
PADI Self-Reliant Diver course
£195 / 2 days / 3 dives
Although most scuba dives are made with a buddy, an experienced diver may want or need to make dives without a partner. During the Self-Reliant Diver course, you learn about potential risks of diving alone and the value of equipment redundancy and necessary back-up gear. During three scuba dives, you develop skills for self-reliance and independence, while becoming a stronger partner in a dive pair or team.



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.





Course Goals:
1. To develop understanding of the value and application of the buddy system and the philosophy of, and motivation for, diving without a partner.
2. To introduce the potential risks, risk management techniques and the need for equipment redundancy in self-reliant diving.
3. To improve self-reliant dive skills, dive planning and gas management abilities.
Who Should Take This Course: Advanced divers, photographers, videographers, Divemasters, divers considering Divemaster training and potential technical divers. 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.



Age Restriction: Mimimum age 18 years old.
Pre-requisites: PADI Advanced Open Water diver and 100 logged dives.
Course Duration: 2 days. 3 dives.
What is Supplied: Tanks if required.





Course Overview: The Self-Reliant Diver course comprises of:
Knowledge development — The topics covered in classroom presentations and predive briefings include dive planning, life support system readiness, adaptive training, equipment, responsibility, the value of equipment redundancy, what back-up equipment is needed, dive planning and gas management.
Diving skills assessment — Before beginning open water dive skills, you’ll complete a skill assessment to demonstrate your comfort level in the water. This will include a general assessment of your dive knowledge.
Open water training dives — There will be three open water training dives during this course. Skills such as gas drills, pony cylinder deployment, buoyancy control and trim, and backup mask exchange mid-water will be observed and assessed in line with the certification requirements.



