Training Assistant

OVERVIEW

This course is to qualify the diver in the skills and knowledge necessary to perform as a training assistant during diver training sessions. The key objective is to train divers to assist others during training activities overseen by an active-status NAUI Instructor. This course is to enhance the diver’s general skills and abilities and is not a substitute for specific NAUI courses which create NAUI leadership members. Although this course results in certification as a Training Assistant it does not confer any NAUI Leadership certification nor does it qualify the graduate to apply for or receive the benefits of NAUI membership. Consequently, this certification does not allow the graduate to be counted toward student instructor ratios.

Certified training assistants are qualified to perform the tasks of:

• Temporarily directly supervise remaining students while an instructor conducts a skill with other students.
• Escorting no more than two diving students on the surface and on underwater tours.
• Assisting an active-status NAUI Instructor with other tasks which enhance the safety of students or improve the efficiency of diver training so long as the assistant is under the direction of the instructor and no other standards are violated.

• Age: Minimum of 18 years.
• Certification: Training and experience equivalent to at least NAUI Advanced Diver.
• Rescue Certification: Certification in NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver or equivalent.
• CPR & First Aid Certification: Current certification in First Aid and CPR. Note: Adult CPR training (approximately four hours) meets the requirement for Training Assistant certification. However, additional CPR training that includes two-person CPR and the use of rescue breathing barrier devices, e.g. pocket mask®, face shield, is required to meet the requirements for NAUI leadership certification.

• Compass navigate:
  – a reciprocal course to within 10 feet (3 m) of origin without using visual references
  – a square pattern to within 10 feet (3 m) of origin. Distances shall be as great as appropriate for environmental conditions.
• Assist divers simulating each of: a muscle cramp, anxiety, a breathing difficulty and signs of pre-panic.
• Assist/ escort each of: a tired diver, and an incapacitated diver to safety.
• Be in charge of and satisfactorily act as an escort during an open water dive for two other divers.
• Demonstrate a satisfactory scuba diver rescue. (See “Details of Selected Skills”.)

• Review of rescue techniques with emphasis on local conditions including problems, possible situations, search techniques, rescues, assists, tows, carries and in-water rescue breathing. Emergency management procedures as applied to divers in open water training in the applicable area. Deployment and use of emergency oxygen first aid. (Certification as an “oxygen provider” is recommended.) Review of first aid as related to diving in particular.
• Underwater communications techniques to be used by instructors and assistants. The deployment of dive area designators as appropriate for the area. Open water diving procedures and group control. The specifics of arranging and planning for a training dive. Techniques of escorting students on the surface and during underwater tours and during navigation exercises. Safety oriented boat operation and boat diving where appropriate to the area.
• The roles and responsibilities of the “training assistant” and the legal aspects of diver training. The use of briefings, divemaster logs and diver inventory techniques.