This document also functions as the FCOA ADVANCED SCUBA INSTRUCTOR MANUAL
The biggest difference between an FCOA Scuba Instructor and an FCOA Advanced Scuba Instructor is that an advanced instructor can also independently conduct continuing education courses like Advanced, Rescue, and Divemaster. Besides that, you can supervise CITs (Compressor Operator / Instructor in Training) to conduct those courses under your guidance.
Requirements to Become an FCOA Advanced Scuba Instructor
To become an FCOA ADVANCED SCUBA INSTRUCTOR, you need to have:
- FCOA-verified recent medical declaration stating you are fit for scuba diving.
- Completed your FCOA Lead Coach rating
- Completed your FCOA Scuba Instructor rating.
- Completed your FCOA Public Safety Diver rating.
- Certified at least one FCOA Coach.
- Certified at least one FCOA Nitrox Diver.
- Certified at least one FCOA Oxygen Administrator.
- Certified at least 5 FCOA Scuba Divers.
- Certified at least 5 FCOA Panic-Proofed divers.
- Certified at least 1 FCOA Public safety diver.
- Certified at least one Advanced course under supervision with minimal assistance.
- Certified at least one Rescue Course under supervision with minimal assistance.
- Certified at least one Divemaster Course under supervision with minimal assistance.
Requirements to Become a CMAS Advanced Instructor (M2 or 2-Star Instructor) with CMAS Philippines
- You need to be a CMAS M1 Instructor.
- You need to have certified a certain number of open water students (between 5 and 25; this requirement is not in written down and varies over time).
- You need to pay a fee ranging between Php 1500 and Php 50,000 . The amount depends on various factors, such as whether you are in a region where CMAS is not yet represented, if you are already an Advanced Instructor with another agency, your patience, and your negotiation skills.
- The license has no expiration date on it and is valid for life. CMAS might ask you to pay Php 1,500 per year when you haven't certified anyone. As long as you certify at least 1 person per year, they waive the membership fee.
To prepare yourself to teach a continuing course, refresh your knowledge by reading through the relevant training quiz. For example, to teach the Advanced Scuba training, read through the Advanced Scuba quiz and then consult this manual to find additional teaching-related information for that particular course.
Assessment Dives
When divers are new to you or come from other agencies, you can conduct an assessment dive. For example, if a person is certified under PADI as a freediver and a scuba diver and wants to undergo our Advanced Scuba course, you must conduct an assessment freedive, followed by an assessment scuba dive that can be combined with panic-proofing.
Assessment Freedive Checklist
- Agree on the price of the assessment dive. Don't commit to the full course price until the assessment is complete.
- Register the student on fcoa.online before anything else. This ensures they have agreed to the liability release and FCOA has a copy of the student's ID on file.
- Verify certifications or other proof of previous experiences. Only act on claims they can
prove.
- Assign Video Quizzes 1 through 4. They need to complete these to become FCOA Advanced Scuba Divers.
- Ensure the Scuba Medical form is completed. If needed, obtain a "Fit to Dive" note from a doctor.
- Conduct the 200m swim. Be aware that many certified freedivers lack basic swimming skills. Don't take their word for it when they say they can swim.
- Go through FCOA Lessons 1 and 2 at a fast pace.
- Conduct FCOA lesson 3 (Navigation) in detail. No other agency teaches navigation the way we do.
- From lesson 4, teach the clove hitch knot and measure upthrust and exhale volume.
- Guide them on how to use their FCOA profile, make them request for all the certificates up to FCOA Freediver, and approve these requests before
parting.
Assessment Scuba Dive Checklist
-
Ensure the FCOA Panic Proofing Quiz is filled out.
- Brief on how to surface an unconscious diver. Most agencies don't require this from entry-level scuba divers, but FCOA does. Also brief on valve feathering if that is new to them.
- Once in the water, first refresh mask removal, out-of-air procedures, and buoyancy control.
- Continue with feathering, followed by surfacing the unconscious diver.
- Conduct the panic proofing.
Note: This same assessment can be performed for advanced divers from other agencies who want to take our Rescue course, as well as rescue divers who want to undergo our Divemaster training. After the assessment dive, FCOA.online will absorb them and guide them through the additional requirements needed to align and proceed.
