Quotes from the three successful candidates
SCUBAHUB
Meet your new National Instructors
BSAC HAS WELCOMED THREE NEW NATIONAL INSTRUCTORS- Kathryn Fowler, Stuart Girdler and Alex Warzynski- following a‘ shakeup’ of the assessment process for the club’ s highest instructor grade.
The 2025 National Instructor( NI) candidates were put through their paces over three days in Plymouth as BSAC piloted a new structure for the annual assessment.
Each year, BSAC offers suitably qualified members the opportunity to undertake the National Instructor course and join the ranks of NIs who lead and develop BSAC training and delivery. With Kathryn, Stuart and Alex attaining the grade, 283 BSAC members now hold the NI qualification.
The introduction of a more flexible approach for 2025 meant that candidates could use‘ real-time’ teaching opportunities on the BSAC’ s Instructor Training Scheme as preparation for their final assessment. As a result, the National Instructor‘ pilot’ saw the final assessment held over three rather than the usual four days.
Thanking all the 2025 candidates for taking part, National Diving Officer Sophie Rennie, who is also BSAC’ s National Instructor Chief Examiner, offered her congratulations to the three new National Instructors.
“ 2025 was the year for a shake-up of the National Instructor Exam and a chance to pilot a new structure. Part of the new exam saw them be assessed as Lead Instructors or Lead Examiners on the Open Water Instructor courses and exams, so they will be around and about doing this for real early in 2026. Good luck, well done, and well deserved.”
For more information on National Instructor, go to bsac. com / ni
Quotes from the three successful candidates
PHOTO: DANIEL VALEK
Stuart Girdler, NI282“ After withdrawing from the assessment last year due to work constraints, 2025 saw me join the best bunch of divers I’ ve ever worked with on the new and accessible NI prep and exam scheme. Having been appointed as NI282, I can now answer the question- if I had not met the standards, would I have done it again? Yes, without doubt!”
Alex Warzynski, NI283“ I completed my First Class Diver earlier this year, so National Instructor seemed a good idea. The new modular format makes the events easier to attend, but no less difficult to achieve the high standards set at National level. If you’ re well dived up, an experienced ITS coach, and prepared to put the work in, NI is certainly achievable.”
Kathryn Fowler NI 281“ Working with a wide range of Instructors and Instructor Trainers at different levels has given me exposure to different instructing techniques. It has been an intense couple of years in the buildup to the NI exam, but the preps and the exam experience have pushed my instructing and diving to another level.”
Become an Instructor
– first steps
IF YOU’ RE LOOKING FOR A NEW SCUBA challenge, 2026 could be your year to become a BSAC instructor. And for Sports Divers and above, the place to start is the Instructor Foundation Course( IFC).
Long-regarded as one of the most enjoyable BSAC courses, the IFC can now also be delivered as a one-day or a two-day course, providing a focused approach for the trainee Assistant Diving Instructor. Completing your first step to becoming a BSAC Instructor can be your next winter project and fast-track you into supporting your club’ s instructor team.
A mix of pool sessions and theory lessons, the IFC is BSAC’ s gateway into instructing— a short, accessible introduction to the theory and practical skills needed to begin teaching diving. It’ s not a full instructor qualification, but it gives you hands-on
experience, teaches you how to break down and coach skills, and lets you dip your toes into the role of instructor.
As part of the course, you’ ll deliver a short classroom lesson( online for the one-day IFC) and a mini pool session to your fellow candidates. The aim is to build confidence and insight into BSAC instructing. For Dive Leaders and above, it can then provide a stepping stone towards becoming a fully qualified BSAC Open Water Instructor.
To enrol, you must hold a BSAC Sports Diver qualification( or equivalent) and be at
least 16 years old. After finishing, you’ ll be an Assistant Diving Instructor, able to help teach Ocean Diver and Sports Diver classes( pool, classroom, and open water) under supervision.
For more information and to find a scheduled IFC near you, log into your MyBSAC and click on‘ courses’ or go to bsac. com / findacourse
Can’ t see a date or location that suits you? Then you can contact bookings @ bsac. com or call 0151 350 6205 to discuss your training options.
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