SCUBAHUB
How winter can work wonders for training
LOOKING TO EXPAND YOUR DIVING skills or explore your underwater interests this winter ? Then why not make the most of your seasonal diving downtime with a trip to one of BSAC ’ s overseas centres .
Many overseas BSAC Centres not only offer the Diver Training Programme but also Skill Development Courses ( SDCs ), meaning you can combine a winter holiday with progressing your diving .
From honing your search and rescue skills to marine life identification , there ’ s a host of SDCs to choose from , whether your interest is in safety , first aid , technical , or specialist diving skills . And , by using BSAC ’ s online Find a Centre tool – bsac . com / findacentre – you can match the location to the SDCs you ’ d like to do .
The opportunity to train overseas , ready to use their new skills back in the UK has already been embraced by Midlands couple , Debbie and Carl Roberts , who are both members of Black Country Barracudas . BSAC members since 2020 , the couple are both Dive Leaders and travelled to the Canary Islands in late September to
complete the Accelerated Decompression Procedures and Twin-set SDCs to become Advanced Twin-set Divers . Their BSAC centre of choice was Lanzarote Dive Centre .
Debbie said the decision to do their chosen SDCs overseas was an easy one .
“ We wanted to do the courses in warm , clear waters , with good viz , which we struggle with in the Midlands as we only have inland sites close to us . We met Paul and Val from Lanzarote Dive Centre on a previous trip to the island , and after being greeted so warmly , we decided we would like to go back and do the course with them .”
After such a positive experience , Debbie said she would recommend completing SDCs overseas during the winter . “ The centre and the warm weather made it all really enjoyable !” As an Open Water Instructor , Debbie now hopes to share her new skills with others in her branch .
Val Williams , from Lanzarote Dive Centre , said that they offered a wide range of SDCs , as well as BSAC diver grade training , including opportunities to complete individual modules of their course in warmer water .
“ It is great way of having a winter holiday and getting some winter sun whilst also getting in some winter diving . It is also really good way for us to build relationships with BSAC clubs ,” she explained .
“ And , by keeping your skills up during the winter months you ’ ll be ready to dive back in to the UK waters without delay and with increased confidence , skills and experience .”
For more information on BSAC ’ s Skill Development Courses , go to bsac . com / sdcs
Benefit of the Month
BSAC Travel Partners
WITH THE LONG NIGHTS AND COLD winter days , quality time in the water may seem like a distant memory . But with your BSAC membership , you can grab yourself a warm water dive holiday bargain to satisfy your scuba cravings .
Booking your next dive trip with BSAC ’ s Travel Partners means you can save at least 5 % on a range of winter and summer diving holidays . So , whether you plan a cheeky Red Sea liveaboard to stave off the winter blues or are dreaming of something more long-haul , check out the fantastic deals exclusively offered by our Travel Partners . And to make the deal even sweeter , your immediate family members can benefit from the BSAC Travel Partner discounts too !
Here are the current discounts offered by BSAC ’ s four Travel Partners to whet your dive holiday appetite :
■ Diverse - 6 % off all worldwide resort and liveaboard diving holidays , including special offers .
■ Regaldive - with 25 iconic diving destinations , BSAC members can save 6 % on Regaldive resorts and liveaboard holidays worldwide ( 10 % during promotional periods ).
■ Scuba Travel - 6 % off all Scuba Travel ’ s Egyptian liveaboard and resort holidays and 5 % off worldwide holidays .
■ ZuBlu - 5 % off all worldwide travel packages ( resorts and liveaboards ), including those already discounted .
For more information on the latest dive travel savings for members and to claim your discount , go to bsac . com / travelpartners
Scapa boat under investigation
THE MARINE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION Branch ( MAIB ) has confirmed it is investigating an incident in which a diver lost his life in the Flow .
Paul Smith , 70 , from Greater Manchester was reported missing on September 28 , after a dive near the wreck of the German battleship , SMS Markgraf . His body was recovered several weeks later . MAIB has now confirmed it is investigating the incident .
A notice posted on the MAIB website has given further detail about the investigation to establish whether Mr Smith had been struck by the MV Karin , stating : ‘ A passing dive support vessel struck a recreational diver making an underwater decompression stop in Scapa Flow , the Orkney Islands , Scotland , resulting in one fatality .’
No further information was available at the time of going to press .
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