The Illinois Council of Skin and Scuba Divers (ICSSD)

UNDERWATER COMPETITION

The following is information for those participating in the ICSSD Underwater Competitions:

Contents:

Introduction and Info
Rules and Regulations
Event 1---Inner Tube Relay Race
Event 2---Obstacle Course
Event 3---Underwater Dive Problem
Event 4---Underwater Tricycle Race
Event 5---Underwater Pipe Construction
Event 6---Free-Style Skin Relay Race
Event 7---Underwater Equipment Change
Event 8---Three Leg Race
Event 9---Inner Tube Relay Race
Event 10--Inner Tube Poling Race
Event 11--Tether Navigation (Simulated Ice Diving)
Event 12--One Fin Race
Event 13--Ping Pong Push Relay Race
Event 14 (Proposed by Kevin Vaughn) Conehead Relay Rally
Liability Waiver

Introduction and Info

Welcome to the ICSSD Competition. Enclosed is the information package containing the rules governing the Competition.
If members of your club are not participating in the Competition, volunteers are needed to help make the event run smoothly.

All competitors must provide a C-card and a signed liability waiver form. We will be strictly enforcing the “no C-card, No Competition” rule for those events which require SCUBA gear.

The Competition will be held Sunday, March 16, 2008 at
Pavilion Pool Complex
1000 Wellington Avenue
Elk Grove Village

On the day of the Competition, registration will be held as follows:

Front Lobby, starting 8:30 am

Normally participants should be prepared to start the first event at the following time:

9:00 am

We look forward to seeing you there -- it is a fun way to get wet, socialize and shake off the winter doldrums.

GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

All teams and contestants are to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair play.

All rules regarding safe pool use as listed by the host facility will apply at all times.

Any rule considered to be standard safe operating procedure for skin and SCUBA diving, if violated, will be cause for disqualification from the Competition.

A protest committee will be appointed by the Competition Chairman to handle all protests.

In case of any dispute, the captain of the team must verbally inform the Competition Chairman of the team’s intent to file a protest before the next event begins. If such notice of intent is not given, the protest will be disallowed. All protests must be submitted in writing to the Competition Chairman within ten minutes of the completion of the last event. The rule violated must be sited in the protest. Witnesses to the facts must be named and brought forward. The protest committee will read the protests and call witnesses in a protest meeting after all events are completed. No other witness but the one testifying will be allowed in the room during testimony. The committee will then hear verbal arguments and render a decision immediately. Possible remedies to an infringement of the rules include a change in the time or score of a contestant, disqualification from an event, or, in a serious case, disqualification from the Competition as a whole.

All decisions made by the protest committee will be final.

Unsportsmanlike conduct will be cause for disqualification.

“Skin Gear” is defined as consisting of mask, fins and snorkel.

“SCUBA Gear” is defined as mask, fins, snorkel, tank of at least 50 SCF capacity containing air, a harness incorporating a buoyancy compensating device capable of being inflated with compressed air from tank, a regulator with a submersible pressure gauge and a redundant second stage, and a weight belt. Breathing gases other than air are not allowed. Buoyancy compensators that are not part of the tank harness system are not allowed. Standard back mounted BCD’s are allowed.

Each team member may be asked by any judge to demonstrate the operation of any piece of equipment or otherwise show that it meets the requirements of these rules at any time. Failure to do so will result in disqualification or the banning of the equipment from the Competition.

Unless otherwise stipulated in the rules for the specific event, the time will be taken when the team member touches the side of the pool, above the water line, with either hand.

Events from the following will be chosen on the day of the competition.

EVENT 1

INNER TUBE RELAY RACE

Number of Participants per Team: 4

Equipment Required by Participants: Skin Gear

(inner tube will be provided by Competition personnel)

Description of Event:

Event begins in the shallow end of the pool. Two of the four team members are in the water -- one is sitting in the tube, the other is in the water with one (1) hand on the side of the pool. At the starting signal, the tube is pushed to the deep end. For safety reasons, the person in the tube must be pushed feet first. AFTER the rider touches the opposite wall, the team members switch positions and return to the shallow end. Again, the person in the tube must be pushed feet first.

AFTER the rider touches the shallow end, the next two (2) team members take their positions and push to the deep end and repeat the above steps. Time ends when the rider’s feet touch the shallow end pool wall the second time.

Restrictions:

If the rider is dumped, forward motion must stop until the rider returns to the top of the tube.

Touch-outs can occur only if the rider is properly positioned on the inner tube and touches the opposite wall with his/her feet.

Penalty: Above Water Judge

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time each time a team fails to touch the opposite wall with feet before making the switch.

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time each time the rider is not positioned safely as described above.

20 seconds will be added to the resultant time each time a team continues to swim toward the wall while the rider is not on top of the tube. Continued swimming without a properly positioned rider will result in disqualification.

Lane violations with no physical contact to another team will result in a 10 second penalty added to the overall time of the lane violators.

Lane violations with physical contact to another team will result in disqualification for the violators.

EVENT 2

OBSTACLE COURSE

Number of Participants per Team: 1

Equipment Required by Participants: SCUBA Gear

Description of Event:

Each team will start course and circumnavigate the pool going over, under or through each obstacle as quickly as possible.

Restrictions:

N/A

Penalty: Above Water Judge

N/A

Penalty: Below Water Judge

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for each missed obstacle.

EVENT 3

UNDERWATER DIVE PROBLEM

Number of Participants per Team: 2

Equipment Required by Participants: SCUBA Gear

(Underwater slates and U.S. Navy Dive Tables will be provided by Competition personnel)

Description of Event:

The buddy team in full SCUBA gear is positioned at the deep end of the pool. A dive plan/problem will be given to the team at the surface; the team cannot look at the problem until the starting signal is given. When the signal is given, the buddy team will enter the water and complete the dive problems, showing their work on the slate provided. The divers must indicate on the slate all decompression stops and times, if required.

All writing must stop before the team members begin a proper ascent.

Making a proper ascent, the divers surface and place their slate on the pool deck at the point where the team started their dive. Time stops when the slate touches the pool deck.

Restrictions:

U. S. Navy Dive tables must be used to solve the problem.

Penalty: Above Water Judge

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for each dive problem error.

No points will be given for an obviously unworkable dive solution.

Penalty: Below Water Judge

20 seconds will be added to the resultant time for writing during the proper ascent.

Lane violations with no physical contact to another team will result in a 10 second penalty added to the overall time of the lane violators.

Lane violation with physical contact to another team will result in disqualification for the violators.

EVENT 4

UNDERWATER TRICYCLE RACE

Number of Participants per Team: 4

Equipment Required by Participants: SCUBA Gear

(Tricycles will be provided by Competition personnel)

Description of Event:

Each team will be supplied with a tricycle. Beginning in the shallow end of the pool, diver “A” (rider) kneels on the rear shelf of the tricycle while diver “B” (pusher) pushes him/her to the opposite end of the pool.

After reaching the opposite end of the pool, diver “A” will grab a one (1) pound weight, switch positions with diver “B”, and return to the shallow end of the pool, pushing diver “B”.

After touching-out at the original starting point with one hand, divers “C” and “D” will trade off with divers “A” and “B” and complete the same procedure.

The tricycle must remain within three (3) feet of the bottom of the pool at all times.

Restrictions:

Interference with another team will result in disqualification.

The rider’s knees must remain in contact with the rear shelf of the tricycle at all times.

Penalty: Above Water Judge

N/A

Penalty: Below Water Judge

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for each missed wall touching on the trade-off.

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time each time the rider’s knees are not in contact with the rear shelf of the tricycle.

Lane violations with no physical contact to another team will result in a 10 second penalty added to the overall time of the lane violators.

Lane violations with physical contact to another team will result in disqualification for the violators.

EVENT 5

UNDERWATER PIPE CONSTRUCTION RACE

Number of Participants per Team: 3

Equipment Required by Participants: SCUBA Gear

(pipes will be provided by Competition personnel)

Description of Event:

Prior to the start of the race, diver “A” will be stationed in the shallow end of the pool with one hand touching the wall. Divers “B” and “C” will be at the opposite end of the pool, in the water, with one hand on the top of the pool deck.

At the starting signal, diver “A” will be given the key to the lock. Diver “A” will then swim underwater, in full SCUBA gear, from the shallow end toward the deep end. The plastic milk crate will be positioned on or near the incline.

The crate will be secured with a lock with the following items inside:

1) Diver “B”’s mask
2) Diver “C”’s mask
3) Pieces to the pipe puzzle
4) Laminated diagram of the puzzle

Upon reaching the milk crate, diver “A” will unlock the crate, remove the lock from the crate, and perform a proper ascent to the surface (360 degree rotation, hand overhead, exhaling). Upon surfacing, he/she will swim to divers “B” and “C” and hand the lock to one of them.

As soon as they receive the lock, divers “B” and “C” will descend to the crate, put on and clear their masks, and then begin to assemble the pipe puzzle according to the diagram provided.

When the puzzle is completed, the lid of the crate must be closed and relocked. As soon as this is completed, one diver must bring the crate to the surface while the other divers brings up the completed pipe puzzle.

Time will end when both items are placed on the pool deck.

Restrictions:

All assembly of the pipe puzzle must take place while both divers are on the bottom of the pool.

Penalty: Above Water Judge

N/A

Penalty: Below Water Judge

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for each piece improperly assembled.

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for an improperly locked milk crate.

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for an unsafe ascent.

Lane violations with no physical contact to another team will result in a 10 second penalty added to the overall time of the lane violators.

Lane violations with physical contact to another team will result in disqualification for the violators.

EVENT 6

FREE-STYLE SKIN RELAY RACE

Number of Participants per Team: 4

Equipment Required by Participants: Skin Gear

Description of Event:

Two team members (“A” and “C”) will be positioned with one hand touching the top of the wall in the shallow end, while the other two divers “B” and “D” will be in the same position in the deep end.

In each lane, standing upright in the bottom of the pool, will be two hula hoops. One crossbar will be positioned across the surface of the pool. All obstacles will be evenly spaced.

At the starting signal, diver “A” will swim from the shallow end to the deep end. In doing so, diver “A” must swim through the first hula hoop, cross over the crossbar and dive again to swim through the second hula hoop, before touching out with both hands at the top of the wall where team members “B” and “D” are positioned.

As soon as diver “A” touches out with both hands, diver “B” will repeat the same procedure as listed above, but in the opposite direction - towards the shallow end.

Divers “C” and “D” will follow the same procedures also.

Restrictions:

Diver “A” must use the dolphin kick for propulsion. Diver “B” must use the dolphin kick. Diver “C” must use the Trudgeon kick. Diver “D” must use a freestyle kick.

Penalty: Above Water Judge

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for each failure to touch the wall with two hands.

20 seconds will be added to the resultant time for each diver performing an improper kick.

Penalty: Below Water Judge

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for missed obstacles.

Lane violations with no physical contact to another team will result in a 10 second penalty added to the overall time of the lane violators.

Lane violations with physical contact to another team will result in disqualification for the violators.

EVENT 7

UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE

Number of Participants per Team: 2

Equipment Required by Participants: SCUBA Gear

Description of Event:

Each team member is positioned at opposite ends of the pool wearing full SCUBA gear and weight belt. Diver “A”, in the deep end, stands on the bottom facing the wall with both hands on the wall. Diver “B” stands on the side of the pool at the shallow end. At the starting signal, diver “B” enters the water and swims, while breathing on SCUBA, to diver “A”.

Diver “B” makes contact with diver “A” and gives the proper signals to share air. Diver “B” begins to breath on diver “A”’s redundant second stage. The two divers exchange all SCUBA gear while continuing to share air. All equipment except bathing suits must be exchanged.

When all equipment has been exchanged, diver “B” returns the redundant second stage of diver “A” and resumes breathing from his own regulator. Diver “A” then signals diver “B” that he wants to share air. Diver “A” begins breathing from diver “B”’s redundant second stage. The two divers, continuing to share “B”’s air swim to the shallow end. The time stops when each diver has touched out.

Restrictions:

All dive gear must be exchanged.

Proper signals must be given before obtaining the other diver’s air supply.

Penalty: Above Water Judge

N/A

Penalty: Below Water Judge

5 seconds will be added to the resultant time for each failure to give proper signals before obtaining other diver’s air supply.

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time for failure to share air continuously during equipment exchange or during return swim.

Lane violations with no physical contact to another team will result in a 10 second penalty added to the overall time of the lane violators.

Lane violations with physical contact to another team will result in disqualification for the violators.

EVENT 8

THREE LEG RACE

Number of Participants per Team: 2

Equipment Required by Participants: SCUBA Gear (minus fins)

Description of Event:

Event begins in the shallow end of the pool. Team members must tie opposite leg together. At the starting signal, the participants will start walking toward the deep end of the pool. The first participants to touch the wall at the deep end win the event.

Restrictions:

For safety reasons, at anytime during the event that participants want assistance, they may stop and wave their hands above their head. If legs become untied, complete race; do not try to tie legs together.

Penalty: Above Water Judge

N/A

Penalty: Below Water Judge

10 seconds will be added to the resultant time if legs become untied.

Lane violations with no physical contact to another team will result in a 10 second penalty added to the overall time of the lane violators.

Lane violations with physical contact to another team will result in disqualification for the violators.

EVENT 9

INNER TUBE RELAY RACE

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PER TEAM: 4

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BY PARTICIPANTS: 1 INNERTUBE & 1 PADDEL

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:

EVENT BEGINS IN THE SHALLOW END OF POOL. TEAM MEMBERS SIT IN TUBE WITH PADDEL. AT THE STARTING SIGNAL, THE PARTICIPANT PADDELS THEIR TUBE TO THE OTHER END OF THE POOL. UPON REACHING THE POOL EDGE AND TOUCHING THE WALL WITH THEIR HAND. THE NEXT PARTICIPANT ENTERS THE POOL AND GETS INTO THE TUBE. THAT PARTICIPANT THEN PADDLES BACK TO THE OTHER END OF POOL AND TOUCHES THE EDGE WITH THEIR HAND. AGAIN THE NEXT PARTICIPANT TAKES OVER AND THE PADDELS BACK TO THE OTHER END AND TOUCHES THE WALL. THE FINAL PARTICIPAND TAKES OVER AND WHEN HE/SHE TOUCHES THE WALL AT THE OTHER END THE TIME STOPS.
NOTE!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST STAY IN THEIR OWN LANES TO AVOID INTERFERING WITH OTHER CONTESTANTS.

EVENT 10

INNER TUBE POLING RACE

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PER TEAM: 4

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BY PARTICIPANTS: 1 TUBE & 1 PUSH STICK

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:

EVENT TAKES PLACE ONLY ACROSS SHALLOW END OF POOL. ONLY “PUSH STICKS” WILL BE ALLOWED WITH RUBBER TIPS SO THAT THE POOL BOTTOM WILL NOT BE HARMED. EACH PARTICIPANT STARTS IN THE WATER FROM POOL EDGE. THE PUSH STICK IS LYING ON THE EDGE OF THE POOL, AND MUST BE PLACED ON THE EDGE OF THE POOL WHEN EACH LAP IS FINISHED. ONLY WHEN THE PUSH STICK IS PLACED ON THE EDGE OF THE POOL THE NEXT PARTICIPANT WILL BE ALLOWED TO START.
THE FIRST PARTICIPANT AFTER BOARDING HIS TUBE USES THE PUSH STICK TO GO ACROSS THE POOL. WHEN THE PUSH STICK IS PLACED ON THE OTHER EDGE OF THE POOL THE NEXT PARTICIPANT CAN MOUNT THEIR TUBE AFTER HIS/HER TEAMMATE DISMOUNTS. THIS PROCEEDS UNTIL THE LAST PARTICIPANT HAS MADE HIS/HER RIDE. THE TIME STOPS WHEN THE PUSH STICK IS PLACED ON THE EDGE OF THE POOL.

EVENT 11

TETHER NAVIGATION (SIMULATED ICE DIVING)

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PER TEAM 2

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BY PARTICIPANTS: SKIN GEAR & 1 ROPE

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:

BLINDFOLDED SNORKLER IS DIRECTED AROUND POOL USING ONLY ROPE TUG SIGNALS FROM DIVE BUDDY STANDING ON POOL DECK. PERSON IN CHARGE OF EVENT GIVES EACH POOL DECK BUDDY A SHEET OF INSTRUCTIONS TELLING THEM WHAT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO THEIR PERSON IN THE WATER. AT START SIGNAL, ON-DECK BUDDY USES THESE DIRECTIONS TO CONTROL NAVIGATION OF THEIR IN WATER PERSON. AT NO TIME WILL VERBAL COMMUNICATION BE PERMITTED TO THE IN WATER PERSON.

TIME STOPS WHEN THEY REACH THEIR INTENDED DESTINATION.
ALL IN WATER PERSONS WILL SWIM WITH ATLEAST (1) HANDS OUTSTRECHED IN FRONT OF THEM AT ALL TIMES, FOR SAFETY.
ALWAYS SWIM FORWARD, NEVER BACKWARDS.

(1) TUG ON THE ROPE MEANS TO TURN RIGHT.
(2) TUGS ON THE ROPE MEANS TURN LEFT.

EVENT 12

ONE FIN RACE

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS FOR THIS EVENT --------1

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BY PARTICIPANTS: MASK, SNORKLE, (1) FIN

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:

AT START SIGNAL, THE PARTICIPANT RACES (SWIMS) TO THE OTHER END OF POOL AND BACK WHILE USING ONLY ONE FIN.

NO USE OF ARMS IS PERMITTED.

EVENT 13

PING PONG BALL PUSH RELAY RACE

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PER TEAM 4
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED PER PARTICIPANT SNORKEL GEAR

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:

EVEN BEGINS IN SHALLOW END OF POOL WITH THE FIRST PERSON TOUCHING THE POOL WALL WHEN THE START SIGNAL IS GIVEN. AT THE START SIGNAL, THE PING-PONG BALL IS PUSHED TO THE WALL AT THE OTHER END OF THE POOL USING THE NOSE OF THE MASK ONLY. AFTER THE PING-PONG BALL TOUCHES THE OPPOSITE WALL, THE NEXT TEAM MEMBER CAN ASSUME CONTROL OF THE BALL, AND PUSHES IT BACK TO THE BEGINNING END OF THE POOL AGAIN USING ONLY THE NOSE OF THE MASK. THE PARTICIPANTS CAN AT NO TIME TOUCH THE PING-PONG BALL WITH THEIR HANDS, ARMS, OR ANYOTHER PART OF THEIR BODY.

RELAY SNORKEL DIVERS CAN BE WAITING IN THE WATER FACILITATING QUICKER “NOSE-OFF.” TIME ENDS WHEN LAST TEAM MEMBER’S PING-PONG BALL TOUCHES THE POOL WALL.

RESTRICTIONS:

SNORKLERS MUST STAY IN THEIR SWIM LANES.

PING-PONG BALL MUST TOUCH POOL WALL AT EACH END OF POOL EVERY TIME.

AGAIN BALL CAN NOT MOVED WITH ANY OTHER PART OF THE SWIMMERS BODY.

PENALTIES:

TEAM WILL BE DISQUALIFIED IF ANY MEMBER FAILS TO HAVE PING-PONG BALL TOUCH POOL WALL.

60 SECONDS WILL BE ADDED TO THE TEAMS TIME EACH TIME THE PING-PONG BALL IS MOVED BY ANY MEANS OTHER THAN BY THE NOSE OF THE MASK. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

30 SECONDS WILL BE ADDED TO THE TEAMS TIME EACH TIME THE SNORKLER MOVES OUT OF THEIR SWIM LANE.
IF YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR LANE YOU MUST STOP AND IMMEDIATELY MOVE BACK INTO YOUR LANE WITHOUT MOVING FORWARD. AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS WILL BE ADDED TO THE TEAMS TIME IF THE BALL IS MOVED FORWARD WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOUR NOSE….

Event 14