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

Centres Advisor

Mark Paisey Email Mark

Diving Activities Group Lead

Jane Maddocks Email Jane

Diver Training Group Lead

Dai Atkins Email Dai

Instructor Training Group Lead

Pete Bicheno Email Pete

Safety Group Lead

Jon Parlour Email Jon

Snorkel Group Lead

Sophie Rennie Email Sophie


Ancillary advisors

The team

Heritage Advisor

Alison Mayor Email Alison

Military Advisor

Ginge Crook Email Ginge

Scientific Advisor

Gavin Anthony Email Gavin


Coaching

The team

Coaching Co-ordinator

Julia Branagan Email Julia

Regional Coaches

  View all

Universities Advisor

Yasmine Thorn Email Yasmine  


Diving activities group

The team

Diving Activities Group Lead

Jane Maddocks Email Jane

Expeditions Officer

Andy Hunt Email Andy


Diver training group

The team

Diver Training Group Lead

Dai Atkins Email Dai

First Class Diver (FCD) Chief Examiner

Dave Lucas Email Dave

Technical Chief Examiner

David Wakelam Email David

Seamanship Coordinator

Hywel Dyer Email Hywel


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 Lead

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. 

Pete Bicheno Email Pete

Instructor Training Scheme (ITS) Staff Development Officer

Sands Castro Email Sands 

Instructor Training Scheme (ITS) Quality Assurance Officer

Jamie Heptonstall  

National Instructor (NI) Chief Examiner

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. 

Sophie Heptonstall Email Sophie

Advanced Instructor (AI) Chief Examiner

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. 

Steve Capes Email Steve

Open Water Instructor (OWI) Chief Examiner

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. 

Luisa Smith Email Luisa

Diving for All (DfA) Chief Instructor

Mick Stewart Email Mick


Safety group

The team

Safety Group Lead

Jon Parlour Email Jon

Safety Chief Instructor

Jon Parlour Email Jon

Incidents Advisor

Prof. Clare Peddie Email Clare

Safety & Development Manager

Jim Watson Email Jim


Snorkel training group

The team

Snorkel Group Lead

Sophie Rennie Email Sophie

Snorkel Chief Examiner

TBC Email DRT 

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