Taking CESA practice into open water is a big step forward for students—it’s where all their pool practice finally meets real-world diving. In open water, they’re introduced to new factors like depth and currents, which makes this practice so important. This is where the skills of control, calmness, and confidence come into play, and as an instructor, you get to guide them through it.
Teaching this skill
Start by reviewing the CESA basics with them: looking up, exhaling continuously, and ascending slowly and steadily while making an “aah” sound. Some students might feel nervous facing these open water challenges. Remind them of how well they did in the pool and encourage them to trust their training.
In open water, you’ll be using a vertical line because control is important here. During the PADI IDC you’ll learn how to use the line and how to position yourself during the ascent. If you stay a bit above your students, they will automatically look up.
Check the position of their arms and swimming style and speed. The CESA should be a calm swim upwards, not a rush to the surface. On the way up you hold your hand on their regulator, ensuring it stays in their mouth. On the surface, have the students orrally inflate their BCD and/or drop their weights.
Common mistakes:
– students hold on to the line
– taking the regulator out
– not looking up or not holding the LPI up
– too quick / too slow
– taking a second breath
The reward
Watching a student succeed at CESA in open water is incredibly rewarding. Watching initial nervousness transform into a sense of accomplishment is incredibly fun and rewarding. That moment when they realize they can handle unexpected situations is so powerful, and it’s a point of pride as an instructor. You’ve given them a skill that makes them safer, more confident divers.
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!
