Club Members,
Please find attached a summary of what's available from BSAC for diver training, in both Leadership / Instructor Training, and Skills Development Courses (SDCs).
As you can see there are certain minimum standards required for Instructor training, so if you fancy that route then you will need a minimum Sports Diver qualification plus the Instructor Foundation Course, for instance.
Skill Development Courses are open to many training levels; I've done a quick list to illustrate what type of training is available.
If you want more details about a particular course then check out this section of the BSAC website:
http://www.bsac.org/techserv/sdc/sdcchart.htm
or there was a useful guide leaflet posted with your November issue of Dive magazine.
What I would like from each of you please is a quick email back to confirm your current level of training, along with what you would like to cover over the next twelve months.
For example, I am currently a Sports Diver and I'd like to continue my Dive Leader training.
I would also like to work towards Diver Coxswain and maybe Chartwork in the Seamanship section of the SDCs.
If you hold an Instructor qualification would you kindly indicate what type of training you would be happy to assist with (i.e. pool training, newbies, summer only, etc.)?
There might be quite a bit of training over the next twelve months if I can generate enough interest in our membership, so the more Instructors we can round up, the less the burden on those that are willing to help!!
It's my intention to produce a skills matrix for the club membership for everyone to see where they are, and to help identify future training needs to ensure the long term growth and development of our club.
I plan to try and work closely with the Bath Clubs for training purposes; already they have talked about Dive Leader training starting later in December (brrrr!!!) But if we have students wanting to train (as I expect we will), then they may want input and assistance from our Instructors too.
I would be grateful if you could let me have the details in the next couple of weeks please, i.e. current qualifications, training needs, and training availability (if applicable).
Thank you very much. Paul
Training Officer
Hello All,
See below a few dates to put in on your calendars.
I'm also looking for volunteers for the Trowbridge Carnival so if your interested in taking part or just helping to get a float ready please let me know as the date is fast approaching.
Going on the success of the last race night another has been arranged and hopefully we will be able to raise even more money for club funds so invite your friends.
Finally the annual club meal has been scheduled for October this year, location is yet to be finalised but suggestions have included the SS Great Britain, Cumberwell Park and The Old mill at Bath, any suggestions will be welcomed
Keep an eye on the club web site for more information and see you on the 18th August in Bath for a few beers!
Regards, John
First of all, a big thanks to the Sea Cadet Unit at Trowbridge for hosting our Race night.
It proved to be a great success, with some people even winning a little, the event managed to raise approximately £100 for the club funds.
Rumour has it, that the Sea Cadet Unit are keen for another one maybe later this year (early October?) and I'm sure that those of us that attended from the club would try to break the bank again, given the opportunity.
So well done John and your little helpers, for all your work in setting things up.
Dear All
The Race night has been re-scheduled for the 10th of June, this is just over three weeks away. Please can you let me know if you are planning to attend. Also i am looking for a couple of people to help on on the evening any volunteers?
What the race night all about?
The evening is a virtual horse race event where a series of races are shown on a big screen. The races have been filmed at selected events held recently British race courses, but for obvious reasons the names of the horses have been changed. There will be all the normal things associated with a day at the races, a bookie betting slips, horses odds etc.
Is this Legal?
Yes - we will be using are own "monopoly" money that will be exchanged on the evening.
Where is the event being held?
We have been lucky enough to have been given to opportunity to use the Sea cadets hall. This is located behind the MAFF, Frome road, Trowbridge, BA14 ODG. REF: http://www.sea-cadets.org/location-finder.aspx#
Can i get a beer on the night?
Yes - the sea cadets have providing refreshments.
What about Food?
I am asking people to bring buffet style food along on the evening.
Is there Parking?
Yes - there is plenty of parking at the hall but please make sure you don't block access.
Right i think that should be everything covered, any questions and comments please get in touch and can you let me know if you are going to attend or not.
Many Thanks, John
Before you go diving this year a safety lecture and rescue must be done. The dates allocated for this are as follows:- Rescue in Pool - 8th, 15th and 22nd March - please try and buddy up Safety Lecture - 15th and 22nd - this will start at 9.30 pm in the Swan and take around 30 minutes. Please ensure you take this opportunity to do both before the dive season starts and please pass this on to anyone not on email. Thank you
We will be running the Practical Rescue Management (PRM) course on Saturday 1st April at Horsea. This is a one day event open to Sports Divers and above. The course aims to develop dive rescue knowledge and skills, using on-land and in-water practical sessions to teach the management of rescue situations. The course material includes the 'Safety and Rescue for Divers' manual. If you or any members in your branch are interested, please visit
http://southern.bsacregions.org
to book your places. All you need is your BSAC membership number. We will need to close bookings by 17 March, so if you are interested, please do book up soon. Regards,
We will be running the Search & Recovery course on 8th / 9th April. This is a two day course open to Sports Divers and above. The aim of the course is to instruct members in effective underwater search techniques and safe procedures for using buoyancy for lifting/recovering objects from the sea bed and bringing them ashore. If you or any members in your branch are interested, please visit
http://southern.bsacregions.org
to book your places. All you need is your BSAC membership number
Severnside SAC in Bristol are planning to run an O2 Admin SDC one Saturday very soon, either late Feb or early March. The course will take place at the Severnside Clubhouse. The cost including BSAC registration and O2 used is likely to be £18 but will be confirmed.
If you wish to do this course which covers a large 'chunk' of the Dive Leader Course please let the Severnside D.O. Chris Ingham know as soon as possible. Chris can be contacted on chris.ingham@severnsidesac.com
David George Training Officer Severnside SAC www.severnsidesac.com
Thanks Tom
Update: The pool will be closed on the 13th February to 6th March - 3 weeks
Thanks Tracey
An update on this event. It is going ahead. Not everyone is attending the Dive Show. If you don't make it to this one then there is another one in Exeter at the end of November (26th weekend) - so get booking as this one is nearly full already. For those who wonder why this event was booked to clash with the dive show - it was not! The events are booked in August the year before and the Dive Show dates don't come out until after the London show which is in March (6 months later) so my plea is this - if there are any psychics out there - please get in touch.....
South West Regional Coach.
Hi everyone,
I have just been informed by Mike Rowley, our Technical chief (and rebreather guru) in the South West, that he has reserved the Dragers and Inspirations for the sole use by the South West Region for the whole of January. So basically it is up to you to ask for a try dive session at your club. The first thing you need to do is to find out how many people in your branch would be interested in having a go - and on which unit - the Drager (semi-closed) or the Inspiration (closed). Then send Mike and myself an email requesting a date and numbers you envisage, and of course your location. The try dives are free, although the branch members involved will have to cover the costs of the instructors' expenses. This is 28p per mile, and any Sorb and O2 fills required. Mike can do these pretty cheaply, but the costs usually come to between £5 and £10 per head. This will be on a first come first served basis, but we aim to travel the length and breadth of the region to accommodate as many as possible. On the same note, could all rebreather users please respond to me and Mike as to your availability to come and help out! So - see what your branch wants and then get in touch. We will be in the try dive pool at the NEC Dive Show next weekend, so come and see us then and have a chat. Just listen for a brummy accent (Mike) and I will be the one running away from the pool as I think there is a cunning plan to get me in fully clothed this year. Mike's email is mikerowley@tiscali.co.uk.
Regards Sophie South West Regional Coach
A few noteworthy items:
In the autumn/winter Wessfed is to hold a series of lectures/talks.
The speakers are still to be confirmed but may include Richard Bull talking about his work on the Amazon television series, a bomb disposal diver who defused a bomb within a gasometer! And a couple of others which I've forgotten.
They will be held at the Severnside clubhouse, on either the second or third Tuesday of the month - Nov, Dec, Jan, and Feb.
The other event will be a chance to 'meet the BSAC council' with a forum/discussion to be held again at Severnside provisionally on Tues 1st Nov at which it is hoped the three severnside council members plus hopefully the new chairman will be available to answer questions and discuss issues.
Tom