Tech Rescue Diver

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Technical Rescue & Safety Diver

[/box] Course Overview
The technical rescue diver is trained to operate in a highly stressed rescue environment. Their water skills are honed to perfection. They have the knowledge and skill to extinguish sparks that set off error chains. In addition they can conduct effective risk assessments, prepare emergency plans and have the skills and knowledge to be an effective safety diver.
What’s Involved
This course has three components: Knowledge development, practical application and open water dives, 2 skills dives and 3 rescue scenario dives. These will be scheduled to suit divers enrolled in each course.
Course Skills
Anticipating and avoiding error chains, identifying and managing stress, in water rescue skills for technical divers, O2 tox management. DCS management, role of safety diver, responding to technical diving emergencies, emerency planning
Why Do the Course?
Technical diving is becoming a more popular pastime now amongst all divers. Dives are becomng longer and deeper and using mixed gases and higher PO2’s leading to increased risks of toxicity, thermal and physical stress. A recreational rescue course is no longer sufficient to adequately manage a technical diving incident. In addition many technical dives are conducted further afield and further from help. Learn how to help yourself and others in the high stress situations faced in the technical field.
What’s Included
The course fee covers instructional time, manual, use of facilities including pool. Students are expected to pay any boat costs and accomodation costs required to complete the course but we do have packages available. Only after the successful completion of the course do you pay your certification fee – “you pay for training – you earn the certification”
What You Need
Standard technical diving scuba equipment. Backmount, CCR or sidemount sytems are acceptable.

[button link=”https://swt.ie/padi-tec-rec-courses/” type=”small”] Back to Main Menue[/button] [/et_pb_text][et_pb_cta admin_label=”Call To Action” title=”I WANT TO DO THIS” button_url=”https://swt.ie/book-now/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”BOOK NOW” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”#1e73be” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”center” header_font_size=”26″ body_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_button=”off” button_text_size=”20″ button_border_width=”2″ button_border_radius=”3″ button_letter_spacing=”0″ button_use_icon=”default” button_icon_placement=”right” button_on_hover=”on” button_border_radius_hover=”3″ button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″] [/et_pb_cta][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https://swt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo_home.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Prerequisites
PADI tec 45 or equivalent, 18 years old, minimum of 100 dives, certified oxygen provider
Student to Instructor Ratio
4:1 (maximum)
No. Sessions
Practical application and theory sessions plus 2 skills dives and 3 x open water rescue scenario dives. Minimum 3 days
Equipment
On joining we will send you a kit list, full kit can be rented for the course
Related Courses
Wreck & Advanced Wreck
Cavern, Cave
TEC 40, 45 & TEC 50
Foundations of Safer Diving
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial admin_label=”Testimonial” author=”Kirk K, Kerry” job_title=”Rec Diver” url_new_window=”off” quote_icon=”on” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”#f5f5f5″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” portrait_border_radius=”90″ portrait_width=”90″ portrait_height=”90″ body_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I’ve been diving for over 20 years, including instructing and Matt was able to bring my diving skills and knowledge to a completely new level

[/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_social_media_follow admin_label=”Social Media Follow” link_shape=”rounded_rectangle” background_layout=”light” url_new_window=”on” follow_button=”on”] [et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https://www.facebook.com/Southwestech/” skype_action=”call” bg_color=”#3b5998″] facebook [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network] [/et_pb_social_media_follow][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://swt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/tecrec2.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”https://www.padi.com/scuba-diving/padi-courses/course-catalog/technical-diving-courses/” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

TDI Decompression Procedures

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://swt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Decompression-Procedures2.jpg” title_text=”Start your Elerning with South West Tech Diving our tdi facility number is 1004126″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”https://www.tdisdi.com/elearning-courses/decompression-procedures-diver/” url_new_window=”on” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [box type=”shadow”]

TDI Decompression Procedures

[/box] Course Overview
Over two days you will lean about the theory, skills and practical methods of carrying out safe staged decompression dives up to 45m deep. The course can run as a stand alone but is usually combined with advanced nitrox or extended range, though options to combine with wreck are also good.
What’s Involved
There will be 4 dives and you will build on diving skills to date. You will learn about dive planning, equipment considerations and develop buoyancy, trim and teamwork skills to safely carry out planned decompression diving.
Course Skills
Buoyancy and trim, propulsion techniques, cylinder and stage set-up and rigging, gas management, thinking like a  technical diver, handling emergencies and failures. Decompresison techniques
Why Do the Course?
This course will suit experienced recreational divers and budding technical divers. It opens up longer and safer deep dives whilst adding additional knowledge and skills to your diving. It prepares you to take further technical training such as extended range or trimix diving.
What’s Included
The course fee covers instructional time, manual, use of facilities including pool. Students are expected to pay any boat costs and accomodation costs required to complete the course but we do have packages available. Only after the successful completion of the course do you pay your certification fee – “you pay for training – you earn the certification”
What You Need
Standard scuba equipment plus a spare mask, timing device, a dsmb, a spool/reel with 30m of line. A backmount twinset or sidemount BCD, we recommend Apeks, Razor and X-Deep systems. These may be rented for the duration of the course.

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Prerequisites
Advanced open water or equivalent, minimum of 25 dives, 18 years old
Student to Instructor Ratio
3:1 (maximum)
No. Sessions
3 x theory; practical kit setup session; 4 x open water dives
Equipment
On joining we will send you a kit list, full kit can be rented for the course
Related Courses
Wreck
Advanced Nitrox
Extended Range
TEC 50
Technical rescue and safety

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial admin_label=”Testimonial” author=”Kirk K, Kerry” job_title=”Rec Diver” url_new_window=”off” quote_icon=”on” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”#f5f5f5″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” portrait_border_radius=”90″ portrait_width=”90″ portrait_height=”90″ body_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

I’ve been diving for over 20 years, including instructing and Matt was able to bring my diving skills and knowledge to a completely new level

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Posted in TDI

TDI Technical Sidemount

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://swt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sidemount-SDI-TDI-elerning.jpg” title_text=”Start your Elerning with South West Tech Diving our tdi facility number is 1004126″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”https://www.tdisdi.com/elearning-courses/sditdi-sidemount-diver/” url_new_window=”on” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [box type=”shadow”]

TDI Technical Sidemount

[/box] Who is it for
The TDI Sidemount Diver Course is the ideal specialty for any diver wishing to use this increasingly popular equipment configuration; either as a stand-alone course OR in conjunction with one of TDI’s other open circuit technical specialties such as Decompression Procedures, Extended Range, Trimix, Advanced Trimix, and Advanced Wreck. If this course is combined, the requirements for BOTH courses must be met. The TDI Sidemount Diver course teaches students how to utilize side-mounted primary cylinders as an alternative to the traditional back-mounted method
What you can expect to learn:
 
The TDI Sidemount Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following
 

  • Gas matching procedures to include dissimilar volumes
  • Gas management utilizing independent cylinders
  • Psychological considerations of technical diving
  • Equipment considerations including:
  • Cylinder options
  • Regulator options
  • BCD/harness options
  • Proper weighting
  • Equipment configurations
  • Communication (light and hand signals)
  • Problem solving in a sidemount configuration
  • Diving in tight or confined spaces
  • Conservation
  • Water entries/exits
  • S-drills specific to sidemount diving

Course Skills

  • Propulsion techniques such as the frog kick, modified frog kick, modified flutter kick, backwards kick, helicopter turns, and hand pulling if appropriate for the environment.
  • Demonstrate adequate buoyancy control; ability to hover at a fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet
  • Demonstrate adequate trim; ability to maintain proper position during the descent, bottom, and ascent portion of the dive
  • Perform the following exercises maintaining trim and buoyancy:
    • Unclipping and attaching sidemount cylinders
    • Perform gas switches with and without a mask
    • Demonstrate the ability to safely manage gas in independent cylinders
    • Demonstrate conservation, awareness, and back referencing techniques
    • Deploy a lift bag

What’s Included
The course fee covers instructional time, manual, use of facilities including pool. Students are expected to cover boat and accommodation costs but we have packages available. Only after the successful completion of the course do you pay your certification fee – “you pay for training – you earn the certification”

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Prerequisites
Advanced Diver or equivalent, Nitrox recommended, minimum of 40 dives
Student to Instructor Ratio
4:1 (maximum)
No. Sessions
2 x theory; 1 pool practical kit setup session; 3 x open water dives.
Equipment
On joining we will send you a kit list, full kit can be rented for the course
Related Courses
Wreck & Advanced Wreck
Cavern, Cave
Advanced Nitrox
Decompression Procedures
TEC 40, 45 & TEC 50
Foundations of Safer Diving

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial admin_label=”Testimonial” author=”Kirk K, Kerry” job_title=”Rec Diver” url_new_window=”off” quote_icon=”on” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”#f5f5f5″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” portrait_border_radius=”90″ portrait_width=”90″ portrait_height=”90″ body_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

I’ve been diving for over 20 years, including instructing and Matt was able to bring my diving skills and knowledge to a completely new level

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TDI Helitrox Decompression Procedures

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TDI Helitrox Decompression Procedures

[/box]

Course Overview

Over three days and a minimum of four dives you will learn about the theory, skills and practical methods of carrying out safe staged decompression dives, using up to 35% Helium and no less than 21% Oxygen in your bottom gas in dives up to 45m deep. You will within existing certification limits or combined with advanced nitrox learn about using mixtures of up to 100% Oxygen as a decompression gas.

What’s Involved

There will be at least 4 dives and you will build on diving skills and knowledge to date. You will learn about dive planning, equipment considerations and develop buoyancy, trim and teamwork skills to safely carry out planned decompression diving using helium to reduce narcosis and enhance dive pleasure and safety.

Course Skills

Buoyancy and trim, propulsion techniques, cylinder and stage set-up and rigging, gas management, thinking like a  technical diver, handling emergencies and failures. Decompression techniques

Why Do the Course?

This course will suit experienced recreational divers and budding technical divers. It opens up longer and safer deep dives whilst adding additional knowledge and skills to your diving. It prepares you to take further technical training such as trimix diving or overhead courses such as cave or advanced wreck.

What’s Included

The course fee covers instructional time, manual, use of facilities including pool. Students are expected to pay any gas, boat costs and accomodation costs required to complete the course but we do have packages available. Only after the successful completion of the course do you pay your certification fee – “you pay for training – you earn the certification”

What You Need

Backmount or sidemount technical scuba equipment. We recommend Apeks, Razor and X-Deep systems. These may be rented for the duration of the course.

[button link=”https://swt.ie/tdi-courses/” type=”small”] Back to Main Menue[/button] [/et_pb_text][et_pb_cta title=”I WANT TO DO THIS” button_url=”https://swt.ie/book-now/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”BOOK NOW” admin_label=”Call To Action” _builder_version=”3.16″ background_color=”#1e73be” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” button_border_radius_hover=”3″ button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”on” button_border_radius__hover=”3″ button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”] [/et_pb_cta][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://swt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo_home.png” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”3.23″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”left” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]Prerequisites
Advanced open water and advanced nitrox if not taking as joint course. Minimum of 50 dives, 18 years old
Student to Instructor Ratio
3:1 (maximum)
No. Sessions
3 x theory; practical kit setup session; 4 x open water dives
Equipment
On joining we will send you a kit list, full kit can be rented for the course
Related Courses
Wreck
Advanced Nitrox
Advanced Wreck
Technical rescue and safety
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”Kirk K, Kerry” job_title=”Rec Diver” admin_label=”Testimonial” _builder_version=”3.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” portrait_border_radius=”90″]I’ve been diving for over 20 years, including instructing and Matt was able to bring my diving skills and knowledge to a completely new level

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Posted in TDI

TDI / SDI Solo Diver

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://swt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Solo-Diver-Course-elerning.jpg” title_text=”Start your Elerning with South West Tech Diving our tdi facility number is 1004126″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”https://www.tdisdi.com/elearning-courses/solo-diver/” url_new_window=”on” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [box type=”shadow”]

TDI / SDI Solo Diver

[/box] As experienced divers we usually prefer to dive with our peers, team mates or buddies who we know can help us out in a crisis. When we dive with others though, students or unknowns, we are not only really diving solo, but we are also potentially diving solo with a dependent. THE TDI/SDI solo diver course is the only true solo diving course that qualifies you to dive alone, but equips you with the skills and knwoledge to dive safely with others who may be an unknown qualitity or reliant on you. Photographers this is definitely for you!
What’s Involved
There will be at least 2 dives and you will build on diving skills and knowledge to date. You will learn about dive planning, equipment considerations and develop buoyancy, trim and dive planning skills to safely carry out a solo dive as well as learn how to be a great self reliant team member
Course Skills
Dive planning. Buoyancy and trim, propulsion techniques, backup cylinder and stage set-up and rigging, gas management, thinking like a solo diver, handling emergencies and failures.
Why Do the Course?
This course will suit experienced recreational divers and budding technical divers. It opens up the ability to dive solo and adds additional knowledge and skills to your buddy team diving. It prepares you to take further technical training if desired.
What’s Included
The course fee covers instructional time, manual, use of facilities including pool. Students are expected to pay any gas, boat costs and accomodation costs required to complete the course but we do have packages available. Only after the successful completion of the course do you pay your certification fee – “you pay for training – you earn the certification”
What You Need
Single tank with stage or minimum 7 litre pony. Twin Backmount or sidemount technical scuba equipment. We recommend Apeks, Razor and X-Deep systems. These may be rented for the duration of the course.

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Prerequisites
Advanced open water. Minimum of 100 dives, 21 years old
Student to Instructor Ratio
3:1 (maximum)
No. Sessions
1 x theory; practical kit setup session; 2 x open water dives
Equipment
On joining we will send you a kit list, full kit can be rented for the course
Related Courses
Advanced Nitrox
Decompression Procedures
Helitrox
Technical rescue and safety

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial admin_label=”Testimonial” author=”Kirk K, Kerry” job_title=”Rec Diver” url_new_window=”off” quote_icon=”on” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”#f5f5f5″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” portrait_border_radius=”90″ portrait_width=”90″ portrait_height=”90″ body_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

I’ve been diving for over 20 years, including instructing and Matt was able to bring my diving skills and knowledge to a completely new level

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Posted in TDI

TDI Advanced Wreck

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TDI Advanced Wreck

[/box] Course Overview
In the TDI Advanced Wreck course over a minimum of four days and six overhead penetration dives you will learn the skills and knowledge to safely take your wreck diving to the next level. You will be able to plan dives beyond the natural light zone into the depths of the wreck safely self managing in an overhead environment, navigating hazards, navigation challenges, line work and gas management.
What’s Involved
The course is performance based so may take longer than four days. You will do at least six dives which will significantly exceed the minimum of 100 minutes required. You will dive wrecks within the current limit of your qualification to a maximum depth of 55m.
Course Skills
Wreck assessment and safe entry, navigation and line laying protocols and skills, gas planning and management, emergency procedures, planning, stage management, teamwork and stress management
Why Do the Course?
This course will appeal to experienced wreck divers who are now seeking to move into the technical overhead environment. If you have always wanted to ‘go inside’ then this course will equip you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to do so.
What’s Included
The course fee covers instructional time, manual, use of facilities including pool. Students are expected to pay any boat costs and accomodation costs required to complete the course but we do have packages available. Only after the successful completion of the course do you pay your certification fee – “you pay for training – you earn the certification”
What You Need
Technical scuba equipment plus a spare mask, timing device, a dsmb, a main real plus a safety spool/reel with 30m of line. A backmount twinset or sidemount BCD, we recommend Apeks, Razor and X-Deep systems. These may be rented for the duration of the course.

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Prerequisites
Rescue Diver or equivalent. Highly recommend advanced nitrox/deco pro or Helitrox to get the most out of the course.
Student to Instructor Ratio
3:1 (maximum)
No. Sessions
3 x theory; practical kit setup session; 4 x open water dives
Equipment
On joining we will send you a kit list, full kit can be rented for the course
Related Courses
Helitrox
Technical Rescue and Safety
Extended Range
Cavern / Intro to Cave
Full Cave

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial admin_label=”Testimonial” author=”Kirk K, Kerry” job_title=”Rec Diver” url_new_window=”off” quote_icon=”on” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”#f5f5f5″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” portrait_border_radius=”90″ portrait_width=”90″ portrait_height=”90″ body_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

I’ve been diving for over 20 years, including instructing and Matt was able to bring my diving skills and knowledge to a completely new level

[/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_social_media_follow admin_label=”Social Media Follow” link_shape=”rounded_rectangle” background_layout=”light” url_new_window=”on” follow_button=”on”] [et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https://www.facebook.com/Southwestech/” skype_action=”call” bg_color=”#3b5998″] facebook [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network] [/et_pb_social_media_follow][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://swt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/TDI_Sheild_Logo_only_CMYK.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Posted in TDI

Learning Skills from some instructors might be a waste of time

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Skills are the foundation of safe and enjoyable diving and the building blocks of all diving certifications. The comment here is not that learning skills is a waste of time, but, learn them from the wrong instructor, and you will have to re-do them completely for them to be of any use.
Until you get into deep trimix or cave diving training, there is little emphasis in diving qualifications on anything other than meeting performance based skill standards. That is you can do a shutdown in 40 seconds whilst keeping perfect buoyancy. You can deploy a long hose without it looking like an advanced knitting technique. Very pretty for the video feedback and easily and calmly done in response to an instructors signal. Frankly however not much use in the real world. Neither by the way is the pseudo wanna be military types with camouflage trousers and a ‘my agency is tougher than yours’ attitude. The ripping masks and fins off at random and messing with kit is just dangerous, and not a learning experience that benefits any student. I did my Mod1 a few years ago with an ex military instructor and he was clearly against that type of BS and states in his course materials that he has no time for it. In cave or trimix, lessons have been hard learnt by the instructor and are passed on to the student who will also have gained considerable experience (if wise) before embarking on this route.
It’s little wonder then that we hear so often, its not the agency or the course, its the instructor. Why? Well if all you do is get someone over a fairly subjectively set line on a skill performance, you can sign them off as passing, frankly that sucks. What does the student get? Well, they might have learnt a new skill that they can trot out in response to the appropriate signal from an instructor, but that’s it. What is the students capability to recognise the how, the when, the where but most importantly the why of the skill. Realistic prompts and cues the student will recognise that should kick them into executing the skills should also be included.
Why then are some instructors more valued, have great reputations and their courses felt to ‘graduate’ better divers. Of course, these great instructors are not happy getting students ‘over the line’ they will demonstrate demand and insist that the student executes much higher standards of skill performance. They will be great teachers. That is they will have an empathy and connection to the student and be able to make things understandable in a way that suits the students preferred learning style. I’d have been up for expanding on this point, but to be fair, Mark Powell’s presentation at Dive 2015 on why training doesn’t work, knocked that one out of the park. Worth reiterating his point on how, without practice skill performance drops dramatically in only a few weeks. This is common in motor learning theory. There are a couple of influencing factors. First how well was the skill mastered at the time? If only just over the line the chances of being able to repeat that skill even one week later is slim. The second is how many different ways and scenarios was the skill practiced. Even if you can execute the movements well, learning skills though is wasted in the first place if you don’t know the context and the triggers for using them. Every CCR diver knows how to bail out, its the when, the why and the ‘on to what’ that’s really important. Not leaving it too long, but also not abandoning a piece of life support equipment in an ill thought out rush.
So what do great instructors do? They get you to learn not just the mechanics of the skill, but also the context and scenarios in which that skill is to be applied. This is far more prevalent in technical training than recreational, probably because it’s harder to become a tech instructor with most agencies, tech instructors have a solid basis from teaching recreational and they have probably been in the contexts or situations for which they are teaching. They carefully control the stress levels to which they expose the student, building the students autonomous responses or reasoned responses to the real life everyday scenarios they might face in their diving.
This is the same when teaching recreational. A recent facebook post showed students still kneeling for skills. Comments were made ‘this might have been their first dive, bit early to expect neutral buoyancy’. I disagree, of course I’m not going to expect perfect buoyancy, but I am going to demonstrate to the student what good looks like and what they will aspire towards. I’ll then work harder on helping them master this early ahead of out of airs etc because once the foundation is in place (buoyancy / trim / propulsion) all other skills can be learnt and mastered “in context”. No-one is going to come to you out of air while both you and they are kneeling in a pool.
Learning is a psychological process and as such, because we are all individuals, we all learn differently. Teaching styles and learning environments must account for these individual differences. In diving we embed motor skills into the learning process but we also would be well advised to develop stress management, thinking skills / decision making, and appropriate autonomous responses. There are some very gifted instructors out there who manage this naturally. For most, they have to think and plan their way to help students get the best out of themselves.
In sports coaching research, there are a couple of interesting concepts that are gaining great buy-in from some of the leading practitioners. These are Authentic Coaching and Holistic Coaching. Firstly authentic coaching, theres a good article by Barnson, (2014), but essentially the coach is true to themselves and to the coachee. Obvious you say, but not in reality I fear. There are many coaches and instructors who behave how they think the student or the agency or worse, behave in ways they think makes them look cool or saleable. Our previous gung ho militaristic type is one of these. Similarly I fear anyone whom actually likes wearing a shirt with Instructor and loads of badges. Sometimes you have to for marketing and/or to represent a centre. Personally I’d rather be recognised for what I do. If you are not being true to yourself and ‘playing a part’ that falseness will come through in your teaching effectiveness.
Holistic coaching, a term brought to the fore by Tanya Cassidy is looking far more at the person as a whole as opposed to just what skills they need to learn. For example, if a person needs to learn a bailout drill, it doesn’t take long to teach the mechanics of the drill. Holistically though we should address that persons abilities around emotional control, decision making, concentration, physical attributes etc. In holistic coaching its thought by taking and developing the whole person, using the coaching situation or context as a tool, you enrich the person inside and outside that coaching interaction. I tend to agree. Im certain that the learning experience is richer, that skills are more deeply embedded, and that context and cues for when and where to apply those skills have been thoroughly covered.
Coaching effectiveness is an often abused term and I’d apply the same to instructor effectiveness. True effectiveness (look up Coté and Gilbert) relies on the coach or instructor having expertise in three critical knowledge types.
Professional knowledge – detailed and applied knowledge about the art, science, skills and tactics of what they are coaching
Interpersonal knowledge – an ability to build and foment relationships
Intrapersonal knowledge – an ability to understand oneself and capacity for self reflection
I don’t think it would be hard for most of us to identify those instructors we believe to be effective and see immediately the correlation between those instructors and the required knowledge above.
It also needs to be measured. To be effective you have to know where your start and finish points are and whether the process of coaching or instructing is what is making the difference in getting people there. For sure there are the very talented who need minimal coaching and conversely those for whom no amount of coaching will ever make a difference. Quite a complicated interaction then, well yes, but so it should be.
How do we get instructors over the line. Well, in developing performance sports coaches we have identified the vital importance of good mentors. They help the instructor reflect, develop and really build the inter and intra personal knowledge. Traditional coaching courses and instructor courses are pretty good at developing the professional knowledge, although again the mentors are invaluable. In my own instructor development I’ve been very privileged to have an outstanding mentor who I still see a couple of times a year, to great value.
Ask yourself before you book on training if its going to give you what you want. Ask the instructor you’re considering how much of your training is scenario based, how much work do they put in setting up decision making opportunities, how do they mimic realities for when you will have to implement the skills. Ask about, good instructors will be delighted to engage with you on this.
Have fun, dive safe.
Matt Jevon is a Technical and Cave Diver and Technical and CCR instructor with TDI, IANTD and PADI and the JJ-CCR instructor and dealer for Ireland. He held accreditations as an interdisciplinary sports scientist, sports psychologist and was a British Olympic Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Matt Jevon
matt-jj-ccr
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Fit to dive?

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] There’s a good few articles on dive fitness out there, though I’d take issue with the focus of many of them. They focus purely on the physical, and mostly in very general and incorrect ways. Being fit means that you are
“Fit for the task or purpose intended” it’s far more than physical.
In sports science and in sports performance based coaching it’s quite common, although not the only way, to break down preparation for performance into the following factors
Physical
Psychological
Technical
Tactical and
Lifestyle
In a number of previous articles I’ve dealt with some of the psychological issues,
Managing Stress
Keeping Focussed
Peer Pressure
Visualisation for learning and problem solving
Teamwork
And a few others. Let’s look at each of the other elements in turn.
Physical.
Excuse me while I leap up onto my soapbox! You see I am passionate about performance in sport and diving is no different. That’s what led me to write and teach an MSc in strength and conditioning, become an S&C coach for the British Olympic Association and S&C advisor in many pro sports.
Just about all the diving articles I’ve seen focus on aerobic conditioning, a bit of stretching and suggest you need to be strong enough to lift the gear. This is fine for an 18m open warm water diver. Fine, but not ideal. I’m going to layout what the demands are for a fully kitted tech diver and how best to condition for those. If you are any other sort of diver, think where your demands lie between the 18m diver and the tech diver. Adjust your training focus accordingly or ask me in the comments.
Demands are….
High thermal stresses including extremes in one dive
Heavy weight lifting in preparation and dekitting and cleanup.
Very heavy weight lifting in and out of the water
Endurance Capacity to swim for between 1 and 3 hours (yes I and others often go longer but up to 3 hours is typical)
Fast rate of recovery when stressed physically or mentally to bring breathing down.
Ability to hold a good trim position, i.e. strong dynamic core strength.
So, frankly long period steady state endurance training is not going to cut it.
Principles for training should therefore be
Get a doctors clearance, make a will, have a defibrillator on standby….. Seriously if you’ve any risk or concerns with exercising…
1, you shouldn’t be diving, 2, get professional clearance to start a programme including this.
Interval training, use non weight bearing if you wish to reduce joint stress (rowing / bike /. Cross trainer). Work on 20 seconds all out work to 40 seconds recovery at a good pace… Not resting or easy like some advisors might say. Do batches of 5, build up over a few weeks to 4 or 5 batches with a 3 minute lead in and 3 minute lead out. You should feel the lactate build in the legs getting more with each interval. Between each batch of 5 work at a steady but still good pace for 2 minutes only. You will find (if you work hard enough) that every orifice will try and draw in air! What’s important is that as you become accustomed your work pace gets faster, but critically, your recovery time decreases significantly. Three times a week if you’re serious.
Weights. Lift heavy- stop playing around with light weights and pretending it’s for endurance. Except in commercial gyms where they don’t want to be sued for injury, using weights for endurance in a sport is dead in the water. For example cyclists will lift heavy to build strength then for endurance, they’ll get on the bike. Do the same. Get training in good lifting technique and form. Be wary of who you get it from, I’m a huge critic of cross fit technical training for example. Just my opinion. Then lift 5 sets of 5 in these core exercises as heavy as you can manage and only just being able to complete the sets. The odd failure is good. Do them on a round for the 5×5, that is 5 reps of every exercise, one exercise after the other, then go back to first exercise and repeat. It’s not about fatigue, you’re not bodybuilding, you’re training strength. Back squat, bench press, chest fly, single arm row, single arm standing curl to overhead press, seated row, lat pull down or chin-ups. Do it three times a week, no more, no less. Try to move the weight quickly, if you can, lift a heavier weight! You should intend to move it quickly to maximise muscle fibre recruitment, but not be able to because the resistance is too great.
Core. Do planks in a press-up position working up to a least 2 minutes, overhead squats, farmers carrys and or suitcase carries, crunches and back extensions- get trained in good form, Physios are all over dynamic core development at the moment, it’s the latest trend. Ask them if they follow Stuart McGills principles, if so, good to go, if they don’t know who he is, run!
Stretch… Dynamic before exercise, static after. Don’t skip it, don’t spend hours on it either. Just check you are maintaining a good and normal range of movement.
Diet. Look, be clean, be good if you can, no processed foods at all, Inc low fat spreads etc, know what works for you, but this is not a weight loss programme. If you want a diet, see a sports dietitian, not a nutritionist, there’s a huge difference in those qualifications. It’s better to be fit and fat than thin and unfit.
Sleep. Massively underestimated… Quality 6-8 hours are needed by all, you cannot survive on less, even if you think you are used to it, you are just used to operating at a sub optimal level.
Psychological
Read my psychologist skills for diving page. Read a great book called ‘the mental gameplan’ by Bull, Albinson and Shambrook. Practice and train your mental skills. As much time on this as on physical preparation, it will stand to you for diving and for life.
Technical
This is where we focus on the dive skills, for me I break these up for my students and me into
Foundation Skills
Buoyancy – Trim – Propulsion – Planning
Basic Skills
Descents – Ascents – stops
Advanced Skills
Awareness – Communication – Teamwork
Kit Specific Skills
SMB – Lights – CCR etc
Emergency Skills
Shutdowns – Out of Air- lost diver- lost line – diver tows – unconscious diver management (I run a tech rescue course covering this and more)
Technical skills in elite and performance sport get the most attention. Typically over half a players preparation time will focus on these. The rest on tactical and physical prep, living a good lifestyle and mental skills. In diving, once we have finished the courses, many do not spend any time practicing these skills, to their great detriment if they ever needed them. Skill sessions should be planned into your preparation timetable.
Tactical Skills
What’s the relevance of this in diving you say? Well aside from the military definition, being tactical is ‘showing adroit planning, gaining an advantage beyond the immediate action’ (cheers Google!) dives should be planned tactically to achieve an end or mission as it’s often referred to. Knowing the objective and visualising the dive gives clear inside into the issues, risks and opportunities that the dive will bring. Proper preparation can then ensure that all team members are physically, technically and tactically prepared as well as psychologically prepared for the dive. Don’t just plan deco schedules and gas plans although these are critical. Build into runtime the activities you need to do to complete the mission, whiteboard or equivalent all the what if scenarios. Have a plan Bravo and plan Charlie.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle is straightforward. If you choose to devote yourself to becoming a safe and excellent diver, your lifestyle should support this. It’s all about appropriate choices, some like no alcohol before a dive and a 2 beer limit the night before are sensible and obvious, at least to some. I’m afraid I’ve little time for the macho beer drinking hungover diving prevalent in some places. Others such as diet choices to keep bodyfat down are more personal. In any event the lifestyle should support the diving and the training. Think about what in your lifestyle affects your fitness to dive. Travel, sleep disruptions, change in diet, stress from work issues. It’s all about managing those, and perhaps introducing a firebreak between them so you can close one area off and move unencumbered into the dive.
Now, are you sure you are fit to dive? Run through the above as a checklist and you can do a good self assessment. If you are not going to do full on tech dives, then choose an appropriate level of fitness, encompassing all of the above elements. Most of all
Have fun, dive safe.
Matt Jevon is a Technical and CCR instructor with TDI, IANTD and PADI and the JJ-CCR instructor and dealer for Ireland. He held accreditations as an interdisciplinary sports scientist, sports psychologist and was a British Olympic Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach.
olympic-medal
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Peer Pressure in the Dark Side

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I was recently given this picture, signed by the original actor who player Darth Vader, by one of my students, it’s awesome. Why? Well I’m a bit of a Star Wars fan and a lot of a geek anyway, but also there’s a little sub culture in technical diving, especially cave and rebreather diving where we like to refer to ourselves as members of the dark side! It’s kinda cool…. For us anyway and we like the T shirts. There’s a few other sub cultures in tech diving, for example, I was once told I was an ideal candidate for tech as I rode a motorcycle, had tattoos and listened to heavy metal! Guilty as charged.
But let’s look at this seriously for a minute. Why do these things appeal. Why do we like to be recognised and to have a group identity. Well we could fall back on the ‘that’s human nature’ argument and for sure there’s cogent points to be made. We could argue that it’s down to our socialisation, it’s considered the norm to be part of a social group with the same values and aspirations. Of course there are some outliers who will proudly say they wouldn’t want to be part of any group that would have them (thanks Mr Marx!). In effect though most of these people are not true loners, otherwise we’d never know about them, in reality proudly not being in a sub culture is in fact just another sub culture.
Having both our individual and group identity and culture helps normalise our behaviours, it provides expectations of how we will behave in a group and is very, very powerful. This is where the danger lies. Sometimes the group can carry people with it beyond the point of acceptable behaviour, beyond the boundary of calculated risk and far more dangerously, can, in the visibility of their achievements to aspirant members of that group, encourage bad decisions, driven by a desire to present themselves as acceptable potential group members.
I saw this recently by a diver on a Facebook group. In an attempt to promote their own standing a litany of behaviours were self reported, deviant from good technical diving practices, deviant from standards set by respected agencies in the field and exceeding limits of training and experience. When challenged the response was defensive and demeaned the commentators. When offered help it was used as a stick to beat the challengers with, but, ultimately not taken up.
But rather than dismiss out of hand, let’s strive for understanding. We witnessed these behaviours because the person wanted to be accepted into a tech diving community, but their values were at odds with the possible communities they could join. Perhaps they felt they needed to boost their image and made claims about dives done that backfired, instead of gaining respect they gained criticism and were then in a corner with no escape. Perhaps the challenges put to them, mine included, put up perceived barriers they could not see a way past. Or, perhaps they had indeed a poor attitude.
For whatever of these reasons they became motivated to prove themselves to the group by making big claims and assertions. In other more dangerous circumstances, that is in the water rather than online, that same response could have resulted in injury or death.
We always train divers not to succumb to peer pressure. Any diver can thumb the dive at any time without question or reproach. Don’t underestimate the power of the group to demand compliant behaviour, the strength of desire people have to be seen to be a part of that group, if not a leader. Particularly don’t underestimate the ability of the group to make a bad decision which then leads an individual beyond their physical, technical and mental abilities.
Dive safe , oh, and May the Force be with You
dark-veder
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Teamwork – there may not be an I in team, buts there’s one in win, live, first and dive!

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Over the years I’ve had the privilege of being involved in some fantastic teams, sometimes in a leadership role, sometimes a advisor helping form a great team and in others as a team member. These teams have been engaged in pursuing objectives in sport, from International Rugby to Motorcycle racing and rally driving, through to high performing teams in business. Over the last few years I’ve enjoyed being part of dive teams, particularly in technical diving.
People often talk about teamwork as if it’s a given, that is gather a group of people and with a little desire and intent they will form a team. It’s a dangerous assumption. High performing teams have very defined characteristics, they operate in a very distinctive way and they have many different cultures, values and styles, there is not a “one size fits all” way of creating a team.
There is also a significant difference between a team we would consider cohesive and a team that is co-operating. I don’t mention dysfunctional teams as they are pretty easy to identify and frankly are therefore not a team but just a group of people arguing and pulling in different directions. Co-operative teams are interesting to discuss though. Here we have a group who work well, who “get along” often suborning personal beliefs and desires for the team good. What’s wrong with that I hear? Well, this team tends to follow one leader or gets behind the first credible idea without really buying into it, without having really examined alternatives, without having challenged the thinking of the idea creator. In order to avoid intra team conflict they hold back their own ideas and desires and often are not fully committed to the ideas execution. These teams can operate well, but it does create frustrations within the team members, which at some point, will surface and fracture the teams effort and motivation – usually when the soft and smelly hits the round and whirly.
In contrast cohesive teams actively encourage the arguments, discussions and deconstruction of ideas that leads to all feeling they have contributed and therefore are invested in the teams activities. Personal beliefs and desires are never suborned for the benefit of the team as clearly if this has to happen the team composition is wrong and there is no role for the person expected to act and deliver against their desires. Cohesive teams perform consistently at a high level, whereas co-operative teams struggle to reach both high performance levels and certainly are inconsistent.
This week I’ve been diving with some GUE divers on some deep Croatian wrecks. GUE is very focussed on the team ethos and I’ve had to adapt my more independently minded approach to deep tech diving. It’s been a different but pleasurable experience. Just because I’m used to a team approach with different values doesn’t mean I can’t contribute effectively to another team culture, what’s important to allow me to do that is to understand the culture and the expectations the team has of me within it, I need clarity.
This clarity is what, in my opinion, (and in a fair bit of elite sports research) allows us to identify the key elements of a high performing team. These elements can easily be set in a variety of cultures and adapt to a variety of appropriate leadership styles. So what are the elements.
Clarity of Purpose. This is the most important element and the purpose cannot be doing whatever the leader tells them. Each team member must understand what the team want to achieve, must believe in the possibility of success and be motivated and excited to play a role in achieving that success. There should be no doubt in the teams mind what that clarity of purpose is and they should be able to articulate it clearly and succinctly.
Clarity of member and leadership roles. It doesn’t matter what your role is, what is important that both you as leader and team member as well as ALL the other team members and leaders understand that role (s). The role will probably be related to particular skills and/or experience, but should also be related to the more team oriented needs, is your role to challenge through innovation, through analysis or through practicality. For example one board I work with has the Chief Financial Officer challenge everything not just from a numbers perspective but also looks at things not normally within the CFO role but where his analytical thinking can challenge and add value.
Clarity of understanding of the power distribution in the team. As we are not living in a utopian society and most teams have some sort of formal or informal hierarchy we cannot just wish this away. There is a distribution of power and influence in teams, this can be based on organisational position, ability, experience etc. it must be understood exactly what this is by all team members. Only in this way can the ‘less powerful’ understand their ability to challenge even the most powerful so thinking, and the “most powerful” can realise the barriers to challenge and debate their authority creates and then to work to demonstrate that they are open to be challenged and to have their thoughts, actions and desires critiqued by the less powerful. There is no need for one big charismatic leader either. If appropriate in small teams such as we have in diving, it is more useful for different members to take the lead in different areas as befits their style, skills, knowledge and ability.
Clarity of communication. Once roles and power is understood it becomes easier within the team for open and honest communication pathways. Often the biggest difficulty here is not with the message sender, but with the receiver. If emotion or arrogance get in the way of listening “they can’t say that to me”, “don’t they know who /what I am” then problems occur and communication barriers are raised. This is why it’s easier to communicate by voice on contentious issues rather than email etc. the tone of challenge can be heard, the disengagement from listening can be seen and challenged. Anyway, there’s potential for an entire book on communication!
Clarity of culture and values. Culture comes form the Latin ‘to cultivate’ and a shared culture is vital for cohesion. Values are what makes up the team. Often in business I see values talked about in a very trite fashion. For example ‘honesty’ it’s a great value to have but, what does it mean in the context of this team and organisation? How is it applied? Measured? Upheld? If the team cannot use the values as a set of aspirational standards that guides their behaviour and actions them, those values have little true value! Herein lies another book…..
A balance of approaches in terms of thinking. I do like George Pattens quote “if everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn’t thinking” I like to ensure people that make up the teams that I am in can bring different thinking styles. I like someone strong in creative thinking, someone strong in operational thinking and someone strong in analytical or reflective thinking. That way we get information from the analyst from which ideas can be generated by the creative thinker, a practical “how can we make that work” approach from the operational thinker and an ability to refine and challenge the process development from all. No-one is 100% dominant in a style, but high performing people tend to have a dominant style, and a strong secondary, plus often a considerable weakness in a third. It doesn’t matter which one is dominant – there is often an assumption it’s better to be creative but as one myself I can tell you this is not true, we have difficulty sticking to a task if something new comes along.
Congruent motivational styles and directions. We’ve touched on this in a previous article but suffice it to say if you have three people all highly externally ego focussed then trouble lies ahead. Think about whether people are ego or task driven and whether that is internally or externally focussed by them. Imagine what this means they want by way of reward, recognition, feedback and satisfaction.
Interestingly some of the elements that high performing and cohesive teams don’t need are often things inexperienced team builders or leaders try and create.
They don’t need to like each other. They do however need to respect each other’s ability and desire to contribute to the team.
Social compatibility is of little relevance. I know people I get on well with socially that I’d hate to work with and vice versa.
The same motivational reasons for achieving the teams goal are not required. One might be ego motivated another task, what is important is that both can understand and appreciate the direction and intensity of the effort being put in by the team member.
To always be working with other team members. For some people their best contributions are made through individual focused effort. It is their output that the team needs not their companionship on a task or objective.
Lots of meetings… This is a real bugbear of mine. I hate lots of sit downs where information is exchanged, but no decisions made or actions decided upon. All this does is interrupt people. We have so many ways with modern technology of sharing information more efficiently without a meeting. Share the info then only meet if desired to argue out the course of action. A decision is something you have to make if you don’t have enough information! Hewlett Packard have for many years operated some amazingly successful global teams across multiple time zones and cultures.
Team oriented personalities. I am more independently minded than team focussed, but, when I see the reward for success being dependent on me being an effective team member or leader, I will be as valuable a team person as I can be. It’s all in the motivation!
Psychometric testing, Belbin team roles analysis etc. the degree of social compliance in psychometrics for me is unreal and the academic models of roles are often reductionist and trying to either over simplify or put people in boxes! Frankly roles will change based on what the team is focused on at that place on the path to its objective or purpose. Sometimes people will lead, at other times they need great followership skills. Make sure the box you put people in has an open lid!
Well done if as a diver you’ve got this far and wondered… Wtf has this got to do with diving? Well, to me it’s essential for safe and effective diving at both recreational and technical levels. We know problems occur in diving when team member step outside of the plans, but do we really consider why they do this. It’s easier to be annoyed and to berate them than it is to consider why they disconnected from the team. Perhaps they didn’t know in the first place what their role was and why it was so important to achieving the teams objective. Let’s also remember our first objective in diving is always come back alive and well from every dive. Perhaps they felt overwhelmed by more experienced divers who have become sloppy on planning or dive discipline and they didn’t feel they could speak up because they felt less powerful. I know this is a big issue for the “just culture” Gareth Lock is working so hard to establish in diving.
All I can do is encourage you if you dive within a team is to discuss the characteristics of a high performing cohesive team above. Answer for your team the questions that raises. Establish the clarity or purpose, roles and communication. Look at the leadership and followership roles. Get the whiteboard or flip chart out, it will make a huge difference. Perhaps you might identify the need to recruit a new member with desired and currently missing characteristics, perhaps it will make you realise there are issues in your team you want to address or even that your team is not working. These are all good results and will strengthen your dive team and make it safer and more effective. Observe teams you admire and benchmark them against the team elements above.
I’m up for answering questions or even helping teams work through these issues if desired, just pm me.
When all is said and done, have fun, dive safe.
thinking-man
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