Advanced buoyancy course

Introducing a diver to the benefits of controlling his or her buoyancy generally has a large positive effect, one that will increase the diver's sense of pleasure and sense of accomplishment. This specialty is designed to increase the open water diver's understanding of the factors that influence buoyancy and train the diver how to use available means and methods to control his or her buoyancy. The additional features of the marine and freshwater environments cannot be underestimated; as well as a diver who has better control of himself in conjunction with the environment.

This course is for:

• The certified diver looking to improve and/or adjust their buoyancy to prevent damage to the underwater world.

What you can expect to learn:

The SNSI Advanced Buoyancy Course offers in-depth study of all of the following topics and more:

• The importance of buoyancy
• Preserving the marine environment by not touching aquatic life
• Less fatigue and effort resulting in more fun
• Reduced air consumption to extend dive time
• Better photos and videos by controlling buoyancy
• Appropriate times to check buoyancy
• Equipment changes, dive environment and non-dive periods
• Factors that affect buoyancy
• Additional equipment and its impact
• Changes in cylinder weight during the dive
• Use of lungs compared to BCD
• Differences between BCD and dry suit
• Keeping fit
• Breathing patterns and proper techniques
• Clothing compression due to water pressure
• Ballast distribution and impact
• Equipment and alignment
• Body positions for better alignment
• Efficient kicking styles
• skills practice
• Weighting in different suits (skin, 3mm suit, 5mm suit, dry suit)
• Performing standard buoyancy checks with an almost empty cylinder

Some of the skills you will need to demonstrate include:

• Diving equipment assembly

• Pre-dive check

• Performing pre-dive buoyancy checks with an almost empty cylinder

• Ballast adjustment to achieve proper buoyancy

• Cylinder change and use of a full cylinder

• Performing pre-dive buoyancy checks with a full cylinder

• controlled descent

• practice of levitation

• Fine adjustments using breath control, BCD or dry suit

• Floating exercises without touching the bottom

• swimming exercises

• Climbs, including hovering at the safety stop (pool simulation)

• Monitoring of weight use and recording in the logbook

• Changing to a full cylinder

• Performing pre-dive buoyancy checks with a full cylinder

• controlled descent

What's included for you?

After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to perform diving activities without direct supervision of an SNSI Instructor*, provided the following conditions are met:

• Diving activities should be similar to those practiced during training.
• Dive areas should be similar to those covered in training.
• Environmental conditions should be similar to those faced during training.

*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in advanced buoyancy activities in the company of a parent, legal guardian or dive professional.

The SNSI Advanced Buoyancy certification contributes as a specialization towards achieving the SNSI Advanced Diver Development Program.

Minimum requirements of the SNSI Advanced Buoyancy Diver:

Effectively meet all open water prerequisites Demonstrate skills in buoyancy techniques