Assistant Instructor

1. Assistant Instructor Roles and Duties

2. Objectives • Discuss the roles of the NAUI Assistant Instructor • Describe the roles of the NAUI Assistant Instructor • Compare the qualifications of the NAUI Assistant to that of the NAUI divemaster. • State the primary difference between acting as a NAUI Divemaster and acting as an Assistant Instructor while working with a NAUI instructor.

3. Roles of an AI • Naui Leader Role Model • You represent NAUI and the Instructor • Training Assistant • Take what you are doing seriously without taking yourself too seriously • Be an asset to the instructor • Proficient Skill Demonstrator • Do it right the first time • Accept criticism and correction

4. Roles of an AI • Logistics Manager • Allow the instructor to concentrate on the class • Not necessarily how we do it here • Tutor • Know your stuff • Able to answer questions without taking away from water time

5. Roles of an AI • Clerical assistant • Know the system and be prepared to help • Communications assistant • Get it right and help avoid confusion • Students may be more willing to talk with you • Active Enthusiastic Diver • Help give the class a lift without distracting form the instructor • Good for the class to know you dive outside class • Always be positive about diving

6. Roles of an AI • Safety-Conscious Diver • Set the example • Careful of war stories • Accident management team leader • Know your role • Help don’t hinder • Temporary Emergency Leader • Keep skills and knowledge current • Be willing to relinquish control • Don’t let ego get in the way

7. Duties of an AI • Assisting with instructional planning and organization • Equipment logistics • Demonstrating skills • Assisting with student skill and knowledge development • Assisting with record keeping

8. Duties of an AI • Assessing student progress and development • Provide feedback but remember the instructor has the final word • Providing feedback to the instructor • Be objective about • Students • Instructor • Helping make student learning enjoyable

9. Duties of an AI • Helping maximize student safety/minimize student risk • Grading student exams • You can learn a lot from this • Conducting pre-dive equipment checks • Transfer responsibility to student • In class setting we are ultimately responsible • Be familiar with gear from shop/dive locker • Be careful what you say about the gear

10. Duties of an AI • Conducting buoyancy checks • Be familiar and comfortable with instructor’s method • Escorting students • On the surface • Underwater • Assisting with emergencies • Be calm and do your job

11. Duties of an AI • Monitoring and helping control students • Fair • Firm • Courteous • Consistent and objective • Helping prevent, recognize and resolve problems • Be constructive and focus on providing solutions • Assist the student to work out a solution

12. Qualifications of the NAUI AI • Certification as a NAUI Assistant Instructor authorizes individuals to assist active status NAUI instructors in the conduct of dive training. • An active status NAUI AI may be counted toward ratios. • After assisting an active status NAUI instructor with at least one complete NAUI scuba diver course, a current NAUI AI is qualified, if all other prerequisites are met, to enter a NAUI ITC>

13. Acting as a Dm vs. Acting as an AI • When acting as a NAUI Divemaster you are in charge of the diving operations and activities for certified divers . • May be subordinate to the boat captain • Can’t physically force divers to comply • Publically transfer responsibility and risk • When acting as an Assistant Instructor to a NAUI instructor you are subordinate to that instructor.

14. Summary • There is significant overlap between the roles and responsibilities of the NAUI Assistant Instructor. • Ultimately the goal is to assist the instructor in providing high quality enjoyable training to the students, while minimizing risk to the students.