Extended Range Foundations Diver

The SSI Extended Range Foundations program provides you with an opportunity to enhance your advanced diving skills in a workshop environment. Learn more about using tec diving gear with any total diving system you are certified to use and build upon your basic skill set to master buoyancy, trim, finning techniques, positioning, and communication.

The Extended Range Foundations program provides supplementary training to existing certifications to increase your confidence and in-water control. All in-water sessions are completed in a pool/confined water environment at depths less than 12 meters. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Foundations certification after completing this program.

All dive sessions take place in a training pool confined water conditions, many divers start their Foundations course in the winter months, ready to continue in open water- when spring arrives.

Your Extended Range instructor Byron will show you how to master the fundamental technical diving skills including:

Tech diving signals

Greater buoyancy control methods

Fin Propulsion techniques

Decompression and stage cylinder handling

Emergency procedures

How to use Jon Lines

Deploy an SMB from depth

Learn the difference and use Spools and Reels

Use a Lift Bag as an emergency buoyancy device

Develop greater situational awareness/team diving

You can use any cylinder configuration;

Single cylinder with sling tank

Side mount cylinder/s carrying configuration

Back mounted double cylinders with dual isolator manifold

Horizon SCR configuration

You will be certified for the configuration used.

When you come in to discuss with our Instructor Byron you can go over your equipment requirements.

Student Prerequisites

Minimum age 16 years 

Open Water Diver certification  

Have logged at least 24 dives.

Prerequisites:

 - SSI Open water diver or equivalent

 - 24 logged dives

 - Sidemount diver certification (if planning on using a sidemount configuration)

Desirable but not required training  

Enriched Air Nitrox  

Deep Diver highly recommended

 Duration:

The number of classes, hours and sessions, based on student needs and student ability
Four pool sessions to accrue an accumulated 240 minutes 
You will also follow up with two optional boat dives to practice your new skills in a real world environment.

Day 1 - Theory and Workshop 
Day 2 - Pool workshop
Day 3 - Optional Double boat dive

Online training

All dives must be completed, using one of the following configurations:

A complete Extended Range Nitrox Total Diving System  

A complete Extended Range Total Diving System.  

A complete Extended Range Side mount Total Diving System.

Depth Limitations

All training dives must be completed in confined water.

Requirements For Completion

Complete academic sessions and assessments as outlined in the Extended Range Foundations Instructor Manual.  

Complete an Extended Range Foundations equipment configuration session.  

Additional optional training dives are permitted.  

Complete a water skills evaluation as outlined in the General Standards.

Passing Criteria

At the recreational level:  

Use either an Extended Range Nitrox or Extended Range Total Diving System.  

Demonstrate the ability to maintain trim at +/- 30 degrees throughout the entire program.  

Demonstrate the ability to perform all skills adequately with little shift in buoyancy or trim.

At the Extended Range Diving level:  

Use an Extended Range or Extended Range Sidemount Total Diving System.  

Demonstrate the ability to maintain trim at +/- 15 degrees throughout the entire program.  

Demonstrate the ability to perform all skills perfectly with almost no shift in buoyancy or trim.

Certification  

Completing the Extended Range Foundations program means that the student has demonstrated good trim and buoyancy control in the equipment configuration used, during the program. Plus they have successfully passed the Extended Range skill circuit.