Visual Inspection Procedures (VIP/VIS)
See “inside” the science of SCUBA cylinder safety.
Annually every scuba tank in the world undergoes a Visual Inspection & this course teaches you the methods to properly conduct a visual inspection of scuba cylinders. With the decommissioned tanks of the past as your guide you will touch pitting for yourself & see the effects of corrosion inside & out. Scope lights, goose necks, prods & pokers become extensions of your senses as you learn to establish what imperfections jeopardize safety so you can apply these skills to annually visually inspect your own cylinders.
Availability: In Stock
What to expect
during your class
Visual Inspection Procedures (VIP)
Prerequisites
- 18 years old
- Open Water Scuba Diver certification is not required (but this is really a random course for a non-diving dentist to sign up for...)
Interactive Inspection Class
Look, touch, prod & poke inside our collection of "teaching tanks", the decommissioned tanks of the past, cut open & modified for learning. See, feel & learn what sends a cylinder to the depths of the ocean or condemns it to Davey Jones' Locker. Learn in depth detail on:
- Cylinders
- Valves
- Cleaning and servicing
- Regulatory considerations
FAQ
- Do I have to buy all the gear?
- No. We have plenty of tanks that need VIP for you to perfect your skills. Commonly, divers bring in their tanks as a benefit of this course is the knowledge & ability to VIP their personal tanks on an annual basis.
- So after this I can service my own gear?
- Yes. Certification in this course allows you to Visually Inspect your own cylinders, that certification must be renewed periodically.
- As an important note:
- Accurate visual inspection is a huge safety issue for both the diver as well as the individual filing your tank. You must be willing to act against your own financial interest & condemn one of your own cylinders if the condition warrants it.
- We advocate & recommend that an individual who does not own the tank perform the visual inspection to ensure impartiality. There is a reason our owners DO NOT perform visual inspections on our rental fleet. This is why.
- Our shop, as well as every shop, always reserves the right to refuse to fill any cylinder if they have reason to believe doing so poses a safety risk.
- Could class dates change?
- Of course. While rare, public class dates are subject to change. A minimum number of students is required for the class to be conducted & sometimes instructors get sick (yes, we are not invincible) or the pool facility needs unplanned maintenance. If a class is cancelled you will be notified & rescheduled into the next available public class.
- If you have certain deadlines or needs, please consider our Bespoke SCUBA Class to obtain a schedule built around your needs.
- Can this class be modified around my schedule?
- Sure, why the hell not. We will just tell the other students that your schedule is our highest priority [do you hear the sarcasm?]. No, these are public classes with set schedules, however, if you do need an experience that matches your schedule, please explore our Bespoke Scuba Class Upgrade option.
Reschedule/Cancellation Policy
Life happens, we get it & we want to find a way to get you diving.
- Your schedule changed
- Ours does too sometimes. We get it. You may reschedule to an alternate class anytime without an additional charge 14 days prior to the start of the class. Within 14 days, there is a $35 fee to reschedule.
- You need to cancel
- You changed your mind, doctor doesn't think it's a good idea, whatever. It's ok. You may cancel any course (in writing please) for a full refund 14 days prior to the start of the course (this is why we advise you do that questionnaire early). Please understand that space is limited in our courses, we cannot offer refunds for cancellations within 14 days of the original course start.
- Please note: codes issued from the training agencies cannot be refunded once you have begun the e-learning regardless of when you cancel. If you begin the e-learning any refund will be less the cost of the e-learning.
- Somebody got sick
- We get sick sometimes too. No problem. If you wake up with the plague we prefer you do not come to scuba class. A big part of the education is teaching you how to take the thing in our mouth and put it in your mouth if there is an emergency & we don't want the plague. We will work with you to move you to a future class at no charge. We do, however, reserve the right to assess a charge if we find this policy is being abused. Please don't do that.
- You ignore safety instructions
- Safety is our paramount concern. Your safety, other students' safety & our staff's safety. You are required to follow established safety requirements & follow the instructions of our staff. Violations of safety procedures may result in removal from class without a refund. Just don't do it.
- You ignored requirements
- Come on, really? Showing up for scuba class without a swim suit does not entitle you to a free reschedule. We honestly can't believe we have to type this but yes, it happened.
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