ITDA Intro to Scuba Diving Program

• The ITDA®-IHMP™ International program provides entry-level SCUBA certification and experience programs.
• Written and edited by Steve Craig-Murray.
• ITDA has been training divers since 1998.

Table of Contents Overview

• The guide includes an introduction to scuba diving, buoyancy, diving physics, underwater environments, and safer diving practices.
• It also contains a workbook quiz and information on next steps and diver certification levels/courses.

Introduction to Scuba Diving Program

• It is designed for people wanting to experience diving without a full training program or to safely try scuba diving.
• The ITDA program offers safe, professional training with great value.
• Intro to Scuba can be completed in half a day (3-4 hours) for Basic Level Certification with 30-45 minutes of theory, one training/practice dive, and one experience dive, with a one-year certification validity.
• A whole-day option (around 6 hours) includes 3 Scuba Dives, one training dive, and two experience fun dives, certifying participants at the Introduction Scuba Level valid for two years.
• Both programs enable upgrades to higher levels within the valid period, with credit for completed training.
• The ITDA Scuba Open Water Diver program is a 2-3 day course with 5-6 hours of theory and self-study along with 6 open water dives.
• Upon completion, one will be certified to dive to 20m/66ft under supervision with ten dives, and enter resort specialist dives.
• Advanced certification allows diving to 30m/100ft under supervision with ten dives and access to ITDA Specialist Dives; next level is ITDA Rescue Diver, required before advanced diving.
• Certifications are valid for two years with upgrade options to the Open Water Scuba Diver, Dry Suit Scuba Diver, or Sports Scuba Diver+ levels.

About ITDA-IHMP International

• They have been training and certifying divers and providing first aid for diving globally since 1998.
• They are recognized for high safety and education standards and approved by the UK HSE.
• Many training programs can be taken online through the ITDA® Academy.

Introduction to Scuba Diving: Background

• It offers individuals with no prior experience a safe, fun, practical certification program
• It teaches the skills to safely enjoy exploring the underwater world.
• The program includes an introduction to scuba diving equipment, the underwater environment, safe diving practices, and entry-level scuba certification programs.
• It also qualifies one to enter an Open Water Scuba Diver program.

ITDA Introduction

• It is the start of a Scuba diver training program, resulting in a basic Scuba Certification as an Introduction or Entry Level Diver.
• It allows upgrading to a Full diver certification program within 12-24 months and doing the training without certification as an "Experience ONLY Program".
• A basic theory module, training dive with skills in confined water, and an actual scuba dive led by a qualified instructor.
• Complete 2 dives, or 1 training session and 1 dive, for basic certification, with 2 experience dives for the Entry level Scuba Diver Certification. There are online e-Certifications available.
• Must complete the workbook and Instructor Presentation with the Intro Level Scuba Diving Quiz to get certified. E-certification is from $30 USD or €25 euros.
• Completing the training and quiz results in a unique e-Certification as proof of experience, qualifying entry to the next level with upgrade to Scuba Open Water Diver within 2 years.
• The Open Water/Sports Scuba Diver or Club Diver programs obtain an international Sports Diver rating (license to dive without supervision).
• This certification lets you purchase air fills, book dive travel, and buy diving equipment and progress to becoming a Rescue or "Specialist" diver.

ITDA Entry Level Diver Workbook

• The key need is to breathe underwater using a regulator
• Divers should breathe continuously and never hold their breath.
• The SCUBA regulator is simple to use, placing it in the mouth and breathing; practice breathing with the regulator with the head in the water.
• SCUBA regulators may appear complicated but are very simple and easy to use; instructors demonstrate how to breathe underwater.
• Always remember to breathe and never hold your breath.

SCUBA Diving Mask

• A SCUBA mask allows you to see clearly underwater, and instructors help select one that fits comfortably.
• The position of the mask strap is important
• Wear it evenly around the head to avoid pain.
• The mask creates an air space to focus eyes underwater, making objects appear larger and closer by 25%.
• Use a snorkel to breathe out fully and inhale deeply; ask instructors why this is important.

Snorkels and Masks

• Their main function is for saving air in the cylinder for the dive.
• Breathing with the head in the water to see the fish
• Fins are important as well for moving comfortably in the water.

Types of fins

• Full foot for bare feet
• Used for both snorkeling and diving
• Open heel for use with dive boots
• A diving mask is critical for clear vision, unlike swim goggles, because you cannot equalize the mask underwater
• Instructors demonstrate the "Flutter Kick" for effective underwater and surface propulsion.
• Snorkeling can enhance scuba diving skills

Scuba diving gear

• Buoyancy is the most important concept for scuba diving.
• Humans are naturally buoyant, making it hard to sink, so lead weights help divers descend.
• Weight belts hold these weights for a comfortable fit

Buoyancy states

• Positive: not sinking
• Neutral: neither sinking nor floating which is perfect for scuba diving like a turtle which is not floating or sinking to the bottom
• Buoyancy positions are practiced to get the feeling

Buoyancy continued

• Positive buoyancy means Floating
• Neutral Buoyancy entails not sinking and not floating for seeing marine life without damaging the plants

Negative buoyancy

• Negative buoyancy involves sinking or resting on the bottom.
• Wrecks, being negatively buoyant, form artificial reefs, attracting various fish species for shelter.
• Divers should aim for neutral buoyancy.
• Control buoyancy can be achieved via weights and BCD

BCD Buoyancy Control

• BCD allows control of position in the water used for swimming

BCD Components

• Buoyancy Control Device/STAB Jacket/Buoyancy Compensator
• Safety devices like a whistle
• Straps and cummerbund
• Low-Pressure inflator/Deflator
• Dump Valves

Air Pressure When Diving

• Surface level contains 1 bar/1atm of pressure
• The weight of the earth's atmosphere measures these
• At 10m/33ft underwater, the pressure is 2 bars (1 bar from the atmosphere, 1 bar from the water).
• The effects of pressure happen very quickly with depth.

Pressure Effects

• Felt in body air spaces (i.e., ears and sinuses.)
• At 2 meters / 6 feet, pressure is high enough for people feel it.
• Divers need to know how to deal with the pressure underwater
• During a dive, air spaces can be compressed leading to pain, by releasing air until the space is equal, the pain ceases
• Breathing out gently until the air space in the ears equalizes with the surrounding water pressure.
• "Equalize" pressure every few feet for comfort.

Underwater Environments

• The diving mask must be equalized.
• The space must be also equalized to the surrounding water pressure, or it will squeeze your face slightly.
• Very few people share the ability to enjoy the amazing peace like being weightless underwater.
• By looking up and softly pushing air through the nose, you can easily equalize pressure; do not use the mouth.
• Goggles are for swimming, masks are for diving.
• If the dive sight is sandy, watch the amount of sediment being kicked up, as this will affect viability

Underwater Safety

• Divers should move slowly.
• SCUBA gear is needed to survive.
• Breathing comes form the regulator
• Not using arms; rely on fins, coupled with head direction

ITDA Entry Level Diving

• Listen Carefully, mind the Heavy tanks, and always be aware of where your safety is and the locations of people there for you
• No playing, distract other divers and know when you will need to attract a safety officer

Safe Diving

• Listen carefully
• Handle the SCUBA gear with care, it is expensive
• Stay in sight of instructors
• Don't touch gear of others
• Know all the underwater signals
• Mimic all your instructor shows as to not injure yourself
• If the steps above are followed, you are in line to complete a resort or sports dive

Diving Skills

• Some very simple tasks used to secure a safe dive
• Instructors will decide on all skills
• Skills shown very carefully

Regulator Skills

• Remove and replace with removal of all water
• Practice with best skill

Regulator Recovery

• Optional task of removing regulator and recovering on side

Mask Skills

• Practice clearing the mask with no water
• This helps practice mask skills and equalizing the mask.

Diving skills practice

• This is all after Mask & regulator control have been completed
• Practicing underwater movement

Buoyancy Training

• The BCD and instructor must be neutral
• Practice moving, and do not make sudden movement which can result in a roll
• Remember, only use thighs when swimming

Entry level skills

• Completion of program and completion of full dive
• Continuation of the Skills part with an Open Water Fun Dive, for experience to NOT deeper than 12m/40’ft.
• Successfully complete this and you level up

Scuba Certifications are about standards

• They are all mainly equal
• Certification gives rights to purchase equipment, join locations and more unsupervised
• Depth of 20metres/66'

Entry Level Additional Skills

• Donning Equipment without assistance, Buddy checks, Self Checks
• Equipment: Getting Scuba fully together
• Get very stationery: Octopus, AAS and Removal & Replacement
• Flood the mask for better water practice
• Do this all: pivoting, inflated and in a control place
• All done to 12m/40'ft

Diving Health

• Its possible that you may be stressed
• Stay healthy and happy to make for a better dive
• Underage must be authorized
• Full detail forms are needed
• Link found throughout the guide

Dive Safe Quiz

• Why be fit to dive
• What is scuba
• Remember no breath holding
• Why a goggles
• What is Earth pressure
• What pressure at 5 meters
• Why do we need a mask
• And what is netraul buoyancy
• Why is it important
• Do we true or false need a tank certificate

Next steps

• Training/Instruction from expert is always the most reliable
• Program is for most levels of help.
  • Scuba International: all that you need to safely enjoy your diving, most recommended depths
• You could be certified within 2/3 day
  • Learn credits earned for next steps in Underwater:
• Underwater basic
• Buoyancy, underwater navigation, -Reef fish and ECO
• All certified towards the ITDA International. -HSE and Rescue trainings available
• Contact experts in the areas