Assistant Instructor

Roles and Duties

Objectives

• Discuss the roles of the NAUI Assistant Instructor

• Describe the roles of the NAUI Assistant Instructor

• Compare the qualifications of the NAUI Assistant to that of the NAUI divemaster.

• State the primary difference between acting as a NAUI Divemaster and acting as an Assistant Instructor while working with a NAUI instructor.

Roles of an AI

• Naui Leader Role Model– You represent NAUI and the Instructor

• Training Assistant– Take what you are doing seriously without

taking yourself too seriously– Be an asset to the instructor

• Proficient Skill Demonstrator– Do it right the first time– Accept criticism and correction

Roles of an AI

• Logistics Manager– Allow the instructor to concentrate on the

class– Not necessarily how we do it here

• Tutor– Know your stuff– Able to answer questions without taking away

from water time

Roles of an AI

• Clerical assistant– Know the system and be prepared to help

• Communications assistant– Get it right and help avoid confusion– Students may be more willing to talk with you

• Active Enthusiastic Diver– Help give the class a lift without distracting form the

instructor– Good for the class to know you dive outside class– Always be positive about diving

Roles of an AI

• Safety-Conscious Diver– Set the example– Careful of war stories

• Accident management team leader– Know your role– Help don’t hinder

• Temporary Emergency Leader– Keep skills and knowledge current– Be willing to relinquish control– Don’t let ego get in the way

Duties of an AI

• Assisting with instructional planning and organization

• Equipment logistics

• Demonstrating skills

• Assisting with student skill and knowledge development

• Assisting with record keeping

Duties of an AI

• Assessing student progress and development

• Provide feedback but remember the instructor has the final word

• Providing feedback to the instructor– Be objective about

• Students• Instructor

• Helping make student learning enjoyable

Duties of an AI

• Helping maximize student safety/minimize student risk

• Grading student exams– You can learn a lot from this

• Conducting pre-dive equipment checks– Transfer responsibility to student

• In class setting we are ultimately responsible

– Be familiar with gear from shop/dive locker– Be careful what you say about the gear

Duties of an AI

• Conducting buoyancy checks– Be familiar and comfortable with instructor’s

method

• Escorting students – On the surface– Underwater

• Assisting with emergencies– Be calm and do your job

Duties of an AI

• Monitoring and helping control students– Fair– Firm– Courteous– Consistent and objective

• Helping prevent, recognize and resolve problems– Be constructive and focus on providing solutions– Assist the student to work out a solution

Qualifications of the NAUI AI

• Certification as a NAUI Assistant Instructor authorizes individuals to assist active status NAUI instructors in the conduct of dive training.

• An active status NAUI AI may be counted toward ratios.

• After assisting an active status NAUI instructor with at least one complete NAUI scuba diver course, a current NAUI AI is qualified, if all other prerequisites are met, to enter a NAUI ITC>

Acting as a Dm vs. Acting as an AI

• When acting as a NAUI Divemaster you are in charge of the diving operations and activities for certified divers .– May be subordinate to the boat captain– Can’t physically force divers to comply– Publically transfer responsibility and risk

• When acting as an Assistant Instructor to a NAUI instructor you are subordinate to that instructor.

Summary

• There is significant overlap between the roles and responsibilities of the NAUI Assistant Instructor.

• Ultimately the goal is to assist the instructor in providing high quality enjoyable training to the students, while minimizing risk to the students.