The ADAS Part 1 course is of a minimum duration of 4 weeks (that is, a minimum of 20 days over a 26-day period).
The emphasis of the course is to expose recreational scuba divers to working safely and effectively as members of a diving team, in modern full face masks with effective communications to successfully achieve a variety of light work and inspection and survey tasks.
The theory component of the course is extensive and must meet the requirements of the ADAS Competency Standards.
The safety and efficiency advantages of full-face masks and underwater communications are contrasted against the limitations of using half face masks without communications.
The first dive will be a preliminary assessment of the trainee’s competence using half face mask and mouth-held demand valve.
The zero visibility and search dives will be conducted using half face mask and, mouth-held demand valve using life line, float line and line signals.
All other dives will be conducted using full face masks and underwater communications.
Trainees are assessed on at least two occasions on the preparation of an effective risk assessment.
All dives are to be conducted as no-decompression dives and to include at least:
- 2 zero-visibility dives in 2–9 metres (minimum of 20 minutes bottom time)
- one night dive
- at least 6 boat dives
- the use of two types of full face masks which comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 2299.1 (including Aga) with voice communications
- the use of a range of reserve systems(at least two out of: belt block, integrated pony bottle, manually activated integrated reserve (Aga) and twin decant)
- standby diver training and assessment as per the ADAS assessment pro forma
- bottom searches(at least three of jackstay, grid mesh, snag line, semi-circular, parallel and circular)
- hand tool tasks (at least spanner, wood and metal saws, cold chisel, hand drill/auger)
- 2 x object lifts of an apparent weight of approximately 150 kg using open lift bags
- rigging tasks using rope (as a minimum tie selection of knots under water, rig objects for air lifting etc.)
- undertake 2 x inspection tasks using two out of three of visual, video and photographic means
- undertake at least one underwater survey of a three-dimensional object that requires angular and linear measurements, and produce a written report that includes the correct description and recording of those measurements in an appropriate engineering drawing format
- at least one deep dive between 28 and 30 metres
- one chamber dive to 50 metres.
