Instructor requirements for BSAC's SDCs are summarised in the tables below.

BSAC courses that require either specialist skills (e.g. First Aid or Technical Diving) and/or specialist equipment (e.g. AED) carry 'Approved Instructor' status. Please see the table below for prerequisites and how to gain 'Approved Instructor' status. For teaching purposes, please refer to the SDC instructor materials for details.

SDCs Assistant Diving Instructors can teach:

Course name         Additional requirements Instructor materials
Beachcomber    Go to materials
Buoyancy and Trim workshop Must hold Gold Standard buoyancy and be supervised as per DTP.  Go to materials
Underwater Photography Must be supervised as per DTP.  Go to materials

SDCs Theory Instructors can teach:

Course name Additional requirements Instructor materials
Beachcomber   Go to materials
Buoyancy and Trim workshop Must hold Gold Standard buoyancy and be supervised as per DTP. Go to materials
Marine Life Appreciation Need Practical Instructor status to teach diving elements. Go to materials
Nitrox Workshop  Any OWI can teach this Go to materials
Underwater Photography Must be supervised as per DTP for practical sessions. Go to materials
Wreck Appreciation Only theory sections. Go to materials

SDCs Practical Instructors can teach:

Course name Additional requirements Instructor materials
Beachcomber   Go to materials
Buoyancy and Trim workshop Must hold Gold Standard buoyancy and be supervised as per DTP. Go to materials
Drysuit Training Any OWI can teach this (that uses a drysuit) Go to materials
Underwater Photography Must be supervised as per DTP for theory sessions. Go to materials

Wreck Appreciation

Only practical sections. Go to materials

SDCs Open Water Instructors can teach:

Course name Additional requirements Instructor materials
Advanced Lifesaver Award Must hold this SDC qualification. Go to materials
Advanced Snorkel Lifesaver Must hold this SDC qualification. Go to materials
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Must hold this SDC qualification. Needs an annual refresher. Need to teach on a Course under the supervision of an Approved AED Instructor. Go to materials
Beachcomber   Go to materials
Buoyancy and Trim workshop Must hold Gold Standard buoyancy and be supervised as per DTP. Go to materials
Compressor Operation

Must hold this SDC qualification. And be able to verify 10 hours of experience. (Verification should be signed by another instructor or club Diving Officer.)

Go to materials
Chartwork and Position Fixing Must hold this SDC qualification. Go to materials
Dive Planning and Management   Any OWI can teach this Go to materials
Drysuit Training  Any OWI can teach this (that uses a drysuit) Go to materials
First Aid for Divers Must hold this SDC qualification. Also need to teach on a course under the supervision of an Approved First Aid Instructor. Go to materials
Lifesaver Award Must hold this SDC qualification. Go to materials
Marine Life Appreciation   Any OWI can teach this Go to materials
Nitrox Workshop   Any OWI can teach this Go to materials
Mixed Gas Blender Must hold this SDC qualification. Need to teach competently on a course under the supervision of a Gas Blender Instructor. Go to materials
Nitrox Gas Blender Must hold this SDC qualification. Need to teach competently on a course under the supervision of a Gas Blender Instructor. Go to materials

Outboard Engine and Boat Maintenance

 Must hold this SDC or other relevant training.   No materials
Oxygen Administration   Any OWI can teach this Go to materials
Practical Rescue Management  Any OWI can teach this Go to materials
RNLI Diver Sea Survival Workshop  Any OWI can teach this Go to materials
Search and Recovery Must hold this SDC qualification. Go to materials
Snorkel Lifesaver Must hold this SDC qualification. Go to materials
Underwater Photography  Any OWI with the relevant experience can teach this Go to materials
Wreck Appreciation  Any OWI can teach this Go to materials
Wreck Diving  Any OWI can teach this Go to materials

SDCs Advanced Instructors can teach:

Course name Additional requirements Instructor materials
Compressor Operation Must hold this SDC qualification. And are automatically credited as Compressor Operator Instructors. Go to materials
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Must hold this SDC qualification. Needs an annual refresher and can apply for Approved Instructor status as an AED Instructor. Go to materials
First Aid for Divers Must hold this SDC qualification. And are automatically credited as FAD Instructors. Go to materials
Mixed Gas Blender Must hold this SDC qualification. And are automatically credited as Gas Blending Instructors on obtaining the resources. Go to materials
Nitrox Gas Blender Must hold this SDC qualification. And are automatically credited as Gas Blending Instructors on obtaining the resources. Go to materials


All the courses below require 'Approved Instructor' status.

SDCs an Approved Instructor can teach:

Course name Additional requirements Instructor materials

Accelerated Decompression Procedures (ADP)

Must hold ADP qualification or equivalent. Plus teach on a course under supervision of an ADP instructor.  Go to materials
Boat Handling Must hold Diver Coxswain Award. An OWI (or above) must teach competently on a course under the supervision of a Boathandling Instructor (BHI). Go to materials
Compressor Operation

Advanced Instructors (or above) who hold this SDC qualification are automatically credited as Compressor Operator Instructors.

Open Water Instructors must hold this SDC qualification and be able to verify 10 hours of experience. (Verification should be signed by another instructor or branch Diving Officer)

Go to materials
Diver Coxswain Assessment Must hold this SDC qualification and Boathandling Instructor. Conduct Assessment under the supervision of a DCA. Go to materials
First Aid for Divers

Advanced Instructors (or above) who hold this SDC qualification are automatically credited as FAD Instructors.

Open Water Instructors need to teach competently on a course under the supervision of an Approved First Aid Instructor.

Go to materials
Ice Diving Can teach course under supervision of Ice Diving Instructor Trainer. Go to materials

Mixed Gas Blender

Advanced Instructors (or above) who hold a relevant Gas blending qualification are automatically credited as Gas Blending Instructors on obtaining the resources.

Open Water Instructors need to teach competently on a course under the supervision of a Gas Blender Instructor.

Go to materials

Nitrox Gas Blender

As 'Mixed Gas Blender' above.

Go to materials

Twin-set Diver

Must hold this SDC qualification and have at least 20 dives using a twin-set. Must teach competently on two courses under the supervision of a Twin-set instructor.

Go to materials

Technical Instructors can teach:

More details can be found in the Technical Instructor section of BSAC Technical Standards.

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