Technical Group
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Review
In May 2004, Clare Peddie as new NDO invited me to lead the newly formed technical group with a remit to take responsibility for all technical related courses and developments. On reviewing the current course portfolio and courses under development, it was extremely important that I had a team that could not only deliver on current commitments, but would also work on the longer term vision for BSAC technical diving.
I have been extremely fortunate. My core team for the past three years has consisted of Mike Rowley, Dave Lock, Nick Jewson, Trevor Davies, Gavin Anthony, Mark Mumford and Dave Thompson. They have all been members of a team that had been working closely together on rebreather developments since the millennium. Between them, they share in-depth knowledge, unquestionable experience and a love and dedication for the BSAC and the sport of diving. No other organisation could afford to employ this truly enviable intellectual property.
By the end of 2004, after a lot of frantic work, the team introduced two new courses, i.e., the Dräger Dolphin SCR and APD Classic Inspiration CCR courses. Two years later, the same team delivered on an extensive portfolio of courses including Sport Mixed Gas (OC/CCR), Advanced Mixed Gas (OC/CCR), Ocean and Sports Diver Nitrox Workshops and supported the 2007 Diver Training Programme. The team today continues to work unselfishly on the infrastructure to deliver these courses, developing and running instructor workshops, updating or producing new rebreather unit courses and contributing to new course developments including the next major addition to the portfolio of an Expedition Mixed Gas Management course. With the introduction of the new courses, the technical team turned its focus and attention to reviewing and updating existing courses, specifically, Advanced Nitrox and ERD. In between, the team is always on the lookout for new resources. Any volunteers are quickly involved in the writing and or production of courses and or to support the rollouts.
Throughout the three years, the technical team has been supported by many members across the whole organisation including BSAC HQ, NDC steering group, NDC, Regional Coaches and staff, Council and by many branch members.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported my team (and even those who do not!). I have had a fantastic team who has worked incredibly hard as a unit for the past three years supporting each other through the ups and downs, the rebreather try dive team who have worked so hard for six years at the dive shows promoting diving and finally I would like to especially thank Clare, whose vision, perception, support and confidence opened the doors to enable it to all happen.
Jeff Reed, Technical Group Leader (2004 -2007)
Instructor Training Group
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Review
Over the past 3 years the Instructor Training Group (ITG) has been responsible for all elements of instructor training and development, the following is a summary of each.
National Instructor (NI) content had been agreed in 2004 with more focus on teaching and less on physical endurance. For the first time, in many years, it was moved from the south coast and a new venue on the Isle of Man was tried. One of the criteria for the location of the NI exam is that the site most be suitable for diving no matter what happens with the weather. The Isle of Man met this and was used in 2005 and 2006. The success of changing locations means that this year the event will move to Scotland. Each year saw they typical number of candidates (about 10) and from each new National Instructors were qualified.
Advanced Instructor (AI) events continued to run on weekends in the UK and on joint events overseas (Tenerife and Gozo). During this time the documentation has been refined to reflect a change in role of an AI to one with more focus on developing other instructors. The introduction of the Open Water Instructor (OWI) critique element developed the skills of the AI to recognise instructor skills in others and help develop them. Looking ahead the role of AI will integrate with Technical Diving and the Diver Training Group more closely to define its future.
Open Water Instructor consists of several elements that develop divers into independent instructors. The Instructor Foundation Course (IFC) was reviewed to see if it needed changing. After consideration it was felt that its current format was still appropriate and so no specific changes made. The IFC continues to be a very popular course after which potential instructors can progress to be Theory Instructors or Practical Instructors before, by achieving both, becoming Open Water Instructors. The future is likely to see the integration of rebreathers into this suite of courses.
Instructor Trainers are needed to develop all the instructor grades. Over the last 3 years the process has been refined to clarify what is needed to be an Instructor Trainer (attendance on the Instructor Trainer Development Course (ITDC), successful observing on two instructor events and one Practical Instructor Exam). The database is held at HQ to track the progress of those progressing towards being Instructor Trainers. The future this qualification is to keep increasing the number of Instructor Trainers. All Advanced Instructors are invited to progress this route as it is so important for BSAC to keep developing instructors in the organisation.
As I stand down from the ITG I am sure all instructor grades will continue to develop and increase numbers at each level. The next ITG will want to keep increasing our instructor base and so if you are interested in instructing they will be pleased to advise and help you achieve this.
Phil Clifton, Instructor Group Leader (2004 - 2007)
Congratulations to new instructors accredited between January 1 and April 30 2007:
Advanced Instructors:
Eric Bottomley, Christopher Hazell, Brian Watson, David Wylde.
Open Water Instructors:
Robert Spain, Paul Mcnamara, Alvin Bong, Phil Appleby, Henry Wade, Yvonne Lode, Melanie Davies, Simon Maycock, Patrick Farrell, Peter Binney, Douglas Hunter, Martin Smith, Nicola Leeds, Colin Dawson Varley, David Crumpton, Roy Crumpton, Tracy Frankcom, Adam Nagus, Peter Thorp, Edward Tuplin, Cathryn Hougton, Andrew Ward, Claire De Jongh, Simon Neuhoff, Colin Lewis, Laura Williams, Tim Saville, Gerard Seddon, Richard Barton, Lee Garbett, John Mills, David Elcock, Louise Cartledge, Lloyd Truman, Dougal Sharp, Mark Wilcock, Thomas Fury, Brian Lawrence, Martin John Rawson, Grahame McPartlin, Alex Skinner, Hazel McClure, B Thompson, Peter Dancer, Mohd Masrakin, John Sewell, Anthony Colby, Thomas Anderson, Tim Clouter, Robert Hughes, Brian Jarvis, Mark John Borrett, John Borrett, Lynne Marshall Dunn, Robert Elliott, Nick Fleming, Akexander Allen, Nicholas Browne, Wael Mohammed El Shahat, Chris Martin, Andreas Dunker, Huw Lovell, Nour El Din M. Farid, Seamus Forde, Tom Steiner van den Ouweeken, Colin Forsyth, David Tidswell, Graham Poole, Alex Ford, David Ng, Jason Pacey, Stuart Marston, I A Smith, Angela Bottomley, Richard Priddy, Mark Purchase, James Conway, Alan Penman, Georgina Smith, Kyle Marling, Mark Aldrich, Ian McEwan, Steven Edwards, Dale Spree, Nicholas Clark, Allan Kime, Olle Akesson, Christopher Hall, Victoria Lees, Jeremy Davey
Cindy Louise Sheasby, Gordon Brown, Jennifer Younger, Michael Peakman.
Snorkelling Instructors:
Carol Ann Wood, Leanne Marston, John Mason, Melvyn Heath, Stephen Bradshaw, Andrew Tully, Rebecca Nutter, Nicolas Carapanagiotu, Ronald Evans, Anthony Metcalfe, Katie Wright, Anthony Metcalfe, Peter King, Dawn Tonge, Colin Bennett, Michael Badderley, John Davenport, Anne Bernice, Paul Guarino.
Services Group
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Review
During the last 3 years the Services Group has been involved in several projects, some of the principal achievements have been:-
Complete revision and launch of guidelines covering the operations of BSAC Centres. This included redefining lead instructor grades and roles this allowed the introduction of new types of Centres the Seamanship and Technical Centres. One of the underlying principles in this review was that Commercial Centres, Branches and Regions would, wherever possible, operate with the same guidelines. We now have a steadily growing number of BSAC Centres and Resorts around the world.
A complete review of the SALT for some of the main agencies. The aim was to provide DOs and TOs with greater details of the training received by divers trained with other agencies so making it easier for them to go diving with the BSAC. This review is continuing with more agencies.
For foreign events we have appointed an Overseas Liaison Officer. The purpose is to ensure that overseas Branches and Centres receive the support needed and that staffing for overseas events ensures that overseas members receive the best possible training.
As the leader of the Services Group I would like to thank everyone involved in the group for their contributions over this period.
Dennis Wigg, Services Group Leader (2004 - 2007)
Diver Training Group
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Review
Over the last three years the diver training group has achieved a number of targets. They include:
First Class
- Regional preparation teams
- Review team
- Updated examiner notes
- Change of pre-requisites
- Updated information on website
Diver Training Programme
- Reduction in age entry requirements
Update of DTP with inclusion of
- BLS
- Diver to surface signalling
- Rule of thirds
- Basic nitrox
- Gas and AS terminology
- Updated information on web
- Information
- Errata
- Interactive Quiz
Rescue Skills
- New BLS guidelines
- Inclusion of BLS into updated DTP
- AED course
- Update Lifesaver Award Syllabi
Skill Development Courses
- Ice Diving
- Wreck Appreciation
Snorkelling
- Updated SOWIC notes
- Updated ASIC notes
Review & matrix of STP
- Discussions with Scouts Association
- Reduction in age entry requirements
Like all progress within BSAC the work has been done by volunteers. As Diver Training Group Leader I wish to take this opportunity to publicly thank all those that have contributed their time, experience, knowledge and skills to assist in the achievements made by this group. In particular all members of the diver training group:
Mark Wilson, Andy Procter, David Wakelam, Alan Jeffrey, Sinclair McKay, Margaret Baldwin, Ruth Dunn.
I would also like to acknowledge, in no particular order:
Richard Scarsbrook, Mark Mumford, Jeff Reed, Trevor Davies, Howard Barnes, Tom Fitzpatrick, Tim Moxey, Phil Smith (Smudge), Steve Anderson, Jane Maddocks, Emma Faid, Martin Hammond, Paul Saunders, Iain Aitchison, Alex Bullard, Ben Panter, Jo Porter, Sue Mitchell, Christine Howson, George Brown, Clare Peddie, Maggie Cowing, Mike Halligan, Jim Bromham, Gary Sedgwick, Hamish Torunski.
Without volunteers it would have been difficult to make any progress. It is through its volunteers that the BSAC continues to be known as a leading contributor and innovator in the worldwide sport of diving.
Sean Gribben, Diver Training Group Leader (2004 - 2007)
Diving Group
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Review
The Diving Group of NDC was set up in 2004 and has been organised into six areas of activity each led by an NDC member. There are a significant number of achievements produced by the group and I would like to thank the group members for all of their hard work over the last three years.
Brian Cumming has been our Safety and Incidents Advisor. His main achievement has been to collate and analyse diving incidents and this work has been published in the Diving Incidents Reports for 2004, 2005 and 2006 with 2007 ongoing. In addition to this work, Brian has written spin off articles for DIVE and for the NDC eBulletin. He has also introduced a new web page which provides up to date information on serious incidents and safety information. As part of his remit, he has also revised "Safe Diving" and incorporated "Technical Safe Diving" into that revised document. His latest project is to carry out a baseline diving survey to enable him to validate his diving incidents data.
Jane Maddocks is our Underwater Heritage and Conservation Officer. Jane has been very busy behind the scenes representing the BSAC at government level, at archaeology conferences, responding to consultative documents and maintaining a watch on legislative changes. In particular, recently she was very involved in responding to legislation which might have threatened our ability to go wreck diving in the UK. Her ongoing interest has also been to develop a program to establish credibility and a role for amateur divers in underwater archaeology.
The Environment Officers, initially Andy MacLeod and then Susannah Calderan, have been engaged with several projects. Andy put in a lot of effort to expose the effects of scallop dredging and has been involved in the creation of areas around Oban which are now protected from these activities. The Marine Bill consultation has been ongoing over the last couple of years and Jane Maddocks and Jim Watson, in particular, have worked on a BSAC response. Susannah, recently appointed to the post, has been developing links with the environment agency and, in collaboration with Mark Cooper (Eastern Region Coach) has been looking at the implications of recent legislation on Waste Management (see this issue).
Mike Halligan, the BSAC's Equality and Diversity Officer has been working on a new course "Diving for ALL", a short course aimed at being deliverable within branches, which introduces this subject and deals with some aspect of encouraging disabled divers. This is due to be rolled out in 2007. He has also been working with HQ on the "Clubmark" accreditation scheme.
Andy Hunt, the BSAC Expeditions Officer, launched the BSAC Expeditions Grant Scheme (BEGS) in 2005 and since then has awarded nearly £15,000 to groups of divers to help develop expeditions. This scheme has been highly successful and has supported many exciting expeditions. Some of these have received significant publicity in DIVE magazine and at the Diving Officers Conference. Overall, there has been and increase in number and diversity of expeditions. Andy has created a new website - the "Expeditions Centre". This contains lots of useful tools for expedition planning.
Maggie Driscoll is the member of the group responsible for Branch Diving. Maggie has explored the aspect of promoting interbranch diving as a mechanism for getting people to enhance their range of diving experiences. She has conducted pilot studies in some regions and shown that, if managed well, can be very effective. She has introduced "RHIBSWAP", a forum site to enable divers to swap boats or places in boats with the view of enabling divers to go diving in areas that would normally be inaccessible. One of her more recent projects was to assemble a Diving Officers toolkit to provide guidance, advice and documentation for new Diving Officers.
Overall, the group has been very productive and I would like to thank all of the team members for all of their efforts.
Geoff Hide, Diving Group Leader (2004 - 2007)
New regulations on disposal of electrical waste
Following advice from BSAC Eastern Region Coach Mark Cooper, an expert in environmental protection, we are drawing your attention to a new set of environmental regulations which affect the disposal of electrical goods (e.g. diving computers). These regulations are known as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE).
Mark has highlighted important parts of the regulations as follows:
- The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations came into force on 2nd January 2007. These are part of a series of producer responsibilities for paying for the treatment and recycling of products at the end of their life. According to the Environment Agency, any business that manufactures brands or imports electrical or electronic products is covered by the new rules. In addition, businesses selling electrical items or storing, treating or dismantling WEEE items are also affected. Sports equipment with electric or electronic components (including dive computers) is covered by the regulations.
- The Environment Agency website ("What the general public needs to know") states that the Directive aims to minimise the amount of WEEE householders throw away, but that householders will not be banned from disposing of WEEE in their bin. However, the Environment Agency advice is that "Householders are now covered by the Duty of Care and must ensure they only pass their waste to a Registered Waste Carrier or approved person."
Furthermore, from 1st July, retailers have a responsibility to take back an item on a like-for-like basis (i.e. if you buy a new dive computer, your retailer is obliged to take your old one from you for disposal, if you wish). If you are a diving retailer or producer, the BSAC advises you to familiarise yourself with these regulations.
For most of us, as householders, we have a duty of care to dispose of our electrical waste (including electrical diving equipment) through the appropriate channels. Your local council site will take such items. The reasons for this legislation are to reduce fly tipping.
Further information can be found on the Environment Agency Website:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/444217/444663/1106248/
As divers, who encounter piles of rubbish dumped on the seashore, underwater or in inland waters, we should all embrace the principle of this legislation.
By Susannah Calderan, BSAC Environment Officer, and Geoff Hide, Diving Group Leader
BSAC Headquarters
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BSAC SNORKELLING GOES YOUNGER!
The BSAC announces that the age for children to take up snorkelling with the Governing Body for the sport has now been lowered from 8 years old to 6 years old.
BSAC National Diving Officer, Clare Peddie says:
"I am delighted that we have been able to lower the age at a time when the Government are keen to encourage children to take up sport earlier and get fitter, the BSAC can support this policy by welcoming children into snorkelling at the age of 6."
For more information on snorkelling please go to
http://www.bsacsnorkelling.co.uk
or telephone 0151 350 6200 and ask to speak Alistair Reynolds.
© Copyright May 2007. The British Sub Aqua Club, Telford's Quay, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 4FL. UK
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