Dry-run the skill Before getting in the water or while in standing depth, dry-run the position of the rescuer and the casualty – the hold, inflate / deflate controls. This allows you to address any issues on the surface and build confidence by allowing the students to actually have a go at using each other’ s inflators as they are all slightly different.
Teach the skill progressively Break the CBL into small, clear steps rather than trying to teach it all at once;
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Checking for consciousness there are clear breakdowns within the BSAC Instructor Manual for guidance. When more confident, it’ s important to emphasise that the initial lift upwards should start quickly by sufficient inflation and then be controlled. Often at the start of the skill when students first have a go, the initiation of upwards lift can be slow because students want to ensure it’ s not too quick. However, in a real-life situation this could result in further descent or no upward movement, delaying getting an unconscious casualty to the surface.
Demonstrate slowly and clearly Students learn best when they can see what‘ good’ looks like. Do a slow, exaggerated demonstration on your buddy. If you are demonstrating on a student, you will need to carry out a second demo so the student can sit out and watch the demonstration clearly.
Safely manage the skill The most important thing is that you manage the skill safely for you and all those taking part. Using a datum line is a really good way of having a fixed point of reference and also a line the instructor can use to control the ascent rate if necessary.
Think about your positioning. Being close to the‘ casualty’ s’ dump valve means that you could quickly dump gas should the ascent get too quick. Often I find if a BCD has a shoulder dump toggle, this is the best way for me to quickly manage too much inflation for the skill. On the surface, it’ s crucial that the casualty is buoyant and the rescuer maintains a hold while also making themselves buoyant. The instructor needs to be close to manage the situation. Again, having a datum line or shotline adds additional control here, should either student need to hold on quickly if the surfacing skill did not go as planned.
Debrief positively After each session, debrief with encouragement and constructive feedback using the REAP format, really emphasizing what has been achieved in the skills practice.
Teaching the Controlled Buoyant Lift is about developing divers who can think, stay calm, and control buoyancy under pressure. With patient, structured practice, you’ ll help your students become safer, more confident rescuers and better divers overall. �
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Carefully inflating the casualty’ s BC
Do you have a question about dive training, kit or safety for the Two Sophies to answer? Email SCUBA Editor Simon Rogerson, simon @ scubamagazine. co. uk
Caring for the
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