Trainee SAA Club Divers must have achieved the level of SAA Open Water Diver and hold a current UK Sport Diver Medical Declaration Form. Any trainee under the age of 18 must have signed written permission from their parents or guardians.
All trainee Club Divers MUST attend the SAA Open Water Diver Lectures CDL1 to CDL5:
- CDL1 - Diver Rescue.
- CDL2 - Introduction to Nitrox Diving.
- CDL3 - Dive Planning.
- CDL4 - Underwater Navigation.
- CDL5 - Boat Diving.
Trainee Club Divers must complete a further 10 Qualifying dives, with at least 5 in the sea (Maximum Depth 35m). Candidates are limited to completing a maximum of 2 qualifying dives per day, with no more that 2 qualifying dives at any dive site.
The range of dives to include at least 5 of the following:
- Shore dive along a shelving bottom.
- Dive from a rib.
- Dive in freshwater.
- Dive in moving water (1knot Max).
- Dive in sea water.
- Low visibility dive (less that 2Meters).
- Dive in cold water (less than 10oc).
- Dive from a hard boat.
CDS3 Skills
The Club Diver Trainee must demonstrate the following skills in open water to the satisfaction of the Club DO:
- a. Rescue a buddy on the surface.
- b. Identify a suspected decompression problem and provide oxygen.
- c. Swim 250 metres on the surface using a SCUBA breathing through a snorkel.
- d. Demonstrate correct buoyancy control and swimming attitude.
- e. Demonstrate horizontal air donation both as a donor and a receiver using an alternative air source.
- f. Demonstrate vertical donation from 5 metres to surface, including a 3 metre safety stop using ASS.
- g. Demonstrate on land two methods of recovering an unconscious diver from depth.
- h. Demonstrate correct use of an SMB.
- i. Demonstrate correct use of a Delayed SMB.
These must be carried out over a number of dives.
Once the above criteria has been met, the trainee may then move on to complete Dive Leader Training.