orientation.
f. Air sharing techniques including octopus back-up regulator, integrated air source, buddy breathing and mid-water buddy breathing.
g. Sign-off HSA Guidelines For Safe Diving in a classroom setting.
7. Required Course Minimums
a. Complete Academic Requirements.
b. Open Water dives; complete the following five (5) supervised SCUBA dives.
1) Plan and perform a DEEP DIVE 85 – 100 Feet (26 – 30 meters), solve 3 math problems, and / or tie 3 different knots at the deep dive depth.
2) Plan and perform a NIGHT DIVE.
3) Plan and perform a WALL or MID-Water DIVE.
4) Plan and perform a NAVIGATION DIVE. Identify 4 local topographic and compass methods.
5) Plan and perform a Marine IDENTIFICATION DIVE. Indentify 4 local marine animals and one (1) marine plant
HSA Junior Open Water Scuba Diver
1. General
This course is identical tot he HSA Basic Open Water Scuba Diver Course.
2. Course Objectives
This course is a complete entry-level certification course in SCUBA diving for youths 10 – 14 of age.
(3) Three levels of certification are offered based on the student’s ability to fulfill the HSA performance requirements.
3. Qualifications of Graduates
When successfully completed, course graduates will be considered competent to engage i11 open water skin and SCUBA diving activities. When diving with an adult of the parent’s or guardian’s choice, who has received a Level A or above Open Water SCUBA Diver Certification from a nationally recognized diver training agency, providing:
a. Diving activities approximate those in which the junior diver was trained
b. Dive site environment and conditions resemble those encountered during training.
c. The Junior Diver complies with all HSA recommended diving procedures.
d. Maximum sport diving depth of 60 feet / 18 meters.
4. Who May Teach
This course may be taught by an active Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor in good standing.
5. Prerequisites for Entering Course
a. No prior certification is required, however, it is recommended that familiarity with the aquatic medium and basic swimming skills be acquired prior to course enrolment.
b.The age requirement is 10 – 14 years old, however, each student is REQUIRED TO EXHIBIT THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL MATURITY of a fully certified HSA Basic Open Water SCUBA Diver.
6. Required Course Minimums
This course is identical to the HSA Basic Open Water SCUBA Diver Course.
7. Conversion of Conditional Junior Certification
At age 15 the Junior Diver may request any teaching HSA Instructor to convert the conditional Junior Certification to a Basic OpenWater SCUBA Diver. The instructor who handles the conversion may, at their discretion, require a review, practice and evaluation of skills and knowledge.
Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver
HSA Open Water Dive Buddy1. General
This course is the HSA Open Water Buddy Certification Course. It is designed to prepare certified Open Water SCUBA Divers, and above, to be effective and safe dive buddies for certified Scuba divers with wide variety of disabilities. |
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2. Course Objectives
This Course is a complete Certification Course in buddy diving with divers with disabilities.
3. Qualification of Graduates
When successfully completed, course graduates will be considered competent to dive with and assist in open water Skin and Scuba diving activities with certified divers with disabilities, providing that:
a. Diving activities approximate those in which the diver was trained.
b. Dive site environment and conditions resemble those encountered during training.
c. Diver complies with all HSA recommended diving procedures.
d. Dive buddy is an HSA member in good standing.
4. Who May Teach
This course may be taught by an active Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor in good standing.
5. Prerequisites for Entering Course
a. Minimum Certification of HSA Level A Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent certification.
b. Minimum of thirty-six (36) logged scuba dives, not including training dives, within two (2) years prior to the starting date of the Dive Buddy Course.
c. Minimum rescue skills. Successfully challenged HSA Physical Performance Standards IC. 41 and 42, II C. 31 and 32 or equivalent Performance Standards.
d. Minimum air sharing skills. Successfully challenged HSA Physical Performance Standards
I.C. 26,27,28, 31 and 32; II.C. 21, 22 and 24 or equivalent Performance Standards.
6. Required Academic Requirements
a. Meet or exceed academic requirements of the HSA Open Water Dive Buddy Course
b. Sign-off HSA Guidelines for Safe Diving in a classroom setting.
7. Required Course Minimums
a. The number of classroom hours is determined by the time required to complete all the HSA Dive
Buddy Course Lectures. Recommended minimum 6 hours.
b. The number of confined water hours is determined by the time required to complete all the HSA
Dive Buddy Course confined water exercises. Recommended minimum 6 hours
c. Number of open water dive eight (8) to complete all of the HSA Dive Buddy Course open water exercises. |
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