Instructor Training Course (ITC)

 

Scuba diving is fascinating and growing sport.  The increased risks and hazards present in an aquatic environment make it necessary for the SCUBA diver to have good health, proper training and experience to make it a safe, enjoyable sport.  To insure proper training of the SCUBA diver, it is necessary to have properly trained and concerned instructors.  Once the candidate has received has/her instructors' certification, he/she has a vast responsibility to their students, other divers, and the diving world. 

An IDEA OWSI rating is not easily achieved, as IDEA ITC's demand a very high degree of knowledge, water skills, and open water skills.  It is to the candidate's benefit to be well prepared when he arrives for an ITC.

 

Prerequisites and Qualification  (Minimum Standards)

  • Certification of Dive Master or higher (Can be obtained during the ITC)
  • Minimum age 18
  • 50 logged hours or more
  • More than one year diving experience
  • CPR and First Aid certifications
  • Rescue Diver Certification
  • Medical Form filled out with physical within 30 days
  • Letter of Recommendation  (not required but welcome)
  • Instructor Preparatory Course (recommend not required)

 

Swimming Skills Required

  • 400 yards any different style
  • Tread water 10 mins
  • Tread water 5 mins no hands
  • Retrieve 5 lbs from bottom of pool, tread water 5 mins
  • Swim 75' underwater without aids and no push of side of pool
  • Survival float or bobbing, 15 mins
  • Tow a person of equal size 50 yards with no assistance
  • Rescue Diver skills

 

Knowledge Required

  1. Basic Equipment
    1. Characteristics
    2. Type
    3. Use
    4. Maintenance
    5. Storage
  2. Scuba Equipment
    1. Characteristics
    2. Type
    3. Use
    4. Maintenance
    5. Storage
  3. Physics
    1. Pressure
    2. Sound
    3. Buoyancy
    4. Heat
    5. Vision and Light
  4. Air Mixture
    1. Composition
    2. Percentages
  5. Gas Laws
    1. Boyle’s Law
    2. Charles’ Law
    3. Dalton’s Law
  6. Physiology/ Anatomy
    1. Lungs
    2. Respiration
    3. Sinuses
    4. Heart and Circulation
    5. Ears
  7. Effects of Pressure / Squeeze
    1. Ear
    2. Sinus
    3. Tooth
    4. Intestinal
    5. Thoracic
    6. Mask
    7. Suit
  8. Medical Aspects / Physiological Effects of  Pressure
    1. Nitrogen Narcosis
    2. Oxygen Poisoning
    3. Carbon Dioxide Excess
    4. Anoxia
    5. Vertigo
  9. Diseases
    1. Decompression Sickness
    2. Air Embolism
    3. Pneumothorax (Mediastinal & Subcutaneous
  10.   Decompression
    1. Dive Tables
    2. Worksheet
    3. Problems