This document outlines the standards and requirements for a kayak diving specialty course to certify divers. The course teaches skills for kayak diving and requires students to be open water certified and complete a minimum of 12 hours of instruction split between classroom and open water training, including two dives from an open cockpit kayak with a maximum 4:1 student to instructor ratio. Students must log the dives and not exceed the depth and time limits of the least experienced diver before receiving kayak diving certification.

1. Kayak Diving Specialty Outline
An outline for teaching Kayak Diving to Certified Divers.

2. Kayak Diving Course, Academics
COURSE STANDARDS AND OVERVIEW
This course is designed to be an introduction to kayak diving and to help the student
develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for kayak diving.
Prerequisites
To qualify for the kayak diving course an individual must:
1) Be certified as an Open Water Diver, or have an equivalent rating.
2) Be 15 years of age or older.
Instructor Supervision
Kayak Diver courses may be conducted by an in Teaching status Open Water
Instructor (or Instructor with a higher rating) who has been certified as an Kayak
Diving Instructor. The maximum student to instructor ratio for open water training
dives is four students per instructor (4:l).
Considerations for Open-Water Training
The Kayak Diving course is to include two open-water training dives, which may be
conducted in one day. Both open-water training dives must be conducted from an
open cockpit kayak. An open cockpit kayak is defined as a decked boat where the
paddler sits on the deck, not inside as with traditional kayaks. It is recommended but
not required that the kayak have hatches to gain access to below.
After the training dives, students are required to log their dives in their personal log
books. All dives will be completed within the maximum depth and time limits
specified by the certification of the least certified student diver in the class session.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course covers the knowledge and techniques of kayak diving. The minimum
number of recommended hours is l2, with time being equally divided between
academic and actual water training sessions. To conduct a Kayak Diving course, the
following is to be included:
1) the planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of
kayak diving.
2) proper kayak diving etiquette - storage of personal equipment, personal
conduct and care of the kayak.

3. 3) basic common kayak terminology.
4) specific kayak diving entries and exits.
5) local kayak diving laws and/or ordnances
6) overview of emergency/safety equipment needed on board private diving
vessels
When available and convenient, students interested in seamanship and kayak
handling should be directed to specialised courses offered in this subject area (like
those offered by private schools, colleges/universities etc. ). However basic
seamanship and handling skills may be included in the course at the discretion of the
instructor.
CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES
The certifying instructor obtains a Kayak Diving certification by submitting a
completed signed PIC to Headquarters or the appropriate area office. The Instructor
who conducts the final open water training session is to be the certifying instructor.
The instructor certifying the student must ensure that all the certification
requirements have been met.
KEY STANDARDS
Prerequisite Certification: Open Water Diver or equivalent rating
Minimum age: 15
Recommended Course Hours: 12
Minimum Open Water Training: 2 dives (2 days recommended)
Student To Instructor Ratio: 4:1
All dives will be completed within the maximum depth and time limits specified by
the certification of the least certified student diver in the class session.