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Training and the Levels of Awareness

The layout of the main PADI course sequence is no accident; it is designed to improve skills and awareness as students progress.

Awareness is critical underwater, arguably more so than your dive skill level. After all, a diver deficient in her skills but with heightened awareness would recognize this, and would take action (either abort the dive or take a refresher course or get additional training).

Our course sequence is designed to help divers achieve progressively greater levels of awareness with each course. The courses are there because divers may have a difficult time moving from one level to the next on their own; thus the need for continuing education!

The Levels

• Awareness of Self: How much air do I have? Where is my buddy? How is my buoyancy? Am I kicking properly?
  This level is introduced in a basic Open Water class.
• Awareness of Environment: What will I see on this dive? How do I get there? What is my objective? What do I need to do to prepare?
  This begins in the Advanced Open Water course, with many specialties adding to it.
• Awareness of Others: How is my dive group doing? Is anyone showing signs of discomfort or stress? Is the divemaster competent? Is everyone safe?
  This level of awareness begins in Rescue Diver and continues at the professional level.

A diver's level of awareness is based upon where that diver is focusing his attention. When a diver first gets certified, he is still working on perfecting his own skills, so most of his concentration goes to self awareness.

Once his skill level improves, he may start to become more aware of his environment. The Advanced Class can help this diver attain this awareness and fully enjoy his dives.

Next, this diver may start helping other divers with problems or giving advice to those with less experience. This probably means his dive skills and his ability to take in his environment have improved to the point that he can start concentrating on other people around him. At this point, he may be ready to take the Rescue Class.

Some divers are capable of reaching these levels on their own, but the vast majority will benefit from the guidance and structure that a course will provide. If you are ready for the next step, consider taking one of these courses! If you are not ready, there are many specialties which are intended to help you get there, like the Peak Performance Buoyancy class. Wherever you are in your diving experience, Splash has a course that can help you improve and progress.

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