NAUI Instructional Techniques & Rescue Protocols 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In NAUI rescue training, what does the term 'defensive swimming' refer to?
- Swimming with full scuba gear to build endurance
- Techniques to approach and control a panicked victim without being grabbed (Correct answer)
- Using a wetsuit as a flotation aid during rescues
- Swimming away from a victim to let them calm down
Correct answer: Techniques to approach and control a panicked victim without being grabbed
Defensive swimming encompasses approach techniques and body positioning designed to prevent a panicked victim from grabbing and submerging the rescuer.
Question 2: Which type of feedback is most effective when correcting a diver's buoyancy technique during a post-dive debrief?
- General praise followed by vague suggestions
- Specific, descriptive feedback tied to observed behavior with a corrective action (Correct answer)
- Comparative feedback highlighting how other students performed better
- Written-only feedback to avoid embarrassing the student
Correct answer: Specific, descriptive feedback tied to observed behavior with a corrective action
Specific, behavior-linked feedback with a clear corrective action is most effective because it tells the student exactly what to change and how.
Question 3: A diver is pulled from the water after a suspected decompression illness incident. They are conscious and breathing. After calling EMS, what is the next priority?
- Administer aspirin and ibuprofen for pain
- Position the diver horizontally and administer 100% oxygen (Correct answer)
- Encourage the diver to re-enter the water for a slow decompression stop
- Have the diver perform light exercise to off-gas nitrogen
Correct answer: Position the diver horizontally and administer 100% oxygen
Positioning the DCI victim horizontally and providing 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask is the standard first-aid protocol while awaiting EMS.
Question 4: What is the NAUI standard for minimum water visibility during open water training dives?
- 5 feet
- 10 feet (Correct answer)
- 15 feet
- 20 feet
Correct answer: 10 feet
NAUI requires a minimum of 10 feet of horizontal visibility for open water training dives to ensure student and instructor safety.
Question 5: A student asks why they must always dive with a buddy. Which response BEST reflects NAUI's philosophical stance?
- It is a legal requirement in US waters
- A buddy provides a safety backup and allows mutual assistance in an emergency (Correct answer)
- Buddy diving reduces liability for the instructor
- It is required only for beginners, not experienced divers
Correct answer: A buddy provides a safety backup and allows mutual assistance in an emergency
NAUI's buddy system philosophy is rooted in mutual safety — a dive partner can provide critical assistance in emergencies that a solo diver cannot manage alone.
Question 6: During a rescue tow, a victim suddenly becomes unresponsive and stops breathing. You are 50 meters from shore. What should you do?
- Continue towing quickly to shore before starting rescue breathing
- Stop, begin in-water rescue breathing, and continue towing between breaths (Correct answer)
- Submerge to check for obstructions in the airway
- Wait for additional rescuers before proceeding
Correct answer: Stop, begin in-water rescue breathing, and continue towing between breaths
In-water rescue breathing should begin immediately; delay significantly worsens outcomes, and towing continues between breath cycles.
Question 7: Which evaluation tool is most appropriate for assessing a student's ability to demonstrate proper regulator recovery underwater?
- Written examination
- Oral questioning at the surface
- Direct observation checklist during confined water practice (Correct answer)
- Peer evaluation by another student
Correct answer: Direct observation checklist during confined water practice
A direct observation checklist used by the instructor during the actual skill performance provides the most valid and reliable assessment of psychomotor skills.
NAUI Instructional Techniques & Rescue Protocols 5
In NAUI rescue training, what does the term 'defensive swimming' refer to?