National Diving Committee (NDC)

Members of NDC are volunteers led and appointed by BSAC's National Diving Officer (NDO), Dai Atkins. They bring a wealth of experience and work to support and develop all aspects of diving, snorkelling and training within BSAC.

The National Diving Committee (NDC) is always interested in hearing feedback from members. You may have an idea for an improvement or have a frustration that you would love to be resolved. Whatever it is, good or bad, please let it know. Feedback is welcomed and encouraged from all, from Ocean Divers in training through to members with many years’ of diving and training experience.
Email National Diving Officer (NDO) Dai.

The NDC is made up of various specialist groups, as follows.

NDC Steering group

What we do

The NDC steering group forms a direct advisory group to the National Diving Officer and meets regularly to share information on the progress of projects and to plan future activities within their groups.

The Steering Group's remit is to ensure that a consistent approach is adopted by all those delegated responsibilities by the NDO and to avoid duplication of effort. Email us for more information

The team

National Diving Officer - Dai Atkins
Email Dai
Diver Training Group Leader - Sophie Rennie
Email Sophie

Technical Group Leader - Dai Atkins
Email Dai
Instructor Training Group Leader - Steve Capes
Email Steve
Safety Group Leader - Jon Parlour
Email Jon

Diver Training group

National Diving Officer - Dai Atkins
Email Dai
Diver Training Group Leader - Sophie Rennie
Email Sophie
First Class Diver Chief Examiner - Rob Sewell
Email Rob
Coaching Co-ordinator - Mark Paisey
Email Mark
Centres Advisor - Adrian Collier
Email Adrian

Military Advisor - Dom Robinson
Email Dom
BSAC Scientific Advisor - Gavin Anthony
Email Gavin
Expeditions Officer - Andy Hunt
Email Andy
BSAC Expeditions Grant Scheme (BEGS) Officer - Max Ruffert
Email Max
Wreck Protection Marine and Underwater Heritage Advisor - Jane Maddocks
Email Jane
Diving for All Chief Instructor - Rob Jackson
Email Rob
Snorkel Chief Examiner - Adrian Cadman
Email Adrian
Diver Training Programme Review - Jim Watson
Email Jim
HQ / Admin Liaison - Geoff Bacon
Email Geoff
Seamanship Chief Instructor - Hywel Dyer
Email Hywel
SDC Review - Adrian Collier

Instructor Training group

What we do

The Instructor Training Group look after instructor training within BSAC, from the Instructor Foundation Course through to the National Instructor Exam. The team, all volunteers, are tasked with monitoring, refining and keeping up to date the instructor grades. They also look towards any improvements that can be made.

Importantly, the team are also active and enthusiastic members of the Instructor Training Scheme, practising what they preach! Email us for more information

The team

Instructor Training Group Leader - Steve Capes
The Instructor Training Group (ITG) Leader's role is to provide direction and coordinated support for his team and ensure everyone is working towards the defined objectives of the Group, NDC and BSAC Council. The ITG Leader is also a link between the ITG and other Groups by being on the NDC Steering Group.
Email Steve
National Instructor Chief Examiner - Dave Sydenham
The National Instructor Chief Examiner plans and manages the annual national instructor chief examiner UK NI exam and awards the qualification of National Instructor to successful candidates. This is the highest instructional qualification awarded by the BSAC and is examined over four days.
Email Dave
Advanced Instructor Chief Examiner - Paul Beal
The Advanced Instructor Chief Examiner ensures consistency of AI exams for both UK and overseas events and awards the qualification of Advanced Instructor to successful candidates. The AI Chief Examiner also implements the current criteria, analyses all examination results and moderates reports from events, advising of any anomalies that arise.
Email Paul
Open Water Chief Examiner - Luisa Smith
The Open Water Instructor (OWI) Chief Examiner ensures consistency of all exams relating to the OWI qualification for both UK and overseas events, as well as awarding the qualification of Open Water Instructor to successful candidates. The OWI Chief Examiner also implements the current criteria, analyses all examination results and moderates reports from events, advising of any anomalies that arise.
Email Luisa
Open Water Instructor Development Team - Simon Child and Andy Jarvis
Email Simon & Andy
Advanced Instructor Development - Ginge Crook
Email Ginge
Instructor Trainer Development - Jamie Heptonstall
Email Jamie
HQ / Admin Liaison - Jim Watson
Email Jim

Technical group

What we do

Since the introduction of Nitrox in the early 1990s, the sport of diving has evolved radically and rapidly. The evolution of rebreathers and mixed gas diving has without question altered many divers' perception on the definition of sport diving.

The Technical Team has been given the remit of reviewing current and future dive trends and to investigate the practical and safe integration of the more readily available technologies into BSAC. Part of the role is to educate divers by demystifying 'technical diving' and to ensure the timely evolution of the BSAC Diver Training Programme.

In order to address this scope of works, the BSAC is combining together all the technical elements under one mantle to enable a more pragmatic and cost effective approach to the management of 'technical diving' and its associated issues.

In addition, to provide more clarity to the BSAC membership when addressing issues and concerns. This is achieved through a network of designated representatives under the respective areas of responsibility and additional support from a range of advisors with specialist knowledge. Email us for more information