Information for Diver Trainers

Becoming an ADAS Diver Trainer

Program delivery and competency assessment are critical areas for ADAS in ensuring international best practice in diver training and assessment.

Effective and professional delivery and assessment is also vital to ADAS and the DTEs in terms of reputation and standing. In the present climate of increased litigation, ADAS and the DTEs must be able to demonstrate due diligence in the delivery and assessment of all ADAS programs.

The ability of ADAS Diver Trainers is fundamental to the competent delivery of all ADAS training courses, the effectiveness of competency assessments and thus to the quality of the ADAS-certified diver. The credibility of ADAS as a whole is dependent on high standards of instruction and assessment.

Knowledge, skills and aptitudes of occupational diving instructors

ADAS will only qualify Diver Trainers applicants who meet in full the high standards required of them. Diver Trainers must be able to demonstrate to ADAS that they have a high degree of professional credibility and are highly competent in:

•  the theory and practice of occupational diving at the appropriate level
•  the theory and practice of occupational diving work as appropriate
•  risk assessment, diver supervision and emergency management
•  effective program design and lesson planning, including acceptable subject weighting and prioritisation
•  the presentation of theory and practical subjects at the relevant level
•  Occupational divers are often required to make decisions based on understanding and judgment that generally comes with age and increased experience.
•  effective interaction with and management of trainees, including fault correction, disciplining and counselling.
•  Appropriate role modeling
•  ADAS competency assessments
•  pre-dive briefing and post-dive debriefing

ADAS training structure

Recognising the scarcity of high-quality, effective occupational diving instructors, and the importance of diver training to all parties, ADAS has put the following training staff structure in place.

•  Subject Specialist Instructors: Persons who have specialist subject knowledge (e.g. first aid, diving medicine, equipment maintenance, welding and cutting) may be approved to teach such subjects according to specified conditions.
•  Assistant Diver Trainers (ADT):  As detailed below, ADTs may conduct training on specified subjects under the direct supervision of an ADAS DTAM.
•  Diver Trainers (DT): DTs may undertake the training and assessment of all subjects at the level to which they are certified under the general supervision of an ADAS DTAM. They must conduct all training and assessment activities in keeping with the conditions detailed in the ADAS Requirements Manual.
•  Diver Training and Assessment Managers (DTAM): Only DTAMs may conduct training and assessment activities and recommend divers for certification as ADAS divers. They must ensure that all training and assessment activities are conducted in keeping with the conditions detailed in the ADAS Requirements Manual.

Training Delivery

ADAS ensures the resources in the area(s) of recognition sought meet the requirements of the relevant endorsed training package(s) and/or accredited course(s), for the delivery, assessment and issuance of qualifications.

ADAS affirms that it has in place and applies the following resources:

•  Diver Trainers and Diver Training and Assessment Managers (DTAMs) with appropriate training qualifications and experience as identified in the relevant accredited course and Training Package and industry experience that is current and relevant to the particular course or modules they are assessing.
•  delivery and assessment resources appropriate to the methods of delivery and assessment requirements; and
•  relevant Training Package and/or accredited course documents and support materials, with necessary copyright authorisations.
  
  

Delivery strategies utilised by ADAS are always selected to best achieve the required elements of competence while giving full consideration to the learning style of the participant.

Delivery modes may include, but are not limited to:

•  demonstrations
•  group participation
•  individual projects
•  learning support works
•  audio/visual presentations
•  computer managed learning
•  site visits
•  internet access
  
  

ADAS information-based training is normally conducted indoors using a variety of training aids and methods. Occupational diving is a potentially high risk activity and in recognition of this, no on-the-job training in uncontrolled dive sites is undertaken during ADAS courses. Skills-based training is, however, delivered in controlled, realistic environments using equipment and procedures similar to those used in the workplace.

Training materials are provided by the DTEs or are available in hard copy from ADAS.