ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

What is SSRD?

What training is required?

What equipment is used?

Benefits of SSRD

Local Youth Program

What is SSRD?

SSRD or Surface Supply Recreational Diving is exactly what it sounds like, it's diving where your air for breathing is supplied from the surface. Just like snorkeling where the air you are breathing is carried from above the surface to your mouth by a tube or snorkel, in Surface Supply Recreational Diving it is carried to your mouth from the surface using a hose or supply line, this enables you to dive underwater while breathing to depths of 20 feet / 6 meters, or just to swim at 3 feet / 1 meter breathing effortlessly.

Unlike snorkeling you do not need to blow water out of your breathing tube to breathe, you simply breathe and compressed air from the surface is fed on-demand into your mouthpiece via the same regulators used in scuba and commercial diving, exhaling is just as easy and with no worry about breathing you are free to explore and enjoy the wonders of the underwater world.

Unlike scuba diving there is no certification required, your instructor/guide will give you some simple instruction to familiarize you with the equipment and in only minutes you will be taking your first breaths underwater. When all of your group are comfortable with breathing underwater, your guide will take you down to your desired depth and follow you as you explore the choosen area, he or she will be right there should you need any assistance at all.

As you travel underwater the Surface Supply Module to which your supply hoses are attached will follow directly overhead, so you are never farther than the length of your hose from a stable and secure float on the surface. Each diver can chose the depth they are most comfortable with, and come back to the surface when they like. Another guide is always waiting on the surface near the Surface Supply Module.

Back to top

What Training is required?

Since you are teathered to the surface and accompanied by a trained guide, very little training is required at all. Typically within minutes after a short briefing by the guide, most people are breathing underwater. Your guide will explain how the Regulator through which you breathe works and how to take it out and put it back into your mouth, they will explain how to clear water from your mask, the best posture for swimming underwater and give you tips on clearing your ears (just like in an airplane) and teach you some basic hand signals for communicating underwater with your guide or dive companions.

That's all there is to it, your guide and your Surface Supply Module will take care of everything else leaving your to experience the three dimentional wonder of travelling underwater where you can weightlessly glide through space in a world you have never exoperienced before.

Training introduction

Back to top

What equipment is used?

Surface Supply Recreational Diving utilizes diving equipment specifically designed for the activity, while it is based on the oldest diving equipment, it has been brought into the 21st century drawing on advancements in Commercial Diving, Scuba Diving and Research equipment.

The diver wears a regular diving mask and breathes through the same regulator as both Commercial and scuba divers, the regulator is attached to a special harness based on Technical Diving harnesses which has integral pockets for small weights to enable the diver to achieve neutral boyancy, so they neither sink nor float. This harness is worn just like a knapsac with shoulder straps and a belt. The Surface Supply air line also connects to this harness and is an industruial strength air line rising to the surface where it is attached to a Surface Supply Module.

The Surface Supply Module is a floating device which is moved along by the air supply lines and contains compressed air tanks and supply regulators, it has pressure gauges which can be monitored by the surface guide and several redundant systems to handle any eventuality and lights for night dives. It also holds a dive flag on a mast to alert any boats in the area that divers are below and allows the surface crew to constantly track the movements of the underwater divers.

The Surface Supply Module is large enough for four divers to hold onto its many grab rails and bouyant enough to support them all should they wish to just hold onto the module and float on the surface. It serves as both air supply and surface float and any diver wishing to return to the surface at any time need only follow their air line hand over hand directly back to the Surface Supply Module.

The guide in the water is rescue trained and wears standard scuba gear including redundant regulators to allow him to supply air to as many as two divers simultaneously.

Back to top

Benefits of Surface Supply Recreational Diving

Sururface Supply Recreational Diving allows divers with little experience or training to experience an underwater world which they can normally only scratch the surface of. Many participants in Surface Supply Recreational Diving go on to persue diving certification as a sport.

Anyone over the age of 8 with average health and no pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions, including dizziness, fainting, high blood pressure, recent surgery, blood disorder, seizures, and lung, chest or heart problems, can easily participate. You don't need to put on 100 lbs / 45 kilos of heavy gear, just a simply harness to which your air line is attached.

Your depth and air supply are constantly monitored by your guides who are just above and behind you ever vigilant of your safety and insuring an exciting experience.

Back to top