This course represents the entry-level instructor training for dive professionals who wish to teach the Poseidon Se7en eCCR Air Diluent course in the future. The goal of the training is to specifically prepare instructors to independently conduct this course. It covers the fundamental skills and procedures of eCCR diving that are necessary to safely and competently train participants within the typical depth limits for no-decompression dives, up to a maximum of 30 meters. Oxygen (O2) and air are used as the 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 an Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor by an ISO-standard recognized organization. In addition, certification as a Poseidon Se7en eCCR Air Diluent Diver in accordance with ISO 24804 is required, as well as certification as an Advanced Nitrox Instructor or an equivalent qualification. The candidate must also hold a certification as a Gas Blender Instructor from an ISO-standard recognized organization. A valid first aid certification, including oxygen administration (Oxygen Administrator), must also be in place, where legally permitted.
- Minimum age: The candidate must be at least 18 years old.
- Diving experience: At least 250 verified dives must be documented, including a minimum of 100 dives using Nitrox. In addition, at least 100 CCR dives with a total dive time of at least 100 hours must be logged, of which a minimum of 50 dives and 50 hours must be on the Poseidon Se7en. The candidate must have been certified as a Rebreather diver for at least 12 months. In addition, participation as an assistant in at least one complete, unit-specific user course must be documented. A valid diving medical examination is also required, and no quality assurance procedure must have been in place with the respective organization within the past 12 months.
- Note on course admission: Before starting IDC training, the instructor candidate must be officially registered with Poseidon Training. Participation is only permitted once approval has been granted by Poseidon Training and the Poseidon Rebreather Management Team (RMT), confirming that all required prerequisites have been met.
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
- 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
- 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
After successful completion of the IDC course, graduates are eligible to be admitted to the Instructor Evaluation (IE). If the Instructor Evaluation is successfully passed and all required documents from the IDC and IEC have been submitted in full, processing will be carried out by Poseidon Training and the Rebreather Management Team.
After successful processing and approval, graduates are qualified to teach the Poseidon Se7en Explorer Diver course and the Air Diluent Diver course. The maximum depths defined for each course must be strictly observed: for the Explorer Diver course it is 20 meters, for the Air Diluent Diver course 30 meters when using air as the diluent. These are manufacturer-specific training programs designed exclusively for the Poseidon eCCR system.