This course forms the basis for instructors who intend to teach the Poseidon Se7en Closed Circuit Rebreather Decompression Procedures course in the future. The goal of the training is to enable instructors to safely and competently train divers using the Poseidon Se7en eCCR within the depth limit of 40 meters for dives with decompression. Oxygen (O2) and air are used as diluent gases.
Participants will learn to:
- Dive parameters and safety requirements
- PPO2 limit: Maximum PPO2 value, Manufacturer specifications, Decompression tables
- CNS limits: CNS requirements, Recommended utilization
- Safety stops
- Practical skills of the instructor candidate: Gas analysis, System check, Scrubber canister filling, Unit assembly, Error messages, Software knowledge, Reef app
- Dive planning and execution: Planning, Execution, Participant evaluation, Error recognition, Safety management
- In-water techniques: Buoyancy control, ADV usage, Bailout, Mask clearing, Loop re-entry, Flooded loop, Ascent techniques, Buddy checks, Simulated emergency
- Rescue scenario: Execution of a complete simulated rescue
- Post-dive procedures and equipment management: Stage handling, Water exit, Unit disassembly, Equipment cleaning
- Rebreather maintenance: Care and preservation, Sensor replacement, Mouthpiece replacement, Smart battery
- Dive debriefing
- Evaluation of teaching competence
Prerequisites
- Certification: The candidate must be certified as a Poseidon Se7en eCCR Air Diluent Diver in accordance with ISO 24804. In addition, certification as a Poseidon Training Se7en eCCR Air Diluent Instructor is required. Furthermore, qualification as an Advanced Nitrox Instructor as well as Decompression Procedures Instructor or an equivalent level of training must be demonstrated.
- Minimum age: The candidate must be at least 21 years old.
- Diving experience: A minimum of 250 documented dives is required, of which at least 100 must have been conducted with Nitrox. In addition, at least 100 CCR dives must be documented with a total bottom time of at least 100 hours on the Poseidon Se7en eCCR. These dives must have been conducted over a period of at least one year. The candidate must not have been subject to any quality assurance procedure in the past 12 months. In addition, a first aid certification including oxygen administration (if legally permitted), as well as a medical certificate for diving fitness issued by a licensed physician, is also required.
- Note on course admission: Before beginning the IDC training, the instructor candidate must be officially registered with Poseidon Training. Participation is only permitted once authorization has been granted by Poseidon Training and the Poseidon Rebreather Management Team (RMT). This confirms that all required prerequisites of the candidate have been fulfilled.
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.
Written instructor test: Before completing the course, a written test with official instructor test questions must be taken. This serves to improve understanding in the analysis and evaluation of error messages of the Poseidon system.
Course duration: The total duration of the course should be at least 5 days to ensure thorough training.
Theory and Briefing: The theoretical part of the course includes briefings, orientations, and basic training units. The minimum amount of theory and briefing time is 8 hours. Part of this can be conducted as workshops on equipment maintenance, provided it supports the training objectives.
Pool or confined water (swimming pool–like conditions): Practical exercises in a pool environment are conducted at the discretion of the instructor trainer. The exact number and duration of exercises depend on the participants’ progress and safety.
Open water (sea, lake, quarry, river, or similar): As part of the open water training, a minimum of 4 dives must be completed. The dives must not take place in an overhead environment. A maximum of 2 dives may be conducted per day.
Implementation and Quality Guidelines: All in-water skills must be demonstrated by the instructor trainer at demonstration quality. The instructor trainer must continuously supervise, directly assess, and be present in the water during each training session.
Participant Limitation: The maximum number of candidates per instructor is determined by the instructor-to-student ratio applicable to the respective training level, in accordance with the Poseidon Training Framework Conditions and Workflows.
Documentation: All open water dives must be documented in writing by the participant at the end of each training day. The responsibility for verifying and ensuring the completeness of the logs lies with the instructor trainer.
Theory Sessions:
- Pedagogical requirements for instructor candidates: Theoretical presentations, Answering questions, Knowledge assessment, Explanation of program limits
- History and development of rebreathers: Historical overview, Key milestones
- Comparison of open-circuit (OC) and closed-circuit (CC) systems: Functional principles, Advantages and disadvantages
- System mechanics in practice: Assembly and disassembly, Construction and design, Disinfection and decontamination, Scrubber maintenance
- Function of components: Bailout valve (BOV), Head-up display, Automatic diluent valve (ADV), Breathing loop volume, Overpressure and inhalation/exhalation valves
- Gas physiology: Oxygen toxicity (O2), Nitrogen and helium uptake, Carbon dioxide (CO2), Review – equivalent air depth (EAD) theory
- Gas consumption: Influencing gas consumption, Depth changes and buoyancy behavior
- Scrubber and CO2 absorption: Filling the scrubber, Factors influencing absorption duration, Scrubber types
- Electronic and manual systems: Oxygen metabolism, Sensor management, System electronics, Fail-safe mechanisms, Software configuration, Smart battery and battery status, Self-test initiation
- Control checks: Oxygen supply, Diluent quantity, Battery supply, Time to surface (TTS) alarm, OTU and CNS exposure, RNDT (modified with Deco 60 meter battery)
- Electronic display and control units: Head-up display (HUD), Electronic module (E-Module), Manual addition valve (MAV), Third sensor – CPOD
- Breathing performance and influencing factors: Gas selection, Gas density, Breathing volume and consumption, Rebreather design features, Trim and diver posture, Counterlungs, Equipment configuration, Loop volume
- Preparation, checklist and pre-dive check: Firmware update and system adjustment, Poseidon Se7en checklist, Negative pressure test
- General dive computers: Gas mix configuration, O2 data integration, Decompression modeling
- M28 dive computer: Safety features and model integration, Adjustable mix, Constant PPO2, Oxygen integration
- Dive planning: Operational planning, Limits
- Logistical aspects: Transport of equipment, cylinder configurations, and emergency equipment
- Buddy system: Team structure and definition of objectives, Checklists and system control, Dive execution, Emergency support, Bailout usage
- Emergency procedures: Application of emergency procedures, BADDAS protocol, Handling of the “Three-H problems”, Flooded loop, O2 sensor warnings, Measures in the event of technical/system-related incidents, Battery warnings
- Cleaning, consumables, and maintenance of the Poseidon Se7en: Cleaning and disinfection, Oxygen sensors, CO2 absorbent, Batteries Gas supply
- Maintenance requirements, system care, and diving fitness: Digital training materials, Software and firmware updates, Manufacturer specifications Oxygen safety, Medical fitness for diving
After the Course
Graduates are eligible to be admitted to the Instructor Evaluation (IE) upon successful completion of the IDC course. If the Instructor Evaluation is successfully passed and all required documents from the IDC and IEC have been submitted in full, processing is carried out by Poseidon Training and the Rebreather Management Team.
Upon successful processing and approval, graduates are qualified to teach the Poseidon Se7en Air Diluent Decompression Procedures eCCR Diver course. The defined maximum diving depth of 40 meters when using air as the diluent must be strictly observed. This is a manufacturer-specific training program designed exclusively for the Poseidon eCCR system.