History
In 1989, Peter Wallingford started a conservation organization called "Friends of the Reef" in response to customers of his store complaining about the state of the coral reefs. [3] He created an underwater obstacle course for buoyancy-control training, which was made of PVC pipe frames shaped like diamonds. [4] [5] The program was adopted by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration in 1989. [2] By 1991, Diamond Reef System had developed into an instructional program under the company, Buoyancy Training Systems, Inc. [3] Diamond Reef System was adopted into the Environmental Protection Agency's divers program in 1991. [2] It also received recognition from the University of California at Los Angeles diving program, University of North Carolina diving program and National Association of Underwater Instructors. [3]
Description
The obstacle course kit for buoyancy training includes a set of buoyant Hover Stations®, each with a cord for tethering to a weight on the bottom, and a line holder to store the cord and adjust its operating length. Several alternative geometries are covered in the patents (circular, triangular, octagonal and rectangular are mentioned), [6] but the one recommended and primarily used is a square in a diamond-shaped orientation, tethered by a corner, allowing the open corner to float upwards. Featuring a Fail Safe Swivel- Release™ Diver Escape mechanism this is considered by the designer to be the safest most efficient shape considering the diver and equipment passing through the station. It also minimizes the amount of material and work required for an effective target, and the diamond configuration has better underwater stability than the other configurations. [7]
Setup
Only one Hover Station® is initially required to teach buddy teams the desired techniques. Slalom, escalator and rollercoaster obstacle course layouts can be laid out using the kit components. These courses are intended to be set up for buoyancy training in quiet, safe water with little or no current and at least 15 feet of visibility. The recommended maximum depth of the water is 30 feet (9 m), allowing for a 10 feet (3 m) stop as the shallowest part of the obstacle course. A standard set comprises seven Hover Stations® of 2 different sizes.
- The slalom course can include direction changes between sequential Hover Stations® which are set up in a row with the cords adjusted to keep the stations at the same depth, preferably about 9 feet (3 m) apart and three ft from the bottom. This is intended to train divers' ability to remain 3 feet (1 m) above a coral reef. [7]
- The escalator course includes an increase or decrease in depth between sequential Hover Stations®. Preferably, the stations are stationed about 15 feet apart and 3 feet above the bottom. Two of the Hover Stations® are set at 10' depths for practicing gradual ascents descents and safety stops. [7]
- The rollercoaster course includes both increases and decreases of depth between sequential stations. Preferably the stations are set up by arranging with the depths used in the escalator course aligning them in a row such that the successive stations are deeper and shallower from one to the next (for example: 3 → 2 → 4 → 1 → 5). This layout is for practicing controlled alternating ascents, descents and Non-destructive Maneuvering™ . [7]
Escalator course layout
Rollercoaster course layout
