1. Teaching the Project AWARE and Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialties
Creating Environmentally Responsible Divers

2. Overview Project AWARE – Goals, Standards and Marketing
Peak Performance Buoyancy – Goals, Standards and Marketing

3. Project AWARE – Goals, Standards and Marketing
What are the goals of the Project AWARE Specialty program?
Offer divers and nondivers an orientation to plight of the world’s aquatic ecosystems
Overviews interdependent nature of worldwide water systems
Explores issues of coastal degradation, overfishing, pollution and degraded environments
Offers solutions and suggestions for action by concerned individuals

4. Research into environmental education shows that it requires more than knowledge to change attitudes and instill a desire to take action. To turn concerned people into action-oriented conservationists, they must understand the issues as well as believe that change is possible.

5. Project AWARE
Goals of Project AWARE Specialty Project AWARE Specialty Program Instructor Outline – Course Overview, A and B
Make people aware of current and future threats to the aquatic environment
Discusses personal responsibility and opportunities to get involved on local, national and international levels

6. Project AWARE How do you teach the Project AWARE Specialty Program?
Become familiar with Instructor Outline
The more you know, the better you can explain it
Read the AWARE manual
Visit the Project AWARE website –
Get involved in environmental organizations and read environmental publications

7. Project AWARE
Teaching the program Project AWARE Specialty Program Instructor Outline – Course Requirements
Because there are no prerequisite requirements, no minimum age requirement and no maximum instructor-to-participant ratio, your judgment is critical
Adjust scope to fit interest and age levels
Relate information to local environment and reinforce that change is possible

8. Project AWARE
Teaching the program Project AWARE Specialty Program Instructor Outline – Course Requirements
Use AWARE manual and globe or world map
Identify vastness of earth’s water resources
Point out areas of fisheries concerns, coastal zones, coral reefs and degraded marine environments
Have Project AWARE brochures , photos, diagrams, videos, posters, etc.

9. Project AWARE
How can you market and promote the Project AWARE Specialty Program?
It’s a “program” because it has a wide variety of uses
Conduct as a course and offer completion cards
Present in conjunction with other PADI courses or environmental projects and offer Project AWARE Certificates of Recognition
Promotional and marketing ideas in Course Overview section of Instructor Outline
Success is limited only by your enthusiasm and innovation

10. Peak Performance Buoyancy
Goals, Standards and Marketing

11. Peak Performance Buoyancy
What are the goals of the Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Diver course?
Buoyancy control is critical, yet a struggle for many divers
Attaining buoyancy control appeals to a wide variety of divers

12. Peak Performance Buoyancy
Goals of course . . .
Teach divers how to set up and wear the correct amount of weight
Fine-tune neutral buoyancy underwater
Improve buoyancy control and body positioning
Slow and control descents and ascents
Encourage divers to practice skills and gain dive experience under guidance

13. Peak Performance Buoyancy
How is the Peak Performance Buoyancy course structured?
Designed to be interesting, convenient and require a minimal time commitment
Consists of basic knowledge development and 2 open water dives
May be completed in 1 day

14. Peak Performance Buoyancy
Course structure . . .
Three knowledge development options:
Preferred method — independent learning by watching PPB video and reading log insert
No PPB video — have divers read Peak Performance Buoyancy section of Adventures in Diving manual or Multimedia, and watch Adventures in Diving video
No material — use Peak Performance Buoyancy Course Instructor Outline to deliver information
Go over completed Knowledge Reviews
Prescriptively elaborate on information

15. Peak Performance Buoyancy video

16. Peak Performance Buoyancy
Course structure . . .
Open water dives consist of weighting adjustments and buoyancy skills
Dive One requirements same as Peak Performance Buoyancy Adventure Dive
Consider including confined water session (buoyancy clinic) as part of course
Conduct buoyancy clinic as a stand-alone program or in conjunction with Scuba Review

17. Peak Performance Buoyancy
Course structure . . .
PADI AIs may conduct specialty under the direction of a PADI Instructor
Instructor is available for consultation and co-signs diver Training Record
Allows AIs to ask questions or seek guidance
Makes it possible for divers to receive Adventure Dive credit
Conduct dives at night for divers with Night Adventure Dive or equivalent experience

18. Peak Performance Buoyancy
How do you teach the Peak Performance Buoyancy course?
Documentation requirements:
Administrative paperwork – Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding, Medical Statement and Liability Release
Use Student Record File
Use Specialty Training Record to verify completion of course requirements
Complete and submit a PIC envelope for certification card

19. Peak Performance Buoyancy
Teaching the course . . .
Have a variety of weight systems available:
Webbed belts and solid weights
Belts with pouches
Weight harness systems
Ankle weights
Integrated BCD/weight system units
Variety of buckle styles
Variety of weight stops/keepers

20. Peak Performance Buoyancy
Teaching the course . . .
Select open water site carefully:
Recommended maximum depth is metres/30-40 feet
Flat bottom area for practice – sand or platform
Contours and obstacles for depth changes
Little or mild water movement
Create an underwater obstacle course:
Set up before dive and remove after dive
PVC pipe in a variety of shapes
Hula hoops ™
Buoys or plastic bottles tied in a bunch

21. Peak Performance Buoyancy
Teaching the course . . .
Play buoyancy games or have buoyancy contests
One finger balancing
Close-up contest
Passing the weight
Others . . .

22. Peak Performance Buoyancy
How can you market and promote the Peak Performance Buoyancy course?
Target Open Water Divers immediately after certification
Promote to Adventures in Diving program student divers interested in receiving specialty course recognition
Offer to divers who have purchased new exposure suit, BCD or weight system
Promote to divers interested in underwater photography or videography

23. Peak Performance Buoyancy
How can you market and promote the Peak Performance Buoyancy course?
Encourage divers with professional career goals to obtain demonstration quality buoyancy control
Market as part of an “AWARE Diver” program with the Project AWARE Specialty, AWARE – Fish Identification course and Underwater Naturalist course
Ideas?

24. We’ve reviewed . . . Project AWARE – Goals, Standards and Marketing
Peak Performance Buoyancy – Goals, Standards and Marketing