Diving

DIVING LATVIA DIVING COURSES




DIVING COURSES

 

There are several main diving organizations offering courses from the beginners’ level to the professional. The  The teaching techniques and materials content differ slightly. But, of course, PADI use different books and decompression tables than BSAC. Although PADI and BSAC courses teach pretty much the same and their levels are more or less equivalents, the cross-over from one course to another may be confusing due to the discrepancies in materials, different terms, etc. Usually, the main differences in courses are the length of the course and the price. However, every course is to help people enjoy and improve their diving.


 


PADI courses


BSAC courses


DSAT courses


SSI courses


GUE courses

 




PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)

 

                                                                                    


Recreational diving

 

  • Discover Scuba Diving

- maximum depth: 12m

- pool or open water

 

  • Open Water Diver

- basic learning how to scuba dive

- minimum age: 15

- pool (5 dives) and open water (4 dives)

- theory: 5 sessions

 

  • Advanced Open Water Diving

- deep diving, wreck diving, underwater photography, underwater navigation altitude diving, night diving, etc.

- minimum age: 15

- requirements: PADI Open Water Diver certification

- open water (5 dives)

 

  • Master Scuba Diver

- the highest non professional level

- minimum age: 12

- requirements: PADI Rescue Diver or Junior Rescue Diver certification (or equivalent), five PADI Specialty Diver certifications

 



Instructor courses

 

  • Divemaster

- expanding dive knowledge, dive leadership skills

- minimum age: 18

- requirements: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent), PADI Rescue Diver (or equivalent), 20 logged dives

- theory: 12 topics

 

  • Open Water Scuba Instructor – Assistant Instructor

- course that allows to become a PADI Instructor

- requirements: PADI Assistant Instructor (or equivalent with 6-month experience), 60 logged dives (including night diving, deep diving and underwater navigation), CPR training within the last 2 years

 

  • Specialty Instructor

- chosen specialty (Ice, Deep, Photography, Enriched Air Nitrox, etc.)

 

  • Master Scuba Diver Trainer

- requirements: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor with five PADI Specialty Instructor certifications, 25 PADI Divers trained

 

  • Instructor Development Course Staff

- gaining in-depth instructor knowledge

 

  • Master Instructor

- becoming the an elite dive instructor

- requirements: IDC Staff Instructor certification, PADI Instructor certification for at least 2 years, current Emergency First Response certification, 150 PADI Divers trained

 

  • Course Directors

- highest rating among PADI courses

- requirements: all PADI certifications, experience working with a PADI Dive Center

 



Rescue

 

  • Rescue Diver

- self-rescue, emergency management, in-water rescue breathing protocole, egress, etc.

 

  • Emergency First Response

- cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, automated external defibrillator training

- no minimum age limit

- no dive certification required

 



Courses for children

 

  • Bubblemaker

- minimum age: 8

- maximum depth: 2m

- pool

 

  • Seal Team

- minimum age: 8

- pool

 

  • Junior Open Water Diver

- minimum age: 10

 

  • Junior Advanced Open Water Diver

- minimum age: 12





BSAC (British Sub Aqua Club)

 



Recreational diving

                  

  • Ocean Diver

- basic skills, safety skills, diving equipment, diving signals, non-decompression diving, etc.

- maximum depth: 20m

- pool (5 lessons) and open water (5 lessons)

- theory: 7 lessons

 

  • Sports Diver

- rescue diving, decompression diving, use of blobs (surface marker buoys), compass navigation, etc.

- pool (1 lesson), open water (5 lessons) and dry (1 lesson)

- theory: 6 lessons

 

  • Dive Leader

- dive leading, marshalling and rescue management, diving in different water conditions

- maximum depth: 35m

- open water (7 lessons), dry (2 lessons), 20 dives

- theory: 12 lessons

 

  • Advanced Diver

- further development of knowledge and skills

- open water (2 lessons), dry (2 lessons), 20 dives

- theory: 4 lessons

 

  • 1st Class Diver

- high level of practical skills and knowledge, organizing and leading diving expeditions

 



Specialty courses

 

  • Equipment Care

- a course on the maintenance of diving equipment

- requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver certificate

- one day of classroom lessons

 

  • Dive Planning and Marshalling

- correct procedures of dive planning and marshalling

- requirements: BSAC Sports Diver certification

- two days of classroom lessons and practical activities

 

  • Search and Recovery Techniques

- correct techniques and practical experience of underwater search

- requirements: BSAC Sports Diver certification (or equivalent)

- two days of classroom lessons, dry practice and open water practice

 

  • Diving Operations Specialist

- completion of Dive Planning and Management, Search and Recovery, Compressor Operation and Equipment Care courses

 



Rescue

 

  • Lifesaver

- lifesaving proficiency (various rescue methods)

- minimum age: 12

- requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver certification

- one day of theory and practical activities

 

  • First Aid for Divers

- basics of first aid

- requirements: being a BSAC member

- one day of theory and practice

 

  • Practical Rescue Management

- rescue management skills

- requirements: BSAC Sports Diver

- one day of theory and open water practice

 

  • Oxygen Administration

- administration of oxygen in case of diving accidents

- requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver

- one day of theory and practice

 

  • Advanced Lifesaver

- requirements: BSAC Sports Diver and Lifesaver certifications

- one day examination

 

  • Diver Rescue Specialist

- completion of Lifesaver, Advanced Lifesaver, Practical Rescue Management, First Aid for Divers, Oxygen Administration

 



Technical diving

 

  •  Nitrox Diver

- safety aspects of enriched air nitrox diving

 

  • Advanced Nitrox Diver

- dive planning, decompression dives using enriched nitrox mixtures

- requirements: BSAC Sports Diver and BSAC Nitrox Diver certifications (or equivalents)

- two days of theory and open water dives

 

  • Extended Range Diving

- efficient and safe deep diving

- requirements: BSAC Sports Diver certification, 20 dives with BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver qualification (or equivalent)

- maximum depths: 10m (1st dive), 20m (2nd dive), 50 (3rd dive)

- three days of theory and practice (3 dives)

 

  • Sport Mixed Gas Recreational Diver

- planning and conducting dives that require obligatory decompression, diving to a limit of 50m for the recreational sport mixed gas qualification or 60m for the normoxic sport mixed gas qualification

- minimum age: 18

- requirements: BSAC Sports Diver certification (or equivalent with a 35m depth certification),  BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver and BSAC Extended Range Diver certifications, about 100 logged dives

- theory, dry lesson, pool and open water dives

 

  • Advanced Mixed Gas Diver

- planning and conducting dives that require obligatory decompression, diving to a limit of 80m

- minimum age: 18

- requirements: BSAC Sports Diver certification (or equivalent with a 35m depth certification),  BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver and BSAC Extended Range Diver certifications or BSAC Sport Mixed Gas Dicer certification (or equivalent), about 100 logged dives

- theory, dry lesson, pool and open water dives

 

  • Advanced Mixed Gas Rebreather Diver

- diving with semi-closed rebreathers and closed-circuit rebreathers, planning and conducting dives that require obligatory decompression, diving to a limit of 80m

- minimum age: 18

- requirements: BSAC Air Diluent Rebreather Diver certification,  BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver and BSAC Extended Range Diver certifications or BSAC Sport Mixed Gas Diver certification (or equivalent), about 100 rebreather dives

- theory, dry lesson, pool and open water dives

 

  • Gas Mixing & Blending

- skills in blending diving gas mixtures

 



 

DSAT (Diving Science And Technology)




Technical diving

 

  • Discover Tec

- technical diving equipment and procedures

- minimum age: 18

- requirements: PADI Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent), 10 logged dives


  • Tec Diver Level 1

- technical diving, gas switch, extended non-decompression diving

-  minimum age: 18

- requirements: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, PADI Enriched Air Diver and PADI Deep Diver certifications (or equivalents), 50 logged dives

 

  • Tec Deep Diver

- technical diving, gas switch, extended non-decompression diving, decompression diving, accelerated decompression diving

- minimum age: 18

- requirements: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, PADI Rescue Diver, PADI Enriched Air Diver, PADI Deep Diver certifications (or equivalents), 100 logged dives

 

  • Tec Trimix Diver

- technical deep diving with trimix

- requirements: PADI Rescue Diver certification (or equivalent with proof of CPR and first aid training within the last 2 years), DSAT Tec Deep Diver certification (or equivalent), equipment requirements

 

  • Master Scuba Diver Trainer

- requirements: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certification, five PADI Specialty Instructor certifications, 25 PADI Divers trained

 

  • Tec Deep Instructor

- requirements: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certification, PADI Enriched Air Diver, PADI Enriched Air Diver Instructor, PADI Deep Diver Specialty Course Instructor, DSAT Tec Deep Diver certifications (or equivalents), 100 logged dives

 

  • Tec Trimix Instructor

- minimum age: 18

- requirements: DSAT Tec Deep Instructor, renewed PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, DSAT Trimix Diver certifications, 200 logged dives, equipment requirements

 

  • Gas Blender

- gas blending (enriched air nitrox mixtures, helium mixtures, etc.)

- minimum age: 18

- requirements: PADI Enriched Air Diver certification (or equivalent)

 

  • Gas Blender Instructor

- requirements: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, PADI Enriched Air Instructor certifications, DSAT Gas Blender certification (or equivalent)


 


SSI (Scuba Schools International)



Recreational diving

  • Try Scuba
- pool (1 dive) and open water (1 dive)
- the main impact on: equipment adjustment, equalizing pressure, breathing, moving through the water, orientation

  • Passport Diver
- diving in a pool and open water
- the main impact on: safety information, learning and practicing basic scuba skills, equipment handling
- maximum depth: 12m
- requirements: completed Try Scuba certificate

  • Scuba Diver
- pool (3 dives) and open water (2 dives)
- learning the basics of diving

  • Open Water Diver
- 6 theoretical lessons (diving equipment, depth and time, water environment, etc.)
- pool (5 dives) and open water (5 dives)
- the main impact on: entering and moving in the water, breathing, controlling buoyancy, scuba diving equipment
- minimum age: 15
- requirements: Passport Diver or Scuba Diver certificate



Specialty courses

  • Advanced Adventurer
- trying out 5 different specialties
- requirements: Open Water Diver certificate

  • Specialty Diver
- 12 dives and completed 2 specialty courses from among the following: Boat Diving, Computer Diving, Deep Diving, Diver Stress & Rescue, Dry Suit Diving, Enriched Air Nitrox, Equipment Techniques, Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility Diving, Search & Recovery, Underwater Photography, Waves, Tides & Currents, Wreck Diving
- requirements: Open Water Diver certificate

  • Advanced Open Water Diver
- 24 dives and completed 4 specialty courses
- requirements: Open Water Diver certificate

  • Master Diver
- requirements: 50 dives and completed 4 specialty courses

  • Century Diver
- requirements: 100 dives



Technical diving

  • TECHXR
- courses: Advanced Nitrox, Technical Foundations, Decompression Procedures, Normoxic Trimix, Advanced Decompression Procedures



Courses for children

  • Scuba Rangers
- minimum age: 8
- diving in a swimming pool with real cylinders

  • Junior Open Water Diver
- minimum age: 10 – 14
- 6 theoretical lessons
- pool (5 dives) and open water (5 dives)
- maximum depth: 18m



GUE (Global Underwater Explorers)



Recreational diving
  • GUE Primer
- non-certification course
- 6h of theoretical lessons and 4 dives
- minimum age: 14
- maximum depth: 12m

  • Recreational Diver Level 1 - Nitrox diver
- 10 lectures, pool/confined water (10 dives) and open water (10 dives)
- minimum age: 16
- maximum depth: 21m
- requirements: 16h of academics and 20 dives

  • Doubles Course
- diving with the use of double cylinders
- at least 6h of lectures and 4 dives
- minimum age: 16
- maximum depth: 18m
- requirements: Open Water Diver certificate

  • Drysuit Course
- prepares for dry suit diving
- at least 6h of lectures and 4 dives
- minimum age: 16
- maximum depth: 18m
- requirements: Open Water Diver certificate

  • GUE Fundamentals
- increasing diver proficiency
- at least 10h of lectures and 5 dives
- minimum age: 16
- maximum depth: 18m
- requirements: Open Water Diver certificate

  • Recreational Diver Level 2 - Triox diver
- preparing for deeper recreational diving
- 9h of lectures and 6 dives
- minimum age: 18
- maximum depth: 30m
- requirements: completed GUE Recreational Diver Level 1 or GUE Fundamentals course and at least 25 dives beyond open water qualification

  • Diver Propulsion Vehicle Level 1 (Open Water DPV)
- prepares for using underwater propulsion vehicles
- 4h of lectures and 5 dives
- minimum age: 16
- maximum depth: 18m
- requirements: completed GUE Fundamentals course, at least 75 dives beyond open water qualification and at least 50 dives beyond GUE Fundamentals training



Technical diving

  • Technical Diver Level 1
- 10h of lectures and 8 dives
- minimum age: 18
- maximum depth: 48m
- requirements: completed GUE Fundamentals (with the Tech-rating) course and 100 dives beyond open water qualification

  • Technical Diver Level 2
- at least 6h of lectures and 8 dives
- minimum age: 21
- maximum depth: 70m
- requirements: completed GUE Technical Diver Level 1 and at least 200 dives (at least 25 dives beyond Technical Diver Level 1 training, at least 50 dives using double cylinders and at least 25 dives using a single decompression cylinders)

  • Technical Diver Level 3
- at least 10 dives
- minimum age: 21
- requirements: completed GUE Technical Diver Level 2 and GUE Cave Level 1 trainings, at least 300 logged dives (at least 200 dives using double cylinders and at least 50 dives beyond Technical Diver Level 2 training)

  • Rebreather Diver
- 12h of lectures and 8 dives
- minimum age: 21
- maximum depth: 30m
- requirements: completed GUE Technical Diver Level 2 (or equivalent) and at least 300 dives beyond open-water qualification (at least 50 dives using double cylinders and at least 25 dives involving stage decompression)



Cave diving

  • Cave Diver Level 1
- 10h of lectures and 12 dives (at a minimum of three different locations, at least 8 night dives)
- minimum age: 18
- maximum depth: 30m
- requirements: completed GUE Fundamentals training and at least 75 dives beyond open water qualification

  • Cave Diver Level 2
- at least 10 cave dives (at a minimum of three different locations)
- minimum age: 18
- maximum depth: 30m
- requirements: completed GUE Cave Diver Level 1 course and at least 200 dives (at least 20 dives using double cylinders and at least 25 non-training cave dives)

  • Cave Diver Level 3
- minimum age: 21
- maximum depth: 30m
- requirements: completed GUE Cave Diver Level 2 and GUE Technical Diver Level 1 courses, at least 300 dives (at least 100 dives using double cylinders, at least 100 cave dives and at least 50 cave dives beyond Cave 2 training)