Teaching the Project AWARE and Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialties

1. Teaching the Project AWARE and Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialties Creating Environmentally Responsible Divers

2. Overview • Project AWARE – Goals, Standards and Marketing • Peak Performance Buoyancy – Goals, Standards and Marketing

3. Project AWARE – Goals, Standards and Marketing • What are the goals of the Project AWARE Specialty program? • Offer divers and nondivers an orientation to plight of the world’s aquatic ecosystems • Overviews interdependent nature of worldwide water systems • Explores issues of coastal degradation, overfishing, pollution and degraded environments • Offers solutions and suggestions for action by concerned individuals

4. Research into environmental education shows that it requires more than knowledge to change attitudes and instill a desire to take action.To turn concerned people into action-oriented conservationists, they must understand the issues as well as believe that change is possible.

5. Project AWARE • Goals of Project AWARE Specialty . . . Project AWARE Specialty Program Instructor Outline – Course Overview, A and B • Make people aware of current and future threats to the aquatic environment • Discusses personal responsibility and opportunities to get involved on local, national and international levels

6. Project AWARE • How do you teach the Project AWARE Specialty Program? • Become familiar with Instructor Outline • The more you know, the better you can explain it • Read the AWARE manual • Visit the Project AWARE website – www.projectaware.org • Get involved in environmental organizations and read environmental publications

7. Project AWARE • Teaching the program . . .Project AWARE Specialty Program Instructor Outline – Course Requirements • Because there are no prerequisite requirements, no minimum age requirement and no maximum instructor-to-participant ratio, your judgment is critical • Adjust scope to fit interest and age levels • Relate information to local environment and reinforce that change is possible

8. Project AWARE • Teaching the program . . .Project AWARE Specialty Program Instructor Outline – Course Requirements • Use AWARE manual and globe or world map • Identify vastness of earth’s water resources • Point out areas of fisheries concerns, coastal zones, coral reefs and degraded marine environments • Have Project AWARE brochures , photos, diagrams, videos, posters, etc.

9. Project AWARE • How can you market and promote the Project AWARE Specialty Program? • It’s a “program” because it has a wide variety of uses • Conduct as a course and offer completion cards • Present in conjunction with other PADI courses or environmental projects and offer Project AWARE Certificates of Recognition • Promotional and marketing ideas in Course Overview section of Instructor Outline • Success is limited only by your enthusiasm and innovation

10. Peak Performance Buoyancy Goals, Standards and Marketing

11. Peak Performance Buoyancy • What are the goals of the Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Diver course? • Buoyancy control is critical, yet a struggle for many divers • Attaining buoyancy control appeals to a wide variety of divers

12. Peak Performance Buoyancy • Goals of course . . . • Teach divers how to set up and wear the correct amount of weight • Fine-tune neutral buoyancy underwater • Improve buoyancy control and body positioning • Slow and control descents and ascents • Encourage divers to practice skills and gain dive experience under guidance

13. Peak Performance Buoyancy • How is the Peak Performance Buoyancy course structured? • Designed to be interesting, convenient and require a minimal time commitment • Consists of basic knowledge development and 2 open water dives • May be completed in 1 day

14. Peak Performance Buoyancy • Course structure . . . • Three knowledge development options: • Preferred method — independent learning by watching PPB video and reading log insert • No PPB video — have divers read Peak Performance Buoyancy section of Adventures in Diving manual or Multimedia, and watch Adventures in Diving video • No material — use Peak Performance Buoyancy Course Instructor Outline to deliver information • Go over completed Knowledge Reviews • Prescriptively elaborate on information

15. Peak Performance Buoyancy video

16. Peak Performance Buoyancy • Course structure . . . • Open water dives consist of weighting adjustments and buoyancy skills • Dive One requirements same as Peak Performance Buoyancy Adventure Dive • Consider including confined water session (buoyancy clinic) as part of course • Conduct buoyancy clinic as a stand-alone program or in conjunction with Scuba Review

17. Peak Performance Buoyancy • Course structure . . . • PADI AIs may conduct specialty under the directionof a PADI Instructor • Instructor is available for consultation and co-signs diver Training Record • Allows AIs to ask questions or seek guidance • Makes it possible for divers to receive Adventure Dive credit • Conduct dives at night for divers with Night Adventure Dive or equivalent experience

18. Peak Performance Buoyancy • How do you teach the Peak Performance Buoyancy course? • Documentation requirements: • Administrative paperwork – Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding, Medical Statement and Liability Release • Use Student Record File • Use Specialty Training Record to verify completion of course requirements • Complete and submit a PIC envelope for certification card

19. Peak Performance Buoyancy • Teaching the course . . . • Have a variety of weight systems available: • Webbed belts and solid weights • Belts with pouches • Weight harness systems • Ankle weights • Integrated BCD/weight system units • Variety of buckle styles • Variety of weight stops/keepers

20. Peak Performance Buoyancy • Teaching the course . . . • Select open water site carefully: • Recommended maximum depth is 9-12 metres/30-40 feet • Flat bottom area for practice – sand or platform • Contours and obstacles for depth changes • Little or mild water movement • Create an underwater obstacle course: • Set up before dive and remove after dive • PVC pipe in a variety of shapes • Hula hoops ™ • Buoys or plastic bottles tied in a bunch

21. Peak Performance Buoyancy • Teaching the course . . . • Play buoyancy games or have buoyancy contests • One finger balancing • Close-up contest • Passing the weight • Others . . .

22. Peak Performance Buoyancy • How can you market and promote the Peak Performance Buoyancy course? • Target Open Water Divers immediately after certification • Promote to Adventures in Diving program student divers interested in receiving specialty course recognition • Offer to divers who have purchased new exposure suit, BCD or weight system • Promote to divers interested in underwater photography or videography

23. Peak Performance Buoyancy • How can you market and promote the Peak Performance Buoyancy course? • Encourage divers with professional career goals to obtain demonstration quality buoyancy control • Market as part of an “AWARE Diver” program with the Project AWARE Specialty, AWARE – Fish Identification course and Underwater Naturalist course Ideas?

24. We’ve reviewed . . . • Project AWARE– Goals, Standards and Marketing • Peak Performance Buoyancy – Goals, Standards and Marketing