2022 – 2023
Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Program Title:	Professional Dive Instructor	
Career Cluster:	Hospitality & Tourism

CCC	
CIP Number	0249030403	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	15 credit hours	
CTSO	N/A	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	49-9092 – Commercial Divers	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

This certificate program is part of the Diving Business and Technology AAS degree program (0249030400).  

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Hospitality & Tourism career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Hospitality & Tourism career cluster. 

The content includes but is not limited to coursework that will prepare students for career employment in the business of recreational scuba diving and instruction. Students will be qualified to develop, operate and manage recreational diving businesses such as those which proliferate Florida and other resort areas.  In addition to direct vocational qualification, courses taken in this certificate are applicable to an AAS degree in Diving Business and Technology.  

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Demonstrate scuba diving skills at a proficient level.
02.0	Demonstrate the skills required for scuba rescue and emergency medicine.  
03.0	Demonstrate the ability to effectively teach recreational scuba diving.
04.0	Identify the business aspects of recreational diving.
05.0	Demonstrate the skills required for computer based diving.
06.0	Demonstrate the skills required to supervise recreational divers. 

2022 – 2023
Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title:	Professional Dive Instructor	 
CIP Number:	0249030403	
Program Length:	15 credit hours	
SOC Code:		49-9092

This certificate program is part of the Diving Business and Technology AAS degree program (0249030400).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Demonstrate scuba diving skills at a proficient level. The student will be able to:	
01.01	Define Archimedes’ Principle and its relationship to buoyancy.	
01.02	Identify the gas composition of typical breathing air.	
01.03	Define and explain the gas laws as they relate to diver buoyancy, air consumption and their physiological effects upon the diver.	
01.04	Explain pressure changes in the air vs. water and their physiological effects upon the diver.	
01.05	Explain how divers respond to the effects of water regarding temperature and light.	
01.06	Explain cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology as they relate to the physiological responses of diving.   	
01.07	Demonstrate the proper selection, care and use of basic scuba equipment including mask, fins, snorkel, buoyancy compensator, cylinder, regulator, instrumentation, exposure protection and weighting system; as well as auxiliary equipment such as knife, light and compass.	
01.08	Demonstrate effective pressure equalization techniques during ascent and descent.	
01.09	Demonstrate effective methods for entry and exit from the water.	
01.10	Demonstrate effective underwater buoyancy control. 	
01.11	Demonstrate effective surface procedures.	
01.12	Demonstrate effective underwater propulsion.	
01.13	Demonstrate effective underwater navigation.	
01.14	Demonstrate effective surface and underwater communication.	
01.15	Demonstrate understanding of decompression theory and planning with both dive tables and planning software.	
01.16	Demonstrate effective use of the diver buddy system.	
01.17	Demonstrate ability to effectively respond to out-of-air emergencies as both the donor and receiver.	
01.18	Identify and describe how to prevent and manage diving medical emergencies.	
01.19	Define and explain various diving environments as they relate to both diver safety and environmental preservation.	
02.0	Demonstrate the skills required for scuba rescue and emergency medicine.  The student will be able to:	
02.01	Identify the cause, signs, symptoms, treatment and prevention related to the psychological stress of scuba diving and rescue diving.	
02.02	Demonstrate the physical stamina necessary for sustained rescue swimming.	
02.03	Demonstrate the ability to recognize potential distressed divers prior to the full expression of an emergency situation.	
02.04	Demonstrate the ability to successfully rescue a responsive and unresponsive scuba diver from the surface and underwater.	
02.05	Demonstrate the ability to perform rescue breathing on the surface in water too deep to stand in.	
02.06	Demonstrate several techniques used to successfully extricate an injured diver from the water.	
02.07	Demonstrate the ability to conduct an effective search for a missing diver. 	
02.08	Demonstrate the effective use of repetitive dive tables in conducting a deep dive rescue.	
02.09	Demonstrate the ability to conduct rapid neurological field examinations.	
02.10	Demonstrate the ability to choose appropriate oxygen delivery method for an injured diver.	
02.11	Demonstrate the skills required for effective field emergency first aid of diving injuries including decompression illness, drowning, temperature related, marine life injuries and conventional trauma.	
02.12	Demonstrate the ability to effectively hand off a diving accident victim to the EMS.	
02.13	Maintain training and currency in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) and emergency oxygen administration.	
03.0	Demonstrate the ability to effectively teach recreational scuba diving.  The student will be able to:	
03.01	Identify instructional techniques and learning styles.	
03.02	Identify the domains of Bloom’s taxonomy.	
03.03	Define learning.	
03.04	Define teaching.	
03.05	Identify the laws of learning.	
03.06	Identify factors that enhance learning.	
03.07	Identify the elements of oral communication.	
03.08	Describe the application of training aids.	
03.09	Describe how empathy, motivation, reinforcement, anxiety and fear apply to teaching and learning.	
03.10	Identify the components of a classroom presentation.	
03.11	Identify the components of a confined water presentation plan.	
03.12	Identify the components of an open water presentation plan.	
03.13	Prepare and conduct a classroom presentation.	
03.14	Prepare and conduct a confined water presentation.	
03.15	Prepare and conduct an open water presentation.	
04.0	Identify the business aspects of recreational diving.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Identify instructional techniques and learning styles.	
04.02	Identify the domains of Bloom’s taxonomy.	
04.03	Define learning.	
04.04	Define teaching.	
04.05	Identify the laws of learning.	
04.06	Identify factors that enhance learning.	
04.07	Identify the elements of oral communication.	
04.08	Describe the application of training aids.	
04.09	Describe how empathy, motivation, reinforcement, anxiety and fear apply to teaching and learning.	
04.10	Identify the components of a classroom presentation.	
04.11	Identify the components of a confined water presentation plan.	
04.12	Identify the components of an open water presentation plan.	
04.13	Prepare and conduct a classroom presentation.	
04.14	Prepare and conduct a confined water presentation.	
04.15	Prepare and conduct an open water presentation.	
04.16	Describe the differences between academic presentations using an instructor-led format and using student-centered active learning and state the advantages and disadvantages of each.	
04.17	List 5 types of student-centered active learning exercises and describe an example of each.	
04.18	Prepare and conduct a classroom presentation using active learning.	
05.0	Demonstrate the skills required for computer based diving.  The student will be able to:	
05.01	Define tissue compartment, half life, M value, nitrogen absorption, controlling compartment, and no decompression limits.	
05.02	Describe situations when slow compartments will determine the no decompression limit.	
05.03	Describe situations when fast compartments will determine the no decompression limit.	
05.04	Describe the limits of decompression theory and current experiments in no-decompression, repetitive, and multi-level diving 	
05.05	Define multilevel diving.	
05.06	Explain why more decompression time may become available when ascending to a shallower depth after reaching the no-decompression limit at a deeper depth.	
05.07	Explain the recommended procedures for ascent with any dive computer or table.	
06.0	Demonstrate the skills required to supervise recreational divers. The student will be able to:	
06.01	Demonstrate the ability to safely and effectively work with students in training at various levels as an instructional assistant. 	
06.02	Demonstrate the ability to prepare a group dive plan for recreational divers, including a briefing, dive profiles, safety considerations, contingency and emergency plans. 	
06.03	Demonstrate the ability to effectively manage a dive from the surface in the local environment which includes boat diving. 	
06.04	Demonstrate the ability to effectively manage a dive using in-water supervisions.	
06.05	Identify the various programs a divemaster may typically conduct in the recreational industry and demonstrate the ability to conduct selected programs. 	
06.06	Supervise a recreational dive.	
06.07	Identify the various elements of management and control of a recreational dive and demonstrate effective utilizations of these elements. 	
06.08	Identify the correct emergency procedures for a recreational dive. 	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.

Laboratory activities for this program encompass a wide variety of both physical and natural environments including classrooms, a pool and an open water facility for student teaching; computer stations; equipment repair, storage and distribution areas (dive locker); actual and simulated underwater work stations in open water both inland and offshore; and diver delivery stations on docks, beaches and boats. Cooperative arrangements with local businesses allow advanced students to interact with real customers in the actual working environment. Laboratory activities range from basic motor skill development through the performance of complex underwater tasks, as well as diving supervision and teaching. Students participate in actual underwater work projects and serve as teaching assistants in actual courses. The primary laboratory, an on-campus, open water, all weather underwater training area (UTA), contains abundant marine life, archeological artifacts (timbers from an actual treasure galleon) a sunken boat, submerged vehicles including a school bus, a large aeration system, and several work diving simulators.

Special Notes

The State of Florida is the world’s leading employer in the business of recreational diving. Many of these businesses, along with other employers of underwater workers, are represented on the A.A.S. Degree Advisory Committee for Diving Business and Technology. Classes involving diving sometimes are conducted at the site of these businesses, which represent a regular source of employment of students, often even before completion of their degree. Interaction with special classes conducted regularly for diving employees of such agencies as the Florida Department of Transportation, South Florida Water Management District, public safety agencies, and Federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provide degree-seeking students with an opportunity for first-hand experience with careers in diving technology.

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.

Additional Resources

For additional information regarding articulation agreements, Bright Futures Scholarships, Fine Arts/Practical Arts Credit and Equivalent Mathematics and Equally Rigorous Science Courses please refer to:
http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml.