A Leading Diver is an experienced diver who has passed the Leading Diver Exam and is competent to lead

1. GENERAL

a. Prerequisite tests should be regionally organised. The N.D.O. will arrange through the R.D.O. to have a

Leading Instructor (Moniteur ***) in charge, assisted by a number of Instructors * and ** (Moniteurs* and **).

b. Where possible the number of candidates should be kept to 10/12 in order to simplify the logistics required.

c. Written papers will be held no later than June each year. A maximum of three national test dates will be

organised for those sitting written papers. The R.D.O. has discretion on the number of test centres

required per region. Water work prerequisites will be held no later than June each year.

d. A candidate may only attempt the test once in a calendar year. Passed prerequisites will remain valid

until the end of the following calendar year.

e. Divers who are NOT members of the Jury are NOT permitted to assist while any tests are underway.

f. A Leading Diver brief will be organised regionally no later than April each year. All potential Leading

Diver candidates are required to attend. The brief will include the following;

1. What is a Leading Diver ?

2. Guide to the Leading Diver examination.

3. Leading Diver training schedule.

2 . PREREQUISITES

Section 1

1. Be a Club Diver (Diver **) for 1 year, and have DO?s written recommendation for test.

2. Produce current certificate(s) of fitness to dive.

3. To have led 3 scuba training groups to the satisfaction of an Instructor ** (Moniteur**).

4. To hold the Rescue Diver Certificate.

5. To have successfully completed the Diver Cox'n Examination.

6. To have logged the required number of dives. 52 (15m x 10, night dives x 2, 20m x 10, 25m x 10, 30m x

12, 40m x 2, leading x 3).

7. Attend the Leading Diver brief.

Section 2

1. In open water swim 200m in 8 mins and dive to 3m to recover a "body" and support for 2 mins without

difficulty.

2. 20 - 10 - 20 breath holding test.

3. Fin 1,000m in basic equipment (with weightbelt)

4. Fin 500m in full equipment.

5. Make 3 consecutive snorkel dives to 10m.

6. Snorkel dive to 6m - stay on bottom for 20 secs - surface & rest for 20 secs - repeat.

7. To enter the water from a height of 3m, in full equipment, without surfacing proceed on compass for

50m to a fixed mark.

8. At 5m - fin 50m without mask (include the use of a weighted bottom line to help guide the diver)

Section 3

1. To pass a written examination to Leading Diver standard.

2. To pass a written Dive Plan.

3. Complete the Leading Diver Training Log and submit it to the Jury President at the examination weekend.

Leading Diver (C.M.A.S. Diver ***)

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December 2002

THE LEADING DIVER TEST

1. LAYOUT

The programme for the Test should take the following layout:

Fri p.m.: General Brief

Sat a.m.: 40m Dive

p.m.: Oral tests

Practical Tests

20m Dive

Evening: Jury President to meet all candidates

Jury Debrief/Conference

Sun a.m: 30m Dive, simulated emergencies

p.m.: Jury Conference

Individual debrief and notification of result

Presentation of Certificates

General debrief

2. COMMENTS FOR GUIDANCE

(a) 40m Dive

The mask must be fully removed from the head and held briefly at arm?s length. The mouthpiece

is then removed and held at arm?s length. Replace the mask and mouthpiece in an unhurried

manner. This dive is also designed to enable the examiner to assess the susceptibility of

the candidate to narcosis. This could be done by pre-arranging an irrelevant signal to be given

when at 40m, as well as by observing the candidates behaviour generally at depth.

(b) 20m Dive - Saturday

This is a free open water dive, either from shore or boat - not on shotline.

The candidate is leading a trainee diver on his first 20m dive. The dive to last for a minimum of

twenty (20) minutes.

(c) 30m Dive - Sunday

An open water dive to 30m.

(d) A reaction test to a simulated emergency can take place at any time during the weekend. (No

in-water incidents).

(e) All dives can be undertaken using a dive computer and/or Nitrox (if qualified).

3. ORAL TESTS - To leading Diver Standard

To be carried out in warm or sheltered surroundings, and candidates encouraged NOT to be in diving

suits, but warmly dressed.

The oral tests to be on the following:

(a) Dive Tables and Dive Computers

(b) Marine Charts/Tides/Weather

(c) Regulators and diving cylinders, maintenance and operation.

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December 2002

4. PRACTICAL TESTS - To leading Diver Standard

The test conditions to be as above for oral tests. The subjects to be:

(a) Knots, roping.

(b) Compressor operation.

(c) C.P.R. and O2 administration - Candidate to demonstrate proper procedure.

(d) Boathandling

N.B.

from their perspective.

Jury President alone, to meet all candidates at the end of the first day, to enquire about the test
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Leading Diver Training Log

Leading Diver Candidate:________________________ Club:

___________________
C.F.T. No.

___________
Leading Diver Brief:

Region R.D.O. Date

R.D.O.Seal

Fitness & Stamina Training:

Location Duration Buddy Date

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Specialist Lectures:

Lecture Lecturer Date

Dive Planning, Organisation & Leadership.

Dive Computers.

Dive Tables.

Rescue Management.

Treatment of Diving Accidents.

Diving Physiology.

C.P.R./O

2
Basic Chartwork & Tides.

Weather.

Regulators & Cylinders.

Dive Physics.

Compressors.

Dive Organisational Training:

Location Depth Emergency Situation Instructor & No. Date

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Outside the club:

Location Depth Emergency Situation Instructor & No. Date

1.

2.

3.

D.O. Sign:_______________________ Date:__________________

Club Seal:
To be submitted to the Jury President at exam weekend.

September 2002

December 2002

GUIDE TO THE LEADING DIVER EXAMINATION

Introduction

The examination comprises three parts which will be organised by the Regional Diving Officer and

details will be communicated to the Club. The four parts are as follows;

1. Theory Paper

2. Written Dive Plan

3. Prerequisites

4. Weekend Examination

The Theory Paper and prerequisites usually take place early in the season, May or June, with the

weekend examination taking place in September.

Theory Paper

This consists of four multiple choice sections:

? Diving Physics

? Diving Physiology

? General Knowledge

? Dive Tables

The pass mark in the first three is 60% (carry over* allowed) and 70% (compulsory pass) in Dive Tables.

* Carry over: where a combined mark of not less than 180 is achieved, the candidate will be allowed a "carry over", provided a

pass has been reached in two of these papers, and not less than 45% on the third, e.g. 65% + 63% + 46% = 174 (not passed),

whereas 65% + 70% + 47% = 182 (a D pass).

The study Syllabus for these papers includes;

? The Leading Diver Training Programme

? Club Diver Student Handout

? Boat Handling Student Handout

? Rescue Diver Student Handout

? The Diving Emergency Handbook, Lippman & Bugg

? Diving Rules & Recommendations, C.F.T.

Written Dive Plan

Each candidate will prepare a Dive Plan using dive groups, boats, compressors etc., and a marine

chart and weather chart as provided at the exam.Time allowed is 30 minutes. Pass mark is 60% (no

carry over).This will be completed on the same day as the Theory Paper is taken.

Prerequisites

Consult the current ?Courses and Tests Book? for the necessary prerequisites. Contained in these will

be the waterwork exercises to be completed by the candidate.Vital to their successful completion is

practice and a high level of water fitness.

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December 2002

The Weekend Examination

The weekend examination is one of leadership and organisational skills, with teamwork and an ability to

work together being very important. You will also be examined on your handling of emergency

situations efficiently and effectively.

The examination comprises two sections:

(a) Diving Practical

(b) Diving Knowledge

Diving Practical

There are five tests in this section;

1. The 40m Dive

2. The 20m Dive

3. The 30m Dive

4. The Emergency Situation

5. Organisational Ability

1. The 40m Dive:

are examined under the following headings.

During this dive all divers dive their grades and are assumed competent. Candidates
Dive Leadership:

throughout the journey to the dive site, during the dive and back to the debrief.

Beginning when buddies are named during the brief, continuous
Mask and Mouthpiece removal:

assessed.

The ability to undertake this confidently and smoothly is
Signals:

signal.

The candidate is assessed for his/her susceptibility to narcosis by means of a prearranged
2. The 20m Dive:

have undertaken approximately thirteen dives. Under examination are

Examiners are assumed to be trainees undertaking their first 20m dive, so theydive leadership and safety.
3. The 30m Dive:

leadership

Again, it is assumed that all divers are diving their grade and are competent. Diveis again being assessed.
4. The Emergency:

occur more than once.The candidate will be examined on their ability to:

? Identify a diver who is suffering from a diving related problem

? Diagnose possible problems/conditions based on the symptoms presented

? Act to stabilise the victim

? Inform the emergency services

? Organise to have the victim removed from the scene and treated

The assessment will also take into account the general care shown to the victim during the emergency.

Also assessed (both wet and dry) will be the candidate?s ability to perform C.P.R. and administer O

This may be part of an incident, but will also be examined in a dry location with a mannequin and O

This can occur at any time during the weekend (except during a dive) and may2.2
kit.

There will be no in-water incidents during the examination.

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5. Organisational Ability:

It is assessed by acting as D.O. for one of the above mentioned dives for their sub-group.

This involves planning and conducting the dive from start to finish, taking into account all

members of the group and the objective of the dive.

This section deals with the candidate?s ?Dive Planning? skills.
Diving Knowledge

There are six areas where the candidate?s working knowledge and practical handling of various topics

will be assessed.Again the syllabus for these is the same as for the theory paper.The topics are;

Dive Tables & Dive Computers:

computers safely and correctly, particularly concerning all diving carried out during the

weekend examination.

The candidate?s ability to use dive tables and dive
Charts & Weather:

newspaper.

Oral test on a chart from any area and a weather map, possibly from a
Regulators & Cylinders:

component parts, inspection, care and maintenance.

Oral test on the candidate?s working knowledge of the various
Compressors:

have a basic knowledge of the main parts of the compressor.

Oral test on the operation of a diving compressor.The candidate should also
Ropes & Knots:

knots, give a brief outline of their uses and the type of ropes used.

The candidate will be asked to tie correctly and quickly a variety of common
Boat Handling:

weekend. If a candidate shows weakness he/she may be reassessed using part of the C.F.T. boat

handling test.

The Leading Diver Marking Sheet is used by the Jury President to accumulate all the candidate?s marks

throughout the weekend examination.The sheet has a section for each of the areas under examination

and the key elements to be assessed. It is divided into two parts by a thick grey line. All items to the

left of the line deal with the practical diving assessments. All items to the right of the line deal with the

diving knowledge assessments.

The candidate?s boat handling skills will be assessed during the course of the
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divers of any grade on open water dives according to the rules and to organise dive groups. Leading Divers

or higher grades should preferably lead Trainee Divers.