Purpose

The IANTD DPV course is designed to provide training in the use of Diver Propulsion Vehicles, covering the fundamental principles of "scooter" diving as well as the critical skills that apply to safe operation of a scooter in the open water environment.

Prerequisites

• Must meet the IANTD General Course Prerequisites

• Must be qualified as an Advanced Open Water diver with a minimum of 25 logged dives

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age

• Be a non-smoker

• If certification is for Cave DPV, student must be cave certified with a minimum of 50 logged cave dives

Training Materials

DPV owners manual and support materials

Duration

The IANTD DPV course includes five hours of academics taught in one session as well as four dives completed over two days.

Course Content

The IANTD DPV course cumatively includes a minimum of twelve hours of instruction designed to provide a foundation for all future DPV use. Subject matter will include lectures on the DPV itself, gas management, battery burn time management as well as proper DPV weighting, maneuvering the scooter, team protocols and emergency protocols.

Academic Topics

• IANTD organization

• Course Standards and Procedures

• Course completion requirements

• History of DPV use

• Mechanical components

• Battery burn time management

• Gas management

• Balance and weighting

• Operating techniques

• Towing techniques

• Team protocols

• DPV failures

• Emergency protocols

• Maintenance

Surface Drills and Skills

• Tow cord adjustment

• Operating techniques

• Dropping and retrieving the DPV

• Towing techniques

• OOA protocols

In-water Skill Requirements

• Demonstrate proper DPV setup

• Demonstrate proficiency in various propulsion techniques while maintaining control of the DPV

• Demonstrate proper body positioning and trim while operating a DPV

• Demonstrate proficiency in general operation procedures

• Demonstrate the ability to drop and recover the DPV

• Demonstrate proficiency in two towing methods while sharing gas

• Demonstrate proficiency in towing a DPV

Course Limits

• IANTD General Program Limits

• Maximum student to instructor ratio is not to exceed 2 to 1

• Maximum depth during class - 100'

• All dives must use Nitrox up to 40% oxygen with a PO2 of no greater than 1.4

Equipment Requirements

• Tow behind style DPV (Silent Submersion, X-Scooter, Gavin, Mako or Tekna)