NOAA Divemaster
Objective: Prepare experienced NOAA Divers to supervise and direct NOAA diving operations.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Overview
The NOAA Divemaster course is an intensive two-week program designed to help students develop the leadership skills necessary to safely and effectively plan and supervise NOAA diving activities. During the course students receive substantial theoretical and practical instruction aimed at exposing them to a variety of equipment, tasks, situations, and environments typically encountered as NOAA Divemasters. Students are evaluated on their management of diving operations and response to emergency situations and must pass a final written examination in order to receive certification.
This class is taught concurrently with the last two weeks of the NOAA Diver course in order for the Divemaster candidates to gain practical experience in directing actual diving operations.
Topics Covered
- Setting up a diving station
- Pre-dive safety checks
- Pre-dive procedures and forms
- Troubleshooting equipment problems
- NOAA scientific and OSHA commercial diving regulations
- Decompression theory and physiology
- Problem management and counseling
- Line tending procedures for line tended standby divers
- Hazardous aquatic animals
- Extraction of injured divers and emergency assistance
- Neurological exams
- Accident causation and risk management
- Nitrox (optional)
Duration
2 weeks
Certification
NOAA Divemaster
Prerequisites
- NOAA Diver
- Current CPR, AED and first aid certificates
Equipment Requirements
- A cutting device
- Wrist watch or other timing device
- Outdoor clothing for various weather conditions
- Skin diving equipment appropriate for the class location
Application Materials
All application materials must be RECEIVED by the NOAA Diving Center 30 days prior to the course start date. They can be e-mailed to the Diving Center at Support.NDC@NOAA.gov.
Include copies of your CPR, AED & first aid certificates (these should be current through the end of class).
