This webpage outlines various scuba training programs offered by FCOA, emphasizing safety, certification, and skill development for divers at different levels.

FCOA Scuba Program

The FCOA Scuba Program is designed for FCOA members and includes prerequisites such as medical declarations and prior certification in freediving. The program focuses on mastering essential scuba skills and passing theoretical and practical assessments. Successful completion allows participants to obtain CMAS certificates as well.  

FCOA/ CMAS SCUBA OPEN WATER 

Prerequisites:  Before starting this course the FCOA member should have: 

1. Completed a medical declaration stating to be fit for diving. 
2. Completed the FCOA FREEDIVER certification or equivalent
3. Mastered the FCOA MASK CHALLENGE
4. Completed the FCOA SCUBA open water quiz

PASSING REQUIREMENTS:

1. Mastery of the 20 chest deep scuba skills:
2. Mastery of the 5 intermediate depth scuba skills
3. Passing of the theory
4. Four logged dives

The 20 cest deep Scuba skills:

1. Mask removal and replacement
2.  Regulator clearing 
3.  Regulator purge clearing
4.  Regulator recovery
5. Regulator recovery reaching method
6. Out of air procedure
7. Air depletion
8. Free flow inflator 
9. Compass Navigation straight line
10. Horizontal CESA (10 sec Aaaah sound while swimming minimum 6 meter)
11. Oral inflation while kicking (kick kick kick blow)
12. Feathering  
13. Equipment donning on the surface
14. Equipment donning under water
15. 30 sec hover 
16. Forward tumble
17. SMB deployment while hovering 
18. Buddy breathing (Optional)
19. Surfacing the unconscious diver
20. Free flow regulator (30 sec)

Mastery of the following five intermediate depth skills:

1. Normal ascent 
2. CESA (Controlled Emergency Swimming Response)
3. Surfacing the unconscious diver
4. SMB deployment while hovering.
5. Compass navigation

  This section details the advanced scuba course, which requires participants to be certified as FCOA Open Water divers. The course includes five specialized training dives aimed at enhancing skills in buoyancy, navigation, and recovery techniques. Participants must complete written briefings and quizzes before each dive.  

Prerequisite:

1. FCOA SCUBA certified or equivalent
2. FCOA Panicked proofed

For those from other organizations, be aware that FCOA Open water divers are also certified as FCOA FREEDIVERS. Under FCOA members first get trained in freediving before proceeding to scuba, this to add to safety and boost confidence.  Also, you must have undergone FCOA Panick Proofed. That is a single shallow dive where tailored pre agreed challenges are presented to improve under water problem solving.

The advanced course as we conduct it consists out of following 5 training dives in the following order:

1.  Peak Performance Buoyancy
2. Navigation (compass navigating a square)
3. Search and Recovery
4. Drift dive
5. A Deep dive between 18 and 25 meter

Each dive comes with a written briefing and a quiz that should get completed before the dive.  

Also we recommend reading/ browsing trough the CMAS 2 star Manual 

The Scuba Rescue course prepares divers for emergency situations and is a prerequisite for divemaster training. It requires prior certification in advanced scuba and first aid. The course focuses on rescue techniques and includes both theoretical and practical assessments.

Prerequisites:

1. FCOA SCUBA ADVANCED certified or equivalent.
2. FCOA Medic first aid certified or equivalent
3. Completed the FCOA SCUBE RESCUE quiz
   
   

Passing requirements:

* Completing the theory
* Oxygen provider certified 
* Mastery of the following skills:

1. Search and recovery
2. Surfacing an unconscious diver using his BCD
3. Surfacing an unconscious diver using your BCD
4. Surfacing an unconscious diver using the cradle technique and using his BCD
5. Surfacing an unconscious diver using the cradle technique and using your BCD
6. Transporting a nonbreathing unconscious diver on the surface
7. Exciting an unconscious scuba diver from the water on to a dry surface
8. Line Diving  
9. Response from land

  Divemaster training equips individuals to assist instructors and conduct introductory scuba courses. Prerequisites include advanced rescue certification and medical clearance. Participants must demonstrate various skills, complete theory, and log a significant number of dives to qualify. 

Prerequisites:

1. FCOA SCUBA RESCUE certified or equivalent
2. FCOA COACH certified
3. > 18 years if age.
   
   

Completion requirements:

1. Medical clearance. 
2. ID to proof your older then 18
3. Open Water certification
4. Advanced Certification
5. Rescue Certification
6. Nitrox certified
7. FCOA (IWR) In Water Recompression certified
8. Medic First Aid Training proof
9. Oxygen Provider proof
10. Completion of theory
11. Demonstrated all scuba skills at demonstration level
12. Repeat all the rescue skills, this time at demonstration level
13. Proof of 60  logged dive
14. Proof of passing the Divemaster Stamina Test (must be 15 points or more to pass)
15. Must have certified 5  FCOA freedivers
16. Must have certified 4 intros to scuba under direct supervision
    
17. Participated in teaching 2 continued courses under supervision.
18. Has produced a dive site map
19. Has produced an emergency plan
20. Passed the Divemaster Stamina Test   

  This course trains divemasters to instructor level to independently conduct open water courses and certify students. Prerequisites include divemaster certification and participation in supervised courses. Candidates must complete various training modules and demonstrate their ability to teach at an instructor level.  

Prerequisites:

1. FCOA DIVEMASTER certified. 

Completion requirements:

1. Has participated in the conduct of at least 2 open water courses under supervision. And has proven to be able to conduct an open water course independently. 
2. Completed the Instructor Theory
3. Completed the FCOA equipment maintenance course. 
4. Completed the FCOA compressor operator course
5. Able to discus and teach all open water scuba topics at instructor level
6. 100 logged dives

FCOA ADVANCED SCUBA INSTRUCTORS can conduct all scuba courses from Open water to Divemaster level independently.  

Prerequisites:

  The biggest difference between an instructor and an advanced Instructor is that you will not only give open water scuba courses, but you will also be able to conduct independent continued courses like Advanced, Rescue and Divemaster.
To become an FCOA Advanced Scuba Instructor you need to:

1. FCOA Lead Coach certified
2. Has certified at least one FCOA COACH
3. certified at least one FCOA Nitrox diver
4. certified at least one FCOA Oxygen administrator
5. certified at least 5 FCOA scuba divers
6. given at least one Advanced course under supervision with minimum help
7. given at least one Rescue Course under supervision with minimum help
8. given at least one Divemaster Course under supervision with minimum help

To become an CMAS ADVANCED INSTRUCTOR (Or M2 or 2 star Instructor) with CMAS Philippines You need to be an CMAS M1 Instructor You need to have certified a certain number of open water students. (Between 5 and 25, this requirement is not in writing and varies over time). You need to pay a certain amount between 50.000 php and 1500 php, the amount depends on various factors like: are you in a region where CMAS is not yet represented, are you also an Advanced Instructor with another agency, your patience, your negotiation skills. The licensee has no expiration date on it and is valid for life. CMAS might ask you to pay 1500php per year when you haven't certified anyone. As long as you certify 1 person per year they wave the membership fee.   

 FCOA/CMAS INSTRUCTOR TRAINER COURSE

The final section discusses the Instructor Trainer role, which allows individuals to train and certify new instructors 

Prerequisites:

1. FCOA Advanced Instructor certified. 
2. FCOA member for at least one year

Passing requirements

1. Conduct of two Scuba Instructor courses under supervision
2. Certified at least 1 IWR training
3. Participated in teaching an advanced Instructor course. 
   
   

  I did it. After a few months of diving adventure I became an instructor. I owe a lot to Jeroen Elout and Freediving Coaches Of Asia. Also for all my students who trusted me. I invite you to diving courses in Puerto Galera. I promise that you will fall in love with the underwater world and thanks to the training your dives will be safe.

After completing the course, you will receive the FCOA and CMAS certificates recognized worldwide.
#fcoa #cmas #diving #puertogalera #diving… See more  

By Macjec

  Skill unlocked: Longer dive time

Thank you so much Jeroen Elout for making me Ansis Ivan’s guinea pig for DSD . If not for that, I wouldn’t realize the beauty of scuba diving. Thanks to master Kexia Jamantoc Gocotano too sa pambubudol tara na, mag aadvance open water na ko Cheers to more dives — freediving and scuba diving #certifieddiver #cmas #fcoa #thalassophile