Purpose
GUE’s Diver Propulsion Vehicle Level 1 course (Open Water DPV) is a diver education program that introduces divers to the use of underwater propulsion vehicles. The course covers the basic principles of DPV diving and is designed to introduce divers to the skills and knowledge required for limited use of propulsion vehicles. Training includes an emphasis on awareness, dive-planning, teamwork, environment, stress management, navigation, conservation, standard and emergency procedures, DPV maintenance and trouble shooting and the potential hazards of diving with a DPV. To qualify for this type of instruction, participants do not need prior DPV training, but must be proficient with advanced buoyancy control skills and high awareness level.

Prerequisites

1. Must meet GUE general course prerequisites as outlined in section1.6.
2. Must be a minimum of sixteen years of age.
3. Must have passed GUE Fundamentals using the equipment outlined in section 2.1.4.10 and have demonstrated competence in skill and drills listed in 2.1.4.9 at a grade of 4 or above.
4. Must have a minimum of seventy-five dives beyond open-water qualification.
5. Must have a minimum of fifty dives beyond GUE Fundamentals

Duration
The GUE DPV 1 class is normally conducted over a three-day period. It involves a minimum of twenty four hours of instruction, encompassing both classroom and in-water work.

Course Limits

1. General training limits as outlined in section 1.4
2. Student-to-instructor ratio is not to exceed 3:1 during any in-water training.
3. Maximum depth 60 feet (+/- 10 feet)/18 meters (+/- 3 meters).
4. No overhead diving
5. Minimum starting visibility of 20ft/6m

Course Content
The GUE DPV 1 course involves a minimum of twenty four hours of instruction designed to provide a working knowledge in the use of tow-behind propulsion vehicles, and operational considerations. Course requirements include four hours of academics and five dives, two of which will be critical-skill dives and three will be experience dives.
Initial dives will be conducted in confined water to test diver ability and to fill in any deficits in skill levels.

Required Training Materials

1. GUE DPV Powerpoint

Academic Topics

1. Equipment considerations
2. DPV components
3. DPV maintenance
4. Surface-marker buoys and spools (for deco platforms)
5. Towing a surface marker while using a DPV
6. Exposure suit appropriate for the environment
7. Dive planning
8. Operational planning
9. Support
10. Teams
11. Team planning
12. Procedures
13. Gas Planning
14. Gas matching
15. Considerations for managing and stowing a DPV while not in use.

Land Drills and Topics

1. Proper position while using a DPV
2. Runaway DPV
3. Use of Goodman handle while riding a DPV
4. Dive team order and protocols
5. Use of spools and reels
6. Basic navigation skills
7. Pre-dive drills

Required Dive Skills and Drills

1. All skills and drills as outlined in General Diving Skills, section 1.5
2. Must be able to swim at least 400 yards/375 meters in under fourteen minutes without stopping. This test should be conducted in a swimsuit and, where necessary, appropriate thermal protection.
3. Must be able to swim a distance of at least 20 yards/18 meters on a breath hold.
4. Demonstrate proficiency adjusting buoyancy while using a DPV
5. Demonstrate effective use of compass and navigation
6. Matching speeds with team members
7. Towing diver with non-functional DPV
8. Demonstrate control while dealing with a runaway DPV
9. Procedures for gas-sharing, and regulator switching as appropriate.
10. Surface-marker buoy deployment.
11. Demonstrate familiarity with required course equipment.
12. Gas-sharing scenarios, to include a prolonged gas-sharing event.
13. Demonstrate effective valve management by switching regulators, shutting down a valve in under fifteen seconds and returning the valve to the open position again in under fifteen seconds.
14. Demonstrate proficiency with effective decompression techniques, including depth and time management.
15. Demonstrate good buoyancy and trim, i.e. approximate reference maximum of 20 degrees off horizontal while remaining within 3 feet/1 meter of a target depth. Frequency of buoyancy variation and the divers control of their buoyancy and trim are important evaluation criteria.

Equipment Requirements
Each student should have, and be familiar with, all of the following required equipment:

1. Tanks/Cylinders: Students may use dual tanks/cylinders connected with a dual-outlet isolator manifold, which allows for the use of two first-stages. Students may also use a single tank/cylinder with a K-, H-, or Y-valve.
2. Regulators: One of the second-stages must be on a 5 to 7 foot/1.5 to 2 meter hose. One of the firststages must supply a pressure gauge and provide inflation for a dry suit (where applicable).
3. Backplate System: A rigid and flat platform of metal construction with minimal padding, held to a diver by one continuous piece of nylon webbing. This webbing should be adjustable through the plate and should use a buckle to secure the system at the waist. A crotch strap attached to the lower end of this platform and looped through the waistband would prevent the system from riding up a diver’s back. A knife should be secured to the waist on the left webbing tab. This webbing should support five D-rings; the first should be placed at the left hip, the second should be placed in line with a diver’s right collarbone, the third should be placed in line with the diver’s left collarbone, and the fourth and fifth should be affixed to the crotch strap to use while using a DPV or towing/stowing gear. The harness below the diver’s arms should have small restrictive bands to allow for the placement of reserve lights. The system should retain a minimalist approach, with no unnecessary components.
4. Buoyancy Compensation Device: A diver’s buoyancy compensation device should be backmounted and minimalist in nature. It should come free of extraneous strings, tabs, or other material. There should be no restrictive bands or “bungee” of any sort affixed to the buoyancy cell. In addition, diver lift should not exceed 50 lbs/25kgs for a single tank and 80 lbs/40kgs for double tanks. Wing size and shape should be appropriate to the cylinder size(s) employed for training.
5. DPV: The DPV should be of a tow-behind type. It should have variable speed adjustment, as well as a clutch. The DPV must include an attached cord at the back with a bolt snap to be clipped on the front D-ring located in the crotch strap, used to tow the diver. The DPV should also have a leash attached to the front to be used for towing it in case it fails to work.
6. At least one time/depth-measuring device
7. Mask and fins: Mask should be low-volume; fins should be rigid, non-split
8. At least one cutting device
9. One wrist compass
10. One reserve mask
11. Wet Notes
12. One spool with 100 feet/30 meters of line per diver
13. At least one surface-marker buoy per diver
14. Exposure suit appropriate for the duration of exposure
15. One primary light: A primary light should be minimalist in design; its power source should consist of a rechargeable battery pack residing in a canister powering an external light head via a light cord. Primary lights should produce the equivalent output of 50-watt halogen/10-watt HID lighting or greater.
16. Two reserve lights: Reserve lights should be powered by two or three in-line non-rechargeable ccell batteries, with a minimum of protrusions and a single attachment at its rear. The light should be activated and de-activated by twisting the front bezel.

Note: Prior to the commencement of class, students should consult with a GUE representative to verify equipment requirements. Whether or not a piece of equipment fulfills GUE’s equipment requirement remains at the discretion of GUE and its instructor representatives. Participants are responsible for providing all equipment or for making provisions to secure the use of necessary equipment before the start of the course. In general, it is better for the student to learn while using his or her own equipment. However, students should exercise caution before purchasing new equipment to avoid acquiring substandard equipment. Please contact a GUE representative prior to making any purchases. Information about recommended equipment can be obtained from the equipment considerations section of GUE’s Web site.