Self Reliant Diver

The purpose of the Self-Reliant Diver specialty course is to recognize and accept the role of the buddy system and its contributions to diver safety, while identifying and developing self-reliance and independence while diving.

There are two reasons for an experienced diver to take the Self-Reliant diver course:

• To develop the skills of planning and carrying out dives without a partner when preferred or necessary.
• To sharpen skills of diving self-reliance, making the diver a stronger partner in a dive pair or team.

What will I do?

This course covers when diving alone may be applicable, and the need to compensate for those situations, including dive planning, life support system readiness, adaptive training, equipment and responsibility. This course is an introduction to self-reliant diving that helps student divers develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary to rely on themselves first, whether or not they are diving with a partner, including:

• The value and application of the buddy system.
• The philosophy of, and motivation for, diving without a partner.
• Potential risks of diving alone, and how to manage those risks.
• The value of equipment redundancy and what back-up equipment is needed.
• Dive planning and gas management including SAC rate calculations.
• The use of redundant air systems.
• The fine-tuning of previously-learned dive skills such as hovering and SMB deployment.

What scuba gear will I use?

During the course you will use standard dive equipment but you will also need the following:

• Surface marker buoy, such as a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) or lift bag with at least 30 metres/100 feet of line.
• Redundant gas source – pony cylinder, twin cylinders with isolation valve or sidemount configuration. Redundant gas supply must be configured so that the diver can access it with one hand.
• Redundant depth gauge and bottom timer, or dive computer.
• Redundant surface signalling devices (both visual and audible).
• Knife/cutting tool (except where locally prohibited).
• Slate and pencil.
• Back-up mask

How do I start learning now?

The PADI Self Reliant Diver Specialty course does not have a course manual, but in preparation for the course should you choose to do some additional reading. There are a number of PADI manuals which will give really good background information for you:

• PADI Adventures in Diving manual.
• PADI Rescue Diver Manual.
• PADI Divemaster Manual.
• The Encyclopaedia of Recreational Diving.
• PADI Tec Deep Diver Manual.