| 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. |
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
