The Poseidon Se7en eCCR Solo Diver course is designed for experienced rebreather divers who already have basic training and are now to be qualified to dive alone and safely with the Poseidon Se7en eCCR.
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
- Rescue and ascent procedures, Managing gas loss scenarios, Identifying damaged hoses / loops, Flooded scrubber canister / CO2 breakthrough, Dealing with oxygen value deviations, Flooded breathing hose / loop, Electronics and battery failure, Loss of buoyancy
- Bubble check / linearity test at 3–6 meters depth, Electronic PPO2 monitoring and setpoint adjustment, MAV control, Operating head-up display and dive computers, Monitoring the dive buddy throughout the dive, Monitoring the remaining life of the CO2 absorbent
- Removing, replacing, and clearing the mask, Removing, switching, and clearing the backup 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
- At the surface: Establishing positive buoyancy with the BCD and closing the mouthpiece, Demonstrating manual inflation of the BCD at the surface
- Buoyancy control by maintaining a depth within ±1 meter for at least 90 seconds, Demonstrating proper operation of the BOV, Removing water from the breathing hoses, Maintaining optimal loop volume, Maintaining neutral buoyancy while swimming in a horizontal position, Behavior during depth changes: manual gas addition (oxygen, diluent), Performing a diluent flush, Deploying a surface marker buoy (SMB), Controlled ascent with correct ascent rate
- Swimming with bailout cylinder, Removing and reattaching the bailout cylinder while maintaining buoyancy, Deploying SMB / lift bag alone, Reaction to gas loss from the first stage, pressure gauge, or primary regulator on bailout cylinder, Reaction to simulated free-flowing bailout regulator
- 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 a Poseidon Se7en Air Diluent Decompression Procedures eCCR Diver from a recognized ISO organization.
- Minimum age: 21 years
- Diving experience: A total of at least 150 logged open water dives must be documented, including at least 100 dives or 100 hours of total dive time using the Poseidon Se7en eCCR.
- Additional requirements for candidates qualifying as Solo Diver Instructors: At least one year of instructional experience with an ISO-certified organization recognized by Poseidon Training must be documented. In addition, the candidate must have certified a minimum of 50 divers at various training levels. Successful completion of a Solo Diver course, as well as at least 1 year of Solo Diver experience, must be documented. Solo Instructor status can only be obtained by participating in an official Poseidon Training Solo Diver Instructor course under the supervision of a certified Instructor Trainer or Examiner.
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: All practical dives are conducted over 2 course days, with the overall course spanning a minimum of 3 days.
Theory and equipment workshop: A minimum of 6 hours of theoretical instruction and 4 hours of intensive workshop focused on equipment configuration and maintenance are required. Part of the theory section is delivered via the Poseidon Training e-learning 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): One mandatory stage dive in a pool or confined water with a maximum depth of 9 meters and with a minimum duration of 60 minutes must be completed. The goal is to reinforce fundamental skills.
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 a minimum of 120 minutes of open water training must be completed, spread across at least 2 dives.
Theory Sessions:
- Background and Relevance of Solo Diving
- Admission Criteria for Solo Divers
- Mindset and Self-Management
- Limitations of Solo Diving
- Extended Equipment for Solo Diving
- Planning and Execution of Solo Dives
- Navigation in Solo Dives
- Emergency Management in Solo Diving
- Form Content Solo Diving eCCR
- Physics for eCCR Diving
- Medicine for eCCR Diving
- Pre-Dive/Post-Dive Checks for the Se7en
- Bailout Strategy for the Se7en
- PPO2 Measurement Systems
- Dive Calculation and Planning for eCCR
- Care / Maintenance of the Se7en
Training Sessions:
- Session 1 (open water to a maximum depth of 10 metres)
- Correct attachment of the stage at the surface
- 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
- Removing the mask and diving for 5 minutes, afterwards putting it back on and clearing it
- Remove one fin and dive for 3 minutes, then put it back on
- Compass navigation
- Intentional continuous inflation of the BCD by the instructor
- Removing the mask and switching to the backup mask
- Switching to bailout gas and switching the M28/computer to OC; then simulate a free-
- Switching to bailout gas and switching the M28/computer to OC; then simulate a free-
- Deploying the buoy at 6m followed by a 3-minute safety stop at 5m
- Correct removal of the stage at the surface
- Exiting the water using a technique appropriate to the environment
- Session 2 (open water to a maximum depth of 30 metres)
- Correct attachment of the stage at the surface
- Conducting the linearity test and bubble checks using a mirror at 6m
- Linearity test, bubble checks, maintaining buoyancy control
- Remove the mask and then deploy the buoy without a mask and perform a controlled ascent using the spool and line while maintaining ascent speed
- Safety stop at 5m for 3 minutes
- Correct removal of the stage at the surface
- Exit from the water using a technique appropriate to the environment
After the Course
After successful completion, graduates are qualified to conduct safe and self-reliant solo dives with the Poseidon Se7en eCCR to a maximum depth of 40 meters. Decompression dives and dives in overhead environments (e.g. caves, wrecks) are explicitly not part of this training.
Note: All dives within the scope of this qualification must remain within no-decompression limits and may only be conducted in open, freely accessible water.