FAVOURITEKIT
FAVOURITEKIT
My dive mask is the one thing
“ I always pack in my daysac [ a small rucksack ] when out and about. So many times, I have simply jumped into the sea or a river and had a swim. The goggles are light and small and give you great access to the underwater world.
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“ This has meant that I do less branch teaching. I now coach and mentor members that have been on the Open Water Instructor suite of courses and exams instead of teaching student divers.”
Will’ s other passion, as a MOD 3 rebreather diver, is planning and running expeditions, especially technical ones.“ I have several in the pipeline,” he says.“ Not
Al fresco cuisine
all technical, as I am using these as vehicles to develop and coach new leaders.”
He dives almost entirely in the UK, with a passion for West Wales developed in his childhood and early 20s that has never dimmed. Today, Will is based in Plymouth, in England’ s south-west. Despite his skills in deeper technical diving, favourite spots are the shallow shore dives around the waterfront, West Hoe.“ In less than 15 metres you can see all manner of life and there is a great place for a post-dive hot chocolate,” he says.
Will works as a commercial advisor on submarine refit for a defence, aerospace and security firm. He is also a part-time commercial diver, a yellow hardhat diver. So, when I ask about logging dives, there are two answers.“ We log all commercial dives; but I wish I had logged all my 4,500 + dives.
“ I regret it when people say,‘ Can you remember that dive when we saw a thingamajig.’ Quite often I look blank. I think logging dives is important and I wish I had continued it. It would be great to look back and re-read old adventures.”
Diving is all about the friendships you make along the way, he says. Will moved to Plymouth a few years ago and on his first night he rocked up to Plymouth Sound Divers.“ I was welcomed and now many of my friends are those who I have met through the branch.
“ I also love the whole experience: a day of diving is a long day, with only a small amount of it spent underwater. The craic in between dives or getting to and from the dive site is vital – this leads to some great opportunities and adventures, some more memorable than the dive itself. My best friends are my diving buddies.”
What advice would you offer a newly qualified Ocean Diver, I ask?“ Despite loving my mask now,” he replies,“ I utterly hated mask-clearing when I first started. In fact, I failed my Novice 1 Pool( pre-Ocean-Diver) assessment a few times. But with experience your skills and confidence improve, so jump in the sea, rivers and lakes and explore the underwater world. Get comfortable in your surroundings. Ocean Diver is all about swimming underwater, we have given you the tools to survive. As an Ocean Diver explore, read, listen, watch and decide your future path. Advanced Ocean Diver and Sports Diver will teach you to dive.” �
TEACHING HIGHLIGHT
It’ s hands-down the Instructor
“ Foundation Course. We get divers who want to be there, want to learn; and, at the end of the weekend, we have a functioning instructor. Their development is wonderful to watch. BSAC needs more members and the fundamental way the organisation can survive is by having more instructors.
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In standard diving dress, assisted by the late Ray Ives( left)
Become an Instructor!
Sports Divers and up( for scuba) and 16 + year olds( for snorkelling) can start instructor training.
Scan for more info
Or visit bsac. com / instruct 49