Scuba Camp

A day camp for children between the ages of 10 to 14 years.

 Each participant:

Ø                  Must be at least 10 years of age before the first day of camp.

Ø                  Must fill out a medical statement and have that statement signed by a  physician.

Ø                  Must supply swimsuit, towel, and transportation to the camp.

Ø                  Must possess basic watermanship skills.

 Equipment provided:

Ø                  Masks, snorkels, fins, snorkel vests, buoyancy control devices, regulators, depth gauges, submersible pressure gauges, alternate air sources, tanks, wetsuits, and weight systems.

Ø                  Discover Snorkeling text

Ø                  Skin Diver Certification materials

Ø                  Log books

Ø                  Underwater Cameras and processing

Ø                  Project AWARE Recognition Materials

Ø                  Peak Performance Buoyancy Recognition Materials

Ø                  Scuba Camp Shirts

Ø                  Patches, stickers, and temporary tattoos

Programs:  

Day 1:

PADI Skin Diver

Participants meeting the performance requirements will receive a certification as a PADI Skin Diver. 

 The purpose and value of the PADI Skin Diver Course

1. Satisfies the desires of those wishing to explore beneath the water’s surface without scuba.

2. Helps individuals progress beyond the snorkeling and learn the skills necessary to enjoy skin diving.

3. Allows individuals to enjoy themselves while building confidence in their skin diving abilities, develop good judgement and gain experience under the supervision of a PADI professional.

 Participants will:

Ø              View the Discover the Underwater World video

Ø                 Prepare, don, adjust and remove all skin-diving equipment independently

Ø                  Check equipment and the equipment of another diver for malfunction and maladjustment

Ø                 Make safe entries and exits into the water, including boat entries, using a variety if techniques appropriate for local conditions.

Ø               Achieve neutral buoyancy at the surface by independent selection and adjustment of weights as necessary.

Ø                 Control the airway to prevent choking while breathing through a snorkel.

Ø             Orally inflate and completely deflate a buoyancy-control device at the surface.

Ø              Remain withing 10 feet of a buddy diver continuously while at the surface.

Ø                  While wearing snorkeling equipment, swim proficiently at the surface in water too deep to stand up in.

Ø                Dive vertically headfirst from the surface in water too deep to stand up in.

Ø                    Swim at least 50 feet underwater on a single breath of air.

Ø                   Ascend safely by looking up and around while swimming, and by holding one hand over the head.

Ø                Clear a snorkel of water by using the blast method and by resuming breathing through the snorkel without lifting the face from the water.

Ø              Swim on the surface and underwater in snorkeling equipment while maintaining control of direction.

Ø               Remove and replace a weight belt at the surface in water too deep to stand up in.

Ø               Correctly interpret and respond to PADI standard signals, at the surface and underwater.

 Day 2

PADI Discover Scuba

Participants meeting the performance requirements may earn credit towards the PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver course.

 The purpose and value of the PADI Discover Scuba course

1. Permits individuals to experience scuba in a safe controlled environment.

Answers concerns about the individual’s ability to participate in scuba diving

3. Allows participants to begin to learn to scuba dive without a huge time commitment

 Participants will:

Ø                    View Module One of the PADI Open Water Diver video.

Ø                  Don and adjust mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, scuba unit, and weights with the assistance of a buddy, instructor, or certified assistant.

Ø                 Inflate and deflate a BCD at the surface using the low pressure inflator.

Ø               In water shallow enough to stand in, demonstrate proper compressed air breathing techniques: remembering to breath naturally and not hold the breath.

Ø                Clear a regulator while underwater using both the exhalation and purge methods and resume breathing from it.

Ø             In shallow enough to stand up in, clear a partially flooded mask while underwater.

Ø               In water shallow enough to stand up in, recover a regulator hose from behind the shoulder while underwater.

Ø                 Swim underwater with scuba equipment while maintaining control of both direction and depth, properly equalizing the ears and mask to accommodate depth changes.

Ø                    While underwater, locate and read the submersible pressure gauge and signal whether the air supply is adequate or low based in the gauge’s caution zone.

Ø                In water shallow enough to stand up in, breathe underwater for at least 30 seconds while an alternate air source is supplied by another diver. 

Ø                   While underwater, recognize and demonstrate standard hand signals.

Ø                    Demonstrate the techniques for a proper ascent.

Ø                    Have fun and practice skills.

Day 3

Peak Performance Buoyancy

participants meeting the performance requirements will receive a Peak Performance Buoyancy Certificate of Recognition.

The purpose and value of the Peak Performance Buoyancy Course:

1. Teach divers how to properly set up and wear the correct amount of weight, which makes diving easier and more comfortable, thus more fun.

2. Fine tune neutral buoyancy underwater, which allows for extended bottom time through reduced air consumption and more positive interaction with aquatic life.

3. Improve buoyancy control and body positioning, which helps preserve the fragile underwater environment and prolongs the life of dive equipment.

4. Slow and control descents and ascents, which improves safety and increases confidence.

5. Encourage divers to practice skills and gain dive experience under the guidance of a dive professional.

 Participants will:

Ø                    View the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy video.

Ø                 Don and adjust mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, scuba unit, and weights with the assistance of a buddy, instructor, or certified assistant.

Ø                    Conduct a buoyancy check.

Ø                Fine tune buoyancy underwater

Ø               Correctly position and distribute weights for comfort and desirable body position.

Ø              Streamline diving position.

Ø               Visualize proper diving techniques .

Ø                    Hover for no less than one minute without kicking and sculling to maintain position.

Day 4

Underwater Photography

Participants will learn simple snapshot photography techniques, shoot an entire roll of film, and upon processing, self critique the end result.

 The purpose and value of Underwater Photography

1. Develop practical knowledge of photographic principles, composition, available light, and camera handling techniques.

2. Develop practical knowledge of the preparation, care and maintenance of photographic equipment.

3. Improve diving ability and provide the diver with additional supervised experience.

 Participants will:

Ø                   View the PADI Underwater Photographer video.

Ø                 Don and adjust mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, scuba unit, and weights with the assistance of a buddy, instructor, or certified assistant.

Ø                Plan and  organize a confined water dive while photographing objects of interest.

Ø               Prepare and maintain photographic equipment.

Ø            Maintain neutral buoyancy while taking photos.