International Diving Schools Association (IDSA) INFORMATION SHEET

THE ASSOCIATION

The Association was formed in 1982 as a result of a meeting between Schools attending the American Diving Contractors Conference in New Orleans.  The aims of the Association were then, and are now ;-

·            To provide a means of effective communication between schools.

·            To work towards common International Standards of Training.

·            To improve the quality of commercial diving education

·            To work towards improved standards of safety, emergency drills and procedures.

·            To provide a common and collective voice to government industrial agencies on any matter affecting members.

·            To co-operate on matters which may improve placement opportunities for graduates from member schools.

·            To promote any activity, idea or subject which may improve the international operations of the Association.

The Association is concerned with all divers - Offshore, Inshore and Inland - as well as non diving qualifications e.g. Supervisor, DMT and LST.  The Association has established International Diver Training Standards based on the consensus opinion of its many members, they are available in a separate publication.  The Standards provide both a yardstick for those responsible for either administering existing National Standards or creating new ones, and a guide for Clients, Diving Contractors and Divers themselves. It is considered that the introduction of these Internationally agreed diver training standard will have the effect of ;-

·       Equating Standards Internationally.

·       Providing Guidance to Organisations setting Standards for the first time.

·       Improving Safety.

·       Providing Contractors with a direct input to the Diver Training Syllabus.

·       Enabling Contractors to bid across National Borders on a more even playing field.

·       Improving Diver quality.

·       Providing Divers with greater Job Opportunities.

Some governments have and will, set their own National Diver Training Standards.  The IDSA programme provides a means of equating them by maintaining a Table of Equivalence - see the Publications section of the Association’s Website.

International Diving Schools Association

47 Faubourg de la Madeleine
56140 Malestroit
Brittany, France 

Phone :            +33 (0)2 9773 7261

E Mail :            info@idsaworldwide.org

Web :               www.idsaworldwide.org

TYPES of MEMBERSHIP

There are 5 types of Membership :.

FULL                             This type of membership is divided into 2 categories:

1.              Full Member (Diver Training)

2.              Full Member (Specialist Diving)

ASSOCIATE          Schools who are either considering Full Membership or who wish to be associated with the work of the Association.

AFFILIATE            Government Departments, Diving Contractors and other Organisations concerned with or interested in the work of the Association.

INDUSTRIAL         Clients, Diving Contractors, Suppliers, Manufacturers and other relevant organisations who wish to show their support for the work of the Association in the form of Sponsorship.

RECIPROCAL     An exchange of Membership with Organisations whose aims are similar to those of IDSA, and                                from which both sides can benefit.  This type of Membership is agreed by an exchange

The IDSA DIVER TRAINING STANDARDS

The IDSA Diver Training System is based on a modular approach. Each Standard, or Level of Competence, is made up from a combination of modules (see Tables 1 and 2 on page 3).  The modules may be taught in two ways :

Either        Combined as an integrated course,

Modules may be combined to run a course leading to one of the IDSA Levels, for example, if modules A & B are combined, successful students would be eligible to receive the IDSA Level 1 (SCUBA) qualification.

Or             Individually

                    Note :      The order in which the elements of each Module or combination of Modules are taught may be                     altered to suit the facilities, staff and equipment available, provided they are progressive.

The current Modules are described in the Tables which follow.

TABLE 1 : The IDSA DIVER TRAINING MODULES
	MODULE TYPE	DETAIL
A	Preparatory	Diving principles and theory common to both SCUBA and Surface Supply. Must be combined with either the SCUBA or Standard Surface Supply Modules.	Theory only
B	SCUBA	Training and assessment in the use of SCUBA and simple work t   tasks	30m
C	Surface Supply Inshore	Training and assessment in the use of Surface Orientated Air    Diving Equipment and common inland/inshore work tasks	30m
D	Surface Supply Offshore	Training and assessment in air diving operations using an open (wet)     bell acting as Bellman and Diver and/or using a Hot Water suit.	50m
E	Closed Bell/ Mixed Gas	Training and assessment in the use and operation of a closed bell – acting as Bellman and Diver using the appropriate breathing gas mixture	100m

TABLE 2 : The IDSA DIVER TRAINING STANDARDS
IDSA STANDARDS	MADE UP of MODULES	DETAIL	Note 1
IDSA Level 1 Commercial SCUBA Diver	A + B	Competent to dive safely using open circuit self-contained air breathing equipment. Has a working knowledge of the following  tasks  :- , Elementary rigging, the Use of Lifting Bags, Diver Search Techniques, the Use of Hand Tools and Visual Inspection - see Note 2	30m
IDSA Level 2 Surface Supplied Inshore Air Diver	A + B + C	Competent to dive safely both inland & inshore using open circuit self-contained air breathing equipment and surface orientated air diving equipment.  Has a working knowledge of the Level 1 tasks  plus Chamber Operations, the use of Power Tools, thermal Arc Cutting equipment, Air Lifts and Jetting equipment, simple Underwater Construction tasks - see Note 2.  The principles of the following subjects are also taught, but in-water experience is not mandatory ;-Bolt Guns, Explosives, Wet Welding, Diving in Polluted Waters	30m
IDSA Level 3 Surface Supplied Offshore Air Diver	A + B+ C + D	Competent to dive inland, inshore & offshore using, open circuit self-contained air breathing equipment, surface orientated air diving equipment, and from an open bell.  Able to use a hot-water suit. Has a working knowledge of the work tasks listed in Levels 1 & 2.	50m
IDSA Level 4 Closed Bell/Mixed Gas Diver	All Modules	A level 3 diver who is competent to take part in closed bell operations, acting as Bellman and Diver, using the appropriate breathing gas mixture	100m

NOTES :

1. Depth Limits : The depths shown in the right hand column of the tables are those which a diver is competent to achieve on successful completion of training.  He/she may go deeper with further experience and/or training as assessed by a Diving Contractor and allowed by National Legislation.

2. Task training  The Task training set out in the modules will provide the trainee with a general appreciation of the techniques and problems involved in carrying out the specified underwater work. For the diver to be considered a competent worker it will generally be necessary for further specialist training to be undertaken, especially for cutting, welding, explosives, NDT and offshore air diving.

IDSA PUBLICATIONS

Full details of the way in which the Association operates are contained in two documents - The 'Diver Training Standards' (DTS) and the 'Operational and Administrative Procedures' (OAP).  Both documents may be downloaded from our Website www.idsaworldwide.org and are designed to give a complete framework for the Approval of Schools and the Standards they should teach.  They are particularly relevant to Countries which as yet do not have their own National Standards.  They have the advantage of being independent as they have been created by the consensus view of the Members, and are therefore not influenced by any national allegiance. The Standards contain details of the 5 IDSA Diver Training Standards, information concerning Applications for Membership : Auditing : the Issue of Qualification cards and other relevant matters.