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Skills Development Course (SDC) Buoyancy and trim workshop Minimum entry level: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water or other recognised diver training equivalent. The workshop assumes that you have at least the theory knowledge and practical ability expected of a qualified BSAC Ocean Diver, or equivalent. Without this level of knowledge and ability you are likely to struggle with the workshop.
Perfecting buoyancy control is a major step towards safe, comfortable diving, where the diver can relax and move gracefully in the underwater environment. Few skills can do as much as buoyancy control to improve diving skills and it affects all that we do underwater. Good buoyancy will save breathing gas, save energy, build confidence and make diving more fun as well as helping to avoid damage to the underwater environment. Course content includes:
1 x theory presentation Theory presentations usually takes place on a Thursday evening from 7.30pm – 10.00pm (check times!) in our club lecture room. Open practicals will usually take place at Stoney Cove or the
At the end of the workshop you should understand the issues affecting buoyancy and trim and be able to maintain position in the water at any depth. It is expected that you will be able to achieve and maintain such attitudes within a vertical parameter of a minimum of ±0.5 metres or better. There are four levels of achievement depending on the limits to which the diver can maintain their buoyancy and trim with and without task loading. BRONZE: buoyancy plus or minus 2 metres SILVER: buoyancy plus or minus 1 metre GOLD: buoyancy plus or minus 0.5 metres BLACK: buoyancy plus or minus 0.3 metres The recommendation is that you should be able to maintain decompression stops to within plus or minus 0.5 metres and that with each change of personal diving kit you make you should verify that you can still maintain your decompression stops within these limits. Buoyancy standards plus or minus 3 metres is unacceptable.
You can apply to BSAC HQ for a qualification card showing the buoyancy standard you achieved on completion of this course.
Tuition is usually free for Bracknell Sub Aqua Club full dive members if this course is run in-house at the club. Students are responsible for their own travel expenses and also for entrance fees to training lakes for practical sessions. Students may also be asked to contribute to Instructor travel and entrance fee expenses. |
More details about this course and other BSAC Skills Development Courses (SDC) can be found on the BSAC website.
The Buoyancy and Trim course manual can be downloaded from the BSAC website by clicking the PDF icon above.        |
