Recreational scuba diving first appeared in Canada in the late 1940's. As scuba diving developed into a popular recreational activity during the 1950's and 60's a number of scuba clubs came into being across Canada. Many of these clubs decided to join forces and form regional diving councils or federations. The purpose of these regional groups was to serve the interests of the local clubs as democratic regional forums controlled by club members.
In 1969 numerous regional diving councils met together to create the Association of Canadian Underwater Councils (known as A.C.U.C.) which would provide a national forum for their interests and concerns.

The decision to operate as a professional training organization allowed A.C.U.C. to channel all of its resources into program development and instructor servicing. By reaping the benefits of a well integrated system of training programs developed in the early 1980's, A.C.U.C. was able to quickly put its affairs in order and to assert itself as an international training organization comprised of Instructor members teaching throughout Canada and abroad.
The problems that arose with this arrangement was having yearly elections for a Board of Directors for the Association. Continuity of procedures was lacking along with fewer and fewer volunteers stepping forward to fill vacant positions left on the Board of Directors. In 1986, at a conference of Training Director representatives the decision was made to turn the affairs of A.C.U.C. over to a new private company called American Canadian Underwater Certifications, Inc.

Course

Instructor

Description

ACUC Open Water (Beginner)

The ACUC Open Water Scuba Diver Program is for individuals who wish to experience diving on a more independent level .  Open Water Divers are taught the same basic diving skills as Scuba Divers but have additional training in the Gas Laws, Basic Self Rescue, Buoyancy Control and use of Decompression Tables. 

Upon completion of the program an ACUC Open Water Diver has the skills necessary to dive with a buddy with at least the same qualification to a maximum depth of 60 ft.  ACUC strongly recommends however that newly certified Open Water Divers limit their dives to a maximum of 60' until they have appropriate experienced or have completed the Advanced Diver Program.

ACUC Advanced Scuba Diver

David Nickerson

The second mandatory step in the ACUC Training Ladder, the Advanced Scuba Diver program reviews and expands on the concepts taught in the Open Water Scuba Diver Program and introduces the diver to different types of diving conditions. 
An ACUC Advanced Scuba Diver understands the basic concepts of general equipment maintenance, surface air consumption, reduced visibility diving, diving in confined spaces and underwater navigation and has had an introduction into various Diving Specialties.

Upon completion of the program an ACUC Advanced Diver has the skills necessary to dive with a buddy with at least the same qualification to a maximum depth of 130 ft.  ACUC strongly recommends however that newly certified Advanced Divers limit their dives to a maximum of 80' until they have appropriate experienced and training.