This entry-level course is aimed at divers who want to dive with a Rebreather eCCR for the first time up to a maximum
depth of 20 meters; diving to 30 meters is possible if a separate bailout gas is carried.
Participants will learn to:
- Pre-dive and preperation checks
- Demonstrate planning procedures before the dive, System identification and redundancy planning, Selection of conservatism (gradient factors), Assessing thermal limitations, Planning emergency decompression
- Rescue and ascent procedures, Managing gas loss scenarios, Communication using hand signals or audible signals, Identifying damaged hoses / loops, Flooded scrubber canister / CO2 breakthrough, Dealing with oxygen value deviations, Flooded breathing hose / loop, Electronics and battery failure
- Bubble check / linearity test at 3–6 meters depth, Electronic PPO2 monitoring and setpoint adjustment, Operating head-up display and dive computers
- Removing, replacing, and clearing the mask, Using lift bags / SMBs and spool/reel, Adhering to dive limit, Conducting safety stops, Consistent management of loop breathing volume, Behavior in mixed diving teams (OC and eCCR), Switching to bailout and safe OC ascent
- Correct placement of the stage at the surface, Exiting the water using an environmentally suitable technique, Proper care and disassembly of the rebreather, Cleaning and disinfection of the device, Flushing the device with freshwater, Rinse and disinfect mouthpiece/BOV, counterlung, hoses, and scrubber sponge, Cleaning and disinfecting the device, Inspecting components of the device, General maintenance of the unit, Removing and replacing sensors if necessary, Charging batteries
Prerequisites
- Certification: The participant must be certified as an Open Water Scuba Diver by a recognized organization certified according to ISO framework conditions and workflows and must provide proof of a Nitrox (EAN) certification or an equivalent certificate from a recognized organization.
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Diving experience: At least 25 logged open water dives and a total dive time of at least 20 hours must be documented.
Course Structure
Poseidon Training permits instructors to flexibly adapt the course to the number of participants, their skills, and their level of knowledge. This allows for an individualized design of the curriculum to optimally address different learning levels.
Theoretical requirements: For the theoretical part, the Poseidon Training e-learning for the Poseidon Se7en eCCR must be used. To pass the final test, a score of at least 80% of the maximum points is required. All incorrectly answered questions must then be reviewed together with the participant to ensure complete understanding. If the e-learning is not available in the participant’s language, the english version must be used.
Course duration: The course should extend over a minimum of 6 days. This ensures sufficient time to adequately convey and reinforce both theoretical content and practical exercises. The total dive time of the course must amount to at least 480 minutes of diving time.
Theory and equipment workshop: At least 6 hours of theoretical instruction covering basic concepts and background knowledge on rebreather technology, diving physics and physiology, and safety guidelines, and an additional 4 hours of workshop on equipment maintenance, where participants gain practical insights into assembly and disassembly of the rebreather, cleaning and care, and basic troubleshooting. Part of this theoretical training is conducted through the e-learning from Poseidon Training for the Poseidon Se7en eCCR.
Preparatory measures before pool or confined open water (swimming pool–like conditions): Before the first dive, equipment configuration must be carried out. This includes individual adjustments, proper setup, and training in the safe handling of the Poseidon Se7en eCCR equipment.
Pool or confined water (swimming pool–like conditions): At least 2 dives with a total duration of at least 60 minutes each are required, conducted at a maximum depth of 9 meters, to train fundamental skills such as buoyancy control, breathing control, and safety exercises in a controlled environment.
Preparatory measures before open water dives: Before the actual open water dives begin, a fully equipped eCCR diver must be towed for 50 meters at the surface. This serves to check the equipment configuration and the diver’s physical performance under realistic conditions.
Open water (sea, lake, quarry, river, or similar): During the open water phase, at least 6 dives will be completed. The total dive time of the course must amount to at least 360 minutes of diving time. The depth is gradually increased and can be extended up to 30 meters, depending on environmental conditions. This allows for a slow and safe acclimatization to different depth levels and a solid reinforcement of the skills learned in the pool.
Theory Sessions:
- History and development of rebreathers
- Comparison of open circuit (OC) and closed circuit (CC) systems
- Functionality of the Se7en
- Physics for eCCR diving
- Medicine for eCCR diving
- CO2 absorption systems
- Technology / configuration of the Se7en
- Pre-dive/post-dive checks for the Se7en
- Bailout strategy for the Se7en
- PPO2 measurement systems
- Diving practice with the Se7en
- Dive calculation and planning
- Care / maintenance of the Se7en
Training Sessions:
- Session 1 (confined conditions)
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Switching underwater from CC to OC and back to CC, removing the mouthpiece from the mouth, putting it back in, clearing it, and switching back to CC, letting it
- float up, “catching” it, putting it back in, clearing it, and switching to CC
- Remove the mask, put it back on, and clear it by blowing out through the nose
- Session 2 (confined conditions)
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Closing the mouthpiece underwater, removing it from the mouth, switching to the instructor’s bailout gas regulator (stage), switching back to the rebreather mouthpiece, opening it, clearing it, and breathing from it again
- Remove the mask, put it back on, and clear it by blowing out through the nose
- Session 3 (Open water with a maximum diving depth of 10m)
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Safety exercise: Responding to alarms
- Controlled ascent to 5m
- Practicing a safety stop at 5m
- Session 4 (Open water with a maximum diving depth of 20m)
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Safety exercise: Responding to alarms
- Fundamentals of stage handling
- Switching to own OC (BOV) and controlled ascent from 10m with a safety stop at 5m
- Session 5 (Open water with a maximum diving depth of 20m)
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Safety exercise: Simulation of a “PPO2 too high” alert – bailout
- Setting a buoy at 9m
- Controlled ascent to 6m
- Practicing a safety stop at 6m
- Session 6 (Open water with maximum dive depth 25m)
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Performing a controlled ascent from 15m while maintaining ascent speed and simulating deco stops at 9m and 6m
- Setting a buoy at 9m
- Fundamentals of stage handling
- Controlled ascent to 6m
- Session 7 (Open water with maximum dive depth 30m)
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Performing a controlled ascent from 25m while maintaining ascent speed and simulating deco stops at 9m and 6m
- Setting a buoy at 9m
- Rescue exercise: Bring an unconscious (simulated) eCCR diver to the surface, place them in a stable swimming position, and transport them to the shore/boat
- Controlled ascent to 6m
- Session 8 (Open water with maximum dive depth 30m)
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Setting a buoy at 9m
- Practicing a safety stop at 6m
After the Course
Dive with the Poseidon Se7en eCCR to a maximum depth of 30 meters (using air as the diluent) without decompression, and participate in the Poseidon Air Diluent Decompression and Poseidon Helitrox Diluent Decompression courses.