| August 2007 Issue - www.bsac.org |
News from the National Diving Committee
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Message from the National Diving Officer, Sean Gribben
Welcome to the August Issue of the NDC Bulletin - this the first issue for me in my new role as your National Diving Officer. I am looking forward to continuing with regular updates advising all BSAC divers of current developments in Diving, Diver Training, Instructor Training, Technical Diving and Communications. The National Diving Committee is now in place - see page x - which shows the members of each group, each of whom has a specific remit with NDC and we welcome input from all members of the BSAC. One of the changes I have made to the NDC is to change the focus of the Services Group to that of Communications. I believe that the NDC needs to focus more in the way we communicate with our members. Whilst it has only been a few months since I took over from Clare, the members of my NDC have continued to busy themselves with the work necessary in keeping BSAC as a leading diving agency. We have an exciting few years ahead and as National Diving Officer I am particularly looking forward to the challenges of updating our instructor training scheme, the snorkel training programme and providing skill development courses that meet the needs of the membership. I aim to ensure that the NDC prioritise outstanding tasks and utilise effective performance and skills to assist BSAC in promoting diving. Sean Gribben NDO National Diving Officer |
Technical Group
New Gas Blender course The newly revised gas blender nitrox & mixed gas courses were piloted on August 18th. The Lead Instructor was Gareth Leyshon. A second pilot is planned for the beginning of September. Feedback from the courses will be incorporated into the materials in readiness for the official launch at DOC 2007. Nick Jewson Technical Group Leader |
Instructor Training Group
Introducing the new Instructor Training Group Early in May Sean (our new NDO) asked me if I would head up the Instructor Training Group, I happily agreed, having been an active instructor trainer since 1990 teaching and examining at all levels. Shortly after Sean invited applications for volunteers to help out on NDC. After a marathon telephone conference call in May Sean's Steering Group agreed on who would take up the posts. To give you an idea of what the Instructor Training Group will be getting up to in the next few years, the following is a summary of our remit "The Instructor Training Group's task is to focus on reviewing, developing, refining and keeping up to date all the instructor grades within the BSAC. The team will strive to maintain the excellent system the BSAC already has in place for developing instructors, as well as looking forwards toward any improvements that can be made in the future. Furthermore, they will work with the coaching scheme to develop additional support for would-be instructors. The team will also raise the profile of the instructor grades and carry on promoting a straightforward means of achieving them." As you can imagine, the teams responsibility is wide ranging and varied, from the starting point at Instructor Foundation Course, through Open Water Instructor, Advanced Instructor and onto to National Instructor. We are also responsible for Snorkel Instructor Training and for training staff who work on the Instructor Training Scheme (ITS) itself. In other words it's a big job! To reflect this we are a big team. In total there are 12 of us, full details of who we are and our specific tasks can be found at the BSAC website: Instructor Training Group We have already identified a long list of projects that need working on, including an overall review of the instructor training, to ensure our instruction reflects the needs of our membership, a detailed analysis of our examination results, refining the process of brining our instructor trainers onto the ITS and timetabling next years instructor events. These are just the edited highlights, there's more, much to much to go into detail here. But as the projects develop we will keep you informed of progress and any changes that will affect existing BSAC instructors. I would like to publicly thank my team for volunteering to help out and look forward to working with them on the BSAC's behalf. We may all have various different tasks to perform, but I can assure you we all have one thing in common, we are all passionate about BSAC instruction and believe that our organisation offers instructor training second to none. What's more, we will work to ensure it remains that way. Mark Wilson Instructor Training Group Leader Advanced Instructor Combined Events The usual route to qualifying as an Advanced Instructor (AI) is to do the course on a coastal location in the UK, return to your branch and practice what you've learned, then return for another weekend to do the examination. There is an alternative! Each year we organize Combined Events where Open Water Instructors do the AI Course (AIC), work with other students for a few days practice, then take the AI Exam (AIE). There are several advantages to this route: Firstly, the locations tend to be slightly more exotic than Weymouth or Cumbrae, generally having both better weather and increased visibility underwater. Secondly, students have the chance to develop their skills under the watchful eye of very experienced National Instructors. Thirdly, they build good teams and share each other's skills and experience, and really concentrate on improving their instructional technique almost 24 hours a day! It is not unknown for demonstrations of progressive teaching to occur during dinner in the local restaurant, or students to practice their compass work skilfully weaving a route between bars to their accommodation. The content of the Combined Events in terms of skills and knowledge is the same as on any BSAC AIC or AIE event whether in the UK or abroad. Local conditions may dictate slight changes in logistics. It is also possible for less experienced divers to do a combination of Instructor Foundation Course, Theory Instructor Examination, Practical Instructor Examination, and Open Water Instructor Course. Why not consider getting a group from your branch or region together? As in previous years the popular Combined Event in Gozo will be in the capable hands of Jack (Diving Guru) Ingle. The dates of this year's event are October 15th to 22nd and applications should be made through Jack, as soon as possible. Contact him at www.JackIngle.co.uk or 07759 404891 Safe and enjoyable instructing. Mike Thomas AI Chief Examiner Have you ever wished you could join the Team of BSAC Instructor Trainers?If you do then read on. Could you fulfil the following criteria?
This course takes the format of a 2-day event where experienced National Instructors will act as mentors and tutor you in the skills and techniques necessary to teach and examine BSAC Instructors up to Open Water Instructor level. Following the attendance on an ITDC you will gain further instruction and experience on various courses and exams with an experienced ITS Instructor as your guide. This will give you a wider understanding of the responsibilities and performance standards required of ITS staff instructors, after which you will become a full member of the ITS teaching staff. If you are interested in progressing to become an ITS Instructor Trainer then all you need to do at this stage is to register your interest by contacting the ITS Manager on direct line 0151 350 6261 or email at itsman@bsac.com. Congratulations to new instructors accredited between May 1 and August 24 31 2007: National Instructors: Andy Procter, Sarah Gauci-Carlton and Simon Campbell Advanced Instructors: Keith Farrell, Chris Unsworth, Tim Gledhill, Scott Ayrey, James Torbet, Paul Morris, Anthony Houston, Richard Knights Open Water Instructors: Graham Tottle, Allen Murray, Duncan Gordon, Mark Kelly, Hugh Jones, Robert Firmin, David Brown, Teresa Darbyshire, Steve Murray, Ramy Refaat, Nigel Hilburd, Derek Angus, Ronald Van As, Darrell Wood, Paul Williams, Peter Cittern, Goran Pilbratt, Marcos Clowes, Noel Riggs, Tristan Jones, David Summerfield, Kristin Fischer, Cameron Moir, Matt Renton, Niall Lowth, Victoria Elliott, Steven Barry Winstanley, Thomas Walsh, Nicholas Taylor, Dave Harrison, Alison Webb, Ian Alexander, Tim Ash-Vie, Isabel Barbuk, Naomi Mackrill, Nicholas Williams, Ben Flowerdew, Lorna Llewellyn, David Nash, Julie Nash, Laura Halford, Sidney Leaper, Bryan Clarke, Simon Higginbotham, Steve White, Becca Wilson, Neil Barker, Peter Mowatt, Jon Meek, Stephen Cave, Carole Gilbert, Tony Ramsden, Simon Alexander, Stefano Patacchiola, Adam Blunt, S W Mallison, Richard Savage, Brian Baker, Keith Snowden, Stewart Dickson, Andy Lane, Brian Foote, Daniel Kay, Jan Svenson, Martin Boardman, Matthew Hall, Barbara Andrae, David Ibberson, Maria Woeste, Stephen Thompson, Paul Holmes, Shelley Rhodes, Grayeam Copley, Tony Kenny, Gregory Haywood, Chris Chew, Edward Lomas, Paul Adlington, Paul Scott, Ryan Little, Barry Smith, heli Bowman, Phil Latto, Peter Albery, Shane Davies, Melvyn Davies, Brian Spurr, Sandra Cree, Peter Karel, Barry Clark, Paul Hampton, Bret Champion, Phil Marshall, Tony Mills, Sam Thomas, Andy Dickens, Antony Cook, Harriet Loyd, Paul Hammett, P J Roby, Chris Perrio-Stone, Jenny Jones, Steve Jackson, Anne Hudson, David Michael, Iain Hughson, Mark Gosling, Michael Nobbs, Simon Horrox, Hazel Reed, John Fielder, Ian Walker, Andrew Douch, Graham Clarke, Paul Burrows, Gary Bonds, Paul Eyden, Philippe Guillaume, Philippe Kloos, Andrew John Mcleod, Alessandro Grioni, Leah Livingstone, Patricia Au Yong, Mike Rickard, Paul Dale, Peter Tatton. |
Communications Group
As Sean has already intimated, when he became NDO he believed that NDC needed to focus more on the way in which NDC effectively communicates with our members and hence the Services Group has now become that of the Communications Group. I agreed to take up the role of Group Leader . . . and for those of you that know me; you will be pleased to hear that that will mean listening as well as talking! So what does that really mean . . . our overall remit for the next few years - "The Communications Group of the NDC has responsibility for ensuring a cohesive communication strategy is applied by all the NDC groups and for ensuring all parties with a vested interest have their views represented." We still have a team in place to represent all the major groups in BSAC - Branch members, BSAC Centres, Joint Services and the Regional Coaching Teams. Each of those groups still has a representative whose primary role is to listen and represent your views to NDC, as well as ensure that we communicate back to you the work of the entire NDC. So don't be surprised if you find yourself being contacted by them and please feel free to contact them with any of your ideas or thoughts. We haven't forgotten the needs of our overseas branches and the role of Overseas Liaison Officer remains within the group, with a particular focus on sourcing Instructors to assist our overseas branches with their event needs and he works closely with HQ and the work that HQ does for BSAC Centres. We have also decided to supplement the team with a couple of extra roles to help support and promote the work of the other NDC Groups, especially where there is a cross group interest - such as the delivery of the development projects and new course material. If there are any Desktop Publishing experts out there who have a few hours they could spare and would be interested in helping, then I am sure that Howard Barnes would be delighted to hear from you as he is looking to put together a small support team to help the other Technical Editors with the backend delivery of some of the new courses and projects which are coming to fruition in the other teams - he can be contacted at commstecheditor@bsac.com. We now have a dedicated DOC Co-ordinator, whose role is to support the NDC in delivering a great DOC programme, with all the latest updates and changes, as well as have some interesting and entertaining speakers. This years theme will be Diving for divers and there will also be an (optional) evening meal for those who wish to extend the day, continue conversing about the latest developments, enjoy the company of friends and of course regale a few diving tales. You will see more information coming out about the DOC over the coming months, but we look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. We have also appointed a dedicated Communications Officer whose first job will be to look at how NDC and BSAC currently communicate between themselves and to all of you and they will be identifying areas for improvement, with a view to continuously improving the way we communicate. The team is already busy (when they aren't diving, teaching or doing their day jobs) and has put together their plans for the coming months. The Team really are keen to hear your views and to ensure that we actively promote the work of all the NDC members in meeting the needs of the diving community, as well as ensure that you all are informed of new initiatives, changes and how these will impact and benefit you as divers, in our ever changing sport and world. Have a great summer diving safely! Maggie Driscoll Communications Group Leader |
Diver Training Group
First Class Diver The FCD web pages: First Class Diver will be updated in the coming months. This will start with the information on the pages being revised and will follow with changes to the FCD pack. This has been prompted by an update to the practical exam: FCD Practical Exam Interactive Learning The BSAC Interactive Learning Section allows students to review their diving knowledge on-line. Easy to follow questions in a variety of formats allow them to select the right answer from among those offered, and they can keep trying until they get it right. Wrong answers result in a prompt which either gives a hint to the answer, or gives some advice about why the answer was wrong. The questions are based on the material in the Student Workbooks, and every question contains a reference to the relevant pages so that students can revise areas they have trouble with. The questions don't duplicate the Theory Assessments in style or in content, so it's still a good idea to work through a specimen paper with your students before their real theory exam. The quizzes have been completely revised and extended to reflect the 2007 version of the Diver Training Programme. Currently there are quizzes for the Ocean Diver and Sport Diver courses. Quizzes for other grades will follow over the coming months. John Kermode Diver Training Group Leader |
Diving Group
BEGS Expeditions - brief updates: Hubert Desgranges' expedition to survey the North Goldstone went well so far despite the team and dates changing. They are still attempting more dives on the site to look for something to positively identify the wreckage on the site. Apparently a very good photo-mosaic has been produced and one of the team members is beavering away in libraries doing research. Apparently it has generated a huge amount of enthusiasm in the Blythe Branch from where most of the team is drawn. Skye The LUEC expedition to Skye to survey a circa18th wreck apparently went well. Hoping for some material on this soon for publication in the next NDC E-Bulletin. Other REDS expeditions: West Midlands headed off to Croatia to survey a roman wreck earlier in the summer. Diving Incident Survey The BSAC is running a survey to enable us to characterise the nature of UK sports diving. The survey will allow us to make more sense of the diving incident statistics since we will have an accurate picture of the number and types of diving taking place. The initial part of the survey took place during June. The survey has progressed well and I am still gathering the data. Well over 1,000 divers were surveyed at sites all over the country and I will soon start the analysis of the data to see what can be learnt from it. Brian Cumming Enlightening Branches on the work of the NDC Andy Elliot is working with Southern Regional Coach in visiting branches. Seeing what they're doing and explaining the role of the National Diving Committee. Dennis Wigg Diving Group Leader |
BSAC Headquarters
The annual BSAC Diving Officer’s Conference 2007 The BSAC Diving Officer’s Conference takes place on Saturday December 1st 2007 at the Institute for Education in London. Open to ALL BSAC Diving Officers, First Class Divers, Instructors and ALL OTHER MEMBERS (as Branch Representatives). ALL diving instructors from other training agencies also welcome. The BSAC DOC 2007 is your opportunity to find out about what’s new in diving. The programme is already looking exciting and informative and all branches and BSAC Centres should try to attend to keep up to date with the latest BSAC news. Keynote speakers such as Professor Trevor Norton - renowned author talking about The Brave, Brilliant and Barmy and Martin Dean on the latest radical new 3D imaging of wrecks will turn the programme into an interesting day. The day will give everyone an opportunity to meet up with old friends and new over a lunch break. An optional buffet lunch is provided if people choose.  Win an Evolution rebreather! All ticket holders that come to DOC are automatically added to the prize draw. The full prize is and an Evolution rebreather, worth £5,384 plus a 4 day BSAC training course worth £500. Application forms will be sent out to everyone in the middle of September. Updates and news will be sent to you all in BSAC Talk, etalk, Dive Magazine and direct emails so please keep your eyes peeled! There's an Awards Dinner this time! In the evening of the day of the DOC, by popular demand there will be a black tie Awards Dinner to be held at the Hotel Russell. Booking Booking will be easy online in the middle of September - keep an eye on the BSAC website for an announcement. Further queries on the event please call 0151 350 6216 or email Mary Tetley |