UCDSAC Safety Statement

Introduction
UCD Sub Aqua Club (UCDSAC) is affiliated to C.M.A.S. (Confederation Mondiale des Activities Subaquatiques) or, the World Underwater Federation, through the national federation, C.F.T (Comhairle Fó Thuinn) also known as the Irish Underwater Council. The primary function of these bodies is to promote and advance underwater swimming and related activities, and to formulate, administer and implement the standards, rules and recommendations required for safe diving. The Technical Commission of CFT is elected each year by the member clubs and its function is to maintain safe diving standards.

The function of UCD Sub-Aqua Club is to train its members to the highest standards of competence and safety in snorkelling, diving and boat handling and to instil an attitude of safety first in all instances. All diving related activities, carried out by the club, are governed by the rules and recommendations of the above federations and all training and qualifications are administered by CFT.

The Committee
UCD Sub-Aqua Club is run by a committee of members elected each year at the AGM. The members of this committee most concerned with the safety aspects are:

• The Diving Officer (D.O.)
  All matters relating to diving activities are under the control of the D.O. He/She must necessarily be an experienced diver of 3* grade or higher (see below)
• Safety Officer
  The Safety Officer deals with all issues relating to safety, whether diving or otherwise, associated with the activities of the Club
• Equipment Officer
  He/She ensures that all club equipment is in safe working order
• Boat Officer
  He/She maintains and services the club boat/s
• Captain
  Overall coordination of committee activities

It should be noted that: EVERY MEMBER OF THE CLUB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF THE CLUB AT ALL TIMES

UCDSAC conditions of membership
Medical fitness to dive:
As per the CFT requirements, a diving medical examination is required before commencement of dive training, to be carried out by a registered medical practitioner.

On first medical

Chest X-Ray required

Additional medicals

Every five years for divers under 35 years or / if clinically indicated
Every three years for divers over 35 years
Every year if the diver is on long term medication
Or if there is a change of medical status

E.C.G.

at age 50 then every 5 years

For insurance purposes a medical disclaimer to be signed each intervening year and counter signed by the club D.O. with proof retained in Diver’s Log Book.
Additional membership conditions are as per the UCD Athletic Union Council requirements.

Training
UCDSAC facilitates divers from the basic grade upwards and trains divers to Diver 2 star level in house. Training for further qualifications is undertaken on a regional basis directly with CFT.

• Diver 1 Star Qualification
  Training takes place during the academic year, generally between October and March. Training comprises lectures and pool based training including snorkel and scuba training. All training is carried out by suitable qualified instructors. Candidates must be over 16 years of age and in good health (see above).

  Entry requirements

  • Swim 200m freestyle without stopping
  • Swim on back for 50m
  • Hold breath underwater for 30 seconds within 5 minutes of 1&2.
  • Pass diver medical as set out by CFT medical form.

  Pool Training
  Before commencing any open water diving all members of UCD Sub Aqua Club must undergo an extensive training program as laid out by CMAS. The primary training course is known as diver 2 star training programme and subsequent training is an extension of this intensive introduction. The course in snorkelling and diving involves in-water (swimming pool) instruction in the use of fins, snorkels, masks and basic snorkel techniques, as well as techniques in the safe use of underwater breathing equipment known as SCUBA (self contained underwater breathing apparatus).

  Lectures
  The second major element of the course is a series of lectures which are required to understand the various techniques and safety procedures which are necessary for safe diving underwater. The lecture course is divided into 4 main sections and there are 22 separate talks. The sections are dive physics, physiology, equipment and techniques.

  Open Water Diving
  To qualify from this course a prospective diver must pass a number of tests:

  • Written test
    This is conducted at the end of the lecture series and tests a candidates understanding of the material contained in lectures.
  • Pool test
    This tests the candidates proficiency in the techniques and skills learned in the pool

  Only after successfully passing these tests can a candidate proceed to Open Water Diving. After completing 5 dives with instructors to depth not greater than 10m and demonstrating a series of techniques underwater the candidate will be issued with a trainee diver certificate ( 1*). This allows candidates to dive to progressively deeper depths (max 30m) with divers of grade 2* or above.

• Diver 2 Star Qualification
  When candidate has completed 20 dives in Irish waters and has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the club D.O. a high level of competence in diving techniques, CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) and the ability to lead dives safely, the candidate may be recommended for the diver 2* test.
  This test is conducted by an instructor from another club within CFT and covers all aspects of the course as well as navigation on dives and the ability to lead dives. If passed, the 2* diver is qualified to dive with any diver 1* or above at the discretion of the club D.O.
  Once a diver has qualified as a 2* he/she is then encouraged to continue training and augment existing qualifications by obtaining the following certificates, the training for which is provided on a regional basis:
  
  • Motorboat Handling Certificate
  • V.H.F. Radio Users Certificate
  • C.P.R. and O2 Administration Certificate
  • Rescue Diver Certificate
  • Nitrox Diver
  • Nitrox Blender
• Further Training
  All of the above qualifications with the exception of the Nitrox Diver and Blender qualifications are necessary pre-requisites for the CMAS diver 3* programme. The 3* qualification is the highest diving certificate issued by CFT (subsequent qualifications are instructor orientated) and as such is very important and difficult to obtain. Qualified 3*s also known as Leading Divers have demonstrated an extensive knowledge of all diving related issues as well as the ability to organize groups of divers for safe and enjoyable diving. UCD Sub Aqua Club actively promotes its members, in the interest of safety, to aim towards this qualification. It is also required for the Club Diving Officer to be of this grade at least.

Diving
Scuba diving is undertaken regularly between March and October each year (in season) and occasionally out of season. All members must undertake three 30 minute snorkels at the beginning of each season in order to acclimatise, if they have not dived in an intervening 90 day period. Diving is at the discretion of the Diving Officer and all divers are subject to the (depth) limitations of their diving grade.

• Air
  Divers diving on air are limited to the depth and time as ascribed by the relevant dive tables.
• Nitrox
  Divers must be 2 Star grade or higher to undertake Nitrox training. Divers on Nitrox are limited to the time and depth as ascribed by the relevant dive tables.

• Air and Nitrox Compressors
  UCDSAC provides air and nitrox for all club members. We use two compressors, one fitted with (removable) blending equipment; each is used and maintained to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Members are trained in the use* and care of the compressors before use.
• Buddy System
  Divers must never dive alone. This is the cornerstone of safe diving. The Buddy System ensures that divers are paired with respect to abilities and qualifications and that during diving pairs remain in close contact in order to be of assistance to one another in the event of an incident. The foundation of the Buddy System is the Buddy Check where pairs check and familiarize themselves with their buddies equipment and discuss and agree a dive plan. A Buddy Check is performed before each dive.
• Dive Tables
  Dive tables are used by divers to avoid decompression sickness (DCS), CFT recommends the use of the Buehlmann Air Dive Tables. The version of the Buehlmann Dive Tables used by Irish Divers was developed specifically for sports divers form a system, which is used for professional, mixed gas and caisson diving. The version has less than a 1% failure rate when used correctly. All the empirical factors used in the tables were derived experimentally by the Hyperbaric Physiological Laboratory in Zurich, Switzerland, and tested in water using ordinary sports divers.
• Use of Boats
  The use of boats on open water is an integral part of diving and greatly enhances the Safety of operations, however, boats also introduce certain hazards and an understanding of these and proper training is vital to Safe Diving. At all times while used for diving operations or otherwise Club Boats must be under the control of a qualified Coxswain (Cox’n). A qualified Cox’n is a person who has successfully undertaken and passed the CFT Boat Handling Course.
• Dive Planning
  All dives are planned by a suitable qualified diver or a diver in training, under the supervision of a suitably qualified instructor. Dive planning includes the use of sea charts, weather forecasts and local knowledge to ensure safe diving. In addition, emergency plans are drawn up to identify key emergency services, contact details and access and egress from dive sites. In addition, where practical, any qualified Rescue Divers and Diver Medics are identified and an emergency vehicle with first aid and oxygen is designated.