Section 4: Support Divers Procedures and Requirements

4.1. All Support Divers must be in the water no later than ten (10) minutes before the attempt.

4.2. When the countdown reaches five (5) minutes the Support Divers must start the descent to their assigned positions and not before or after this time, unless the Diving Officer authorizes a particular Support Diver or Divers to enter the water at a different time. Those Support Divers that assist the Freediver during the warm up dives must be back at the surface before the countdown reaches five (5) minutes so that they start their descent with the rest of the team. If the Support Divers that participate in the warm up dives are not involved in the attempt, they must be out of the water or remain on the surface from this point on.

4.3. The Support Divers must reachtheir positions along the Guide-Line without touching or holding onto the line throughout the duration of the attempt.

4.4. The team of Support Divers must consist of the following:

a) One (1) or two (2) Surface Assistants. These divers are properly trained and equipped freedivers who must assist the Freediver throughout all of his/her dives and provide assistance, if needed, during the last part of the ascent. At least one (1) Surface Assistant must meet with the Freediver at a depth not to exceed 15 meters/ 48 feet and follow him/her to the surface.

b) Level 1 Scuba Divers, as defined by the Positioning Requirements and the Organizing Committee’s own views. Level 1 divers are those positioned between the surface and forty (40) meters / 130 ft.

Minimum Certification Requirements

I) A valid F.R.E.E. *Safety Diver certificate,

II) A valid Rescue Diver certificate, or an appropriate equivalent, from any of the **Authorized Scuba Certification Agencies

III) A valid ***Mixed Gas/Deep Diving Certificate from any of the Authorized Scuba Certification Agencies for those divers breathing a gas mixture other than air. This certificate must correspond to the procedures and composition of the gases employed by the diver at his/her assigned depth.

c) Level 2 Scuba Divers, as defined by the Positioning Requirements and the Organizing Committee’s own views. Level 2 divers are those positioned between forty (40) meters / 130 ft. and the Goal Depth.

Minimum Certification Requirements

I) A valid F.R.E.E. *Safety Diver certificate,

II) A valid Rescue Diver certificate, or an appropriate equivalent, from any of the Authorized Scuba Certification Agencies,

III) A valid ***Mixed Gas/Deep Diving Certificate from any of the Authorized Scuba Certification Agencies for those divers breathing a gas mixture other than air. This certificate must correspond to the procedures and composition of the gases employed by the diver at his/her assigned depth.

d) One (1) Emergency Scuba Diver, who must remain on the surface, ready to assist any of the Support Divers below in case of an emergency. This diver must be properly trained and equipped to dive to either the deepest decompression stop to be reached by the Support Divers or a depth equivalent to half the Goal Depth, whichever one is deeper. The diver must meet the Minimum Certification Requirements dictated by this depth.

4.5. Positioning of the Support Divers:

-Vertical Immersion categories-

Constant Ballast Attempts

From the surface to the Goal Depth, the divers must be positioned at a distance not to exceed 15 meters/49 feet from each other vertically. If vissibility is less that this distance, then they must be positioned at a shorter interval, so that they are within each other's visual field underwater.

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