Ocean Diver referrals could be a useful additional option for your club to approach teaching new members to dive.
Not all clubs have enough active instructors to cope with new member demand. An opportunity that may get overlooked by clubs is offering new trainees the option of completing either the whole Ocean Diver course or just the qualifying open water dives, at a BSAC centre, either at home or overseas.
Particularly during the winter season, when our waters are colder and less appetising for some Ocean Diver trainees, offering a referral programme where trainees complete their qualifying open water dives overseas could be a way to widen your club's appeal to potential new members.
Generally, there are two ways to approach Ocean Diver referrals with your members:
- Complete the theory and pool training with your club before travelling to an overseas BSAC Centre of their choice.
- Complete the theory and pool training before embarking on a club training trip where your club's instructor/s (or resident BSAC instructors at the centre) complete the qualifying open water dives with the trainees.
Both of the above can be a useful way to:
- Circumnavigate a lack of active instructors within your club
- Train year-round during the winter season when the waters are cold in the UK
- Provide more varied options for those wanting to learn to dive
- Postpone the need to buy a drysuit which is often a stumbling block (hopefully the trip will seal a love of diving)
Additional bonuses include bonding with members if they train on club trip abroad, possible higher retention, and experiencing diving abroad as well as UK.
Forming strong bonds between a BSAC Club and a BSAC Centre can be mutually beneficial with regards to training trips and sharing resources. Check out our directory of BSAC Centres both in the UK and overseas to reach out and start to form a relationship.
What clubs are saying
High Wycombe Sub-Aqua Club Diving Officer Amanda Chandler did an Ocean Diver referral back in 2010 with BSAC Centre Maltaqua. Since learning, she has now progressed through her club to become an instructor and Diving Officer. Ocean Diver referrals are something that they don’t formally offer but have suggested to some of their trainees this year. Amanda said:
UK diving is challenging for those new to the sport and making it easier in warmer waters with better visibility during training can only encourage more people to pursue it.
High Wycombe isn’t the only club that has taken to utilising this method of training. Clubs London City Scuba and Clidive have both offered Ocean Diver referrals over the years.
As a city club, London City Scuba Diving and Training Officer David Gosnell says they find it hard to get students to regularly attend Ocean Diver sessions during the week, meaning that training can go on for 15 weeks if not more, not to mention the difficulty with getting to dive sites at the weekend. David said:
With referrals, our instructors sometimes travel overseas with the students and complete their training using our own instructor resources. When they are going on holiday and we do not attend, we place the onus on the student to find and arrange their own training with a overseas BSAC centre. We have found that this adds another dimension, that we as a club can offer to new members, and due to the demographics of our trainee groups, works well for us and the students.
Some clubs are communicating these options on their websites, such as Bingham Sub-Aqua Club, which promotes the referral route as a ‘fast-track’. Bingham has forged a relationship with Stoney Cove to work out an option that works for both sides. Adrian Collier at Bingham said:
We found that our club’s training schedule wasn’t compatible for some new members but we didn’t want to turn them away. Forging a relationship with Stoney Cove enabled us to offer these members faster and flexible options that suited all three parties: the member, the club and the BSAC Centre.
Formally offering referrals to potential members and new trainees could really encourage students and give them another option for ways to learn to dive.
Have you done an Ocean Diver referral?
Whether your club offers referrals to new trainees or you did one yourself, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Imi via email to tell her your story.
