Examination Requirements Snorkelling

On this page you can consult the exam requirements for the National Snorkelling Diplomas.

National snorkelling diploma 1

Test 1.1 – Handling the basic gear

Putting on the basic gear on the pool side, followed by a buddy check and giving the ‘little ok sign’ to the buddy if the gear is properly fitted (or the ‘not ok sign’ if the gear is not properly fitted)

Test 1.2 – Entering the water and fitness swimming

Entering the water with a giant stride entry, followed by 50 metres of snorkelling, dodging at least 2 floating objects every 25 metres, followed by giving the ‘big ok sign’ to the examiner/assessor

Test 1.3 – Turning

Snorkelling over 25 metres, making 2 turns around the longitudinal axis; 1 full turn left and 1 full turn right

Test 1.4 – Kicking and floating

1 minute of kicking, followed by giving the ‘down signal’ to a buddy, followed by the candidate going completely underwater and surfacing, followed by 1 minute of floating on the stomach (prone position)

Test 1.5 – Under water orientation

Snorkelling 50 metres, making a pike surface dive every 25 metres and ascending with a full turn around the longitudinal axis

Test 1.6 – Dolphin stroke

10 metres dolphin stroke at the surface, immediately followed by 10 metres dolphin stroke underwater

Test 1.7 – Survival – save yourself

25 metres snorkelling with 1 fin, followed by independently climbing out of the water onto the basin edge

Test 1.8 – FUN assignment

Have the candidate perform the most fun snorkelling assignment you can think of. This may be done individually, in pairs or in a group. The guideline for the duration of the assignment is 2-3 minutes

National snorkelling diploma 2

Test 2.1 – Handling the basic gear

Entering the water with the basic equipment in hand, followed by putting on the basic gear in the water at the surface

Test 2.2 – Entering the water and fitness swimming

Entering the water with a roll forward, followed by 75 metres of snorkelling, dodging at least 2 floating objects per 25 metres, completed by giving the ‘end sign’ to the examiner/assessor

Test 2.3 – Turning

Snorkelling over 50 metres, within which 1 full turn forward about the lateral axis and 2 full turns about the longitudinal axis (once counterclockwise and once clockwise)

Test 2.4 – Kicking and floating

1 minute of kicking with moving in several directions, followed by 1 minute of floating on the stomach in crouching position, followed by going completely underwater and resurfacing

Test 2.5 – Under water orientation

Snorkelling over 50 metres, within which 2 times making a pike surface dive, ascending with a full turn around the longitudinal axis and surfacing between various floating objects

Test 2.6 – Dolphin stroke

15 metres dolphin stroke at the surface, immediately followed by 15 metres dolphin stroke underwater

Test 2.7 – Survival – save yourself

50 metres snorkelling, followed by taking off mask and snorkel, followed by swimming 25 metres without mask and snorkel, completed by climbing out of the water onto the basin edge independently

Test 2.8 – FUN assignment

Have the candidate perform the most fun snorkelling assignment you can think of. This may be done individually, in pairs or in a group. The guideline for the duration of the assignment is 2-3 minutes

Test 2.9 – Survival – help your buddy

Move a buddy over 25 metres using the double arm push tow (duwgreep)

National snorkelling diploma 3

Test 3.1 – Handling the basic gear

Entering the water with the basic gear in hand, followed by putting on the basic gear in the water: putting on and clearing the mask underwater, followed by surfacing, putting the snorkel in the mouth and clearing it

Test 3.2 – Entering the water and fitness swimming

Entering the water backwards, followed by clearing the snorkel on surfacing, immediately followed by 100 metres of snorkelling, dodging at least 2 floating objects every 25 metres

Test 3.3 – Turning

50 metres of backstroke legs, within which 1 full turn backwards around the lateral axis, immediately followed by 1 full turn forward around the lateral axis and 2 full turns around the longitudinal axis at the surface (once counterclockwise and once clockwise)

Test 3.4 – Floating

1 minute of floating on the stomach (prone position), immediately followed by making a pike surface dive, retrieving an object from the bottom and showing it to the examiner/assessor above water

Test 3.5 – Under water orientation

Complete a 15-metre course underwater, followed by ascent, completed with surfacing and giving the ‘big ok sign’ to the examiner/assessor

Test 3.6 – Dolphin stroke

20 metres dolphin stroke at the surface, immediately followed by 20 metres dolphin stroke underwater

Test 3.7 – Survival – save yourself

Snorkelling over 25 metres, within which 1 time perform the action to remove cramp from yourself, followed by snorkelling to a raft/boat, followed by independently climbing out of the water onto the raft/into the boat

Test 3.8 – FUN assignment

Have the candidate perform the most fun snorkelling assignment you can think of. This may be done individually, in pairs or in a group. The guideline for the duration of the assignment is 2-3 minutes

Test 3.9 – Survival – help your buddy

Snorkel towards a buddy, perform the act of helping with cramp removal, followed by 25-metre buddy move using the drag tow (sleepgreep)

Test 3.10 – Communication

Snorkelling side by side with a buddy through the pool, alternately giving a signal to each other, the other responds with the same signal to show that he or she has understood, after which the signal is followed up