Who can teach

An active, Avelo-certified instructor affiliated with an Avelo Dive Center.

Student to Instructor Ratio

Academic

Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to ensure comprehensive and complete training of subject matter

In-water training

A maximum of 1:6 – Avelo Instructor Trainer to Avelo Pro candidates. It is at the discretion of the Avelo Instructor Trainer to reduce this number as conditions dictate.

Avelo Pro Candidate prerequisites

1. Must be an active and insured (where applicable) open-water scuba instructor.
2. Proof of swim test (IT will inform students regarding how the proof is provided):
   1. 400-meter swim in less than 15 minutes
   2. 10-minute tread (last 2 minutes with hands out of the water)
3. Must have a minimum of 10 Avelo dives.
4. Shadow at least one RAD class before the Pro class begins.

Avelo Instructor candidates must provide proof that they certified a minimum of the following standard scuba certifications:

1. 75 total of either OW, AOW, freediver, rescue or their equivalent*; or
2. 20 total of either OW, AOW, freediver, rescue or their equivalent; and 10 Avelo-guided divers**

Note

Certifications for Discover Scuba Divers, Try Scuba Divers or their equivalent will be counted as an Open Water Certification at a 5:1 ratio.

If an instructor does not have the required certifications and/or guided dives but feels they can achieve those within 6 months, they will be able to take the Avelo Pro class. Once they achieve the necessary qualifications, they will be able to contact their Avelo Instructor Trainer to have their Avelo Instructor certification activated. If they do not achieve the requirements within 6 months, they will need to either repeat the Avelo Pro examination or the full Avelo Pro class (at their expense) which will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

*With the completion of the Avelo Pro class the instructor will be ready to teach the RAD certification with no additional restrictions.

**If an instructor has more than 20 total qualifying certifications and 10 Avelo-guided divers, the first 4 RAD’s that they teach will be restricted to a 1:1 ratio. The first RAD they teach must be shadowed by a fully qualified Avelo Instructor. The fifth RAD can be at a ratio of 2:1 and must be shadowed by a fully qualified Avelo Instructor. At that point, the Avelo restrictions will be lifted.

Regardless of which scenario the instructor falls into, once the Avelo requirements are completed the ADC always has the right to impose its own ratio restrictions.