General Standards

Valid

PATD standards are published in German and English language, valid is the german version published under "www.PATD.org". PATD instructors and members of the BoA are encouraged to advice improvement. Respossible is the Training Director and the BoD.

Training goal

The training goal of PATD is to offer training beyond recreational diving.
PATD does not teach recreational or novice diving, while recreational diving is hereby defined as

• Not deeper than 40 m
• Diving with compressed air
• Diving with open Scuba
• No decompression diving
• Diving in buddy system
• Open water diving, no overhead enviroment
• Diving with good visability

Age

To participate in PATD training, the student must be 18 years old. The nitrox course can be done with 15 years, the parents must sign a waiver.

Diving Prerequisits

• To participate in PATD training, the student must be Advanced Open Water Diver or CMAS-Two-Star or equivalent.
  Rescue diver is recommended.
• To participate in the instructor programm, the candidate must be divemaster or CMAS assistent instructor
  or must provide proof of active participation in teaching students.
  Being PATD instructor does not allow for teaching recreational diving (e.g. novice students).
• The student must have done 15 dives during the last 12 month
• The student must provide proof of a medical examination not older than 12 month.
  He must state that his health status has not changed worse.
• A check dive is recommended if the divers ability is questioned or unknown.

Equivalence

In the apendix there is a list of courses PATD recognizes as equivalent. Those can be accepted instead of other prerequisists.
It is up to the instructor to decide whether he want to do written or in-water tests with candidates.
Final tests or water skills from previous levels can be used for this.

In case a student has neither a PATD certificate nor an equivalent certificate the following points must be met:

• Complete all water skills from the previous level
• Successfully complete two tests of the previous levels
• Show proof of at least 10 dives on the previous course level
• All other prerequisits of the course

Certification

A student can only be certified if he

• Has conducted all dives of the course (number and time)
• Has completed all water skills (also confined water / pool)
• Paticipated in the majory of the academics of the course
• Passed the written test
• Has signed a liabiltity waiver (PATD, instructor) prior to the course
• Fullfills all prerequisists (must be documented)
• Has filled out the certification sheet
• Shows a safe attitude and good dive habits

A diver can buy training and education from PATD – the certification must be earned with knowledge, good performance and proper attidute

Quality assurance

In a random manner students will receive a question sheet after certification. Some aspects of the standards are checked to assure training quality.

Supervision

All dives are done under direct supervision of the instructor. The last dive of the course the students can finish by themself
after a common start with the instructor. This dive must be shallower than the deepest dive in the course and the penetration
must be shorter than the longest penetration in the course. Students under 18 years must always be supervised by their parents or their instructor.

Documentation

• Each training dive must be loggeed by the student and by the instructor.
  The instructor must mention the names of the students participating in this dive.
• Prerequisits must be documented with the name of the student and the course
• The final test must be documented with name and result
• The certification must be documented with name

All documents must be marked with the name of the student, the course and a date. Certifications are stored in the non-public
PATD database, including personal data. Those data are for internal use only. The instructor must hold the documents for
at least 10 years in his files, even if he leaves PATD.

The PATD instructor list will publish Name, address, phone/fax and e-mail/web and instructor levels, except for the instructor stops this action.

Equipment

PATD does not dictate the equipment down to the smallest detail of rigging. It is up to the instructor to evaluate whether the
students equipment is sufficient for the course level and the environment. The following equipment however must be present:

• Double tanks; for nitrox, cavern and wreck a single tank with dual outlet valve is acceptable. Rebreathers must have a sufficiant bailout-system.
• Two first stages with one second stage attached to each first stage
• The right regulator must be equiped with a 2 m octopus hose
• Except for nitrox, cavern and wreck two indipendent bouyancy control systems must be used (two BCs or BC and dry suit)
• A main light (brightness equivalent to 20 Watts halogen) and one backup light. In overhead environment two backup lights are requested.
• Each tank must be equiped with a pressure gauge
• Cutting tool that can handle stainless wire, to be placed in the upper body region
• Dive tables, bailout tables
• Depth gauge, clock, also combined as computer or bottom timer. Backup-depth-gauge on all decompression dives.
• Slate
• Compass
• Thermal protection according to the actual dive environment
• 25kg lift bag and a 60m reel for decompression dives in open water
• Emergency whistle; flair gun or long lift bag are strongly recommended in off-shore dives
• 40 m safety reel per diver and a continuous guide line back to open water per team in overhead environment dives
• 150% of the calculated gas supply
• Line Arrows in overhead environment
• All regulators must be marked if different gas mixtures are used
• The oxygen regulator must be locked to prevent unintensional use. The lock must be actively remove to prepare the regulator for use.

The main gas supply is never removed

Training material

If a PATD manual exists for the course level it must be used. Each student must have a personal manual, which he keeps after the course.
An instructor can add scientific validated material. A list of international recommended literature can be found in the appendix.
For cave programs NSS-CDS literature can be used. No part of PATD manuals may be published without written permission of the BoD.

Standards for tanks, gases and gas blending

• On all tanks the MOD must be marked
• Tanks containing an other gas than air must state the contents: (O2/He/N2) or Nitrox-O2 or Trimix O2-He or Argon
• Tanks containing an other gas than air must have a yellow-green-yellow ribbon stating "Mixed Gas".
  Pure oxygen should be labeled as "Oxygen".
• Gases must have purety "breathable gas", medical or 4.6
• Oxygen must not be filled faster than 100Liter/Minute. The same is for filling gases into oxygen.
• The gas mixture must be analyzed by the diver prior to the dive.
• During gas blending the following data must be logged

Date

Name and signature of the blender

Name and signature of the customer

Blenders analysis

Customers analysis

MOD

Gas supplier

Instructor/Student ratio (ISR)

The ratio instructor to studends in water is specified for each course. In generell the instructor must always be able to see (supervise) all students.
In bad visability the number of students must be reduce accordingly. An instructor can, depending on the course, use up to two assistent instructors.
Per assistent the number of students can be increased by one.

To be accepted as assistent, the following conditions must be fullfilled.

• Being a PATD instructor

Or

• Is certified on the current course level
• Has done 15 dive on the current course level

Partial pressure limits

For all courses the following partial pressure limits apply:

pPO2 > 0.16 bar

pPO2 < 1.6 bar*

pPN2 < 4 bar (Exception: one deep experience dive in technical nitrox: 4.6 bar)

pHe<10bar

*The maximum pPO2 must be reduced by 0.1 bar for each factor holding true for the dive to be conducted

• cold water
• bottom time > 30 minutes
• decompression dive
• dive with work load
• repetition dive

Pure oxygen can be used without reduction between 0m and 6m of depth, within the CNS% limits.
Nitrox can be used at 1.6 bar during short decompression periods.

The maximum depth in trianing is 90 m.

Descent / Ascent

The maximum descent rate is 15m / min. the maximum ascent rate is 15m/min at depth deeper than 50 m,
10m/min between 50m and 10 m depth and 5m/min between 10m depth an surface.
On all dives a safety stop must be done for 3 minutes at 5 meter depth, except for a decompression schedule dictates different stops.

Further standards

PATD instructors shall not talk in a bad mannor about other divers, instructors or agencies; not in public nor in the internet.

A PATD instructor must always fullfill at least the PATD standards even if he runs a course for a different agency.

The instructor must not endanger the student by surprice exercises (like e.g. regulator removement, mask removement,
gas shutdown) nor by intentionally provocated situations (like e.g. siltout, fast ascent)

During PATD courses nature, property and religion must be honored: grafity at drop-off- or cave walls,
ollecting of stalamites/Stalctides or corrals are prohibited. Access to the dive site must be with permission of the owner.
Collecting artefacts or fossils must only be done according to law. Graves remain untouched in concern of human remainings.

Publications, in which PATD is in the center of attention, must have written permission by the BoD.

The PATD-logo can be used on business cards or in advertising for the instructor. For commercial sales, the BoD must approve the product

PATD sells education not equipment. A mandatory coupling between training and manufactorers is not allowed.

Boards

Board of Directors: the BoD runs PATD, members are the owners. Decisions are stored in protokolls.

Board of Advisors: instructors, representatives of industry, sciense, or media can be members of the BoA. Their task is to advise PATD.
BoA members are named by the BoD. The BoA does advising, no decisions are made

Training director: the TD is responsible for the user and instructor training and the standards. He is nominated by the BoD

Instructor trainer: an IT certifies instructors. An IT is nominated by the TD

Business unit: the business unit, nominated by the BoD, is doing the daily job like book keeping, sales and certification handling.

Each higher board can do the job of lower boards or change their decisions.
No member of those boards can be member in similar boards of other agencies.

Training Programm

Combo-Course

A maximum of two courses can be combined to a combo. Those courses must follow each other directly in the course structure or must be
of two different course lines. A combo course must be defined at the beginning of the course. The total of prerequisits, the total of limits
(slowly increasing, if unequal) and the total of all skills apply. The total course contents must be tought. The higher instructor / student ratio
(less students) and the smaller assistent number must be used. The sum of dives and the sum of dive time may be reduced by a maximum of 20%,
but with a maximum of half the dive time of one course.

Nitrox

A diver get a first view to mixed gas diving, with respect to recreational diving.
By the end of the course the diver knows the advantages and safety aspects of nitrox diving,
and he knows possible hazards. Main goal is the use of nitrox32, nitrox36 and nitrox50.

Prerequisits

30 dives logged

OWD or CMAS-One-Star is accetable

Limits

Max. Depth: 40m

Max. Oxygen: 50%

No decompression diving

Dives

Mandatory: 2

Dive time: 45 min

• One dive should reach 25m
• One dive must be done on nitrox. The second dive can be done on nitrox, remaining-blend or air to train table change

Skills

2 minutes octopus breathing

3 minutes hovering at two different depth, one depth shallower than 5 m

ISR

I:S = 1:6

Assistent: max. 2

Supervision through the instructor is not necesarry, if the depth of the dive place is shallower than the MOD
and if the studends are AOWD or CMAS-Two-Star certified.

Academics

• What is nitrox
• Historie of Nitrox
• Advantages of Nitrox
• Disadvantages/Hazards of Nitrox
• Mixes (EAN32, EAN36, EAN50, Remaining Blend, Air)
• Hyperoxia
• CNS-Clock
• Introduction to OTUs
• DCS
• Physics (pressure, partial pressure)
• Maximum Operation Depth MOD
• Best Mix
• Equivalent Air Depth (EAD/END)
• Dive Tables, changing tables
• Planning a dive
• Equipment for nitrox diving
• Hazards of gas mixing
• Gas analysis

Instructor

Nitrox-Instructor

Advanced Nitrox

The diver gets an introduction into decompression diving. He will learn the basics of decompression theory
and how to do decompression dives with gas change. Double tanks will be used.

Prerequisits

• Nitrox diver
• 50 dives logged

Limits

• Max depth: 40m
• Max. oxygen: 50%
• Deepest deco stop: 9m
• Maximum 3 tanks

Dives

Mandatory: 6

Dive Time 150min

• Two dives must reach at least a depth of 33m
• Three dives must have a gas change

Skills

• Determination of (surface) air consumption rate
• 2 minutes hovering shallower than 5m
• 300m distance diving with double tanks
• stage tank removal and gearing-up in shallow water
• Ascenting and descenting with a constant rate
• 50m diving without mask
• Dive 15m under apnoe, start octopus breathing for 4 minutes
• Change on octopus, main-valve shutdown-reopen, change to main regulator, octopus-valve shutdown-reopen
• Deploy liftbag in 2 minutes
• Ascent using a liftbag as bouyance control
• Valve shutdown-reopen on each dive
• 2 minutes air-sharing – studends must agree due to hygenic aspects

ISR

I:S = 1:4

Assistent: max. 2

Academics

• Introduction into decompression theory (one-tissue-modell)
• DCS
• Contributing factor to DCS
• Treatment of DCS
• Reading decompression tables
• Decompression methods (Blue water hang, liftbag, Fix-Reference)
• Using double tanks, manifold configuration
• Using stage tanks
• Changing regulators / gas switch
• Streamlined configuration, standardizes access to equipment
• Gas management, Rule of Thirds
• Ideal gas law
• Problems with CO2
• Emergency management
• Respiration
• Stress management

Instructor

Nitrox Instructor, with advanded nitrox user

Technical Nitrox

The dive shall improve his capability in decompression diving to perform more advanced decompression dives.
Gas optimization and the use of pure oxygen are preparations for trimix diving.

Prerequisits

• Advanced Nitrox Diver
• 100 dives logged

Limits

• Max Depth 48m
• Deepest Deco stop: 18m
• Max. 4 tanks

Dives

Mandatory: 6

Dive time: 180 min

• One dive must be to at least 40m
• All dives must include gas change
• All dives must be done on double tanks
• Two dive must include oxygen decompression
• Three dives must be done with 4 tanks

Skills

• Find the oxygen regulator wit closed eyes
• 3 min hovering at a depth of 6m ± 1m
• change on octopus, main-valve shutdown-reopen, change to main regulator, octopus-valve shutdown-reopen
• remove an reattach stage tank with close eyes and do a regulator change
• Deploy liftbag in 60 seconds
• Valve shutdown and reopen on each dive
• Two diver without mask approach each other (10 meters) and start octopus breathing for 2 minutes
• Narcosis-experience at a save place (reference)
• Ascent with slow ascent rate and perform proper deco stopps
• Dive a left and a right twist with 4 tanks
• 500 meters diving with double tanks

ISR

I:S = 1:4

Assisent: max 2

Academics

• Neuronal hyperoxia (CNS%)
• Pulmonal hyperoxia (OTU)
• Psychology and philosophy of deep diving
• Risk analysis
• Stress management
• Gear optimization
• Decompression theory multi-tissue-modell
• Calculating tables (Software) and reading of dive tables
• Nitrogen narcosis
• Deep water blackout
• Essouflement
• Hypothermia, heat systems
• Dive planning, emergency situations (What-if-game)
• Gas management, Rule of Thirds with disimilar tanks
• Injury, examination, first aid, neurological examination

Instructor

Techncical Nitrox Instructor

Normoxic Trimix Diver

The diver learns deep diving to a depth of 60m, using the normoxic standard mixture 21/35/44 and nitrox 50/50 for decompression
and a single standard table. Based on this knowledge, deep diving within regular narcosis- and oxygen-limits can be done without
getting too deep into trimix theory.

Prerequisits

• Advanced-Nitrox-Diver
• 100 dives logged
• 20 dives deeper than 35m.

Limits

Max. depth: 60m

Max. 3 tanks

Dives

Mandatory: 4

Total dive time: 200min.

Bottom time on Trimix: 30min.

• One dive must be down to 60m
• All dives must have a gas change to nitrox 50/50
• All dive must be done with Trimix 21/35/44

Skills

• change on octopus, main-valve shutdown-reopen, change to main regulator, octopus-valve shutdown-reopen
• Deploy liftbag in 100 seconds
• Valve shutdown and reopen on each dive
• 5 minute decompression hanging at a liftbag, under octopus brathing
• Ascent with slow ascent rate and perform proper deco stopps

ISV

I:S = 1:3

Assistenten: max. 1

Kursinhalt

• Dive planing, gas management
• Use of Standard-Table
• UW emergency procedures
• Rigging (back-trimix), dry suit gas
• Narcosis
• Normoxic Trimix
• Surface Decompression

Instructor

Technical Nitrox Instructor, who is Trimix-certified

Trimix diver

The student learns deep diving with trimix. Gas optimization, decompression procedures, dive planning and thermal protection
shall be optimized in theory an practice.

Prerequisits

Technical Nitrox diver

150 dives logged

30 dives deeper than 35 m

Limits

Max. Depth 90m, the certification is unlimited in depth within the limits of accepted partial gas pressures

Deepest deco stop: 39m

Max END: 40m

Max. 5 tanks

Dives

Mandatory: 5

Dive time 200 min

Bottom time on trimix: 30 min.

• Three dive must be to a depth of 60m one dive down to 70 m
• All dive must include gas changes
• Four dives must be done on trimix
• Three dives must be done with 4 tanks

Skills

• Find the oxygen regulator with closed eyes
• change on octopus, main-valve shutdown-reopen, change to main regulator, octopus-valve shutdown-reopen
• remove an reattach stage tank with close eyes and do a regulator change
• Deploy liftbag in 60 seconds
• 5 minutes decompression under octopus breathing at a lift bag
• Narcosis experience with safe reference
• Ascent with proper ascent rate and performe stable deco stops
• Dive a left and a right twist with 4 tanks

ISR

I:S = 1:3

Assistent: max. 1

Academics

• Gas optimization
• Hypoxia
• Calculating gas mixes
• Dive planning, gas management
• Calculating dive tables (Software)
• Under water emergency procedures
• Rigging (Back-trimix, stage trimix)
• Narcosis
• Hypothermia, Heat systems
• Bottom mix – Travel mix
• Deep Stops
• Normoxic Trimix
• Surface decompression
• Counter diffusion

Instructor

Trimix-Instructor

Wreck Diver

The diver gets an introduction in diving on and penetrading wrecks – within the daylight zone.

Prerequisits

30 dives logged

Limits

• Max. Depth 40m
• Penetration. Max.45m measured from the surface (depth+penetration)
• No Decompression dives
• Daylight zone: a large directly illuminated and accessable area must be visible
• No restrictions
• Only linear penetration, no jumps or gaps
• Max. double tanks

Dives

Mandatory: 4

Dive time: 100min

• One dive must be inside the wreck

Skills

• 2 minutes octopus breathing
• 3 Minutes hovering shallower than 6 m
• Valve shutdown-reopen on each dive
• Propuslsion technique (modifed flutter kick, Shuffle kick)
• 4 Safety checks (Buddy check, Bubble check, Share Air, Dive plan) once per day
• Line placement during a wreck dive
• Follow the line with eyes closed

ISR

I:S = 1:4

Assistent: max 2

Inside the wreck: ISV = 1:3, no assistant

Academics

• Limits of wreck diving
• Wreck-Ownership
• Hazards of Overhead environment (Water, ceiling, darkness, visability, current, air bells,..)
• Bouyance, trim
• Propulsion technique
• Guideline placement
• Dive planning
• Checks
• Communication (hand signs, light signs)
• Psychology, motivation, attitude
• Stress management
• Panic
• Emergency procedures
• Evaluating the stability of a wreck (position, consistence, nets, sediments, fauna, explosives, ...)

Instructor

Technical Wreck-instructor, cavern-instructor with wreck certification

Technical Wreck Diver

The diver learns wreck diving under special conditions like decompression diving, penetration, extreme environment conditions and salvage.

Prerequisits

• 75 dives logged
• Wreck diver or cavern diver
• Technical Nitrox diver

Limits

• Max Depth according to deep dive certification
• Max END: 40m
• Penetration: max: 150m
• Linear penetration only
• Max. Double tanks during penetration

Dives

Mandatory: 6

Dive Time: 240 min, 120min inside the wreck

• 4 dives must be out off the daylight zone
• One dive must be at least 20 minutres inside the wreck
• Four dives must be decompression dives, one with fix reference, one with lift bag and one with blue water hang

Skills

• Four checks (buddy-check, Bubble-Check, ShareAir, Diveplan) once per day
• Determination of the surface air consumption rate
• Diving 50m without mask
• 3 min hovering at 3m depth, max. depth change ± 0.5m
• Dive 15m under apnoe, start octopus breathing for 4 minutes
• Use and placement of the guideline inside the wreck
• Follow the line for 100m eyes closed, using touch communication and octopus breathing, throug one restriction.
  This skill can partially be done outside the wreck
• Find the oxygen regulator with eyes closed
• change on octopus, main-valve shutdown-reopen, change to main regulator, octopus-valve shutdown-reopen
• Remove and reattach stage tank with eyes closed in shallow water and do a regulator change
• Deploy liftbag in 60 seconds
• Valve shutdown-reopen on each dive
• Two divers approaching each other with eyes close for 10m distance, start octopus breathing for 2 minutes
• Bouyancy control and ascending using a lift bag
• Ascent with low speed and maintain proper depth during decompression
• Dive a left and a right twist with four tanks
• 500m diving with double tanks in less than ??? minutes

ISR

I:S =1:4

Assistent: max: 2

Inside the wreck : I:S = 1:2

Academics

• Limits in wreck diving
• Wreck ownership
• Salvage techniques
• Line technique
• Descent- and ascent techniques
• Decompression in strong current
• Emergency procedures during decompression
• Guideline technique
• Dive planning
• Checks
• Communication (Hand signs, light signs, knocking)
• Psychology, motivation, attitude
• Stress-management
• Panik
• Emergency procedures (lost diver, lost line)
• Evaluating the stability of a wreck (position, consistence, nets, sediments, fauna, explosives, ...)

Cavern Diver

The diver learn penetrating caverns within the daylight zone.
The minimum course duration is 2 days.

Prerequisits

30 dives logged

Limits

• Max depth: 30m
• Pentration: max 45m from the surface (depth+penetration)
• No decompression dives
• Daylight zone only: a large area directly illuminated by the sun must be visible and accessible in silty caves.
  In caves without silt daylight must be visible.
• No downstream systems (siphons)
• No restrictions
• Linear penetration only, no jumps or gaps
• Max. double tanks

Dives

Mandatory: 4

Dive time: 80 min, 50 min must be inside the cavern

• Three dive must be inside the cavern
• Two different cavern must be used during the course

Skills

• 2 minutes octopus breathing
• 3 minutes hovering not deeper than 5 m
• Valve shutdown-reopen on each dive
• Propulsion technique (modified flutter kick, frog kick, Shuffle kick, Ceiling walk, Pull&Glide)
• Four checks (buddy-check, Bubble-Check, ShareAir, Diveplan) once per day
• Guideline technique (primary and secondary tie-off, placement) during cavern dive, once as team leader
• *Primary and secondary tie-off and placement
• *Follow the line for 20m
• *Follow the line (20m) with octopus breathing
• *Follow the line (20m) without mask
• *Follow the line (20m) under octopus breathing and touch communication, without mask
• **Primary and secondary tie-off and placement (40m)
• **Follow the line for 40m
• **Follow the line (40m) with eyes closed
• **Follow the line (20m) with eyes closed and touch-communication

*During open water diver

**Land drill

ISR

I:S=1:4

Assistent: max 1

Academics

• Limits of cavern diving
• Conservation
• Land owner relationship
• Accident analysis
• Speleogenesis
• Hazards of overhead environment (Water, ceiling, darkness, visability, current, air bells)
• Equipment (Mask/fins, lights, gauges, line, line cutter ...)
• Bouyancy, trim
• Propulsion technique (see skills)
• Use of a guideline inside the cavern
• Dive planning
• Checks
• Communications (hand signs, light signs)
• Psychology, motivation, attitude
• Stress management
• Panic
• Emergency procedures (Zero-vis, light failure, entanglement, air loss)

Instructor

Cavern Instructor

IntroCave Diver

The diver learn penetrationg caves beyond the daylight zone, limited by 1/3 of one tank, linear penetration only

Prerequisits

• 40 dives logged
• Cavern diver

Limits

• Max. depth 30m
• Penetration 1/3 of one tank
• No decompression dives
• No downstream systems
• No restrictions
• Linear penetration, no jumps or gaps

Dives

• Mandatory 4
• Dive time: 120 min, 100 inside the cave
• All dives beyond daylight zone
• Two different caves must be used
• After the course the student must know 3 cave system, from cavern course from IntroCave course or from own experience.

Skills

• Octopus breathing along the line (30m)
• Four checks (buddy-check, Bubble-Check, ShareAir, Diveplan) once per day
• Exiting a cave (30m) with eyes closed in touch communication
• Lost diver search
• **Lost diver search
• Determining the surface consumption rate
• Dive 50m without mask
• Dive 15m under apnoe, start octopus breathing for 4 minutes
• change on octopus, main-valve shutdown-reopen, change to main regulator, octopus-valve shutdown-reopen
• Valve shutdown-reopen on each dive
• Line placement inside the cave

**Land drill

ISR

I:S = 1:3

Academics

• Geologie, karst phenomena
• Hazards of overhead environment (Water, ceiling, darkness, visability, current, air bell, restrictions, limited space, maze, line traps)
• Equipment (double tanks and configurations)
• Redundancy
• Guideline (Placement, materials, types of line, follow the line)
• Dive planning
• Communication (touch communication)
• Psychology, motivation, attitude
• Stress management
• Panic (adrenalin-breathing-circle)
• Emergency procedures (zero-vis, light failure, entanglement, lost diver, air loss)

Instructor

IntroCave-Instructor

Basic Cave Diver

The diver penetrates a cave limited by 1/3 of a double tank. Penetration is linear, but two jumps are allowed.
The diver gets an introduction into decompression diving.

Prerequisits

• 50 dives logged
• IntroCave Diver

Limits

• Max. Depth 40m
• Penetration 1/3 of double tank
• No downstream systems
• No restrictions
• No loops or traverses

Dives

Mandatory: 4

Dive time 180min, 160min inside the cave

• All dives must be beyond daylight zone
• Two caves must be used
• One dive must be a deco dive
• After the course, the student must know 5 cave systems, from cavern, IntroCave, BasicCave or personal experience.

Skills

• Lost line search
• **Lost line search
• Use of jump line
• **Use of jump line
• Valve shutdown-reopen on each dive

**Land drill

ISR

I:S = 1:3

Academics

• Use of jump line and line markers
• Different types of reels
• Navigation in a maze, referencing
• Basics of decompression (Theory, tables, computer, Nitrox/oxygen)
• Treatment of DCS
• Special deco-problems in cave diving
• Dive planning: deco, Rule of Thirds with disimilar tanks
• Emergency procedures (lost buddy, lost line, air loss)

Instructor

Cave instructor

Cave diver

The diver penetrates a cave ‚unlimited‘. Navigation in the maze, diving loops and traverses are topics.
He also gets an introduction to special cave diving techniques like stage diving, DPV, siphon diving, survey, ...

Prerequisits

• 75 dives logged
• Basic Cave diver

Limits

Max Depth 40m

Dives

Mandatory: 6

Dive time: 270 min, 240 min inside the cave

• All dives must be beyond daylight zone
• Three caves must be used
• One dive must be 60 min inside the cave
• One dive must be a deco dive
• After the course, the student must know 7 cave systems, from cavern, IntroCave, BasicCave, Cave or personal experience.
• During the course, a traverse or loop must be done, which would be beyong the rule-of-thirds for a single dive.
• Two of the following dives must be done:

*While diving a downstream system, the instructor must be the first in and the last out.
The current must only be that strong, that swimming against the current is easily possible just by fin kicking.
The dive must be along the wall. Areas with high differences in topography should be avoided.

Skills

• Follow the line for 100m with eyes closed and octopus breathing, in touch-communication, through a restriction
• Valve shutdown-reopen on each dive
• Dive a left and a rigth twist

ISR

I:S = 1:3

Academics

• Planning loops and traverses (2-dive-, 3-dive-philosophy)
• Visual gaps, trust.me dives
• Basics of DPV
• Stage diving
• Introduction to side mount
• Diving in downstream systems
• Diving in strong current
• Dry caving and cave diving
• Cave survey

Instructor

Cave instructor

SCR nitrox diver

The diver learns the basics of diving with rebreathers. The course focuses on semi closed rebreathers.

Prerequisits

• 50 dives logged
• Nitrox diver

Limits

Max depth 40m

Dives

Mandatory: 4

Dive time 100 min

• All dives must be done with rebreathers
• A maximum of two different rebreather must be used

Skills

• Hovering
• Trim in different body psitions
• Mouth-piece in-out
• Regaining a lost mouth-piece
• Air-sharing
• Use of a bailout-system
• ** Assembling the rebreather
• **Safety-check on the rebreather
• **Cleaning the rebreather
• **Trouble shooting at a rebreather

**Land drills

ISR

I:S = 1:4

Assistent: max. 2

Academics

• Basics of rebreathers
• Different types of devices
• Oxygen toxicity, oxygen controll
• Problem with CO₂, controlling CO₂
• Use of scrubber
• Oxygen partial pressure
• Change of gas composition during diving (work load)
• Dive planning (MOD, END, Deko, gas management, CNS%)

Instructor

SCR Nitrox Instructor

SCR Trimix Diver

The diver learns the use of a semi-closed circiut trimix rebreather

Prereqisits

150 dives logged

SCR nitrox diver

Limits

Max Depth: 90m

Dives

Skills

ISR

Academcis

Instructor

CCR Trimix Instructor

CCR Nitrox Diver

The diver learns the use of a closed circiut nitrox rebreather

Prerequisits

75 dives logged

SCR diver

Limits

Max Depth: 40m

Dives

Skills

ISR

Academcis

Instructor

CCR Nitrox Instructor

CCR Trimix Diver

The diver learns the use of a closed circiut trimix rebreather

Prereqisits

150 dives logged

CCR diver

Limits

Max Depth: 90m

Dives

Skills

ISR

Academcis

Instructor

CCR Trimix Instructor

Specialty Programm

Gas Blender

The diver learns the basic mathematics and safety regulations for gas blending

Prerequisits

Nitrox instructor or advanced nitrox diver

Limits

Gas mixes from air, oxygen, helium

Gas transfer of argon

Dives

None

Skills

• Blending Nitrox32
• Blending a Trimix
• Cleaning a valve or a first stage

ISR

-

Academics

• Calculation for nitrox, remaining-blends, tank-topping, trimix, HeliAir
• Calculation software
• Blending with partial-pressure-methode, DNA-diaphram, continuos-flow, partial pressure with premix, by weight
• Blending systems, pumping of gases
• Gas analysis
• Blending protokoll
• Special problems with oxygen
• Cleaning equipment (compatible, clean, service) for hoses,valves, First-Stage, tanks
• Gas suppliers
• Marking mixed gas equipment

Instructor

Specialty Instructor (after PATD evalution or industry course)

Cave survey

The diver learns how to survey a cave and do carthography

Prerequisits

Cave diver

Limits

Like cave diver

Dives

Optional

Skills

• Do a cave survey without PATD-supervision, this is a certification requirement
• Create a stick map out of land drill data

ISV

-

Academics

• Collecting data
• Data processing
• Create a horizontal and a vertical stick map
• Create a horizontal and a vertical map showing walls
• Add a legende
• Equipment for cave survey
• Grade of accuracy of cave maps
• Safety limits during survey
• Publication

Instructor

Specialty instructor

Side Mount Diver

The dive learns the use of a side mount rig

Prerequisit

Cave diver

Limits

Max Depth 30m

Penetration: 1/3 of one tank (while using two tanks)

No downsteam systems

No loops or traverses

Dives

Mandatory: 2

One dive must require side mount

Skills

Valve shutdown-reopen, change of regulators (not inside the restriction)

Octopus breathing for 2 minutes (not inside the restriction)

ISR

I:S = 1:1

Academics

• Advantages and disadvantages of sidemount diving
• Rigging
• Emergency procedures
• Feet-communication

Instructor

Specialty instructor

Single Rope Techniques

The student learns climbing which might be necessary to penetrate dry caves or that is used to transport heavy equipment

Prerequisits

-

Limits

• 90m (2 ropes)
• Difficulty: 4

Dives

-

Skills

• Four climbing passages, each of difficulty 3, one climb as team leader
• One tour in a dry cave or constructing a material cable way

ISV

I:S=1:1 while climbing

Academics

• Rope knowledge
• Nodes
• Equipment: helmet, eight, clips, ??????
• Climbing techniques: friction, chimney, piaz, ...
• Special reqirements for climbing inside caves

Instructor

Specialty Instructor

Thermal Protection

In depth knowlegde for diving in cold water

Prerequisits

-

Limits

• Max Depth: 40m
• 75% of NDL
• open water only

Dives

Optional

Skills

-

ISR

I:S=1:4

Academics

• Radiation
• Conduction
• Convection
• Heat loss by breathing
• Dry suit and underwear
• Insulation gases
• Electric heat
• Chemicaal heat
• Special requirements on dive planning

DPV

The student learns how to run a scooter

Prerequisits

-

Limits

Max Depth 40m

Max 75% of NDL

Open water only

Dives

Mandatory: 2, with DPV

Skills

• Rite on a DPV
• Tow with rope
• Tow by hand
• Looping
• Twist
• Aiming
• Towing a buddy
• Towing a backup-scooter

ISR

I:S=1:2

Assistent: max 1

Academics

• Setup of a scooter
• Why use DPV (Fun, Cave, Deep)
• DPV techniques
• Towing
• Hazards of high velocity (crash, ascent)

Instructor

Specialty instructor

Decompression Specialist

The diver learns decompression theories, developement of dive tables, treament of DCS and emergency procedures during decompression

Prerequisits

Advanced Nitrox

Limits

-

Skills

-

ISR

-

Academics

• History of dive tables
• Modern dive tables
• Perfusion-Modell
• Haldane
• Workmann/Bühlmann
• Diffusion-Modell
• Maximum-likelyhood-tables
• Bubble-Modells
• Combined Modell (Thermodynamic modell, RBGM)
• Limits of decompression theory
• Decompression procedures
• Emergency procedures
• Recompression and treatment

Instructor

Specialty-Instructor

Full Face Mask

The divers learns the use of full face masks: contructions, functionality and use. Optional he get an introduction to underwater communication

Prerequisits

• 50 dives logged
• Not allowed for claustrophobic persons

Dives

Mandatory: 4

Skills

• Remove and readjust mask
• Prepare mask for cold water use
• Mask blow out
• Pressure equilization
• Communication

ISR

1:3

Academics

• Different materials used
• Advantages and disadvantages of different masks
• Dead space
• Cleaning and maintenance
• Submerging
• Changes in view angles
• Pressure equilization
• Communication under water

Instructor

Specialty Instructor

Helmet Diver

The divers learns the use of a diver helmet: contructions, functionality and use, umbilical, emergency procedures.
Further he learns underwater communication via ultra sound or cable.

Prerequisits

• 100 dives
• Full Face Mask
• Not for claustrophobic dives

Limits

Max Depth 40m

Only Air or Nitrox

No Combo Cours

Dives

Mandatory: 8

• Dive Time 240 min
• Two dives are deco dives with simulated bail-out use

Skills

• Remove and mount helmet
• Safety check
• Remove and mount helmet with eyes closed
• Submerging and exiting with heavy dive gear
• Pressure Equilization
• Use of short fins
• Hand signal communication
• Becoming familiar to weight and reduced ability to move
• Use of umbilical
• Use of mask rinsing and bailout system
• Colaboration between diver and tender
• Emergency procedures
• Communication aparatus

ISR

1:1

+ Tender

Academics

• Used devices
• History of helmet diving
• Types of helmets
• Rigging
• Cleaning and maintenance
• Use of heavy dive gear
• Colaboration between diver and tender
• Tasks of tender
• Line signals
• Black water diving
• Use of umbilical
• Introduction to commercial diving
• Introduction to saturation diving
• Hovering, Bouyancy
• Differences between salt and fresh water
• Breathing techniques
• Bail-out-system
• Stress management
• Communication aparatus
• Emergency procedures
• Panic

Instructor

Specialty Instructor

Rebreather Device

Based on his rebreather course the diver gets an introduction to a new rebreather

Prerequisists

Main course SCR, CCR or Trimix-CCR

Limits

According to main course

Dives

Mandatory: 2

Skills

Repetition of main course skills, which make sence with the new rebreather

ISR

1:4

on nitrox rebreathers: 2 assistents

Academics

Special features of the new device

Instructor

Specialty Instructor with 20 dives experience on the new rebreather

Instructor Training Programm

Instructor evaluation

To be certified as PATD instructor, the following points must be met:

• Pass the standard test once
• Positive evaluation on requested co-teaching
• Pass instructor test for this level
• Give two academic speaches, one subject is know one day in advance, on subject is given one hour in advance
• Teach one in-water lesson on request
• Do all skills to demonstration perfection
• Demonstrate professional equipment and safe attitude

CrossOver

Instructors of other agencies can do a cross-over to PATD for the same level. The following points must be met:

• Pass the standard test once
• Pass instructor test for the instructor level
• Do all skills to demonstration perfection in the case that the previous agency did not require skills
• Demosntrate professional equipment and safe attitude

It is up to the instructor trainer to request further requirements

Co-Teaching

To be certified as instructor co-teaching might be required. The candidate must assist to a PATD instructor:
must teach two academic lessons and two in-water lesson and must assist during the course.
The PATD instructor will write a report to the instructor trainer and evalute the candidate:

• Knowledge
• Diving capabilities
• Equipment
• Safe attitude
• Teaching capabilities

Teaching status

An instructor is for an actual year only in teaching status (which allows for teaching),
if all followings points are met. If one point is not fulfilled, teaching status is automatically revoked,
even without written indication of PATD.

• PATD instructor certification for this level
• Annual PATD fee paid
• Each instructor must have a liability insurance covering his teaching for material damage (200.000€)
  and person injury or death (1.500.000€). A legal insurance is advisable.
• Has done 10 dives on his highest levels during the last year
• An instructor has to do an upgrade if he has not done any certifications within the last 3 years.
  Alternatively he can wirte an article concerning Technical Diving and PATD (must be proofed by BoD),
  or assist an instructor course or assist two user courses or must do some action as specified by the training director.

Instructors with teaching status are listed in the PATD-web-page. An instructor can be placed in non-teaching-status
by the training director or by the BoD e.g. because of standard violations or dumping prices together with reclamations
due to this). He can be placed back to teaching status with certain directions.

Nitrox Instructor

Prerequisits

• Nitrox Diver
• 150 dives logged
• 20 nitrox dives logged

Course to teach

• Nitrox diver
• Advanced Nitrox, if he is certified as advanced nitrox

Technical Nitrox Instructor

Prerequists

• Technical Nitrox Diver
• Nitrox instructor
• Gas Blender
• Co.Teaching: 1
• 300 dives logged
• 30 nitrox dives logged
• 50 dives deeper than 35m
• has 15 nitrox divers certified
• has 6 Advanced Nitrox divers certified

Course to teach

• Nitrox diver
• Advanced Nitrox diver
• Technical Nitrox diver
• Gas Blender

Trimix Instructor

Prerequisits

• Trimix Diver
• Technical Nitrox instructor
• Co.Teaching: 2
• 500 dives logged
• 25 trimix dives logged
• 100 dives deeper than 35m
• 10 dives deeper than 60m
• has 30 Nitrox divers certified
• has 20 Advanced Nitrox divers certified
• has 10 Technical Nitrox divers certified

Course to teach

• Nitrox Diver
• Advanced Nitrox Diver
• Technical Nitrox Diver
• Gas Blender
• Trimix Diver

Technical Wreck Instructor

Prerequisits

• Technical Wreck Diver
• Nitrox instructor or Cavern instructor
• Co.Teaching: 2
• 500 dives logged
• 100 wreck dives logged
• 50 dives deeper than 35m

Course to teach

• Wreck diver
• Technical Wreck Diver

Cavern Instructor

Prerequisits

• IntroCave Diver
• Co.Teaching: 3
• 150 dives logged
• 50 cave dives (beyond day light zone) logged

Course to teach

• Cavern diver
• Wreck diver if he is certifiied as wreck diver himself

IntroCave Instructor

Prerequisits

• Cave Diver
• Cavern instructor
• Co.Teaching: 3
• 250 dives logged
• 100 cave dives (beyond day light zone) logged
• 4 cavern courses taught
• minimum age 21

Course to teach

• Cavern diver
• IntroCave Divier
• Wreck diver if he is certifiied as wreck diver himself

Cave Instructor

Prerequisits

• IntroCave instructor
• Co.Teaching: 3
• 500 dives logged
• 150 cave dives (beyond day light zone) logged
• 4 introduction to cave diving courses taught
• minimum age 21

Course to teach

• Cavern diver
• IntroCave Divier
• Basic Cave
• Cave
• Wreck diver if he is certifiied as wreck diver himself

SCR Nitrox Instructor

Prerequisits

• Nitrox instructor
• SCR diver
• Co.Teaching: 1
• 200 dives logged
• 20 SCR dives logged

Course to teach

• Nitrox Diver
• SCR Nitrox Diver
• Rebreather device, if he is certified on that device and has done 20 dive with the new rebreather

SCR Trimix Instructor

Prerequisits

• SCR Nitrox instructor
• SCR Trimix diver
• Co.Teaching: 1
• 200 dives logged
• 20 SCR dives logged

Course to teach

• Nitrox Diver
• SCR Nitrox Diver
• SCR-Trimix Diver

Rebreather device, if he is certified on that device and has done 20 dive with the new rebreather

CCR Nitrox Instructor

Prerequisits

• Nitrox instructor
• CCR diver
• Co.Teaching: 1
• 200 dives logged
• 20 CCR dives logged

Course to teach

• Nitrox diver
• SCR nitrox diver
• Rebreather device, if he is certified on that device and has done 20 dive with the new rebreather

CCR Trimix Instructor

Prerequisits

• CCR Nitrox instructor
• Trimix CCR diver
• Co.Teaching: 2
• 500 dives logged
• 20 Trimix dives logged
• 100 dives deeper than 30m
• 50 Rebreather dives logged
• has 30 nitrox diver certified
• has 20 SCR diver certified

Course to teach

• Nitrox diver
• CCR nitrox diver
• CCR Trimix diver
• Rebreather device, if he is certified on that device and has done 20 dive with the new rebreather

Specialty Instructor

Prerequisits

• 150 dives logged, if the specialty requests dives
• 20 dives logged on that Specailty if the specialty requests dives
• Certified as instructor for prerequisit-levels to this specialty
• Proof of knowlegde and experience from hobby, profession or academic studies

Course to teach

Specialty programm