Qualifications & Training
Cardiff Dolphins like other SAA clubs conduct basic diver training within the club. The trainee can work up through the qualifications at their own speed, the initial target being to reach Club Diver level. This is the standard at which the diver is considered to be safe to dive with other divers of the same qualification.
Additional training can be had in specialist subjects, for example first aid or oxygen administration or boat handling, by attending SAA regional training courses outside the club (although usually several club members will go to the same regional event together). These outside courses are often held at or over weekends.
The first stages...
The structure of the first three levels of the SAA training is described below:
Someone joining the club will join as an Elementary Diver Trainee if they have no previous experience of diving. The trainee will complete a series of short lectures and pool training sessions in order to become familiar with the basic equipment and initial skills required for diving. The lectures and pool drills are set out in the SAA Qualification Record and the Guidance Manual.
When the clubs' Diving Officer is satisfied that the trainee has reached a suitable level of competence the trainee will go on their first open water dive. This will normally be to a flooded quarry, which will have easy access to the water and shallow training areas, or perhaps to an easy sea shore diving site. During their early open water dives an elementary diver trainee will not be asked to dive below a depth of 10m and they will always be accompanied by an instructor, experienced to the level of Open Water Instructor or higher. The trainee must have passed their medical examination with a diving doctor before doing any open water dives.
Having completed pool training the trainee will qualify as an Elementary Diver. This level of diver can dive to 20m and should always be accompanied on dives by a diver qualified to 'Dive Leader' standard or higher. If the dive involves training or skills testing (rather than just gaining experience) then the elementary diver needs to be accompanied by an Open Water Instructor (or higher instructor level).
In order to gain the Open Water Diver qualification the trainee needs to have completed the elementary diver stage and carried out at least four open water dives. The open water diver will be able to demonstrate skills such as correct weighting and bouyancy control and use of an alternate air supply. The trainee will descend to a maximum of 20m during their qualifying dives.
In order for the Open Water Diver to achieve the Club Diver qualification they will need to pass a short written exam based on six further lectures. They will also need to carry out further open water dives to build experience, at a variety of dive sites, and to demonstrate skills. The focus of these skills changes slightly to put more emphasis on diver rescue and emergency procedures. As the diver is now going deeper (to 35m during training for club diver and perhaps to 50m after qualification) the lectures and exam will ensure that the diver is familiar with decompression theory.
Beyond Club Diver...
Beyond the club diver stage the diver is encouraged to progress through dive leader and dive supervisor grades, so that they can lead and supervise groups of divers in carrying out tasks on and under the water. They may also wish to pass on their knowledge to others, in which case it is possible to gain the various instructor grades; assistant instructor, club instructor and open water instructor at club level.
What If I Already Have Qualifications From Another Agency?
If you want to join Cardiff Dolphins or any SAA club and you already hold recognised diver qualifications you will not be asked to start again right at the beginning of the training.
The table below gives a rough guide to how the different training agencies qualifications equate and to which level you can expect to transfer on the basis of your existing qualification. The process does involve some negotiation and the clubs' Diving Officer will want to be sure that they are transferring you in at a level that accurately reflects your abilities.
| SAA | BSAC | PADI | NAUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Diver | Novice Diver | SCUBA Diver | n/a |
| Open Water Diver | Ocean Diver | Open water Diver | Scuba Diver |
| Club Diver | Sports Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver + PADI Rescue Diver | Master Scuba Diver |
| Dive Leader | Dive Leader | ||
| Dive Supervisor | Advanced Diver | Dive Master | Dive Master |
| Dive Master | 1st Class Diver |