4C-The Level of Soft Skills

8/3/2019 4C-The Level of Soft Skills

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Persidangan Pembangunan Pelajar Peringkat Kebangsaan 2008

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 22-23Oktober 2008

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The Level of Soft Skills in Scuba Diving:An experience in Open Water Diver Course

Samir Muhazzab Amin a, Associate Prof.Mohammad Shatar Sabranb,

Noremy Md Akhirc, Prof. Azali Mohamed

d

a Universiti Putra Malaysiab Universiti Putra Malaysia

c Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysiad Universiti Putra Malaysia

[email protected]

03-89467079 (Off)

03-89467280 (fax)

Abstract

Now days scuba diving is not merely recreation and an attractive hobby but its more than that. Apart from

enjoying the magnificence and the uniqueness of the marine life, there is a lot to be learned by engaging

with scuba diving activities. This paper shall describe more in detail the relation between scuba diving

activity with the formation of soft skills among diver including critical thinking, communication, moral and

ethic, leadership, team work and life long learning. In conclusion, from these activities we can get a lot of

marvelous experience and also learn about soft skills.

Introduction

Scuba diving is popular, easy and fun. Scuba

diving as outdoor recreation is gaining in

popularity, while participation in other pastimes

is diminishing. Why is scuba diving so popular?

Over 70% of the earth's surface is covered with

water. The allure and mystery of the underwater

world has inspired the human imagination since

prehistory, from the mythological monsters

described by seafaring people, to the science

fiction of Jules Verne and the modern

underwater adventures in Hollywood films.

Breath-hold diving, dangerous though it can be,

has been used to collect pearls, sponges and

valuable commodities from the sea floor for

many generations.

Advances in underwater exploration began

nearly three centuries ago using diving bells and

large cumbersome sealed suits using pumped air

from the surface. Only very recently advances in

technology and mechanics have allowed people


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to visit this domain safely for exploration using

comfortable, self-contained air delivery systems.

Though air-assisted underwater exploration has

been around since the 1700's, underwater

exploration was out of reach for the average

person, and recreational scuba diving was an

unthinkable luxury. Great advances in the

engineering of valves and compressed air tanks

in the 1930's produced the first systems that we

would call "scuba": the Self-Contained

Underwater Breathing Apparatus. These early

scuba tanks were clunky, inefficient systems that

spouted air constantly into the diver's face.

Between 1942 and 1946, Jacques-Yves Cousteau

(a French naval lieutenant) and Emile Gagnan

(an engineer) developed the Aqua Lung; a device

which used pressure valves to deliver properly

pressurized air only when the diver breathed in.

Over the next two decades experimental dives

with the Aqua Lung proved its reliability and in

the 1960's "sport diving" was born.

In the 1970's, scuba equipment continued to

evolve and the typical scuba system was

enhanced by buoyancy compensation vests,

better valves and submersible pressure gauges.

Through the 1980's and 1990's, scuba as a

recreational sport became a multi-billion dollar

industry with its popularity prompting even more

innovation in the design and the engineering of

better, safer, lighter, more comfortable

equipment.

Today, scuba diving is accessible to almost

anyone with only a modest investment in

equipment. Anywhere you want to dive you can

usually find a dive shop near-at-hand to rent

tanks, go on a guided dive with a master diver,

take a chartered boat or just strap on the tanks

and swim out from the shore.

Certification

It has often been said that getting a scuba

certification is harder than getting a library card,

but easier than getting a driver's license. This is a

very fair assessment. A scuba certification is not

free or easy; you are required to prove that you

know how to use the equipment, handle yourself

underwater and know how to react in a wide

range of underwater situations.

The two most popular scuba certification courses

today are the PADI Scuba Divercertification and

the NAUI Scuba Divercertification. Either

program is sufficient to get you ready for your

first "real scuba dive". The PADI program is


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generally considered to be "lighter"; ideal for

vacationers who just want to take a few

supervised dives on a tropical vacation. The

NAUI program is somewhat more involved and

is ideal for a beginner taking up scuba as a

recreational sport. After completing the basic

beginner level of scuba training, both PADI and

NAUI offer further training up to the advanced

level.

The PADI Course

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of

three segments. (1) Confined water dives, (2)

knowledge development and (3) open water

dives. Each plays an important role in learning to

dive and in meeting the performance objectives

you need to qualify as a diver.

The fun begins in the confined water dives,

during which you apply dive principles and learn

and practices dive procedures and skills. Youll

do this either a swimming pool, or a body of

water with pool-like conditions, under your

instructors guidance and supervision.

Knowledge development establishes the

principles and basic information all divers need

to have fun diving safely. Its divided into five

segments that youll complete primarily on your

own time at your convenience. For each

segment, your instructor reviews and elaborates

on the material, applying what youre learning to

your specific needs, interests and the local dive

environment. A short quiz confirms that youve

picked up the information your need from that

section.

The open water dives complete your training as

an entry-level diver by applying and further

developing your knowledge and dive skills in a

dive environment under your instructors

supervision and guidance.

Confined Water Dives

Youll find the confined water dives a lot of fun.

A few tips will help your get the most of your

practices:

a. Think of confined water assimulations of open water dives;

use them to develop good open

water habits. For instance, an ocean

or quarry wont have sides you can

hang onto, so dont hang to the

pool sides. A dive boat rocks and

an unattended scuba tank will fall

over, so get it the habit of laying


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your tank down when preparing for

your confined water dives. Your

instructor will ask you to develop

habits for quite a few things that

arent necessary for confined water

dives, but are for open water dives.

b. Your instructors will demonstrateskills you need to learn before your

practice them. During the

demonstration, pat attention to the

details, especially those that your

instructor exaggerates or

emphasizes. The faster your pick

these up, the faster youll master

the skill.

c. If you dont understand why yourepracticing or doing something, be

sure to ask your instructor. So, its

important that you understand

when and why you would use a

skill youre learning.

d. Remember that throughout thecourse, there are no silly questions.

If you have question, ASK IT.

Open Water Dives

During the open water dives you learn by

applying the knowledge and skills your pick up

during your independent learning and in the

confined water dives, plus youll develop some

few abilities that you cant practically learn in

confined water. Youll also have time to explore

and get to know the underwater world with your

instructor guiding you.

a. Your instructor will probably makerecommendation about preparing

for your open water dives, such as

what to wear, whether your need

sunscreen, etc. pay attention to

these details-your instructor knows

your local dive environment well

and is trying to help you avoid

problems and have an enjoyable

experience.

b. If youre prone to seasickness andill be diving from a boat, consult

your physician as necessary

regarding an appropriate

seasickness medication.

Seasickness can ruin an other wise

fabulous outing-but for most people

is easy to prevent.

c. You dont have to be an athlete todive, but it is a physical activity.

Youll have a lot more fun if youre


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rested and eaten adequately before

your open dives

Breathing underwater

Water normally contains dissolved oxygen from

which fish and other aquatic animals extract all

their required oxygen as the water flows past

their gills. Humans lack gills and do not

otherwise have the capacity to breathe

underwater unaided by external devices.

Early diving experimenters quickly discovered it

is not enough simply to supply air in order to

breathe comfortably underwater. As one

descends, in addition to the normal atmospheric

pressure, water exerts increasing pressure on the

chest and lungs approximately 1 bar or 14.7

psi for every 33 feet or 10 meters of depth so

the pressure of the inhaled breath must almost

exactly counter the surrounding or ambient

pressure in order to inflate the lungs.

By always providing the breathing gas at

ambient pressure, modern demand valve

regulators ensure the diver can inhale and exhale

naturally and virtually effortlessly, regardless of

depth.

Because the diver's nose and eyes are covered by

a diving mask; the diver cannot breathe in

through the nose, except when wearing a full

face diving mask. However, inhaling from a

regulator's mouthpiece becomes second nature

very quickly.

Buoyancy

As a diver, its important to learn to control your

buoyancy at the surface and underwater because

it lets your control where your are in the water.

For instance, youll learn to establish positive

buoyancy at the surface so your can save energy

and rest. Underwater, youll remain neutrally

buoyant most of the time-almost weightless, like

an astronaut- so you can swim effortlessly and

move freely in all direction. Staying neutrally

buoyant keeps you off the bottom so you avoid

injuring delicate aquatic life.

Buddy System: Communication and

Procedures

Lets look at some of the ways you communicate

with your buddy underwater, and some of the

procedures for an affective buddy system.


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a. Communication

Sound travels well in water, but voice

communication isnt an option without

electronic communication system. As a

result, you do most of your talking with

your hands by signaling or writing on a

slate.

Gaining attention. For hand signals to

do any good, your buddy has to look at

you. This means you tap your buddys

shoulder or rap on your tank to get

attention. Dont startle your buddy

when you do this.

Signals. After gaining your buddys

attention, you can communicate by

writing on slate or by using hand

signals.

Communication at the surface.

Sometimes your need to communicate

with someone on shore or a boat while

youre at the surface. You can use hand

or audible signals. To get attention,

youll want to carry a whistle as

standard equipment. When at the

surface, be cautious regarding boats and

boat traffic. Many divers carry

inflatable signal tubes that alert boats to

their presence at the surface. Theyre

also useful when trying to get the

attention of someone on a boat or shore

at a distance

Underwater recall. Most dive charter

boats have a recall procedure to get

your attention while underwater, which

can include electronic underwater

sirens, banging on something metal,

starting and revving the boat engine and

other methods. The crew will explain

the recall during the briefing. If you get

the recall, cautiously surface and look to

the boat for instructions. Dont swim

toward the boat until the captain signals

that its okay to do so. Depending on

the circumstances, the boat crew may

brief your in slightly different

procedures for a recall.

b. Buddy System Procedures

During your confined water dives,

youll start practicing the buddy system

and always diving with a buddy who

stays nearby at all times. Your buddy

assists you with things like putting on


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and checking your equipment before the

dive, helps remind your to check your

depth, time and air supply limits and

provides emergency assistance in the

unlikely event your need it. Hopefully it

goes without saying that you do the

same for your buddy. With a proper

buddy system, you both benefit in terms

of convenience, safety and fun. Diving

is a social activity, so the buddy system

is more than one of divings safety

rules-though it is that. Diving with

someone adds to the fun. Together, you

and your buddy share experiences and

underwater adventures, sometimes

seeing things that no one else ever will.

You may be surprised how many new

friends your meet through diving and

the buddy system. This system provide

extra eyes and hands for your buddy,

and vice versa. There are nine specific

points to agree upon your buddy to

coordinate your efforts and optimize

both your safety and enjoyment.

a. Agree on appropriate entry andexit points and techniques

b. Choose a course to follow

c. Agree upon time and deptlimits

d. Establish and reviewcommunications

e. Establish a returning airpressure

f. Discuss the technique youlluse to stay together

g. Agree on what to do ifseparated

h. Discuss emergency proceduresi. Agree on your dive objective

Effects of breathing high pressure gas

a. Decompression sickness

The diver must avoid the formation of

gas bubbles in the body, called

decompression sickness or 'the bends',

by releasing the water pressure on the

body slowly at the end of the dive and

allowing gases trapped in the

bloodstream to gradually break solution

and leave the body, called "off-

gassing." This is done by making safety

stops or decompression stops and

ascending slowly using dive computers

or decompression tables for guidance.


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Decompression sickness must be treated

promptly, typically in a recompression

chamber. Administering enriched-

oxygen breathing gas or pure oxygen to

a decompression sickness stricken diver

on the surface is a good form of first aid

for decompression sickness, although

fatality or permanent disability may still

occur.

b. Nitrogen narcosis

Nitrogen narcosis or inert gas

narcosis is a reversible alteration

in consciousness producing a

state similar to alcohol

intoxication in divers who

breathe high pressure gas at

depth. The mechanism is similar

to that of nitrous oxide, or

"laughing gas," administered as

anesthesia. Being "narced" can

impair judgment and make

diving very dangerous. Narcosis

starts to affect the diver at 66 feet

(20 m), or 3 atmospheres of

pressure. At 66 feet (20 m),

Narcosis manifests itself as slight

giddiness. The effects increase

drastically with the increase in

depth. Jacques Cousteau famously

described it as the "rapture of the

deep". Nitrogen narcosis occurs

quickly and the symptoms

typically disappear during the

ascent, so that divers often fail to

realize they were ever affected. It

affects individual divers at

varying depths and conditions,

and can even vary from dive to

dive under identical conditions.

However, diving with trimix or

heliox prevents narcosis from

occurring.

c. Oxygen toxicity

Oxygen toxicity occurs when oxygen in

the body exceeds a safe "partial

pressure" (PPO2). In extreme cases it

affects the central nervous system and


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causes a seizure, which can result in the

diver spitting out his regulator and

drowning. Oxygen toxicity is

preventable provided one never exceeds

the established maximum depth of a

given breathing gas. For deep dives,

(generally past 130 feet / 39 meters)

"hypoxic blends" containing a lower

percentage of oxygen than atmospheric

air are used.

Diving and Matrix Soft Skills

Activity Soft Skills (Highest Matrix)

Buoyancy control CT6 LS4

Buddy system CS5 LS5 CT6 TS5

Examination LL3 EM2

Coral environment EM3 LL3

Buddy communication CS8 CT7 TS3 LL3

Navigation CT6 TS4

RDP LL3 CT6 CS5 TS5

AWARE-Fish Identification EM3 CS8 CT5

Conclusion

If you love nature, youve come to the right

place. No other environment approaches the

abundance, diversity and vibrance of a pristine

coral reef. You can see more different species in

then minutes there than in ten hours in the most

unspoiled wilderness above water. But with time,

youll discover that even unlikely places that

seem empty and sterile to the inexperienced eye

like a lake or flooded quarry, teem with

intriguing organism a reminder that natures

imagination exceeds ours. And most important in

these activities we can learn and explore about

soft skills.


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Bibliography

Dennis, K. (2003). Scuba Diving. London:

Human Kinetics.

Jackson, J. (2005). Complete Diving Manual.

Thomaston, ME: International

Marine/Ragged Mountain Press.

Modul Pembangunan Kemahiran Insaniah (Soft

Skills) Untuk Institusi Pengajian Tinggi

Malaysia (2006). Serdang: Penerbit

Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Orr, D. and Douglas, E. (2007). Scuba Diving

Safety. London: Human Kinetics.

PADI (2005). Adventures in Diving. Santa

Magarita, CA: PADI.

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4C-The Level of Soft Skills