Advanced Buoyancy Diver

Who is this course for:

• The certified diver looking to improve and/or fine-tune their buoyancy to prevent damage to the underwater world.

Course prerequisites:

• SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent
• Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Advanced Buoyancy Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

• Why do we care about buoyancy?
  • Don’t touch the aquatic life, save the environment
  • Less fatigue, less effort required, more fun
  • Reduced air consumption = more bottom time
  • Able to control buoyancy = better pictures or video
• When must a buoyancy check be performed?
  • When equipment is changed
  • When diving environment is changed
  • Have not been diving for a while
  • During every dive
• Buoyancy factors
  • Additional equipment; photo, video, extra cylinder, extra equipment, dive lights, etc
  • Cylinder weight changes during a dive as air is consumed from the cylinder, dependent on cylinder size
  • Using lungs vs. BCD.
  • Using BCD vs. dry suit
  • Staying physically fit
  • Breathing patterns and technique
  • Compression of suit due to water pressure
  • Weights – position and distribution and what impact that may have
  • Streamlining equipment
  • Streamlining body (body positions)
  • Efficient kicking style
  • Practicing your skills
  • Weighting
    • Swimsuit
    • 3mm and 5mm wet suit
    • Cold-water suit with hood
    • Dry suit
  • How to perform a standard buoyancy check; with an almost empty cylinder

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

• Assembling of dive equipment
• Pre-dive check
• Perform a pre-dive buoyancy check with almost empty cylinder
• Adjust weight to achieve correct buoyancy
• Change cylinder and use a full cylinder
• Do a pre-dive buoyancy check with full cylinder
• Controlled descent
• Hovering exercises
  • Fine-tune with breath control
  • Fine-tune with BCD or dry suit
  • Close to bottom exercises, no touch
• Swimming exercises
• Ascent that includes a safety stop hovering; simulate safety stop if in pool
• Log dive, noting the amount of weight used
• Change to a full cylinder
• Do a pre-dive buoyancy check with the full cylinder
• Controlled descent
• Hovering exercises
  • Fine-tune with breath control
  • Fine-tune with BCD or dry suit
  • Close to bottom exercises, no touch
• Ascent that includes a safety stop hovering; simulate safety stop if in pool
• Log dive, noting the amount of weight used

What's in it for you:

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:

• The diving activities approximate those of training
• The areas of activities approximate those of training
• Environmental conditions approximate those of training

*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in advanced buoyancy diving activities with a parent, guardian, or dive professional.

The SDI Advanced Buoyancy Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development program.

Advanced Buoyancy Diver minimum requirements:

• Complete all open water requirements efficiently
• Demonstrate sound buoyancy techniques