Explains ANDI's concept of “Training Levels” and the scope of a program’s contents.
In order to better differentiate the many programs and their scope of training ANDI attaches a “Level of Training”, 1 through 5 for every program involving diving skills. Non-diving oriented courses have no training level. All courses with the same matching level designation follow the same general scope of training and are geared for the same experience level of the participant.
To explain this concept further, Level 1 designates an introductory
program for new divers or divers-in-training. All Level 1 courses will follow
these same limitations: 30m max depth, No-Stop-Required profiles, no decompression
training, 1.45 PO2, 4.0 PN2 and information of a less complete or less technical
nature. For example, only SafeAir® 32 and 36 may be used by LSU L1 students.
All Level 2 courses can be expected to be of an “advanced
recreational” scope of training. Only two cylinders and up to two gases
may be employed to limit the task loading. This is essentially the recreational
limits that are accepted world-wide: 40m maximum depth, No-Stop-Required profiles,
no decompression training, 1.45 PO2, 4.0 PN2 and information content of a
more complete or more technical nature. For example, the Cavern Diver course
is a Level 2 program. A twin-set of cylinders with another gas in an RBS is
beyond L2 task loading.
Level 3 training encompasses the first level of what has
become known as “technical diving”. In general, a more experienced
recreational diver is the student prerequisite. Three cylinders and three
gas mixes are the task loading limits unless otherwise specified. In addition
the training is limited to 50m (49.5 m actual) maximum depth, 1.45 PO2, 4.5
PN2 or less (depending on the course standards), full decompression training
procedures with decompression ceilings limited to 30 minutes (TTM is the exception)
and exposure limited to 1.6 PO2, information content of a complete and technical
nature. For example, the Cave Diver course is a Level 3 program. Educational
Training Levels
Training at Level 4 is considered an “explorer's”
program. The training expands on the Level 3 material more in practical experience
than in theory. The Level 4 program does not extend the depth limits beyond
that of a Level 3 program. Depth is not the goal here. The Level 4 course
prepares the diver to plan and execute “mission oriented” activities.
The training involves operating at the reasonable limits of SafeAir diving
and incorporates into the dive plan unlimited gas switches and unlimited decompression.
For example, the Cave Explorer course is a Level 4 program.
Level 5 formats are exploration courses that involve the
use of other inert gases (in addition to Nitrogen), permit unlimited equipment
configurations and unlimited decompression. The operational depth limits are
course-limited but usually 100m maximum training depth, 1.45 PO2, 4.0 PN2,
with unlimited decompression ceilings permitted. Oxygen exposures for decompression
are still limited to 1.6 PO2, and the information content is of the most complete
and technical nature.
Unlimited cylinders and unlimited gases may be carried by the Level 5 exploration student as specified by the course instructor.
Following the above information, we can at once understand the scope of training and the approximate limitations for a Level 2 or 3 wreck course or a Level 5 rebreather course.
If you have been following the text closely and comparing the various programs and training levels you may note that there is no L4 Rebreather courses. It had been decided that since a rebreather dive at the limits of L2 diving requires the same planning as L3 open-circuit and, L3 rebreather diving involves some serious planning approximating L4 open circuit, the need for a L4 rebreather rating is unnecessary at this time.