Dear Diving Instructor and Facility Owner,

You worked hard to earn professional-level and facility status with us and we appreciate your business, but our records show you have not renewed for 2013. Don’t let the opportunities and benefits of a professional membership with SDI, TDI and ERDI slip by. Remember, you have to have an active teaching status prior to teaching a course.

Please read on and visit the members section of our website www.tdisdi.com to renew your membership or for members outside North America, contact your local regional office.  We can also send you a renewal form if you are unable to renew online.  Don’t miss the boat. If you have questions, call world headquarters or your regional office.

World Headquarters phone: (1.888.778.9073) or email us WorldHQ@tdisdi.com

Sincerely,
The family at SDI/TDI/ERDI

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS PLEASE RENEW HERE!

1. Open your browser and go to www.tdisdi.com
2. Use your Pro Member username and password to login to Pro Member Services in the upper right portion of the screen.
3. Click on “Renewals” menu and choose “onLine Renewal System”.
4. Follow each step
   • Edit your personal information and verify your facility affiliation.
   • Accept the legal terms and conditions.
   • Enter your preferred form of payment.

FACILITIES PLEASE RENEW HERE!

Important!! If you are a facility, you must also renew your membership

1. Facility Administrator, open your browser and go to www.tdisdi.com
2. Use your username and password to login to the Facility Administrator portal.
3. Click on the “Facility Tools” menu and choose “Renew Facility”.
4. Follow each step
   • Accept the Facility Agreement
   • Update your facility member affiliations (the members that are affiliated with the selected facility).
   • Review your facility ratings.
   • Finish your renewal.

Thank YOU for your continued support!

On Saturday May 11, 2013 the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team was at the Salt River east of Scottsdale conducting swift water training. At approximately 1:15 pm, team members were on either side of the river at the confluence of the Salt and Verde Rivers with one volunteer on a large rock formation on the south side setting up a rope system, while other volunteers and Coordinators were on the north side readying for the training.

One Coordinator and volunteer, Bill Jordan, observed a small girl who was approximately six years old slip into the water and be pulled into the main current. The girl’s nine year old brother dove into the water after her and both were trying to stop themselves on the rocks below volunteer, Eric Brooks, on the south side of the river. The personnel on the north side of the river yelled to get the attention of volunteer Brooks and pointed to the children in the water. Volunteer Brooks went to the side of the river where the nine year old boy got out of the main current while the six year old girl was pulled back into the water. Volunteer Brooks dove into the water and grabbed the girl just as she was being pulled under by the strong current and he was able to get her safely to shore. Volunteer Brooks checked both children to make sure they were physically safe before turning them over to their father, who had made it out to an island near where the event took place. Neither child was wearing a life vest.

The twelve member team continued their training for the remainder of the day and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the incident, as well as the Arizona State Search and Rescue Coordinator. Volunteer Brooks will be recommended to receive the life saving award from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Dannels said today, “We are proud to have the dedicated men and women volunteers be part of the Sheriff’s Office team and to have them perform these types of selfless acts reflects highly on all of us. I personally commend Volunteer Brooks for his act of heroism in a situation that saved at least one young life.”
# # #

Thanks,
Shawn Brooks
SDI/TDI/ERDI

As part of our regular training regimen, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Swift Water team heads 250 miles north to the Salt River for its annual pre-monsoon, pre-Swift Water Rodeo training. The schedule typically consists of swift water skills training for new members of the team and refresher skills, such as throw bag practice and paddling skills, for seasoned members of the team. Additionally, current members of the team act as victims for the new “students.” The day starts early and ends with a late drive back to Sierra Vista, but all involved will agree that the training is very beneficial and very important for honing skills prior to what could turn out to be a busy swift water season.

This year’s training started out no differently than any other year’s training. We arrived at the Phon D. Sutton Recreational area bright and early Saturday morning and began setting up for the day’s training. After unloading all of our gear and completing a safety briefing, we hit the water for self-rescue skills for new team members, and throw bag practice for current team members. The morning was spent floating down the rapid section (and swimming bank to bank) at the confluence of the Verde and Salt Rivers. This year, and unlike any of the years past, the Salt River was flowing lower than normal and the Verde River was flowing much faster than usual. What this meant for our rapid section is that the upper portion of the rapids was fairly mild, but the lower section of the rapids, below the Verde, was much more aggressive than it had been in the past. This was good for us, and we took advantage of the environmental change, using it as a way to switch up training from previous years.

After lunch, the training was to be moved to take advantage of the faster moving water coming down the Verde River and to give the new team members a chance to work through scenarios using ropes and a rather large inflatable rescue board. The first evolution for the afternoon was to put three victims on the opposite shore and have the four new members bring them back to our bank using any rope system they could muster. Their only limitation was the equipment that we had carried with us across the Salt River.
Prior to completing the scenario described above, the new team members needed to negotiate a strainer as the last part of their self-rescue training. After considering all of the possible paces to set up the strainer and the hazards that were involved, a small section of rapids just above the confluence was chosen as the best place to complete the training. It was not necessarily an ideal place to complete this portion of the training, but it was sufficient and posed the least amount of problems for the dozens of people who were now at the river enjoying a day in the sun.

As the students and I began heading back across the Salt to set up the strainer and begin this evolution, a young boy and what appeared to be his even younger sister approached the top of the rapid section that we had chosen for our strainer practice (of course they were not wearing PFDs and no adult supervision was apparent). The senior members of the team had remained on the far side of the rapids in order set up the far side anchor for the strainer and keep an eye out for any kayakers that may have been floating down the river. As I began climbing onto a rather large rock on my side of the rapids, ERDI Swift Water Instructor William Jordan (#13050) and CCSO Sergeant and SAR coordinator David Noland began communicating with me that the girl was having some difficulties with these mild rapids; she was attempting to grab the rock and climb out, but was unsuccessful. I quickly moved to a lower section of the rapids, below the rock I was traversing, and found the girl attempting to climb out of the water. There was a small Eddy and low spot in the rocks right at the very top of the confluence. As the girl tried to climb to safety, just before I could reach her, she was sucked backed into the water and into the much faster flowing, longer rapid section of the Verde. Having no one downstream of this point to catch her, I leaped into the water and swam as aggressively as possible to her. I was able to make contact with the girl just as her head went under in the most dangerous part of the rapids. We quickly grabbed the nearest Eddy and as I exited the water with her. A quick glanced down stream confirmed that her brother had climbed out of the rapids and onto the rocks.

The lessons here for parents and the reoccurring themes that we constantly hear on the news every summer are: “Don’t let your kids near the water unattended” and “children should wear life jackets around water.” The lesson here for rescue teams is to be prepared and keep your eyes and ears open during training sessions. You never know when a training session will turn into an actual rescue. It is likely that had it not been for the keen observations of two senior members of our swift water team, I would not have been in a position to get to the girl and this could have quickly turned into a possible drowning, or worst yet a body recovery.

About the Author:
Eric Brooks, MEd, PhD, TDI/SDI/ERDI Instructor Trainer #8699, and owner of ProTech Scuba LLC, has been with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit as a volunteer since 1999. He is the senior swift water and dive team instructor and also teaches low angle rope rescue and land navigation.

Contact SDI TDI and ERDI
If you would like more information, please contact our World Headquarters or your Regional Office.
Tel: 888.778.9073 | 207.729.4201
Email: Worldhq@tdisdi.com
Web: www.tdisdi.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicSafetyDiving

Let’s look at being an ERDI Supervisor in two different aspects, training and operations.

Training

Becoming an ERDI Supervisor entails completing the ERDI Supervisor Course, which consists of not only academic topics that include interviewing techniques, interaction with victim families/media/bystanders, NF guidelines and interagency operations, but also places a strong emphasis on watermanship skills, leadership skills and of course, public safety diving skills. It also serves as a foundation and a prerequisite to becoming an ERDI Instructor.

Certainly an ERDI Supervisor is one with excellent and strong dive skills as a public safety diver, skills that have been honed by experience and training. The ERDI Supervisor, in addition to being able to assist ERDI Instructors during courses, may very well supervise training activities of the dive team, following the team’s SOP. In previous ERDI eNews, we’ve discussed the age-old problem of keeping training interesting and lively to avoid complacence by team members and members avoiding training sessions. It may very well seem like it will take an insurmountable effort, but keeping training sessions fresh, productive and ongoing is a key skill.

One of the key leadership qualities an ERDI Supervisor can exhibit is one of being a mentor. While serving the community as part of the dive team has it rewards, mentoring a new public safety diver allows the ERDI Supervisor to give back to individual members.

Operations

It is in operations that we often think of the ERDI Supervisor. It is at the dive scene that the supervisor will apply his or her skills to initially size-up the situation, which will include a risk vs. benefit analysis, deployment of primary diver and top side duties such as communications, interviewing witnesses, managing the hot/warm/cold zones and possibly interacting with the victim’s family. Unless or until relieved by a superior, the ERDI Supervisor is responsible for all aspects of the mission, from start to finish.

It is here that the leadership skills will be tested, a level of compassion for those affected will be needed and the knowledge acquired from experience will be applied. Often the most experienced and best diver won’t be found in the water, they’ll be found on shore making the difficult decisions and leading the team.

To learn more about ERDI Supervisor and other courses, visit an ERDI Dive Center or tdisdi.com.

Contact SDI TDI and ERDI
If you would like more information, please contact our World Headquarters or your Regional Office.
Tel: 888.778.9073 | 207.729.4201
Email: Worldhq@tdisdi.com
Web: www.tdisdi.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicSafetyDiving

Divers taking the DDRC Diving Accident Responder Course (DARC) will be able to benefit from receiving training from world class diving doctors and trainers. They will then be able to receive certifications from SDI and gain recognition for their training. This certification can be recognised as part of their ongoing training towards Advanced Diver, Divemaster or even Open Water Instructor.

DDRC trainers recently completed a crossover course to SDI non-diving speciality instructors with SDI/TDI Instructor Trainer Mark Powell. “DDRC has the perfect candidates for the SDI non-diving speciality instructor. This unique scheme allows SDI to make use of the world’s leading experts to deliver non-diving speciality courses. Who better to train divers on what to do in a diving accident than DDRC and we are very proud to have DDRC as an SDI training facility”.

Jon Parlour, Training Officer at DDRC said, “We are very happy to be working with SDI on our DARC course. We were impressed with the structure of the SDI course and material, as well as their training philosophy and are hoping to be running additional SDI/TDI courses in the future.”

For details of DDRC courses contact;
Samantha Shayer
Training Coordinator
Tel: 01752 209999
Email: training@ddrc.org

For details on other TDI/SDI courses contact;
Mark Powell
TDI Instructor Trainer #8532
Tel: 07770 864327
Email: mark@dive-tech.co.uk

Stephen Phillips
SDI/TDI UK Regional Office
27 Manse Road
Derryboye
Crossgar Co Down
N. Ireland BT30 9LY
E-Mail: tdisdiuk@aol.com
Fax 08701288600
Phone Office 02844832992
Website: www.tdisdi.com

One of the most interesting dynamics of technical diving, both during its planning and execution, revolves around the issue of leadership. It’s not simply a question of who leads and who follows, but a much more complex balancing act between responsibilities, experience, team composition and dive goals. And since technical diving is recognized as a high-risk, team-oriented activity, coming up with the correct answers can mean the difference between a great dive and a bad experience.
I guess the most important first step is to understand what we mean by leadership and the factors that inform that definition.

Let’s start by pointing out that one of the guidelines TDI promotes in its technical manuals is “the weakest diver leads the dive.” Now weakest in this context is not an assessment of physical strength or mental fortitude – although these may be factors in some cases. More usually, a diver may be “weak” because he or she has less experience with the particular sort of dive being planned and how best to achieve the dive’s specific goals or they may start the dive with another more subtle disadvantage. On some ocean dives, weakest link may be the diver most prone to seasickness and who has taken meds to help deal with that particular stress. It may also be the diver who, among his or her peers on the particular day in question, wakes up the least rested or most stressed… as in “I’ll lead the dive today because I had a restless night.”

Whatever the actual reason for “weakness,” the logic behind this TDI guideline is that it helps eliminate “trust me dives.” In cases where the least experienced diver is the leader, it also offers the best opportunity for that diver to expand his or her comfort zone. Let’s take the example of a cave dive with a three-person team. For this example, let’s say that two of the team have explored the cave on several occasions but for one, this is her first time in. All three may be experienced cave divers, but one is certainly at a slight disadvantage. By having her LEAD the dive, two things are assured. First, she will not be lead into a situation which she finds uncomfortable. Second, her level of comfort on the dive will most likely be increased since it will go at her pace, and with two companions to “guide” her when the time comes to make a decision – for example “is this the right side-passage to take…” – her comfort zone may be expanded, but not breached.

The result will most likely be a much more enjoyable dive for everyone involved since stress levels can be better managed.

This example of leadership during the actual execution of a cave dive may not relate directly to the type of diving you do, but the logic is transferable to all varieties of technical or complex advanced diving whether in a hard overhead environment or not.

It also introduces us to part of the complexity that surrounds the whole question of leadership in technical diving, and its definition relative to the importance of coaching and mentorship in the process.
Let’s recap and redefine a little. The weakest diver leads during the EXECUTION of a dive, but this diver would most likely take a backseat role during the actual PLANNING of that same dive.

If we go back to our example, let’s travel by time-machine to a day or two before the execution of the dive to the time our three dive buddies sat down together to plan the dive. We know that all three are experienced cave dives and during their initial assessment of the dive’s parameters they agreed that each had the appropriate training, familiarity with the required equipment, and general experience in the type of environment. What was apparent was that one needed a detailed briefing on the specifics on the dive, since she had never been to the site before. This is where the dynamics that influence leadership in technical diving comes into play.

In old-school terms, leadership might be interpreted as the behavior of a tartar or martinet. A person who demands strict adherence to his or her rules and any deviation from those rules will result in some sort of punitive reaction: verbal or otherwise. I am reasonably sure that many of you have first-hand experience of this form of bullying and “management” by intimidation. There is no place for this style of leadership in technical diving… or anywhere else actually. It may have worked to send hapless souls over the trenches during WWI but is about as useful in diving as ashtrays on a motorcycle. There is simply no room for this attitude anywhere close to technical divers planning their dive.

The leader during this stage needs to be empathetic and supportive and their role is more akin to a coach or mentor: someone who encourages others to contribute ideas and suggestions. A real leader shares knowledge, has real information, suggests better alternatives when asked, and gets satisfaction from helping others grow. Essentially, a good leader produces good leaders.

In the example of the planning for the cave dive, the leader might respond to questions about distances and times with something like: “what do you feel comfortable doing?” rather than pushing his or her agenda. In fact, an important part of the mentoring process is to promote the goals of others, even when it makes their own subordinate.

For most of our dives, up-front considerations of leadership are a little over-the-top. The vast majority of dives – even technical ones – follow a pattern that is established within the team and roles and responsibilities are simple, understood and virtually unspoken. Often on this type of dive, leadership amounts to little more than: “Hey Jill, how about you run the reel today?” But when game-day brings those special dives… the apex dives for your team… give special consideration to the dynamics of team leadership. Oh, and remember that changing circumstances at depth may alter who is “weakest” and may require change of “leadership!” But of course, that’s something best learned under the mentorship and coaching of an experienced TDI instructor!

Contact SDI TDI and ERDI
If you would like more information, please contact our World Headquarters or your Regional Office.
Tel: 888.778.9073 | 207.729.4201
Email: Worldhq@tdisdi.com
Web: www.tdisdi.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TechnicalDivingInt

Location of Divers – It’s important to know where your divers are at all times to keep the group together and not leave anyone behind. You can manage the location of the divers you are leading by checking in with them often and conducting a mental head count throughout the dive. The divers should be aware of where you will be in the water prior to descending, which can be communicated during a proper predive briefing. A trick from the pros – Stay on task! Focus on your main objective: safely lead a group of divers and keep them together. Searching for critters and things to point out should not be your main goal for the dive. It can cause you to become distracted from the group, allowing for separation. Stay on task and focus on the divers.

Speed - Often overlooked, the Divemasters swimming rate can make or break the dive. Most divers do not want to chase their DM. It’s important for Divemasters to take their time in the water, allowing their divers to relax and enjoy their experience. A trick from the pros – If you think you’re going too slow, go slower! After the dive, ask your divers if that speed was okay. They will let you know to speed it up or slow it down.

Available Breathing Gas – When leading a dive, not only does the Divemaster need to be aware of how much breathing gas he or she may have, they also need to know how much their divers have as well. An essential step in the predive briefing is to cover when the dive will be turned around, whether you are basing your turn around point off the “rule of thirds” or when half of their available gas is consumed. It is crucial that underwater communication is covered during the predive briefing to achieve this goal and get everyone out of the water safely with available reserve gas. A trick from the pros – “spy” on how much breathing gas your divers have! You can do this by looking at their gauges while they are swimming or focused on something else in the water. You can also combine your head counts with asking your divers how much air they have.

Available Bottom Time – Have you been diving all day? Have your divers been diving all day? Is everyone breathing the same gas? It’s crucial to know where everyone stands on available bottom time throughout the dive so no one exceeds their nitrogen absorption limits for that dive. If different groups are going to dive at different levels or if the dive needs to be shallower to increase overall diver safety then brief and lead the dive that way. If you have divers breathing various nitrox mixes, it’s good to know who can stay down longer and who cannot. A trick from the pros – Make sure available bottom time and gas mixtures are discussed prior to entering the water. Establish a plan for the group and stick to it. This is a great example to demonstrate why it is important for every diver to have their own computer.

Exit – It’s a gut wrenching feeling to turn the dive around and not know where the boat is or how to get back to your original entrance point on shore. During the dive, it’s important for DMs to pay close attention to their surroundings and take mental notes on how to get back to where they started. You might find using a compass works or basing your dive on natural navigation. DMs often turn around to take a look at the scenery from the point of view they will see on their return. A trick from the pros – If you’re returning to a boat in a fixed position, make note of the depth and compass heading in the direction back to the boat. If you’re returning to a fixed position on shore, before going on your dive tour, take a compass heading toward shore, make note of the depth and if there is sand in the area simply draw a X in the sand to mark your spot of return. Does that guarantee it will be there upon your return? Of course not, but that little trick might help you somewhere down the line!

If you didn’t notice, the top five points the DMs made have some similarities; proper dive planning and communication prior to entering the water can reduce the event of some confusion during the dive. Always remember to plan your dive, dive your plan! Use these tricks and tips to help you lead better dives.

Contact SDI TDI and ERDI
If you would like more information, please contact our World Headquarters or your Regional Office.
Tel: 888.778.9073 | 207.729.4201
Email: Worldhq@tdisdi.com
Web: www.tdisdi.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TechnicalDivingInt

So you’ve decided want to expand your diving knowledge, now what? How do you know who to train with? When compared to sport diving, technical diving consumes a significantly greater amount of time and money, which makes it very important to choose an instructor and training facility that can help you get the most out of your resources. There are many determining factors to consider when looking at dive centers and instructors; we will briefly discuss a few of those factors here to help get you started.

First of all, you have to decide if you want to train locally, or if you are willing to travel for your training. A couple points you want to think about when making this decision include:

1.

Where will you be doing the majority of your diving?

You want to train in conditions that are similar to the diving you plan on doing. The training you would receive in the Caribbean in warm clear water may not be entirely appropriate for diving in the cold dark water of the great lakes, for example.

2. Would you prefer to have access to your facility/instructor after receiving your training? If you travel great distances to get trained, will you be able to make it back to work with that instructor/dive center in the future for additional training? If you have questions after your course, is it important to you to be able to walk into the dive center or give your instructor a call to ask?

Once you have decided whether you are going to travel or train locally, you can start thinking about whether to search for a dive center or an individual instructor. Both options offer advantages, first, we’ll look at a couple advantages of the dive center:

1.

Opportunity to learn from several different instructors.

This could be a huge advantage, especially if you are planning on taking multiple courses. You will have the ability to learn from people whose teaching styles may vary, and whose techniques may be different. You can take what you liked from both instructors and apply it to your diving.

2. Easier Scheduling. Technical courses are logistically more difficult than sport diving courses. Dive centers often have more resources available, making it possible to schedule a course that fits into your preferred time frame.

Advantages of looking for an individual instructor:

1.

No surprises.

You know who you will be working with, you may have even had the chance to meet with the instructor and discuss your individual goals with him/her.

2. Individual attention. While you may have other students in your course with you, it’s likely you will receive training catered more to your individual needs when you hire an instructor as opposed to signing up with a dive center.

Once you’ve decided between training with a dive center or an individual instructor, you can start narrowing the search criteria even more. This can take a little research and legwork on your part, but can be extremely beneficial to your training process in the long run. A few things to consider include:

1.

Teaching style.

Some instructors have a militaristic, no nonsense, my way or the highway style that some divers prefer in technical training. There are also many instructors out there who take a slightly more laid back approach that emphasizes comfort and an open mind to different learning styles. Many instructors are able to incorporate both styles into their courses. It’s important that you match your learning style to that of the instructor in order to maximize your learning potential.

2. Is the instructor the real deal? You want to train with people who are actively making the dives that you want to make. Technical diving is constantly evolving, so it’s important that your training is up to date with the latest equipment, procedures, and philosophies. All TDI instructors are required to teach to their highest level on a regular basis, otherwise they lose that rating, so you can be certain that your TDI instructor is up to date. It’s OK to ask your potential instructor or dive center about their dive history, most are more than happy to talk about the diving they have done and are currently doing.

3. Cost. Technical diving is an expensive hobby, many people who are interested in getting involved may experience a bit of sticker shock when they first start pricing out their training. This is no time to try to save a few bucks, though. There’s a reason we left cost as the last of the search criteria, because it should be the least of your concerns at this point. You are considering going down a path where cutting corners may mean your life, and when you look at the big picture, a few hundred dollars is pretty insignificant. Dive centers and Instructors that offer discounted rates have trouble filling their courses; you should be looking for the courses that have waiting lists to get into. That being said, do not just jump for the most expensive instructor or dive center you find, make sure they meet the rest of your requirements first.

These points are by no means the only criteria by which to choose your instructor or dive center, however it’s a good place to start. You may be a bit intimidated by the task of searching for the best training option for you, but remember, the training you receive could save your life someday. Take the extra time and spend the extra money to make sure whatever route you choose is a good fit. You won’t regret it.

We are here to help if you need a nudge in the right direction. Visit www.tdisdi.com to view our available course or to search for a dive center.

Contact SDI TDI and ERDI
If you would like more information, please contact our World Headquarters or your Regional Office.
Tel: 888.778.9073 | 207.729.4201
Email: Worldhq@tdisdi.com
Web: www.tdisdi.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TechnicalDivingInt

Divemasters work in various locations around the world including dive resorts, training facilities, live aboard operations, private yachts, cruise ships and more. One year you could be showing your divers Manta Rays in Palau and the next year you could be searching for Sea Horses in the Caribbean. Working around the world as a Divemaster allows you to strengthen your personal dive skills and knowledge base. Yes that’s right, you can get paid to gain dive experience and travel the world!

The role of a Divemaster changes with every shop. DM’s meet and greet customers, socialize and entertain, organize and supervise diving activities, assist instructors, fill tanks (every job has its downside), and a lot more. A big part of being a Divemaster is supervising and leading divers while learning the reefs and wrecks. DM’s get to know the area they are diving in just like you got to know your neighborhood. They get familiarized with the resident octopus, eels, crabs, and more then show divers for (possibly) their first time. Seeing the expressions of divers while experiencing the underwater realm is something most Divemasters do not forget.

As with any occupation, having distinguishable skills in the profession will open up more doors of opportunity for you. Divemasters who have a Captain’s license are more marketable in areas of boat diving. Most areas find Divemasters who can repair and service regulators, VIP cylinders, and work on compressors extremely useful. Retail skills are a major asset to have for the days you aren’t working in the water. Photography skills are also a huge benefit, since many divers are willing to pay a separate DM to go out and photograph their dive experience. Since you are dealing with so many people on a day-to-day basis, being multilingual is another major advantage. As you can see, a variety of qualifications are extremely valuable for you as a DM, but you cannot put a price tag on one of the most important attributes: being fun and entertaining while maintaining a professional attitude anddemeanor. The key is to keep your divers safe while ensuring that they are having a great time.

So you’re ready to take the plunge, what’s next? To become a SDI Divemaster you must be a minimum of 18 years old and hold the SDI (or equivalent) Advanced Diver certification, including verifiable experience in navigation, deep, and night or limited visibility diving specialties. You also must be a SDI Rescue Diver (or equivalent) and provide proof of current CPR, first aid and oxygen provider (where local law permits) and provide proof of 40 logged dives. Meet with your local SDI facility to review the steps to making your dream job your real job!

What does the ultimate job pay? We’ll be realistic, not a lot, but it’s made up by the amazing people you can meet from all over the world and the once in a lifetime experiences you get to have. Becoming an instructor is the next step after DM. Teaching gives you even more windows of opportunity in the dive industry and it only goes up from here. Continuing your education through instructional level courses and gaining knowledge in the field might allow you enough experience to work in other areas of the dive industry; whether it is for training organizations, scuba diving equipment manufacturers and more, the sky is the limit when you’re ready to switch gears or settle down.

You can’t put a numerical value on doing what you love. If you’re ready for a lifestyle change and you are passionate about diving , consider immersing yourself in it by becoming an SDI Divemaster. Having the ability to share your love for diving, socializing and traveling is why we consider being a Divemaster one of the best jobs in the world!

Contact SDI TDI and ERDI
If you would like more information, please contact our World Headquarters or your Regional Office.
Tel: 888.778.9073 | 207.729.4201
Email: Worldhq@tdisdi.com
Web: www.tdisdi.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SDITDI

Be prepared for the worst. This means you should have a plan in place for a lost diver before ever getting in the water. Make sure the boat crew or someone on shore is aware of the process that will take place in the event that someone is missing, and be sure all divers are knowledgeable of the diver recall procedures. Practice this scenario on a regular basis and stay fresh on your rescue skills. This is key to ensure a speedy response, saving valuable moments that might make the difference between a rescue and a recovery.

Stay calm and evaluate the situation. Don’t panic and jump right back in the water, swimming in circles looking for the missing diver. They might have come up before you and went straight to the bathroom. It is critical to gather as much information as you can before starting the search and have someone take notes so they can be referenced later on. Where was the diver last seen? How much air did they have left? Is their gear on the boat or shore? Is their vehicle still at the site? Are they bobbing around on the surface drifting away from the boat/shore? Do you have any certified rescue divers that can assist you in the search? These, and more, are all factors to consider when formulating a plan and can help you narrow your search considerably. It’s a bit embarrassing when you have organized a search party and are getting ready to jump back in the water when the “missing” diver comes walking out of the bathroom asking “is our surface interval over already?”

Act according to local procedures. It’s extremely important that you follow local guidelines for missing divers. Once you know for sure that you are missing someone, contact local authorities and notify them of the situation. Leave at least one person who is knowledgeable of the situation on the surface to communicate to the authorities when they arrive. Continue searching until you have been relieved by the police/fire department/coast guard/ etc.

Most of the time, this situation ends happily. The diver simply got distracted while taking a photo and became separated from the group, or maybe he had to use the restroom or got cold and surfaced not thinking to let the group know. Unfortunately, we do have to be prepared for the worst case scenario. If we are prepared, keep calm, evaluate the situation, and act according to local procedures, we can make our search quick and efficient and hopefully find the missing diver before it is too late.

Contact SDI TDI and ERDI
If you would like more information, please contact our World Headquarters or your Regional Office.
Tel: 888.778.9073 | 207.729.4201
Email: Worldhq@tdisdi.com
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