BSAC Council

BSAC's Council members are a group of experienced divers with a passion for the sport and for helping their members get the most from their diving and snorkelling experiences. If you are interested in getting involved visit the Get into governance section.
Chair - Andy Shenstone Andy has extensive experience of leading member-based organisations and in his professional life is the CEO of NEBOSH, a charity that provides health, safety and environmental qualifications. Andy is an Advanced Diver and OWI in Vale Royal SAC based in Winsford, Cheshire where he’s also the Diving Officer and club treasurer. He dives in the UK throughout the year and leads club expeditions both in the UK and overseas most recently to Croatia. "Diving is my passion and being Chair of Council allows me to use my professional skills to support our sport’s continued development and success in the interests of all members."
Vice-Chair - Yasmine Thorn Yasmine has been a committee member of her local branch for four years and has previously supported many large-scale public engagement projects. Yasmine works in HR and recruitment and is passionate about ensuring compliance with legislation as well as inclusivity. As a young woman in diving, of mixed heritage, with a disability, Yasmine is keen to explore existing barriers to the sport for people of all backgrounds and attempt to break those down.
National Diving Officer - Sophie Rennie Sophie has amassed nearly 3,000 dives in UK waters and all over the world and has an interest in anything underwater but especially the big stuff such as whale sharks, mantas and turtles. She says taking up the post of NDO is a real honour and she will give it her best shot as a dedicated BSAC member and volunteer. For Sophie, this appointment is the culmination of several jobs including SW Regional coach, OWI chief instructor, diver training lead and head of snorkelling. Email Sophie
Honorary Treasurer - Richard Pettifer Richard is a Chartered Accountant and has spent many years working for large accountancy firms and financial services companies until his retirement at the end of 2023. He started diving in 2006, at first mostly undertaking holiday diving but after a while he wanted to develop his diving further and so he joined BSAC, London no.1 branch in 2021, where he is now Branch Chair. He is a Dive Leader working towards Open Water Instructor, and in his spare time enjoys sailing, mostly involved in offshore yachting.
Dai Atkins Dai has been an active member of BSAC since 2006, involved at branch, regional and national levels. Since becoming a National Instructor in 2016 he has served six years as National Diving Officer, presiding over diving and training activities through some challenging times as well as seeing great progress made by the organisation as we move to more online learning, digitisation of services and diversification of products - whilst maintaining high quality and safety standards for our members.
David Bell David has been a member of BSAC since 2005 when his club crossed over from another agency, and has been his club’s chairman for almost 20 years. He is an Advanced Instructor and a member of the ITS, as well as a former Regional Coach for Wales. During his working career he was a member of the Armed Forces, followed by the Civil Police attaining supervisory ranks in each. After retirement he decided to embark on another career with the railway, and only retired a short while ago as the local station manager. David brings a wealth of skills to the Council coupled with practicality and common sense.
Carline Deal Carline joined one of BSAC's longest standing clubs, Bermondsey 42 (London) in 2021 while much of the UK was still under lockdown restrictions. Theory lessons were conducted online until pools opened and practical lessons could restart, enabling her to fulfil one of her lifelong ambitions to become an Ocean Diver. Steadily progressing through Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver with a sister branch in Egypt, BSAC membership has not only brought her diving skills but also friendships and camaraderie based on shared passion for the ocean. Carline is an Army veteran, holds a BA (Hons) in Business management, with a background in finance, neuroscience, and research & development. Her career experience spans 25+ years collectively in the fields of private banking, project management, business strategy, and continuity planning.
Catherine Haworth Catherine is new to diving but says she is "excited to throw herself in at the deep end". She loves the ocean and learned to dive so she could fulfil a long held dream of swimming with sharks. Now that's ticked off her bucket list, she is wanting to gain more experience and see more of the underwater world. By day, Catherine is a lawyer who specialises in brand management and intellectual property. She hopes to bring her knowledge and love of the ocean to BSAC as a member of the Council.
Michelle Haywood Michelle is a National Instructor and has been a member of BSAC for nearly 30 years. She has run a BSAC Centre of Excellence and dive centre in the Isle of Man for over 20 years and is currently the Diving Officer of the Special Branch associated with the dive centre. Michelle is an active instructor teaching everything from snorkelling upwards, and is enjoying coaching members of her Branch towards their higher level diving and instructor qualifications. In her professional life Michelle is an elected member of the Manx Parliament and is currently a government Minister. Getting out of the office and underwater is Michelle’s happy place, no phone, no emails and every snorkel or dive is a joy!
Emma James Emma learned to dive in 2013 and joined BSAC through Chelsea & Fulham SAC in 2022, where she discovered the challenges and beauty of British diving. Emma believes that recreational divers are ideally positioned to lend a hand and voice to protecting the underwater world and marine environment in the UK and around the world. Aside from diving, Emma is an international publishing consultant, having formerly worked at a senior level for global book publishing corporations. In her publishing career, she has been responsible for setting up international partnerships, concluded international licensing contracts, arranged translations in over 50 countries and safe-guarded brand usage and reputations internationally. Emma is a committed supporter of the BSAC strategy and keen to help grow BSAC awareness and memberships in the UK and internationally.
Non-Executive Director - Alistair Dickson Alistair worked as a senior instructor at the National Watersport Centre, Plas Menai, before pursuing a career as an officer in the British Army and qualifying as one of the few Royal Engineer military divers. More latterly, he has worked as CEO of Canoe Wales, the governing body for paddlesports in Wales. This is following a career in the RYA where he was High Performance Manager and Interim CEO for RYA Cymru Wales, and Director of Sport Development at RYA HQ. During his time as Director of Sport Development, Alistair was credited with supporting the development and modernisation of the large network of clubs and training centres in line with the findings of the British Marine Futures Project – a joint initiative looking at the future customer of the UK leisure boating and watersports industry.
Non-Executive Director - Samantha Holgate-Davey Sam is Strategic Lead for Projects and Programmes at British Equestrian, the National Governing Body for equestrian sport in the UK. She leads the design and delivery of sector-wide initiatives focused on resilience, sustainable growth, and widening participation. With over 25 years’ experience in programme delivery across national governing bodies, the arts and cultural sector, and community development, Sam specialises in strategic, insight-led development and partnership working. A lifelong equestrian, and born and brought up by the sea, she is passionate about widening access to outdoor activity and the natural world, and looks forward to contributing to BSAC’s ongoing growth and development.

Life Vice President - Harry Gould