2036 - UNDERWATER ACTIVITIES

Subject type: Optional

Coordinator: Sara González Millán

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 6

The course aims to introduce and practice different underwater activities based on the sporting activity of scuba diving with autonomous equipment in a safe and conscious way.

The practice of scuba diving and the exploration of the underwater environment as well as the marine environment and its specificities in relation to the human body and our interaction with marine life are the object of study of this subject.

The course focuses on the most important theoretical and technical aspects in the practice of recreational diving. First of all, the students will know the necessary diving equipment and its use to develop this sport normally and safely.

The physics associated with the underwater world will be studied, how our body and diving equipment is affected by pressure, the physiology related to this sport and how risk situations can be avoided.

You will be taught to plan a dive respecting safety curves and avoid going into decompression.

Finally, the marine environment, its underwater flora and fauna and how the practice of diving affects the environment and how our impact on the underwater world can be minimized will be discussed.

Closing the theoretical aspect, the different paths that exist when choosing diving as a possible complete or complementary work profession to another will be explained.

In the practical section there will be sessions in confined waters and on the high seas where the techniques seen in the theoretical sessions will be taught and will be put into practice in the natural environment allowing the student to learn to move in the water and float, hold your breath, communicate with other divers underwater, and so on. in an effective, comfortable and safe way.

Once the subject has been passed, students will be fully trained as a diver, giving him an official accreditation valid worldwide that will train him as a first-class diver and can always dive accompanied by another diver at a depth maximum of 20 meters.

At the end of this subject, the student will have acquired knowledge by:

- dive autonomously up to 20 meters deep

- basic knowledge of diving physics 

- recognition and assessment of risks in diving

- basic knowledge of the underwater environment in the Mediterranean

- knowledge of potential opportunities to enter the world of work as a diver.

Working methodology

The methodology of the subject will be carried out combining synchronous and asynchronous theoretical classes, with the support of the virtual learning environment. The student will also be asked to work independently. The percentage of time the student spends is distributed as follows:

Both in the face-to-face sessions and in the autonomous work, the student will work individually and in work groups. The theoretical part of the course consists of 20 hours of face-to-face theory and 10 hours of independent work, or online activities.

Each ECTS is equivalent to 25 hours of student dedication, considering the time invested in the total of the activities related to the face-to-face time and the time of autonomous work, that the professor of the subject guides, as well as the reading times, information search, connection to the Virtual Classroom, elaboration of works.

Topic 1. The immersion material.

1.1.- How to select and save the material.

1.2.- The light equipment.

1.2.1.- The mask.

1.2.2.- The fins and the pumps.

1.2.3.- The tube.

1.2.4.- The ballast system.

1.2.5.- The knife.

1.2.6.- The isothermal suit.

1.2.7.- The computer.

1.2.8.- The decompression buoy.

1.2.9.- The lighting.

1.2.10.- The diving bag.

1.3.- The heavy equipment.

1.3.1.- Bottles and faucets.

1.3.2.- The hydrostatic jacket.

1.3.3.- Instrumentation.

1.3.4.- The regulator.

Subject 2. Physics of the diving.

2.1.- General concepts.

2.1.1.- Pressure.

• Atmospheric pressure.
• Hydrostatic pressure.
• Absolute pressure.
• Instrument pressure.

2.2.- Pascal's principle.

2.3.- Archimedes principle.

2.3.1.- Negative buoyancy.

2.3.2.- Hydrostatic equilibrium.

2.3.3.- Positive buoyancy.

2.3.4.- Apparent weight.

2.4.- The laws of gases.

2.4.1.- Boyle Mariotte's law.

2.4.2.- Charles' law and Gay Lussac's law.

2.4.3.- Henry's law.

2.4.4.- Dalton's law.

2.4.5.- Graham's law.

2.5.- The light.

2.5.1.- Behavior in air and underwater.

2.5.2.- Law of refraction.

2.5.3.- Perception of colors: The absorption.

2.6.- Underwater vision.

2.6.1.- The eye.

2.6.2.- Refraction.

2.6.3.- Diffraction.

2.7.- The sound.

Subject 3. Planning of the immersion.

3.1.- Prior planning.

3.2.- Control of equipment and material.

3.3.- Diving planning.

3.3.1.- Underwater signals.

3.3.2.- Diving tables.

3.3.3.- Diving planning with diving boards.

Item 4. Physiology and accidents in diving.

4.1.- Risks of immersion.

4.1.1.- Injuries related to immersion.

4.2.- Problems during the descent.

4.3.- Problems during the ascent.

4.4.- Accident prevention.

4.5.- Accidents specific to the aquatic environment.

4.6.- Various incidents.

4.7.- Barotraumas.

Item 5. The marine environment.

5.1.- Salt water and fresh water.

5.2.- Currents and waves.

5.3.- Thermoclines.

5.4.- Topography.

5.5.- Life and marine species.

6.6.- Conservation of the Marine Environment.

Item 6. Professionalize in the underwater field.

6.1.- Diving instructor.

6.2.- Professional diver.

6.3.- Scientific diver.

6.4.- Technical diver.

6.5.- Other races.

Other topics:

            History of diving

            Introduction to Apnea

The subject of underwater activities follows a system of continuous evaluation, both the theoretical and the practical part.

As for the theoretical sessions, throughout the term, at the end of each of the sections of which the subject consists, the students will carry out an exam or work that they will deliver in the specified term. This evaluation will allow to evaluate the student, the follow-up of the asignatura and the appearances to improve.

The works to be delivered can be individual or in groups. The teacher will give directions for students to develop and deliver the work. Both the assignments and the exams are designed for the student to acquire a practical, critical and dynamic vision of the subject.

In the practical section, there will be 5 sessions in confined waters and 4 sessions on the high seas. During these practices the student will acquire the necessary knowledge to move in the water with neutral buoyancy, basic safety techniques in diving, communication with other divers underwater, recognition of the underwater environment ... among others .

During the 2019-2020 academic year and due to the extraordinary situation we are experiencing related to the Covid-19 pandemic, these practical sessions may not take place within the third quarter. Always following the instructions of the Ministry of Health and the Government of Spain, the following scenarios can occur:

- that the internships have been carried out within the period of the third term, with which the student will obtain an official BE1 accreditation issued by the FECDAS, valid throughout the world, which will allow the student to dive independently up to a depth of 20 meters.

- the internships cannot be done within the third term. In this case, the student will be given the opportunity to obtain the official degree outside this period and on dates previously agreed with the dive center.

Once the subject has been passed, the student will be fully trained as a diver.

Qualification system (Royal Decree 1125/2003, of 5 September) that establishes the European system of credits and the system of qualifications to the university degrees of official character and validity in all the state territory:

0 - 4,9: Suspended

5,0 - 6,9: Approved

7,0 - 8,9: Notable

9,0 - 10: Excellent

The evaluation consists of two temporary parts: a continuous one and a final one.

1) Continuous evaluation: the subject consists of two parts, a theoretical and a practical.

The theoretical part consists of 6 classes, which will be carried out synchronously or asynchronously depending on the syllabus. Each subject taught will end with an exam or a work, in which the teacher will evaluate the student's acquired skills.

Asynchronous classes will be assessed with an exam to be delivered before each Friday of the current week.

Synchronous classes will be performed via Zoom. To pass the subject is necessary attend 75% online of the classes of the synchronous classes.

The practical part consists of 9 classes, 5 classes in confined waters and 4 classes in the open sea. Due to the exceptional situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the practices, in the event that they can be carried out, will be concentrated in the first 3 weeks of June, with 3 weekly classes. It should be noted that classes, both pool and sea, are mandatory and necessary attend a minimum of 80% of the classes, so much to obtain the official degree as to approve the asignatura. It must be borne in mind that in each practical class the knowledge acquired is necessary for the learning and safety of diving, making attendance compulsory and necessary. Medical or official justification for non-attendance at practical classes will be requested.

It should be noted that students who they will not be able to carry out / pass the practices in swimming pool they will not be able to carry out the practices in open sea and therefore they will not be able to pass the subject.

This subject is subject to the recommendations / obligations issued by the Ministry of Health and the Government of Spain according to the state in which the Covid-19 pandemic is in June 2020. In the event that the recommendations / obligations do not allow to do the internships within the quarterly term, these will not enter the evaluation and will be able to realize out of term to obtain the official title.

2) Final evaluation: to finish the subject, there will be a final exam type test that will collect all the syllabus taught during the course.

To be able to obtain the degree of first-class recreational diver the final grade of the subject must be at least a 6. In the case that the note is between 5 and 5,9 the student will pass the subject but will not obtain the diving qualification. You will also not obtain the degree if the average mark of the internship is less than 6 or if the mark of the final exam is less than 6, even if the average is equal to or higher than this mark.

You must have one internship attendance rate both confined and open waters of 80% or more , or otherwise the subject will not be passed.

Case of being able to do the internship within the third term:

Case of NOT being able to carry out the internship within the third term:

Recovery: Within the same academic year, unperformed competencies may be recovered. According to current regulations, recovery tests are only possible if the exam has been suspended. If the grade is Not Presented, you will not be eligible for recovery.

Avila, L. (1997). Below zero. Barcelona: Hispano Europea.

Gómez Olleta, JM (2009). Diver's Manual 1 Star. Barcelona: Spanish Federation of Underwater Activities (FEDAS).

Coleman, C. (2004). Diver's manual. Badalona: Paidotribo.

Dauder, E. (2009). Basic diving atlas. Barcelona: Youth.

Ewald, G; Fetcher, R; Grau, J. and Reichholf, J. (1992). Coastal fauna and flora. Barcelona: Natuart.

Hofrichter, R. (2004). The Mediterranean Sea I. Barcelona: Omega.

Larn, R. and Whistler, R. (1997). Sports and professional diving manual. Barcelona: Omega.

Llamas, A. (2003). Underwater guide of Barcelona and Tarragona. Barcelona: Anthias.

Llamas, A. (2010). Underwater guide to the Costa Brava: the Medas Islands and the Montgri coast. Barcelona: Anthias.

Llamas, A. (2010). Underwater guide of the Costa Brava: from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Begur. Barcelona: Anthias.

Lloris, D. and Meseguer, S. (2000). Marine resources of the Mediterranean: fauna and flora of the Catalan sea. Barcelona: Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

Malamas, JP (1996). 1000 diving exercises and games and underwater activities. Barcelona: Hispano Europea.

Richardson, D; Taylor Shreeves, J; Van Roekel, G and Hornsby, A. (2010). The encyclopedia of recreational diving. Tomas, Rancho Santa Margarita: PADI.

Tovaglieri, S. and Pelizzari, H. (2007). Apnea course. Badalona: Paidotribo.

Verejano Díaz, F. (1999). The underwater man: Handbook of physiology and risks of diving. Madrid: Díaz de Santos.

Malamas, JP (1999). Learn to dive. Barcelona: Hispano Europea.