Diamond Reef System
A portable obstacle course for diver buoyancy training.
The Diamond Reef System is a scuba diving training program centered on a portable underwater obstacle course that mimics coral reef structures to help divers improve their buoyancy control. Peter Wallingford created it in 1989 as a way to teach divers how to interact responsibly with reefs. The program later gained official backing from both the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Wallingford launched a conservation group called "Friends of the Reef" in 1989 after hearing complaints from customers about damaged coral reefs. He designed an underwater obstacle course made from PVC pipe hoops shaped like diamonds for buoyancy practice. That same year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration adopted the program. By 1991, it had grown into a formal instructional system run by Buoyancy Training Systems, Inc., and was also adopted by the EPA’s divers program. The University of California at Los Angeles diving program, the University of North Carolina diving program, and the National Association of Underwater Instructors all recognized it as well.
The training kit includes buoyant hoops, each with a tether cord and a line holder for adjusting depth. While patents mention several hoop shapes—circular, triangular, octagonal, and rectangular—the recommended design is a square oriented like a diamond, tethered by one corner so the open corner floats upward. This shape is considered the most efficient for divers and equipment passing through, uses less material, and offers better underwater stability. Standard hoops have side lengths of 39 inches (1.0 m) or 48 inches (1.2 m), and are typically made from 1-inch (25 mm) PVC pipe. The hoop is assembled from straight sections connected by right-angle elbows, with sealed ends. It can be glued or held together with internal shock cord for easy disassembly and storage. The unconnected corner serves as the high point, allowing a diver to escape upward if they cannot get through.
Courses can be set up as slalom, escalator, or rollercoaster layouts using the kit. These are designed for calm, safe water with little current and visibility over 15 feet. The recommended minimum water depth is 30 feet (9 m), with a 10-foot (3 m) stop as the shallowest part. A standard set includes five identical hoops.
- Founded
- 1989
- Founder
- Peter Wallingford
- Adopted by
- Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Standard hoop sizes
- 39 inches (1.0 m) and 48 inches (1.2 m) side lengths
- Recommended minimum depth
- 30 feet (9 m)
- Standard set hoops
- 5 identical hoops
Lore & Background
In 1989, Peter Wallingford started a conservation organization called 'Friends of the Reef' in response to customers of his store complaining about the state of the coral reefs. He created an underwater obstacle course for buoyancy-control training, made of PVC pipe hoops shaped like diamonds. The program was adopted by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration in 1989. By 1991, Diamond Reef System had developed into an instructional program under the company, Buoyancy Training Systems, Inc. It was adopted into the Environmental Protection Agency's divers program in 1991 and received recognition from the University of California at Los Angeles diving program, University of North Carolina diving program, and National Association of Underwater Instructors.
The obstacle course kit includes a set of buoyant hoops, each with a cord for tethering to a weight on the bottom, and a line holder to store the cord and adjust its operating length. The recommended hoop geometry is a square in a diamond-shaped orientation, tethered by a corner, allowing the open corner to float upwards. This shape is considered by the designer to be the most efficient for diver and equipment passing through, minimizes material, and has better underwater stability. Standard hoops have side lengths of 39 inches and 48 inches, made from 1-inch diameter PVC pipe. The unconnected corner is generally deployed as the high point, allowing a diver to escape upwards if unable to pass through.
Slalom, escalator, and rollercoaster obstacle course layouts can be set up using the kit components. These courses are intended for buoyancy training in quiet, safe water with little or no current and more than fifteen feet of visibility. The slalom course trains divers to remain 3 feet above a coral reef. The escalator course practices gradual ascents and descents, and the rollercoaster course practices controlled alternating ascents and descents.
Reader's Guide
The Diamond Reef System is significant as a structured training tool for scuba divers, specifically designed to improve buoyancy control and maneuvering skills in a simulated reef environment. Its adoption by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration underscores its credibility and utility in official diving programs. The system's portable obstacle course, with its patented diamond-shaped hoops, offers a practical method for teaching divers how to interact with coral reefs without causing damage. The inclusion of multiple course layouts—slalom, escalator, and rollercoaster—allows for progressive skill development, from maintaining a constant depth to managing gradual and alternating ascents and descents. The system's recognition by university diving programs and the National Association of Underwater Instructors further indicates its acceptance within the diving community as a standard for buoyancy training. By focusing on precise control, the Diamond Reef System contributes to conservation efforts by helping divers avoid accidental contact with fragile reef structures.
Did You Know?
- The Diamond Reef System was founded by Peter Wallingford in 1989.
- The recommended hoop shape is a square in a diamond orientation, tethered by a corner.
- Standard hoop side lengths are 39 inches and 48 inches.
- The system includes slalom, escalator, and rollercoaster course layouts.
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