Nova Southeastern University
Academic Diving Program
Scuba Club
Policies & Procedures Manual
OFFICE OF CAMPUS RECREATION & WELLNESS
Nova Southeastern University
Don Taft University Center
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
Phone (954) 262-7042
SUMMER 2016
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IMPORTANT NOTICE
SCUBA DIVING IS ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE ACTIVITIES IN
WHICH STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE AT NOVA SOUTHEASTERN
UNIVERSITY. TO INSURE THAT IT IS FUN AND SAFE, POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES FOR THE NSU SCUBA CLUB HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPED AND ARE CONTAINED HEREIN.
KNOWLEDGE OF, AND COMPLIANCE WITH, THESE POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES IS MANDATORY FOR ANY NSU SCUBA CLUB
PARTICIPATING MEMBER. YOUR FAILURE TO READ AND FULLY
UNDERSTAND THIS MANUAL MAY RESULT IN AN INCIDENT.
WHEN INCORRECTLY PRACTICED, SCUBA DIVING MAY BE
HAZARDOUS TO ONE’S HEALTH AND SAFETY. YOUR PERSONAL
SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF ALL PARTICIPANTS MANDATES
STRICT ADHERENCE TO ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
CONTAINED HEREIN.
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THE NSU SCUBA CLUB
The purpose of the NSU Scuba Club is to provide the dive community at Nova
Southeastern University supervised dive activities. This NSU dive community
includes NSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni. As a part of Campus Recreation &
Wellness, the club organizes and leads dive trips with professional supervision,
rental scuba equipment, following diving industry standards.
OVERVIEW
The NSU Scuba Club format consists of Semester-long membership of $75 and
includes the following:
 Free rental scuba equipment for all club dives
 Free Scuba Refresher at the beginning of each semester
 Free supervised beach dives
 Half-priced boat dives
 Dive trips are approximately every other week per semester, or
approximately 6-7 dive trips per semester
GENERAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Scuba diving is both enjoyable and challenging. Without proper training,
adherence to safety procedures, and correct mental attitude, participation in it can
be dangerous and even life threatening. The scuba Diving Supervisors in this club
reserve the right to deny admission and participation to any participants refusing
to respect the policies and procedures of this Policies & Procedures Manual, or
exhibiting actions during the NSU Scuba Club activities judged to be inherently or
potentially dangerous. Participants should be aware of this total commitment to
their safety and behave accordingly.
1. Diving Activities
TYPE OF DIVING: The diving activities sanctioned under the NSU Scuba Club are
purely recreational – up to 120 feet in depth, using standard open-circuit scuba
equipment, following no-decompression diving limits, and for recreational
purposes.
NUMBER OF DIVES PER SEMESTER: There will be dive trips offered approximately
every other week per semester, or approximately 6-7 dive trips per semester. This
number may fluctuate due to weather or other operational-related cancelations.
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There are no partial refunds from the Scuba Club if the number of dives reduces in
a semester.
BEACH DIVES: There will be dive trips that are offered from the shore of local
beaches, lakes, and/or fresh water springs. These supervised dives will be free for
members unless there is an admission fee, in which case the admission will be half
price. The number of beach dives in a semester varies.
BOAT DIVES: There will be dive trips that are offered from commercial dive
vessels. These supervised dives will be half price for members. Tanks, weights or
other items part of the charter dive boat trip will be included in the half price rate.
SPEARFISHING: Spearfishing, via the use of a speargun or a polespear, is
prohibited during the NSU Scuba Club Events. An exception may be granted for an
official “Lionfish Derby” in which the objective of the dive is to reduce populations
of this invasive species via polespear.
SOLO DIVING: Diving without a buddy (solo diving) is absolutely prohibited during
the NSU Scuba Club Events. The buddy system is used on every NSU Scuba Club
dive.
SNORKELING & FREEDIVING: Snorkeling and freediving are authorized only when
in indirect supervision of a Nova Southeastern University Academic Diving
Program (NSUADP) Diving Supervisor. Freediving will not be allowed in-between
dives (during surface intervals) or after scuba dives.
2. Health & Fitness for Diving
NSU Scuba Club members must be healthy and fit for diving. Divers must arrive to
their open water dives ready to properly participate physically, mentally and
equipment-wise. Divers must be alcohol and drug free, as well as free of sinus
and/or chest congestion. Mentally, divers must be prepared and focused when
open water diving. Divers must bring proper swimwear and equipment to their
open water dives. Divers should bring:
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Bathing suit & towel
•
Sunscreen
•
Water
NO SMOKING POLICY: Research proves that smoking severely increases the risk
of decompression sickness (DCS or the bends) and its related symptoms upon
divers. Tar and nicotine reduce the ability to eliminate nitrogen out of the body
efficiently, leading to a greater risk of decompression sickness. For this reason,
there is a no smoking policy. This means if a diver is a smoker, that diver must quit
smoking to be a member of the NSU Scuba Club, or do not become a member.
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Smoking and even the nicotine from vapor cigarettes is detrimental to the safe
participation of scuba diving.
3. Personal Equipment
The NSU Scuba Club, its Diving Supervisors, its members as well as Nova
Southeastern University and the Nova Southeastern University Academic Diving
Program (NSUADP) cannot be held responsible if any member sustains any loss or
damage to their equipment while participating in any organized activities, whether
on or off campus.
Any member bringing personal equipment or using rental equipment must ensure
that the equipment is in proper working condition prior to engaging in any diving
activities.
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
Personal equipment may be utilized during Scuba Club dives if the equipment is in
proper working condition and in good configuration. NSUADP Diving Supervisors
will assess all gear to determine if it is allowable. For “life-support” equipment
such as regulators, buoyancy compensators and cylinders a receipt from an
authorized equipment repair facility showing that the equipment has been given
an annual servicing must be provided. That proof of annual servicing must be
within a one year timeframe before the dive.
TANKS: If you choose to dive with your personal tanks (cylinders), the tank(s)
must be within the proper Hydrostatic Testing period of 5 years, and the tank(s)
must be within the proper Visual Inspection Program period of 1 year. The
NSUADP Diving Supervisors reserve the right to disallow expired tanks on NSU
Scuba Club dives. Personal tanks will not be filled by NSU, nor at the NSUADP dive
locker.
NITROX: Enriched Air Nitrox can be used on NSU Scuba Club dives as long as the
following takes place:
 The diver has a valid Enriched Air Nitrox certification from an approved
scuba training agency.
 The diver must analyze the gas in the tank, recording the percentages on the
tank, and confirming the percentages with the NSUAPD Diving Supervisor.
 The diver must analyze the gas in the tank, recording the Maximum
Operating Depth (MOD) of the gas mix, and confirming the MOD with the
NSUAPD Diving Supervisor.
Nitrox is not included on any NSU Scuba Club dives, it is solely the responsibility of
the diver to obtain Nitrox tanks.
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REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Divers with their own scuba equipment must have the
following required equipment:
 Alternate air source (i.e. octopus, Source®, Air II®, Spare Air®)
 Underwater timing device (i.e. dive watch or dive computer)
 Surface marker buoy
 Whistle
4. Rental Equipment
The NSU Scuba Club, its Diving Supervisors, its members as well as Nova
Southeastern University and the Nova Southeastern University Academic Diving
Program (NSUADP) cannot be held responsible if any member sustains any loss or
damage to their equipment while participating in any organized activities, whether
on or off campus.
Any member bringing personal equipment or using rental equipment must ensure
that the equipment is in proper working condition prior to engaging in any diving
activities.
RENTAL EQUIPMENT
As part of the NSU Scuba Club membership, members may receive use of NSUADP
rental scuba equipment. All levels of diving education teach the safe and proper
set-up, handling, storage and transportation of scuba equipment. Part of
certification standards is the ability of the diver to be responsible for the rental
equipment issued to them. It is the diver’s responsibility to ascertain that all
equipment issued is operational immediately upon receiving it from the NSUADP
equipment locker. The student then agrees accepting the equipment, as functional,
and that it will be returned in as issued (functional) condition. Once removed from
the NSU pool area the student accepts full liability for its condition and will be
assessed suitable repair, or replacement fees for any damage to or loss of such
equipment.
Clarification: When a diver signs for NSUADP equipment that diver is totally
responsible for the condition of that equipment until another diver signs for the
equipment or until an NSUADP official signs the equipment into the locker.
Note: Should damage be detected to such equipment after sign over or sign in
before official check out use by another person, such damage is the responsibility
of the last user. This policy clarifies the longstanding problem wherein a user
denies breakage even though the equipment was not broken when they checked it
out or during their use of it but damage was discovered after check over to another
diver or check in to the NSUADP locker but before its' use by another diver. Further,
as such damage may not be apparent to NSUADP staff or another diver user until,
for example, a cylinder with a damaged valve is either checked for pressure, a fill
is attempted, or a diver attempts to affix a regulator to said cylinder, liability is
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properly determined at the time the damage becomes apparent and liability for
such damage is fixed.
The NSUADP instructor who receives the equipment at check-in is merely
accepting the equipment not determining the condition of the equipment.
Determination of the condition of the equipment is made at the time the equipment
is reissued when the receiving diver checks it at time he/she signs accepting the
equipment.
Equipment check out will be exactly as announced on the days prior to the dive(s)
with check in immediately following the dive(s) upon return to the Aquatic Center,
no verbal instructions may supersede this direction.
The function of your automobile on scuba trips is your responsibility. There are
no circumstances wherein you may fail to return equipment to the dive locker at
the designated time without policy violation. No exceptions or excuses. It is the
diver’s responsibility to be at equipment check in/out whenever the instructor is
there, to include waiting however long it takes to return from the dive not vice
versa. In no instance can divers unilaterally decide when they will check
equipment in - this is determined by the instructor. No set time will ever be
stipulated for check in due to variations in driving speed, potential mechanical
failures, etc.
LATE EQUIPMENT USE FEES: Complete equipment set: tank (single), regulator
(with 1st and 2nd stages, octopus, and computer/pressure gauge console), BCD,
full wet suit, weights, dive bag, is $50 regardless of the equipment needed. This fee
is for each day equipment is kept late.
 A “Scuba Class Equipment Issue Form” will be completely filled out and
signed before equipment will be issued.
 The “Scuba Class Equipment Issue Form” will be left with the NSUADP
staff. If the card is not returned the student will be charged the late fee
for a complete set of equipment.
 Lost or stolen equipment will be paid for at replacement cost of item.
 Broken or damaged equipment must be repaired to "as issued" condition
or replaced.
 Late return of equipment results in a total rental fee for the equipment
per day late.
 Student records will be flagged if procedures are not followed exactly.
 Fees must be paid to: Nova Southeastern University.
 Students must personally check out and check in the equipment which
they personally use. No exceptions or excuses.
LOST, DESTROYED, OR DAMAGED EQUIPMENT: Equipment lost, destroyed, or
damaged by users will be:
 Replaced with an exact duplicate by brand name and model or,
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 Repaired to "as issued" condition by the user or,
 Paid for to NSUADP according to the following replacement cost
schedule:
Cylinder (63 or 80 cu. ft.)
Valve
Boot (63 or 80)
Regulator (1st stage with 2nd stage) & hose
Octopus/Adaptor/Hose
Console (Pressure Gauge & Computer w/ Hose)
Mouthpiece
2nd stage
Buoyancy Compensator Device
Weight-Integrated Pouch
Power Inflator
Inflator Hose
Snorkeling Vest
Wetsuit (full)
Weight Belt with Buckle
Weight (per lb)
Buckle (each)
Compass
Dive Bag, Mesh, Large
Mask
Fins
Snorkel
Snorkel Keeper
Lift Bag (50lb)
Dive Flag
$150.00
$60.00
$13.00
$350.00
$140.00
$425.00
$6.00
$160.00
$450.00
$24.00
$80.00
$35.00
$50.00
$250.00
$12.00
$4.00
$3.00
$100.00
$25.00
$60.00
$90.00
$25.00
$2.00
$65.00
$28.00
Person's involved who do not replace or pay for equipment promptly will pay
additional equipment rental fees and WILL HAVE THEIR RECORDS FLAGGED.
5. Diving Operations
BOAT DIVES
When the NSU Scuba Club conducts diving events with a Dive Boat Charter, the
following criteria must apply:
 The diver will sign up for the boat trip using the official NSU Scuba Club
“Marketplace” online registration system. The cost of the boat trip will be
half the price and tanks, weights or other items part of the charter dive boat
trip will be included in the half price rate.
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 Registration for dives in “Marketplace” will close 24 hours prior to the
advertised trip time or when all spots have been taken – whichever comes
first.
 If you cancel within 48 hours of the boat’s departure time, or you do not
show up for the boat trip, you will not be refunded the cost of the trip.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) accompanying the NSU Scuba Club divers
must follow the criteria cited in the section “Diving Supervisors”.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must verify scuba certification for every
diver.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must verify DAN Diving Accident
Insurance at the Master level or higher for every diver.
 The Dive Boat must be a USCG certified vessel (United States Coast Guard
certified); being a USCG certified vessel includes all the following but not
limited to: State registration, State numbering and letters, certification of
documentation, personal flotation devices, visual distress signal, fire
extinguisher, ventilation, oxygen unit, first aid kit, and sound producing
signal.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must issue and collect from each
participant a Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk Form. NSU Scuba Club
divers must properly execute the Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk
Form before the dive(s).
 Even though the Divemaster/Instructor working on the dive boat will give a
briefing about the dives, the NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must conduct a
briefing to the participants in the dive trip. This briefing will ensure that the
participants are aware of the diving conditions and the Emergency Action
Plan in case of an emergency.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must ensure that divers have performed
equipment checks before the dives in order to verify that all participants’
equipment functions in a safe and proper manner. The failure of the
equipment to function in a safe and proper manner must be solved by
replacing it or cancelling the dive(s) for the participant(s) concerned.
Proper equipment checks, prior to every dive, are the responsibility of each
diver.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must ensure that every participant has a
dive buddy. The participants must team up in groups of at least two divers.
 Before and after the dives, the NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must conduct
a roll call to ensure that all NSU Scuba Club divers are present. Visual and
verbal verifications are required.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) is in charge of writing an Emergency
Action Plan before each dive trip.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) are responsible for administering and
collecting the following participant releases:
o PADI Release of Liability Release/Assumption of Risk/Non-Agency
Acknowledgement Form for Supervision of Certified Divers (10086
V201)
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SHORE DIVES
When the NSU Scuba Club conducts shore dives, the following criteria must apply:
 An NSUADP Diving Supervisor must be present on the shore to provide
indirect supervision of the diving activities and ensure that all NSU Scuba
Club Policies & Procedures and safe diving practices are performed.
Additionally, the NSUADP Diving Supervisor must be present to monitor the
dive and assist in case of an emergency and to coordinate the use of safety
equipment. If only one group of divers is in the water, the NSUADP Diving
Supervisor may dive with the group. If multiple NSUADP Diving Supervisors
are available, a combination of topside and in-water supervision may take
place.
 Registration for dives in “Marketplace” will close 24 hours prior to the
advertised trip time or when all spots have been taken – whichever comes
first.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must verify scuba certification for every
diver.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must verify DAN Diving Accident
Insurance at the Master level or higher for every diver.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) are responsible to ensure that the safety
equipment is accessible and ready to use. The safety equipment must
include:
 Oxygen Unit
 First Aid Kit
 Binoculars
 Cell-phone
 Save-a-dive kit
 Dive flag(s)
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must conduct a briefing to the
participants in the dive trip. This briefing will ensure that NSU Scuba Club
Divers are aware of the diving conditions and the Emergency Action Plan in
case of an emergency.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must ensure that divers have performed
equipment checks before the dives in order to verify that all participants’
equipment functions in a safe and proper manner. The failure of the
equipment to function in a safe and proper manner must be solved by
replacing it or cancelling the dive(s) for the participant(s) concerned.
Proper equipment checks, prior to every dive, are the responsibility of each
diver.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must assign each NSU Scuba Club Diver a
dive buddy. NSU Scuba Club divers must team up by groups of at least two
divers.
 Before and after the dives, the NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) must conduct
a roll call to ensure that all NSU Scuba Club divers are present. Visual and
verbal verifications are required.
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 The NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) are in charge of writing an Emergency
Action Plan before each dive trip.
 The NSUADP Diving Supervisors are responsible for administering and
collecting the following participant releases:
o PADI Release of Liability Release/Assumption of Risk/Non-Agency
Acknowledgement Form for Supervision of Certified Divers (10086
V201)
6. Diving Supervisors
AUTHORIZED SUPERVISORS
Authorized Diving Supervisors for NSU Scuba Club dives are staff members of the
Nova Southeastern University Academic Diving Program (NSUADP). These
NSUADP staff members include Divemasters, Assistant Instructors and Instructors,
they must meet all the following criteria to be a NSUADP Diving Supervisor:
 He/she must be a staff member of the NSUADP. This requires proper
certification and insurance as well as NSU employment screening for safety
sensitive positions.
 He/she must provide proof of current/active status Divemaster, Assistant
Instructor, or Instructor certification with PADI. He/she must provide proof
of renewed status every year.
 He/she must provide proof of professional liability insurance listing Nova
Southeastern University as an “Additional Insured” on the individual’s
professional liability insurance policy. He/she must provide proof of
renewed status every year.
 He/she must take and pass the Nova Southeastern University Academic
Diving Program (NSUADP) In-Service Training at the beginning of each
semester and provide proof of successful completion.
 He/she must have current diving accident insurance coverage at a Master
Plan coverage or higher. (e.g. DAN Master Plan or Preferred Plan)
 He/she must agree to all the NSU Scuba Club Policies and Procedures.
The NSU Associate Director for Aquatics and Scuba Diving oversees the
NSUADP.
7. Diving Members
REGULATIONS
Any participants of any NSU Scuba Club Diving Event must respect and agree to all
the following criteria:
 He/she must present to the Diving Supervisors a proof of diving certification
from any dive training agency at the time of registration (i.e. entering
certification card information in online registration system). Certification
status will be checked.
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 He/she must agree to all of the Policies and Procedures contained in this
document.
 He/she must pay the dues per semester.
 He/she must have current diving accident insurance coverage at a Master
Plan coverage or higher. (e.g. DAN Master Plan or Preferred Plan)
 He/she must complete all the registration information at the time of
registration.
 He/she must fill out all the following forms provided by the NSUADP Diving
Supervisors before any dives:
o PADI Release of Liability Release/Assumption of Risk/Non-Agency
Acknowledgement Form for Supervision of Certified Divers (10086
V201)
 He/she must bring verification of scuba certification on every dive.
 He/she must bring verification of diving accident insurance on every dive.
 He/she understands that the NSUADP Diving Supervisor(s) have the right to
prohibit him/her from diving if the Supervisor(s) observe any sign(s) of
misconduct, impairment, or disregard for safety.
 Members cannot advertise any non-official NSU dives or training on the NSU
Scuba Crew Facebook page or other Club-generated media.
 Non-members are not allowed to dive with club members and club members
are not allowed to dive with non-members. This is due to the supervisory
protocols established by the NSU Academic Diving Program. If a Club
member wishes to have a guest come diving – for example on a dive boat
charter – that guest may pay the dive boat directly as a regular customer,
and then they will have to buddy-up with other divers on the boat, but not
NSU Scuba Club member. Similarly, a Scuba Club member cannot leave the
NSU Scuba Club supervision to go dive with their friends or other divers
while on the sanctioned NSU Scuba Club dive trip.
This Manual has been created by the NSUADP to insure the safety of all Scuba Club
members. Please keep a copy in your possession and review all the regulations.
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