OPITO Product 5903
Shallow Water Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System Initial Deployment Training
Focused additional training for offshore personnel who already hold eligible OPITO offshore emergency-response certification and require competence in the use of a Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System during helicopter travel.
Product 5903 is intended for personnel travelling by helicopter to offshore assets or facilities who require additional training in CA-EBS. It complements existing T-BOSIET, T-FOET, T-HUET or BOSIET/FOET/HUET with EBS training by introducing the learner to the compressed-air system, its hazards, correct deployment and controlled shallow-water use.
1 DAY
1
CA-EBS
4 Year
2 Guided learning hours
Mandatory units
Shallow water CA-EBS Initial
Validity
Validity
2 years
Product Type
OPITO Approved Course
Trainers
OPITO Certified and years of experience
Category
Oil and Gas / Basic Emergency Response
Entry Certificate Requirements
An eligible in-date OPITO certificate is required.
VALID OFFSHORE EMERGENCY TRAINING REQUIRED.
This is an important distinction. Product 5903 does not replace the underlying offshore emergency-response training represented by those certificates. It adds focused CA-EBS initial-deployment competence to an existing offshore training pathway.
Learners must hold a valid certificate in one of the following recognised training routes before attending Product 5903:
BOSIET
OPITO Approved Certificate
Tropical BOSIET
OPITO Approved Certificate
FOET
OPITO Approved Certificate
Tropical FOET
OPITO Approved Certificate
HUET
OPITO Approved Certificate
Tropical HUET
OPITO Approved Certificate
IS 5903 Right For you?
Personnel who already have offshore emergency training but now require Shallow Water CA-EBS competence.
Offshore helicopter operators may use different emergency breathing systems. A learner may have previously trained using a rebreather EBS, but then mobilized to an operation where the specified system is CA-EBS.
Those systems do not operate in the same way. CA-EBS introduces: a compressed-air cylinder, a demand valve, pressure indication, mouthpiece deployment, purging, a finite air supply, and specific compressed-air medical hazards.
Product 5903 adds that system-specific knowledge and practical experience without requiring the learner to repeat an entire BOSIET, FOET or HUET programme.
There are no prerequisites for Shallow Water CA-EBS Training.
Before booking, confirm your requirement with your employer, operator or mobilisation team.
KNOW
CHECK
DEPLOY
BREATHE
One Mandatory Unit
What Does Product 5903 Develop?
The Product has two core objectives: to ensure learners are familiar with the use of CA-EBS, and to ensure they understand the basic emergency-response actions required during a helicopter emergency while using that system.
01 — UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM
Understand how CA-EBS works, its components, limitations and compressed-air breathing principles.
02 — OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT
Check, don, deploy, seal, purge and recover the CA-EBS correctly.
03 — PREPARE FOR THE HELICOPTER EMERGENCY
Connect CA-EBS use with dry helicopter emergency preparation and evacuation procedures.
04 — BREATHE & MOVE UNDERWATER
Develop controlled shallow-water breathing, deployment and movement while using CA-EBS.
Why Shallow Water Training Matters?
Build breathing control in shallow water before progressing into more complex emergency environments.
Shallow-water training allows learners to move from dry CA-EBS handling into controlled in-water breathing and equipment deployment without introducing the full complexity of an underwater helicopter escape. At a maximum depth of 0.7 metres measured at the chest, learners can focus on establishing correct breathing, maintaining the mouthpiece seal, clearing water and recovering control of the system.
The exercises progressively develop competence through surface deployment, underwater deployment, exhalation clearing, purge-button clearing, vertical breathing and controlled underwater movement. This helps learners understand how CA-EBS behaves once submerged and builds confidence in using the equipment while breathing, changing position and moving underwater.
01
OIS-276
1 H 50 M
Shallow Water Helicopter Emergencies with CA-EBS
Understand the system. Deploy with control. Breathe and move with confidence.
Product 5903 combines CA-EBS theory, equipment operation, dry helicopter emergency preparation and controlled shallow-water training. Learners develop familiarity with compressed-air breathing, equipment components, pre-use checks, correct donning, one-handed deployment, mouthpiece sealing, purging, demand-valve operation and recovery of a displaced mouthpiece. The programme also reinforces the hazards associated with compressed-air breathing, including finite air supply, mouthpiece displacement and lung over-expansion.
Practical training progresses from dry deployment and helicopter emergency preparation into shallow-water CA-EBS exercises at a maximum depth of 0.7 metres at the chest. Learners practise above- and below-water deployment, exhalation and purge clearing, breathing in different body positions and controlled underwater movement for at least 30 seconds with a change of direction.
Why Shallow Water CA-EBS?
Build confidence with compressed-air breathing before progressing into more complex underwater escape training.
Shallow-water CA-EBS training gives learners the opportunity to experience how a Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System behaves once it is used in water. Dry training can establish equipment knowledge, donning, checks and deployment, but it cannot reproduce the breathing, orientation and equipment-management demands that begin once the face and breathing system are submerged.
Product 5903 therefore introduces CA-EBS in a controlled shallow-water environment, with exercises carried out at a maximum depth of 0.7 metres measured at the chest. This allows learners to concentrate on breathing control, mouthpiece management and correct deployment while remaining within a deliberately limited training depth.
Move from Dry Familiarisation to In-Water Use
Before entering the water, learners first understand the equipment, complete the required checks, don the lifejacket and CA-EBS correctly and practise deployment in dry conditions.
Shallow-water training then adds the next layer of competence: using the same equipment while partially or fully submerged.
This progression allows learners to experience how deployment, breathing and equipment control change once water becomes part of the emergency environment.
Understand the CA-EBS
Identify the main components, operating principles, advantages and limitations of the Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System.
Inspect the Equipment
Carry out the required pre-use checks and confirm the CA-EBS is ready for emergency deployment.
Don and Buddy Check
Correctly don the equipment and complete the required buddy check before helicopter travel.
Deploy and Breathe
Locate and rapidly deploy the CA-EBS, establish the correct mouth and nose seal, and breathe normally from the system.
Manage the System
Operate the purge function, recover a displaced mouthpiece and recognise the indications associated with reducing or near-empty air supply.
Practise Underwater Deployment
Product 5903 does not limit deployment practice to dry conditions.
Learners progressively practise deploying the CA-EBS below the water surface, helping them understand how to locate, position and operate the breathing system when visibility, body position and breathing access may be affected. This turns equipment familiarity into practical emergency-use competence.
Learn Two Methods of Clearing the Mouthpiece.
Water entering the mouthpiece must be managed correctly before effective breathing can continue.
The shallow-water exercises introduce both: exhalation clearing and purge-button clearing.
Learners therefore experience different methods of restoring the breathing pathway rather than relying on a single technique.
Training Philosophy
Establish control before complexity.
Product 5903 follows a progressive competence-building approach. Learners first understand the CA-EBS, then develop equipment familiarity, complete the required checks and practise deployment in dry conditions before progressing into controlled shallow-water exercises.
The training is designed to build confidence through repetition and increasing task complexity. Each stage connects equipment knowledge with practical action so that learners can deploy, breathe, recover and move with control while maintaining awareness of the limitations and hazards associated with compressed-air breathing.
During an actual helicopter emergency, a learner may already be managing:
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Crew instructions
-
Restraint
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Brace position
-
Exit location
-
Water entry
-
Orientation
-
The need to escape.
Move from equipment knowledge to demonstrated performance.
The course develops the learner's understanding of:
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Why CA-EBS is used during offshore helicopter travel
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How compressed-air systems differ from rebreather systems
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The advantages and limitations of CA-EBS
-
CA-EBS components and controls
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How CA-EBS interacts with the aviation lifejacket and other survival equipment
-
Pre-flight inspection and pre-donning checks
-
Correct fitting
-
Emergency deployment
-
Mouthpiece control
-
Purging
-
Recovery of a displaced mouthpiece
-
Breathing from the unit
-
Recognition of the finite air supply.
This is dry deployment training. The focus is on building equipment competence in a controlled environment before CA-EBS may be required during an actual helicopter emergency.
01
Pre-Use Inspection
Carry out the required checks of the aviation lifejacket and CA-EBS, including equipment status and available air supply.
03
Buddy Check
Complete the required buddy check and confirm the equipment is correctly fitted and ready for use.
05
Fit, Seal &
Breathe
Correctly position the mouthpiece and nose clip where fitted, establish an effective seal and breathe normally from the system.
07
Surface
Deployment
Deploy the CA-EBS above the water and establish controlled breathing while face-down in shallow water.
09
Underwater Breathing Control
Maintain breathing from the CA-EBS in different body positions, including a controlled vertical underwater position.
02
Correct Donning
Don and correctly adjust the lifejacket and CA-EBS so the breathing system remains accessible for emergency deployment.
04
L & R - Hand Deployment
Locate and deploy the CA-EBS using both the left and right hand, establishing breathing in dry atmospheric conditions.
06
Dry Helicopter Emergency Preparation
Deploy the CA-EBS within a dry helicopter simulator and apply the equipment during controlled emergency-landing and ditching-preparation exercises.
08
Underwater Deployment & Clearing
Deploy the system below the surface and clear water from the mouthpiece using both exhalation and the purge function.
10
Breathe & Move Underwater
Deploy the CA-EBS underwater, maintain breathing and move along a horizontal rail for at least 30 seconds, including a change of direction.
Medical Requirements
Learners must be capable of participating fully.
Product 5903 contains physical and potentially stressful practical activities. Before practical participation, learners must satisfy one of the general medical routes defined by the Product, including:
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Valid current offshore medical
-
Employer-approved equivalent offshore medical
-
Valid medical fitness to work at sea
-
Valid diving-at-work medical
-
Medical screening through the OPITO-approved centre.
ADDITIONAL MEDICAL ELIGIBILITY APPLIES TO THE IN-WATER OUTCOME.
The in-water component is subject to medical conditions beyond the general Product entry requirement. The specification sets out two alternative routes.
One route allows participation where the learner satisfies applicable national or state medical requirements for shallow-water CA-EBS, supported by suitable risk assessment, and provides the required declaration of fitness before entering the water.
A second route uses defined offshore or maritime medical certification together with specific fitness confirmation for shallow-water CA-EBS and a declaration of fitness on the day of training.
Certificate Validity
The Shallow Water CA-EBS Initial Deployment certificate is valid for:
4 years.
Revalidation
Revalidation may also be achieved through successful completion of the appropriate OPITO:
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T-BOSIET with CA-EBS
-
T-FOET with CA-EBS
-
T-HUET with CA-EBS
-
BOSIET / FOET / HUET with CA-EBS certification.
This is useful to explain because personnel may later move into a complete CA-EBS pathway rather than repeating Product 5903 independently.
Swimming Ability
The Product recognises:
swimmers, weak swimmers and non-swimmers. These groups must be clearly identified during pool exercises using different-coloured helmets. Learners should advise the centre of their swimming ability before practical training.
Why Train with Suraksha Marine?
Build CA-EBS competence progressively from equipment understanding into controlled shallow-water use.
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CA-EBS-Specific Training: Develop a clear understanding of compressed-air breathing, equipment components, operating principles, limitations and the hazards associated with CA-EBS use.
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Progressive Equipment Familiarisation: Move systematically from pre-use checks and correct donning into one-handed deployment, mouthpiece sealing, purging and recovery.
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Dry Helicopter Emergency Preparation: Connect CA-EBS operation with helicopter emergency procedures through controlled dry evacuation and ditching-preparation exercises.
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Controlled Shallow-Water Training: Progress into CA-EBS breathing and deployment exercises at a maximum depth of 0.7 metres measured at the chest.
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Underwater Breathing & Recovery Skills: Practise underwater deployment, exhalation clearing, purge-button clearing, mouthpiece recovery and breathing in different body positions.
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Movement Under CA-EBS: Develop the ability to maintain breathing-system control while moving underwater, changing direction and managing equipment simultaneously.
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Progressive Competence Development: Build capability through a structured sequence of understanding, equipment operation, dry preparation and controlled in-water performance.
MASTER THE BREATHING SYSTEM BEFORE ADDING THE ESCAPE.
Develop equipment-specific CA-EBS competence through pre-use checks, one-handed deployment, mouthpiece clearing, dry helicopter emergency preparation and controlled shallow-water breathing exercises.
Check. Deploy. Clear. Breathe. Control.
Real Equipment.
Controlled Simulation.
Demonstrated Competence.
Corporate workforce mobilisation?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
