Sophie H works on delivery . She has responded to feedback from clubs on difficulties with instructors and pools , with initiatives in e-learning and pilots of regional Ocean Diver pool training days and an Ocean Diver liveaboard event . This offered three days training plus three days of open-water diving aboard Scottish liveaboard Clasina .
To keep clubs thriving and get them working together , she exhorted the audience to “ Think projects , multi-club and regional ”. With the opening of more centres in the UK and abroad , she reminded us that we are partners , not competitors . Centres can offer clubs respite from training , as well as trip opportunities in the UK and abroad . Finally , she gave her bite-sized safety blogs a plug . Find them on the BSAC website .
Opening up our sport
Next , Andy joined Sophie H to look into the future through snorkelling . This is our “ gateway drug ”, he said , calling his snorkel a “ shallow water rebreather that lasts forever ”. Snorkelling is an inclusive activity that can be a pathway to scuba but , in
" To keep clubs thriving and get them working together "
Yasmine Thorn sets out BSAC ’ s Strategy
Clare Peddie delivers the Incident Report its own right , this lightweight piece of kit opens up the underwater world in such a sociable way , giving members the chance to become real explorers along the 25,000 kilometres of UK coastline . The number of self-guided snorkel trails in the UK is on the increase and you get a better wildlife experience on the tube , he said , especially with some of the larger life seen around the UK .
The newly introduced
Scuba Guide role , which arose from BSAC ’ s work with UK wildlife trusts , is an exciting growth point for clubs , said Sophie H . Skills such as Underwater Surveyor can be used to get members involved in project work on snorkel or scuba . What a great , low-cost way to engage more of the public with the underwater world .
Lessons learned from incidents
BSAC curates an incident database of more than 9,400 records , mostly from the UK , that represents one of the world ’ s best datasets . Clare Peddie released the 2023 BSAC Incident Report at Conference . She said that the number of incidents had remained steady since 2014 , but as always the numbers reflect diving done . In the UK , 2023 numbers also mirror the weather , with a peak in August and September matching a spell of good conditions . An unexpected , unexplained , increase in incidents involving Dive Leaders led Clare to warn about possible complacency , echoing Dan Orr ’ s comments during his presentation .
Analysis of factors influencing DCI showed that while incidents involving deeper dives ( 30m +), rapid ascents or missed stops were falling ; incidents following repeat diving , over a day or longer , showed an increase .
A significant number of incidents are put down to confirmed , probable or possible immersion pulmonary oedema ( IPO ) and Clare highlighted that this condition affects anyone in water , snorkellers and swimmers too .
How can you avoid an incident becoming a fatality ? Depth and age both play a part . If anything goes wrong , you have a better chance of recovery if you are shallower . And the average age of fatalities is higher than those who report incidents . In recent years , more incidents have been linked to a medical event , and being on your own seems to be a consistent risk . The data show that rescue techniques put into use by buddies are consistently working to save lives .
Breakout moments
There were some excellent presentations taking place in the Vox ’ s adjoining suites , all located off a central atrium .
■ Instructing for All . A guide to handson diving instruction led by Sophie Heptonstall and Alex ‘ Woz ’ Warzynski . This featured a lot of audience participation , opening with the request to give an ‘ OK ’ signal , triggering a wave of suppressed panic as everyone tried to work out what the trick might be . There was no trick , just a series of smart hints and tips for adaptable teaching techniques .
■ Women in diving . Subtitled ‘ Breaking barriers and building community ’, this was a practical , interactive workshop devoted to sharing ideas on how to recruit and retain women and girls into the diving world .
■ University clubs workshop . This session was led by Vice Chair Yasmine Thorn and Uni coordinator Joe Westnedge , who updated clubs on the support available to them . This colloborative session served as a platform for challenges and ideas to be shared between fellow uni clubs and with the wider BSAC .
Women in diving
Woz asks the questions
■ Club oxygen safety . Street SAC offered a talk about their hard-earned experience with oxygen safety , following a fire in their compressor room . This presentation offered in-depth analysis of the contributing factors , top of the list being general complacency . An account of the event and lessons learned can be found in the July 2024 issue of SCUBA .
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