SCUBAHUB
Underwater Surveyor – new course launched
BSAC HAS LAUNCHED ITS NEW Underwater Surveyor Skill Development Course in partnership with ocean conservation charity Seawilding .
Designed to engage members in protecting and restoring our precious marine habitat , Underwater Surveyor combines Seawilding ’ s expertise in marine surveying and BSAC ’ s diving know-how . The result is a fun and informative course that equips snorkellers or divers with the skills to safely conduct underwater surveys and record the habitats that they find .
With a focus on the UK ’ s endangered native oyster and seagrass beds , Underwater
Surveyor comprises eLearning and practical in-water training , where you learn how to undertake marine surveys . It teaches you how to collect rigorous data and signposts you to national data collection projects where you can put your skills into action .
Following on from the success of Shore Surveyor , BSAC ’ s Mary Tetley said the new course was a welcome addition to the BSAC Skill Development Course programme . “ Underwater Surveyor reinforces BSAC ’ s commitment to help protect and conserve the underwater environment . By galvanising BSAC members to use their underwater skills to collect essential survey
data , we can make a difference in our collective understanding of the challenges our precious oceans face .”
The UK ’ s first community-led native oyster and seagrass restoration project , Seawilding has previously collaborated with BSAC on the Shore Surveyor course .
Underwater Surveyor now takes the partnership one step further to create a community of BSAC members who can gather essential underwater data around our coastline .
Seawilding ’ s science and survey officer Katherine Knight said she hoped as many BSAC members as possible sign up for the new course .
“ Surveying is great fun , opens your eyes to a new appreciation of the underwater world and is the first vital step in implementing conservation measures . With the new Underwater Surveyor course , you can add a whole new element to your diving while being a positive force for the ocean . So little is known about our oceans that any data you gather is immensely valuable ’.”
The BSAC Underwater Surveyor course is suitable for snorkellers , Ocean Divers and above . The course costs £ 20 for the eLearning and £ 25 for the practical sessions .
For more information on Underwater Surveyor and to sign up , go to bsac . com / underwatersurveyor
Make the leap to Instructor
BSAC IS CALLING ON DIVE LEADERS who have yet to progress into instructing to make 2024 the year they take the plunge . Dive Leaders ( DLs ) are an important
12 grade for BSAC as they play a key role in the day-to-day running and management of club diving . As one of the BSAC ’ s most popular courses , Dive Leader is also the jumping off point for members who want to become Open Water Instructors .
To bring more instructors on within the club network , BSAC is now asking current Dive Leaders who have not yet moved into instructing to find out more .
“ There are currently 2,290 Dive Leaders on BSAC ’ s records who have no instructor qualification and 905 DLs who have not progressed beyond the Instructor Foundation Course ,” explained ITS Co-ordinator Jenny Mooney . “ While not everyone wants to go down the instructor route , for those that do , the journey can be incredibly rewarding .”
Following the Instructor Foundation Course ( IFC ), a Dive Leader can assist with try dives as well as the supporting their club ’ s instructor team with the training of Ocean Divers , as an Assistant Instructor . To then progress to Open Water Instructor , you need to complete the Open Water Instructor Course , Theory and Practical Instructor exams .
It ’ s also possible to fast-track your Open Water Instructor training with one of BSAC ’ s one-week Combined Instructor Events at Stoney Cove in Leicestershire , for Dive Leaders and above .
For more details on the Stoney Cove Combined Events ( 11-15 May and 21-25 September ) or information on Open Water Instructor courses in your area , go to bsac . com / events or email bookings @ bsac . com