Alternate air source use is one of the most essential skills you’ll cover as a diving instructor. It’s a critical safety exercise that helps divers prepare for the emergency all beginning divers fear – running out of air. For many students, it can feel intense at first, but once they understand the steps and purpose, it becomes a powerful confidence booster.
Teaching this skill
Start by explaining the skill in a relaxed way, reassuring students that this is a controlled practice in a safe setting. Let them know that while they may never need to use it, having this skill could make all the difference in an emergency.
When demonstrating the skill – ideally using your assistant as buddy, make sure all students can see what you are doing. Having the students on your left side makes it easier to make eye contact with them. We teach that the buddy gives the octopus to the diver out of air. He will be less stressed in a real out of air situation and have better control.
It’s not a difficult skill to learn but there can be many small errors. Allow students to solve small mistakes themselves or give them a gentle reminder. However, you need to be close enough to quickly react to important mistakes, like putting the regulator upside-down.
Alternate airsource (stationary) is the first, but not the only skill where students practice out of air situations. Later they will do the ‘air depletion exercise’ and the ‘alternate airsource ascent’. These skills can also be combined to make a pretty realistic scenario.
The reward
When your students successfully complete these skills, it’s a huge win. They’ve learned how to handle what is probably the most stressful emergency in diving. It’s a question that many new divers have: “What do I do if I’m out of air?”
Teaching them how to manage out-of-air situations can be a huge relief, allowing your students to become confident divers who can truly enjoy the underwater world.
Become a PADI diving instructor
Being a PADI diving instructor is truly the best job out there! You get to live and work in stunning tropical destinations, stay active every day, and experience the incredible reward of helping students learn new skills and boost their confidence.
Imagine spending your days teaching others to dive, sharing your love for the underwater world, and seeing their excitement as they master each skill.
Dreaming of becoming a PADI diving instructor? Get in touch, and we’ll show you how!
