DCS... What's the big fuss?

 

Well, this DCS is special. It's not a sickness, it's a leadership rating! Dive Control Specialist is actually quite special.

 

With Albert Bower passing his Dive Control Specialist course on 15 February 2012, we took a moment to glance at our SCUBA dive leaders.  What exactly do we expect of them, and how hard do they work to get there?  Not only do we trust them to lead us on pleasureable recrational dives, but we also trust them to keep an eye out for our loved ones on excursions.

 

To give you some background, here's what it takes to get there... ask Albert, its a lot of work but it is FUN!  First up is Open Water Diver.  Jip, you actually have to learn to dive :-)  Thereafter you get to advance your eduation with further courses, like Boat diving, Equipment Techniques, Deep Diving, Enriched Air Nitrox, Limited Viz diving, Navigation, Buoyancy, Diver Stress and Rescue, Shark, Wreck... after all, the ocean is almost limitless!  Building up your dive experience past Advanced Adventurer, Specialty Diver, Advanced Diver, you need 50 dives and a minimum of 5 specialties qualified, of which one HAS to be Diver Stress and Rescue, to be rated Master Diver.  This is a recognition of your training, qualifications, skills and experience.  You also need your own complete SCUBA Diving System to continue onto leadership courses, which is the next step.

 

Becoming a Dive Guide enables you to lead dives for already qualified divers, on the types of dives you have certifications and experience in.  Add a Science of Diving Course, and you automatically get recognised as a Divemaster... and this is where the fun starts.  The big leap to DCS...!

 

Being certified as a DCS (Dive Control Specialist) is easier explaind as Assistant Instructor.  You may assist an Instructor in courses, in fact you may even take a couple of unqualified Open Water divers on their final qualification dives.  Needless to say, DCS's are VITAL to the SCUBA Industry - Instructors will most certainly have a very tough job if you guys didnt support us.  This is also a necessary qualification if you wish to become an Instructor, but in the interim a DCS may become a Specialty Instructor and teach already qualified divers a thing or two!

 

Having said the above, I think a hearty WELL DONE ALBERT is in place, not forgetting those who done the courses before him as well and deserved the recognition they received.  The SCUBA Industry needs reliable people and you will most certainly help fill a void.  Congratulations Albert.

 

Sea you soon!!!