APD Inspiration Vision/Evolution CCR

AIM

To qualify as a BSAC APD Evolution & Inspiration Diver who is competent to:

• Conduct dives with an open circuit buddy who is a minimum of a Sports Diver (or equivalent), within the restrictions of the lesser of the conditions already encountered by either during their training or previous experience and under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
• Conduct dives with another rebreather diver within the restrictions of the lesser, in conditions already encountered by either during their training or previous experience and within the recommendations of the BSAC publication BSAC Safe Diving.
• Conduct dives with an appropriately qualified diver to expand their experience, within the limits of their rebreather certification, beyond that previously encountered. An appropriately qualified diver would normally be a minimum of Dive Leader or equivalent, but may also be a Sports diver who has additional relevant qualifications (e.g. Extended Range Diver, Rebreather Diver.) gained through formal training with a recognised agency. Such dives should be under the supervision of a Dive Marshal who is ideally an experienced Rebreather diver.
• Dive, subject to a progressive build up of depth experience beyond that encountered during their training, to a maximum depth limit of 40 metres.
• Plan and conduct dives requiring mandatory decompression up to a maximum of 15 minutes of decompression stops.
• Rescue another similarly equipped CCR diver from depth to the surface (It is accepted that the students are able to rescue an open circuit diver to the surface by virtue of the course entry requirements)
• Conduct dives where other divers, capable of providing assistance and rescue management skills, are available at the surface.

COURSE OUTLINE

The Closed Circuit Rebreather diver course consists of the following elements:

• Nine classroom lessons
• A theory assessment
• Two dry practical lessons of two hours + one dry practical or optional classroom lesson of 15 minutes
• One or more sheltered water lessons of not less than 120 minutes total in-water duration
• Eight open water lessons, dependant on student performance, with a total underwater duration of not less than 380 minutes and an individual lesson duration of not less than 45 minutes.

All practical training in both sheltered and open water includes the achievement of specific performance standards at appropriate points throughout the lessons.

EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATION

For Sheltered Water training, the following student equipment configuration is assumed:

• An APD Evolution or Inspiration Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR)
• Access to an Alternate Source (AS) ‘octopus’ demand valve and cylinder contents gauge
• Mask & fins and snorkel
• Weight belt or integrated weights where necessary.

When progressing to open water lessons the equipment should also include:

• A delayed surface marker buoy and reel
• An additional surface detection aid (e.g. a folding flag)
• Protective clothing as appropriate

From Open Water Dive 3 on Evolution courses (Open Water Dive 4 on Inspiration courses) onwards an independent bailout gas supply, sufficient to allow safe ascent to the surface should be carried by each diver. The bailout system will require a direct feed connection compatible with the exhale counter-lung diluent manual injector.

INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS

BSAC APD Evolution/Inspiration Rebreather Diver training is required to be carried out by an approved BSAC Closed Circuit Rebreather Instructor for the specified rebreather.

Assistant CCR Instructors are Open Water Instructors with the appropriate level of diving experience of a minimum of 100 hours whilst using the specified units. They may carry out the instruction of BSAC CCR divers under the supervision of an Approved BSAC CCR Instructor Trainer (or higher). The following levels of supervision apply:

• Classroom and sheltered water lessons under on-site supervision,
• Open water lessons under direct (i.e. in-water) supervision

The process and prerequisites to qualify as a BSAC CCR Diver Instructor, a BSAC CCR Diver Instructor

Trainer or to act as an Assistant BSAC CCR Diver Instructor are defined in the relevant BSAC CCR Diver standards and procedures.

Instructor ratios

Classroom Lessons - theory presentation lessons, the maximum ratio of students per instructor is driven by the logistical size, comfort and media presentation facilities.

Dry practical lessons - To ensure that the student can fully participate in the exercises and receives effective tuition, the lesson contents assume a ratio of two students per instructor.

Practical lessons - student/instructor ratios should comply with the following guidelines:

Sheltered water lessons - As for the Diver Training Programme, the sheltered water lesson notes assume the most likely scenario of lessons being carried out in a controlled environment, where time constraints typically impose a one to two hour limit. In order that all students can receive effective tuition during this time, a maximum ratio of two students per instructor is assumed. In less favourable circumstances, this ratio may need to be reduced appropriate to the water conditions and time available.

Where water conditions allow longer lessons, the above ratios may be increased to a ratio of a maximum of four students per instructor provided that:

• All students can receive effective tuition within the time available
• Underwater visibility is a minimum of 5 metres
• The instructor is of a minimum grade of BSAC CCR Instructor
• The instructor has the assistance of another diver, minimum qualification Dive Leader and CCR Diver (qualified to use the specified units), to monitor the safety and control of students. This safety diver may not teach unless he/she meets the requirements for an Assistant BSAC CCR Instructor.
• The lesson briefing includes clear directions as to the role of the assisting diver during skills instruction.

Open water lessons - Because of the nature of the exercises being taught, the lesson contents assume a ratio of a maximum of two students per instructor, to ensure that each student receives effective tuition.

FACILITIES

Suitable classroom with teaching aids for formal presentations.

A suitable dry area for the dry practical elements.

Suitable shallow water dive site (6 metres maximum) for sheltered water skills development.

Dive sites with 10 metres maximum for open water dives 1 and 15 metres maximum for Open Water Dive 2.

Dives 3 and 4 with maximum depth to 20 metres, Dives 5 and 6 with a maximum depth to 25 metres and Dives 7 and 8 with a maximum depth to 30 metres.

APPROVAL

Technical skill development course approval procedure applies.

LESSON SYLLABUS

Phase 1

Instructor briefing

Theory Lesson Course Overview

• Course objectives
• Course outline
• BSAC CCR Diver (Definition and scope of certification)
• Course implementation
• Course programme

Theory Lesson Introduction to Rebreather

• Overview of Rebreather History and development
• How Rebreathers work
• Types of Rebreather
• Why dive an Evolution or Inspiration Rebreather
• Cost implications of diving a rebreather

Theory Lesson The Evolution & Inspiration Rebreathers

• The Unit Components
• The Unit operation

Dry Practical Lesson Preparing the Unit
This element and the previous classroom elements must be completed before the Open Water Lessons commence.

This session requires each student to have an APD Evolution or Inspiration CCR, a supply of Sofnolime, access to an oxygen analyser, lead weights for countering counter-lung buoyancy and the preparation check list from the Student’s manual.

• Unpacking and specification check
• Disassembly of rebreather
• Identification of components
• Assembly and preparation of rebreather
• Post assembly checks and tests
• Calibration
• Interpreting the control and monitoring system

Open Water Lesson Sheltered Water Skills
See skills matrix for lesson content

Theory Lesson Physics and Physiology

• Revision of Pressure
• Implications for CCR diving
• Gases in Rebreathers

Theory lesson Dive Conduct

• Rebreather skills and considerations necessary to conduct a dive
  Diving sequence
• Monitoring the unit
• Dry suit diving with the CCR

Theory lesson Diagnostics and Resolutions

• Potential problem sources
• Universal action for a safe gas supply
• Interpreting the indications
• Resolutions

Open Water Lesson Dive 1

• See skills matrix for lesson content

Open Water Lesson Dive 2

• See skills matrix for lesson content

Dry Practical Lesson Owner Maintenance Workshop
For this lesson access to appropriate tools and various components will be required. Owner servicing of the following will be demonstrated;

• Mouthpiece
• Manual inflator valves
• Checking and setting intermediate pressures
• Batteries and contacts
• Oxygen sensor fault finding and changing
• Inspection and replacement of O-rings
• Breathing hose fittings
• Counter-lung over pressure valve
• Counter-lung fitting backing seals
• Medium pressure hose re-useable end replacement

Open Water Lesson Dive 3

• See skills matrix for lesson content

Open Water Lesson Dive 4

• Phase 1 Assessment Dive
• See skills matrix for lesson content

Phase 2

Theory lesson Dive Planning
A CCR enabled version of Pro-Dive Planner plus copies of the dive planning worksheet provided in the student manual will be required to support this lesson.

• The qualification
• Dive Planning in 8 steps

Theory Lesson Dive Management Liaison

• Rebreather diver’s duty of care
  The dive manager
• The dive record slate
• Boat diving

Dry Practical / Theory Session Rebreather First Aid

• Caustic burns
• Use of rebreathers for oxygen administration for diving accidents

Open water lesson Open Water Dive 5

• See skills matrix for lesson content

Open water lesson Open Water Dive 6

• See skills matrix for lesson content

Theory Lesson Ownership of the Rebreather

• Implications of CE marking BS EN 14143
• Warranty and Insurance
• Hygiene with the rebreather
• Environmental considerations
• Transporting the rebreather
• Maintenance and servicing
• Implications of add-ons and modifications

Open water lesson Open Water Dive 7

• See skills matrix for lesson content

Theory lesson Dive Marshalling Liaison

• Qualifications
• ‘Duty of Care’
• Dive Marshal
• Dive marshalling slate
• Boat diving

Open water lesson Open Water Dive 8

• Final Assessment Dive
• See skills matrix for lesson content

Theory Knowledge assessment

Open forum and course debrief

Disperse

NOTES

1. This is a five day course. It aids continuity of learning to run it over five consecutive days however, it may be run over two consecutive long weekends with extra time built in for revision of skills. The course is designed to be flexible with regard to delivery. It is not necessary to run the course in the above order except where indicated however, relevant theory or dry practical sessions should always precede wet practical training.

2. Instructors should base their teaching on the BSAC APD Evolution and Inspiration Rebreather Diver Instructor manual plus the APD Owners Manual. A set of MS PowerPoint Visual aids plus support documentation should be delivered for this course, and they are issued with the BSAC APD Evolution and Inspiration Rebreather Diver Instructor pack.

3. The dive planning tool used for the course is based around Pro-Dive Planner and instructors should have access to a CCR enable version of this software. Instructors will also discuss other proprietary dive planning tools as part of the course.

4. Suitably qualified BSAC Instructors (or equivalent) who wish to gain the BSAC APD Evolution and Inspiration Rebreather Diver Instructor status should apply to the BSAC Technical Chief Examiner via BSAC HQ.