Rebreather training has been a contested subject in recent years, in part due to the technology representing a convergence of varying industry sectors which all approach training in different ways. While somewhat unspoken, the maneuvering we've experienced among professional trade organizations and training agencies around rebreather training has been all about grasping for market share - nothing at present, in my opinion, offers a logical educational path towards engineering a new generation of undersea enthusiasts built upon the rebreather platform. Therein lies the opportunity, and it remains up for grabs.
Here, in broad strokes, I'm proposing the educational pathway that works for me, and have implemented with my students for what is essentially on the job training in preparing them for the newly immersive experiences and opportunities that come with rebreather diving capabilities.
Program Entry (no prior rebreather experience)
A rebreather diver must have the technical aptitude to fully assemble the unit and understand the logic behind why the unit is configured a certain way. This is done on day 1 of the training regimen under the direction and supervision of their instructor. By building the unit themselves, the diver will better understand the design logic and begin to acquire more technical but fundamentally necessary skills for routine rebreather equipment maintenance. This hardware handling and nuts and bolts is a key differentiating factor from open-circuit SCUBA. There are several overlapping pieces, and some similarities, but rebreather hardware is just that little bit more involved that it needs to be the utmost priority.
Following day 1 assembly, the unit is taught as an oxygen only system beginning on day 2. This allows the diver to learn rebreather fundamentals in a shallow and controlled setting, while appreciating the simplicity, but very powerful capability that rebreather diving affords and at the same time eliminating the risks and complexity that come with mixed-gas units. Training may be concluded after day 2 at the instructor’s discretion upon observing skills proficiency and student aptitude to perform at this level and within the limitations of an oxygen only system.
Preceding the hardware familiarity exercises, the student trainee must have a working knowledge of the educational theory presented in basic open water SCUBA, coupled with the physics and physiological recognition that is presented in a nitrox program. This education could come from past training and experience, though I also believe that it is entirely feasible to start a non-diver on a rebreather if these concepts are taught in parallel with the novel hardware, coupled with basic SCUBA instruction. It is not as far of a stretch as some might envision.
Continuing Education & Training Progression
After attaining a degree of proficiency with this oxygen only system, typically 50 cumulative hours of operation, subsequent training and education continues with the incremental addition of components that increase the capabilities of the system while aligned with physiological and operational considerations with increased depth.
By following this training regimen, divers can experience rebreathers earlier in their career, and gain experience with one system that grows organically with their diving requirements and interests. This also provides more instructor interaction throughout the training progression over a period of time to promote mentorship and actively diving as part of a community. This mentor-mentee style training is more common in commercial diving than other community sectors, though is important to share stylistic approaches to rebreather diving that are often specific to the nature of the local diving environment or mission tasks.
For instance, upon completion of RD1 oxygen rebreather training (Mod 0), the diver will quickly realize next steps towards added value of the unit if diluting the breathing gas, which becomes the focus of a second level of training (Mod 1). Each training level is keyed to adapting the rebreather system to meet the physiological and operational considerations for diving to the desired depth, based on the student always knowing how to achieve a pO2 of 1.0 bar through management of his/her atmosphere. This makes gas management highly intuitive and ensures the student recognizes how rebreather technology can be very much tailored to the mission objectives.
Training elements specific to each incremental training step should be developed by instructional personnel with input and authorization of the developer. This approach is applicable since the local diving environment and/or specific mission may dictate the configuration of the rebreather system. A sample recommended training program progression is as follows:
| Sample training 'levels' aligned with physiological considerations over depth and the equipment selection criteria to mitigate those risks. Training should be conducted according to the risks encountered for the given depth (pressure), with dive planning exercises to include a comprehensive hazard/risk analysis for the dive environment. |
Verification of Training
Completed training should not be viewed as a 'certification' with any permanence. A certificate and/or letter may be provided that verifies completion of the given module or for a specific level or configuration to minimum recommended guidelines and within the given environment, however, as with all diving, proficiency of the diving skill set and with the equipment used must be attained and maintained. This puts the onus on the diver to dive if they want to be a diver.
Dive supervisors or operators should review the diver’s record of proficiency in addition to the verification of training to determine capabilities to perform the diving activity.
Certificates (or cards) may be issued by the instructor and reflect this important proficiency requirement, though should read similar to the following:
Verification of Training
Level: [Mod 0, Mod 0+, Mod 1, Mod 2, Mod 3]
Divers Name: _______________________
Instructors Name: _______________________
Completion Date: _______________________
This certificate verifies that the named diver has completed training at the stated level. Authorization to dive requires maintaining a minimum proficiency regimen at the stated level equivalent to 12 dives/year, and diving with a partner utilizing the same or similar equipment.
Qualifications Upon Completion
Upon successful completion of the training dives, the diver is authorized to conduct rebreather dives within environments and conditions similar to training and at the specified level, and whilst in the company of another diver at the same or a higher level of training.
To maintain qualification to dive with the rebreather, the diver is recommended make at least one dive using the rebreather every 4 weeks (12 dives annually) and log this activity for documented experience. This requirement is analogous to the proficiency regimen proposed within the scientific community. It is purely a demonstration of commitment, and the minimum level of effort to remain familiar with the rebreather device.
Supervisors for these dives should be an experienced dive partner, designated lead diver, qualified instructor, or other appropriate individual that has experience with the same unit.
For a diver in arrears on qualification maintenance through proficiency, the diver should undertake remedial knowledge and skill tune-up training under the direction of a qualified instructor. The extent of this program should be directly related to the complexity of the planned dive activity.
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So, it's all quite simple - learn from an expert. Put in the time to become expert yourself. Collectively pass on the expert knowledge to the next. It all comes down to actually diving if you want to be a diver.