Now available at Aqua Hut

Diving Services

Fee Schedule

Introduction to Scuba

Instructor Philosophy

Consultative Services

Student Answer Sheets (PDF)

Intro to Open water Diving (MS Word)

TXR Class Listings and Fee Schedule (MS Word)

TXR Course Overview (MS Word)

Diving Resources

Diving First Aid and CPR courses

Fee Schedule

Technical Extended Range Courses

Advanced Nitrox                                                                                              $400.00

Technical Foundations Upgrade                                                                        $300.00

Advanced Nitrox/Technical Foundations Combo                                               $550.00

Decompression Procedures                                                                              $450.00

Normoxic Trimix                                                                                              $900.00

Advanced Decompression Procedures                                                             $400.00

Deco/Advanced Deco/Trimix Combo                                                               $1,475.00

XTR Student book                                                                                           $170.00

Technical Extended Range Preparatory Courses

Open Water Diver with computer and Nitrox certification                                  $275.00

Master Diver 1 (Stress rescue, deep and navigation training)                              $375.00

            Designed to follow open water course above

Master Diver 2 (Master Diver 1 plus Nitrox and computer diver)                       $450.00

            Designed for those student with basic OWD certification only

Master Diver 1 and Advanced Nitrox                                                               $675.00

Master Diver 1 and Advanced Nitrox/Technical Foundations Combo                $800.00

Master Diver 2 and Advanced Nitrox/Technical Foundations Combo                $875.00

Notes:

1)  Fee’s do not included associated c-card registration ($35.00 per card), quarry fee ($10.00 per day), and books

2)  Mask, fins, and snorkel required for Open water certification.  For all other courses, students will be required to have all required equipment which needs to be approved by instructors prior to starting classes.

Introduction to Scuba

Effective 1 March 2007                                                                                  Instructor:      Chuck Gbur, MD

                                                                                                                                                SSI AOWI #26640

Welcome to SSI’s and Aqua Hut’s Open Water Certification class.  Successful completion of this course will lead to certification as an open water diver and included specialty certification in Enriched Air Nitrox and computer diving.  This letter will help you to prepare for the course and also outline the requirements you will need to meet in order to be awarded your C card.

Equipment and Fee’s

The cost for the course is $275.00, which includes classroom and pool instruction, pool fee’s, and equipment rental.  In addition, you will be required to purchase textbooks for the course.  The open water diver kit is $75.00 with the DVD, and $50.00 without.  I can loan you the DVD to view, but it must be returned to me or you will be charged for it.  You will also need to purchase the Nitrox (EAN) book for $40.00.  Both of these can be purchased at Aqua Hut on Reynolds Road.  The above fee also does not include the cost of certification cards, each card is $35.00.  The card fee’s are typically waived if you purchase your equipment (buoyancy compensator and regulator) from Aqua Hut prior to completing the class.   You will need to buy mask, fins, snorkel and booties.  The cost typically will range between $180.00 to $330.00.  I will help you select your equipment prior to the first pool session.  You will also have the opportunity to try different pieces of the equipment in the pool prior to making your final purchase. Please do not purchase any equipment without discussing it with me.  I can help you select the equipment which is best for you and the type of diving you plan to do.

Bookwork

Please plan on reading all books and completing the questions at the end of each chapter prior to the first pool session.  All answers should be transferred to the SSI answer sheets. 

Pool Sessions

There will be 3 scheduled pool sessions.  During our first meeting, we will complete all required paperwork and review sections 1 through 3 of the open water manual.  We will then go over equipment set up and finally get wet for the first time.  During the second pool session we will cover section 4 through 6 of the OWD manual and the entire Nitrox manual.  We will practice pool skills and work on buoyancy control.  The final pool session will be to practice all skills and to complete the examinations.  If any additional pool time is required, students may make individual arrangements with Aqua Hut to come in on their own. 

Check Out Dives

The fee for open water checkout dives is $60.00, which includes tanks and weights.  Check out dives are normally held at Whitestar Quarry, although this is subject to change.  White star charges each diver $10.00 a day to dive.  Air fills are $7.00.  This will typically be done over a weekend and require a short dive for evaluation of skills and then 2 dives each day.  Information and directions to Whitestar quarry can be found at www.scpd-parks.org/whitestar.htm.  Gilboa quarry information can be found at www.divegilboa.com.  Once all requirements are met, your cards will be issued in 2-3 weeks.  All C cards will be shipped directly to the dive shop from SSI Headquarters.  You can pick them up at the shop.

Continuing you Diving Education

SCUBA TRAINING PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

SCUBA training leading to certification as an open water diver can be arranged through Aqua Hut dive center located on Reynolds Road in Toledo, Ohio.  Aqua Hut has excellent facilities, as well as outstanding instructors.  If you are interested in basic certification, you can contact Jeff Davis at Aqua Hut at (419) 531-4655.

I am a Scuba Schools International (SSI) Advanced Open Water Instructor a SSI TXR diving instructor.  I am a practicing cardiologist and I am also board certified in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.  I am certified as a hyperbaric chamber operator and I am also an Underwater Medical Officer in the US Navy.  I instruct a limited number of select students who are interested in pursuing dive training to an advanced level.

All instructors are required to follow published training standards.  I follow these standards, but in most cases my personal standards will be more demanding than those published by SSI.  I will provide more in depth training in diving physics, anatomy and physiology, as well basing even my basic certification training using technical diving principals.  My students will be required to purchase all equipment required to complete their training.  This will be more demanding than those students completing the basic open water certification.  I do this since I anticipate that all of my students will continue diving and I would prefer that they learn on their gear.

I believe in excellent training and safety.  My philosophy is that everything can and will fail, so I believe and teach redundant systems for everything.  Most diving accidents occur either in relatively inexperienced divers (less than 25 dives) or divers who have multiple, simultaneous problems and panic.  I will insist that all skills be mastered to the point that you can perform them in your sleep.  I also am not obligated to pass every student that enrolls in my class.  If you cannot perform the skills, or if I feel that you may endanger yourself or your dive buddy, you will not become certified.  I will work with you to achieve the required skills, but again, before I will certify you, you must meet my standards in addition to SSI requirements.

TRAINING PROGRAM

Phase 1:  Basic open water certification and Nitrox  and Computer certification

Classroom/Pool sessions:  3-4 sessions

Open water dives:  skill checkout and 4 dives.  Training will be with single cylinders with H or Y valve if possible.

Equipment requirements/recommendations:

            SSI OW workbook

            SSI Nitrox/EAN manual

            Global Underwater Explorers (GUE)  DIR manual

            Mask/Fins/Snorkel

            Two high quality regulators

                        Main first stage regulator with:

                                    7’ hose to primary second stage regulator

                                    Hose for BC inflator

                        Backup first stage regulator with:

                                    22” for backup second stage regulator with bungee neck cord

                                    24” hose for submersible pressure gauge

                                    Option hose for dry suit

            Buoyancy Compensator

                        I strongly encourage a stainless steel backplate, wings and harness

            Dive watch

            Dive Computer

            Primary and backup lights (C cell battery “pelican” type lights)

            Lift bag and reel

            Redundant air supply

                        Minimum of “Spare Air” system.  Would prefer 40cf pony bottle with regulator

                        and SPG with 6” hose.  This will be used in advanced training

Phase 2:  Master Diver

            Will include the following certifications:

                        Stress and Rescue Diver; basic CPR certification will be required

                        Equipment

                        Navigation

                        Night and limited visibility

                        Deep diving

This will include 2-4 pool sessions plus 5-6 dives plus skill evaluations.  Completion of these courses along with 50 logged dives will lead to certification as a SSI Master Scuba Diver.  Option training could include Dry Suit Diving and Search& Recovery.

Equipment requirements:

            SSI Dive Specialty Manuals for above courses.

            Wrist mount compass

            Divers Tool/Knife

            Dry Suit (If dry suit certification/trained)

Phase 3:  Technical Extended Range Diver  Minimum age is 18

Advanced Nitrox/Technical Foundations

·         Increase your understanding of diving physics, physiology, and decompression theory

·         Select and configure the tech diving equipment system that is best for you

·         Get an introduction to advanced dive planning and gas management procedures

·         Select an optimized gas blend and minimize decompression obligation

·         Be introduced to the use of decompression gases

·         Learn new propulsion techniques

·         Learn advanced buoyancy and trim

·         Discover new emergency procedures

·         Make ascents that include simulated decompression stops at multiple levels

·         Use a reel to deploy a surface marking buoy (SMB)

·         Practice procedures for handling stage cylinders

·         Learn how to make gas switches

Equipment requirements:

            SSI Technical extended range Student Manual/Slates

            Twin set cylinders and mounting brackets

Decompression Procedures
(Prerequisite: Technical Foundations)

·         Plan and execute dives that utilize stage decompression stops

·         Gain hands-on experience with decompression planning software

·         Prepare primary, abort, and bailout dive plans

·         Evaluate conditions, anticipate potential problems, and apply the appropriate diving techniques to achieve dive objectives

·         Function as a member of a deep dive team

·         Learn new procedures for advanced diver-to-diver and diver-to-surface communications

·         Get tips on special considerations for selecting a dive boat charter to support decompression diving activities

Equipment requirements:

Additional stage bottle and regulator (oxygen cleaned)

Normoxic Trimix
(Prerequisite: Decompression Procedures)

·         Understand the advantages of adding helium to the breathing gas blend

·         Know the difference between Normoxic and Hypoxic mixes

·         Learn how the addition of helium impacts the dive planning process

·         Gain valuable dive experience by executing training dives as deep as 180 feet (55m)

Equipment requirements:

Option 7-14cf cylinder with first stage for Argon if dry suit diving

Advanced Decompression Procedures
(Prerequisite: Normoxic Trimix or Decompression Procedures)

·         Examine strategies for accelerated decompression

·         Know the options for multiple Nitrox blends and the use of 100% oxygen

·         Understand the purpose of advanced PO₂ management procedures to control CNS oxygen toxicity exposure

·         Learn new techniques crucial to advanced decompression dive planning and execution

Continuing Medical Education:

For health care providers, I am working on the ability to provide continuing medical education credit beginning at the advanced open water diver level and above.  It is anticipated that completing the entire certification process will result in 16-20 hours of category 1 CME credits.

Planned Topics:  (Subject to change and approval from Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society)

Diving Medicine Overview and Diving Physics

Fitness to dive

Diving and the ear

Vertigo, dizziness and the diver

The Cardiovascular system and diving

Decompression Illness

Barotrauma

Oxygen Toxicity

Narcosis at depth

Hazardous Marine Life

Orthopedics and Diving

Medical Management of Diving Emergencies

Advanced Decompression Diving, mixed gas diving, saturation diving

Special Diving Environments:  Altitude, cold water

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Overview

Tactical Diving:  Medical Considerations

Required Textbook:

Diving Medicine, 4^th Edition, Fred Bove, MD available on Amazon.Com

US Navy Diving Manual PDF version available online at no charge

Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Review for Physicians, Jolie Bookspan, 2000

SUMMARY:

As you can see, my program is not intended for the casual diver.  However, if you are seriously interested in learning more and becoming an advanced diver, this program will allow you to reach your goals.  The didactic portion will benefit you no matter what level you are at, a high school student learning physics, a college student or a practicing physician.  The real process of learning to dive requires getting wet.  Nevertheless, I firmly believe that the better understanding that you have in the basic sciences, the better diver you will become.

I am not a cold water fan; I like the warm waters of the Caribbean.  Most of the advanced course requiring deep water dives will be accomplished during dive trips either to Florida or various Caribbean Islands.  They can however be performed locally as well.  If you are interested in cold water diving, ice diving and the like, I can arrange that with Jeff or Ian Davis at Aqua Hut.

If you are apprehensive about the “hard-core” approach that I have outlined, let me reassure you that my 11 and 12 year old daughter have survived the OWD course.  My two older children (14 and 16) are also avid divers as well.  They were taught and certified by Jeff at Aqua Hut.  My real requirement is a student dedicated to taking the time to learn it right and become an excellent, informed diver.

Safe diving,

Charles J. Gbur Jr., MD, FACC, FSCAI, DMO

SSI AOWI 26440

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular diseases, Interventional Cardiology and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.

For those interested in Underwater Photography and diving planning software, I can provide additional training and advice.  I do not claim to be an expert in these areas, and in some ways I am still just getting my feet wet.  It would not involve any additional certifications, but simply passing on what I have learned and experienced so far.