Scuba-diving
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Description
Diving underwater with scuba breathing
apparatus.
Forms
An
Information and Consent
for Event/Activity form is required to
participate in this activity.
The appropriate PADI or BSAC health forms must also be completed
before the activity takes place.
Who can
participate?
Open to those aged 10 and over participating in Try-Dive in
controlled swimming pool environments.
Open to those aged 12 and over in outdoor
environments.
Some activity providers have their own age,
height and weight restrictions.
Participants must be able
to:
- swim 50 metres
- keep afloat for five minutes in the clothes
normally worn for the activity.
If you have a participant with a medical
condition that will affect her ability to swim, ensure that you
inform the instructor and make provision to allow her to
participate safely.
Ratio of adults to
girls
Normal ratios for activities away from the
meeting place are required.
Guiding Manual ratios
Regulations
- The Leader must ensure that all participants
under 18 have written permission to take part from an adult with
parental responsibility. The local Commissioner must be
informed that the activity is taking place.
- Carry out a risk
assessment for the activity.
- When using a commercial activity provider,
ensure it is reputable. You can verify the quality of a provider by
checking it has one of the following endorsements: AALA, Adventuremark or
LotC Quality Badge for Adventure.
The above endorsements are not applicable in
Northern Ireland, where you should ask your local Outdoor
Activities Adviser to recommend an approved provider.
The Leader must:
- ensure that safety rules and alarm signals
have been explained to the participants
- be satisfied that everyone understands the
need for instructions to be obeyed immediately
- follow the guidelines in the Water
Safety Code and ensure that the responsible adult helpers
are familiar with them
- ensure that the water is suitable for
scuba-diving, seeking advice if necessary
- decide on the day, with the instructor(s),
whether conditions are safe for scuba-diving.
Instructor
qualifications
The instructor must hold the relevant
qualification for the nature of the activity which is recognised
by:
or
Professional Association of Diving
Instructors (PADI)
There should be one instructor for each
participant.
Useful
information
Water should be inspected for signs of visible
pollution, for example rubbish, blue-green
algae or chemicals.
If either the Leader or the instructor is not
satisfied that the conditions are safe, the activity must be
abandoned.
The Leader should ensure each participant (or
her parent if the participant is under 18 years old) is aware of
the dangers and symptoms of Weil’s
disease and knows what action to take if infection is
suspected. On the day of the activity participants should be
advised to cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters to help
prevent infection.
Ensure that all participants have the correct
clothing and equipment.
Ensure the equipment being used is:
- in good condition
- the correct size for the participant
- adequately insured.
Page last updated: 10/14/2011