SCUBAHUB
Swindon and Swansea pool resources
BSAC CLUBS SWANSEA UNIVERSITY ( SUSAC ) and Swindon BSAC ( SwinDive ), recently combined forces to deliver a successful training weekend for 29 SUSAC students .
Over 54 hours , the 44-strong group of 16 Ocean Divers , 13 Sports Divers , instructors , and Regional Coaches covered all pool lessons and theory lectures , with the help of SwinDive ’ s training pool and facilities as well as South Marston Village Hall , in Swindon .
Describing it as a ‘ herculean training weekend ’, SUSAC ’ s Sam Petts said that
You ’ ll have had your Scuba Ts
FALKIRK-BASED DIVE CENTRE SCUBA TS is the latest to join BSAC ’ s Branch + Centre Partnership Scheme , designed to offer additional training and support to BSAC clubs and their members .
In November , Scuba Ts signed up to the scheme with their lead instructor , Colin Irvine , crossing over to the BSAC Instructor programme . This now brings the total number of
10 with limited instructors , the support from SwinDive in helping to train the club ’ s new member intake was invaluable .
Sam came up with the idea of the training weekend after contacting former SUSAC member , Kris Page , who is now a member of SwinDive . Along with volunteer chef for the weekend , Eve Uncles , they spent three months planning the two-day event . Finally , SUSAC members travelled the 100 + miles in two minibuses to SwinDive ’ s facilities , where the club ’ s instructors , backed up by members of the regional team , were waiting to help .
centres participating in the partnership scheme to 11 , creating an accessible network set to become a valuable resource for BSAC clubs around the country .
Scuba Ts have hit the ground running ; they are already working with Stirling University , with their first trainee signed up to Ocean Diver . Scuba Ts are also planning to become a BSAC Seamanship Centre and encourage other clubs in the South Scotland region who need extra training help to get in touch .
Mark Paisey of the scheme ’ s coordination team echoed this call to action ,
With the trainees new to the club , Sam said the decision to make a weekend of it helped encourage the groups to socialise and get know each other .
“ We ’ ve found in the past just running a day of intensive theory , no one really talks to each other and makes friends , which is what you need for a club . But by making an away trip out of it with overnight stays , it was a great way for everyone to also get to know each other .”
With all the time they needed in SwinDive ’ s in-house pool , each group was broken down into groups of six or eight , then rotated from training room to pool with instructors and assistant instructors doing stints of dry or wet teaching .
“ All 29 students completed the relevant theory paper , with a special shout out to Maddie Gladwell , Jacob Crusher and Iggy Barquero for getting full marks on their Sports Diver tests ,” Sam added .
“ Many thanks to SwinDive for the use of their clubhouse as well as to the Southern , South West and Welsh coaching teams , and to all the instructors and volunteers who helped make this training weekend possible !”
encouraging any BSAC club looking to boost their member training and development to get in touch .
“ The Branch + Centre Partnership Scheme aims to provide a resource to all clubs so there is no need to turn away trainees due to being resource-limited .
“ Let ’ s get diving in clubs rather than just training and support this new network of centres by using them .”
For more information on the Branch + Centre Partnership Scheme and how it could benefit your club , go to bsac . com / partnershipscheme