The next 1 star course will register Thurs 19th Aug 2010 followed by an introductory lecture, with lectures 24,25,26,31 Aug and 1,2 Sept. Exam 9th Sept.
pool 28th and 29th Aug; dives 19th Sept and 2 and 3 Oct and a trip to Sodwana, on the coast on 27th/28th Nov.
The CMAS 1* (1 star) course qualifies you to dive to 18 metres. The qualification is suitable for diving in both fresh water and sea water throughout the world. Following the 1* course you may decide to enroll on 2* course (30 metres) and other technical courses. The scope of courses is extensive leading a diver from 1*, through into the technical diving arena (Nitrox, Deep / Cave / Wreck / Mixed Gases etc) and onwards to instructor. Complimentary courses are available such as skippers, air compressor and rescue.
CMAS 1* has equivalency with PADI, NAUI, SSI, BSAC etc all of whom offer basic courses that enable dives to 18 metres. All these organizations recognize each other, and their courses / qualifications. Course equivalency continues right up until dive leader certificates. CMAS diving certifications are recognized internationally, and valid permanently (leadership courses excluded.)
DATES: 2010 August/September 1 Star Course
REGISTRATION
Registration will be on 19th Aug 2010, between 18:00 and 19:00. Please try be there by 18:30. Registration for the 1* course will take place at the clubhouse situated at Wits University. The clubhouse is next to the Matrix and Wits pool on East Campus. If you need detailed directions let me know.
Course fees will be paid, manuals will be issued, your photograph will be taken (for CMAS ID card) and medical forms will be handed out for completion (see below).
LECTURES
These will be 24,25,26,31 Aug and 1,2 Sept (evenings, from 18:00 or 18:30)
Topics include Equipment, Physics, Physiology, Open Water Diving, Dive
planning, Decompression / Tables / Air (long lecture) and Rescue. The CMAS manual you will receive guides students through important sections and offers self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter.
EXAM
The theory lectures will be assessed with a multiple choice written test, this will take place on 9th Sept. The pass mark is 65%. All the required info is in the manual. WUC reserves the right to charge folk R50 for any rewrites, but few people fail, if they've read thru it and attended the lectures.
POOL SESSIONS
Sat and Sun 28th /29th Aug both days 9:00 to 17:00)
In the Wits pool, we'll cover mask clearing, regulator use, fin pivots,
rolls, water entry / exit, swims, snorkel techniques, duck diving, breath
holds, swimming with snorkel, buoyancy control (i.e., getting your weights
correct for your body mass / wet suite), familiarization with how your wet suite affects swimming, sharing air, manual BC buoyancy, rescue techniques, doffing & donning equipment underwater, weight belt retrieval, towing equipment, etc.
INLAND DIVES
These open water dives will be at Bass lake / Miracle waters. Directions /details will be given later.
Dates are 19th Sept and 1st and 2nd Oct You’ll need to be there preferably 3, but at least 2 days, usually 1 weekend. Venues are both about 1 hour from JHB, and diving takes the whole day (8:00-17:00)
COSTS
Wit University full time students (with current student card): R1100.00
Non students, other students : R1300.00
The cost of the course includes club membership for 12 months. Membership entitles you to gear hire and joining WUC trips. [R250 for Wits students and R300 for others]
Included in course fee:- International CMAS registration (1*: valid to 18
metres), text book, certificates, CMAS ID photo card or C -Card, Medical
application questionnaire, lectures (5), pool sessions (two days in Wits
pool), Bass lake and Miracle waters training sessions, all equipment during training (DV, BC, tank).
Not included: Other equipment (wet suit, mask, fins, weight belt, booties, gloves, snorkel), entrance to Bass lake (R50 / day) or miracle Water (R50 / day), Medical assessment by GP, Sodwana trip, approx R1000.00
BUYING EQUIPMENT
The first lecture will take you through what equipment you will need. You
WILL need FULL equipment by the first pool session. Please be aware that equipment is expensive. It is highly unlikely you will buy full kit for less than R2100.00. The Wits pool is now heated; however, you CANNOT do the swims and other skills without a wet suite, weight belt, mask, snorkel, and fins. On Sunday you will need full kit again as you will be doing SCUBA in the pool. Beware: Trying on wet suites takes time and is hot work. Take your swimming costume and allow 3 / 4 hours. We recommend MIAS and Dive Mania (more details on buying equipment and special rates we have organized with various dive shops will be given to you in the intro lecture).
MEDICALS
Participation in the 1* course will depend on you successfully completing a diving medical form. All medicals MUST be completed before the 1st pool session. If you do not have a medical then you CANNOT dive. The medical form should be taken a GP / diving physician. It must be signed and stamped by the clinician (not you) at the bottom. The medical is to ensure you are physically fit to dive at depth. It is for YOUR safety and the safety of your buddy that we insist on the medical. The medical is valid for two years. The club has an address list of diving physicians. NO MEDICAL: NO DIVE.
TRIPS
Sodwana 27th and 28th November
Whilst you can complete your qualification inland, we strongly recommend you join us for this amazing trip, to complete your final dive(s). Cost of the trip is approximately R1000.
A little bit about WUC.
Wits Underwater Club (WUC)
Wits Underwater Club has been in existence for over 45 years. We offer a superior training programme. The club is residence to two world record holders and a number of highly experienced technical divers. In addition we have over 120 members who simply want to dive and have fun.
Our instructors are not reliant on your dive course to earn a living. At Wits Underwater Club we do not have to run courses. We all have other jobs. We run courses because we like diving. The students we graduate are very competent and understand the theory behind a dive. Consequently, the focus of the course is to produce a quality diver. Our courses are thorough. The club is entirely self-sufficient. We conduct training using our own equipment. We have over 40 sets of complete equipment and so scuba tanks; BC's; DV's are provided. We use the Wits Pool (3 meters deep and heated); own two seaworthy boats, two portable compressors (for filling scuba tanks). This is impressive for a humble University club.
Membership of WUC enables you to hire VERY subsidized diving equipment. We presently charge R50 / day for tank (R20), BC (R15) and DV (R15). Nowhere else in South Africa beats this rate. In addition you get access to the WUC mailing list for dive information / second hand equipment etc etc, and news of club dive trips.
The WUC meets every Thursday evening from 1800 - 2100 at the clubhouse. You can hire club gear on a Thursday evenings. Our clubhouse is on the east edge of the University of the Witwatersrand's main campus swimming pool. Vehicle access to the campus is best thru the Yale road entrances. Directions.
CMAS
CMAS was created in 1959 in Monaco to unite all the national diving organizations that were beginning to develop worldwide. The first president was the famous underwater explorer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. The CMAS qualification is internationally recognized (CMAS: Confederation Mondiale des Activities Subaquatiques or the "World Underwater Federation"). The World Underwater Federation (WUF) has three factions: Sport Committee, Technical Committee and Scientific Committee. Check out www.cmas2000.org or the local www.cmas.co.za
In South Africa the South African Underwater Union (SAUU) is an affiliated member of CMAS. The SAUU is recognized by the South African government as the controlling body for all underwater sport in the country. See www.sa-underwater.org.za
CMAS is part of the World Federation of Underwater Activities and coordinates events such as the Olympics. CMAS is a non-profit organization and offers a validated, international recognized certificate in scuba diving. The instructors affiliated with CMAS operate courses from Universities and small provincial clubs. CMAS is not a business. In contrast some of the other organizations are businesses that must support massive marketing world wide. To survive these organizations must push through divers on a very regular basis. In some centres this can lead to a quick, cursory level course at elevated prices. Divers graduating from such courses are not necessarily bad. Scuba skills depend on the instructor. Good instructor good diver. At CMAS we offer you more training time at a lower price.
For more information please contact:
Francois Bain: chairman@wuc.co.za
Karen van den Oever: training@wuc.co.za
