Divemaster Roles and Responsibilities

1. Divemaster Roles and Responsibilities

2. Objectives • Identify and discuss the roles of the NAUI divemaster. • List and describe the duties of the NAUI Divemaster. • Distinguish between the roles and duties of the NAUI divemaster.

3. Definitions • Role • A function or office assumed by someone • Duty • Conduct based on moral or legal obligation. • Any action, task, etc. Required by or relating to one’s occupation or position. (Taken from Webster’s New World Dictionary)

4. Divemaster Roles • NAUI leader role model • Promote NAUI = promote yourself • All Assistant Instructor Roles • When acting as an AI • See later slides • Emergency management leader • As long as you are the most qualified • Dive activity Organizer and coordinator • Certified divers only

5. Divemaster Roles • Dive trip Organizer and leader • Certified divers only • Diving Advisor • Private/recreational • Professional • Transfer Responsibility • Underwater guide • Arranged in advance • Business contract

6. Divemaster Duties • All AI duties and responsibilities • When assisting • Planning, organizing, promoting and coordinating diving activities for certified divers. • Conducting pre-dive equipment inspections • Transfer responsibility • Announce everyone is responsible for his/her own equipment • You are all certified divers • Perform inspections • For everyone or no one • Only by request • Not at all

7. Divemaster Duties • Helping divers estimate weighting requirements • Transfer responsibility • Provide estimates • For everyone • For no one • Only by request • Not at all

8. Divemaster Duties • Helping divers prevent or resolve problems • When is the best time to do this • Suggested techniques • Get to know your divers • Listen • Ask open ended questions • Be approachable not judgemental • Anticipation/Advanced visualization • No undue pressure

9. Divemaster Duties • Guiding certified divers underwater • When pre-arranged • Managing emergency situations • Until instructor or more qualified individual takes over

10. Acting as an Assistant Instructor Objectives • Describe the relationship between the divemaster and the instructor. • Describe the relationship between the divemaster and the students. • Describe who other than instructors, may escort entry level students, when they may do so, and the maximum allowable ratio.

11. Divemaster/Instructor Relationship • Instructor is in charge • Teaching/supervision Style vs Technique • What if the instructor is unsafe? • Standards • Burnout • Job description • What does the instructor expect of you? • Challenging students • Compatible styles and personalities

12. Divemaster/Instructor Relationship Divemaster/Student relationship • Responsible for teaching • Skills demo must be teaching quality • Knowledge of scuba theory • Equipment knowledge and comfort • Responsible for student safety • Role model as a diver

13. Instructor / Student Ratios Maximum ratios apply to ideal conditions! Entry Level • Instructor alone • 8 students • Instructor with 1 active-status assistant • 10 students • Instructor with 2 or more active status assistants • 12

14. Instructor / Student Ratios Courses beyond entry level • Instructor alone • 10 students • Instructor + 1 Active status assistant • 16 students • Instructor + 2 active status assistants • 20 students • Instructor + 3 active status assistants • 22 students

15. Active Status Assistants • NAUI Instructor • Active status • Sustaining with insurance • NAUI DMs active status • NAUI AI active status • NAUI Skin Diving Instructor • Scuba certified • Rescue certified • Other agency members with corresponding ratings

16. Escorting Students • Certified assistants may escort students during • Surface excursions and exits • Ascents and exits • Temporarily attend to students while the instructor conducts a skill with other students.

17. Touring • During the second or subsequent open water dives, pairs of students may be escorted on tours • The instructor must evaluate the following skills for each student before that student is allowed to tour with a certified assistant:

18. Touring Student skills to be evaluated: • Regain, replace and clear a regulator • Regain primary regulator from behind the shoulder • Mask clearing including removal and replacement • Hover without support or significant movement • Give, recognize and respond appropriately to common underwater communications

19. Touring • Share air with another diver as both donor and recipient • Monitor air supply and, upon request, communicate amount remaining

20. Training Assistant Does not count toward ratios but may escort 2 students on underwater tours Requirements • NAUI Advanced or Equivalent • NAUI Scuba Rescue or Equivalent • CPR and FirstAid • Navigation • Reciprocal course within 10 feet • Square pattern within 10 feet

21. Training Assistant • Assist divers simulating • Muscle cramp • Anxiety • Breathing difficulty • Signs of pre-panic • Assist/escort a tired and an incapacitated diver to safety • Be in charge of and satisfactorily act as an escort during an open water dive for 2 other divers • Demonstrate a satisfactory scuba diver rescue