Jane Maddocks explains how three BSAC courses serve as springboards to a higher form of diving , developing skills to record the marine world
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ENVIRONMENT
Taking it further
A different sort of Travel
Jane Maddocks explains how three BSAC courses serve as springboards to a higher form of diving , developing skills to record the marine world
PHOTO : GRACE LEVELL
Learning to dive is energy intensive . Continuing to dive probably means more equipment , time and energy . But have you ever wondered why you are doing it ? For some of us there could be that question - why am I doing this ?
There is possibly a stage that divers reach where just going diving is not enough . Diving becomes a skill set that allows you to travel to something more exciting . Commercial divers use it as travel to work , others use it as travel to wreck exploration , or photo opportunity , or scenic wow factor .
For some there is the recognition that we need to survey and record what changes we see as climate change makes itself felt in species movement , increased water pollution and more rapid wreck degradation .
So , what does survey mean in this context , and how do BSAC divers go about it ?
Divers are lucky , because there are a number of opportunities to get up close and active , recording a variety of underwater issues . These range from BSAC courses that can be taught in the branch or centre to specialist courses run by other organisations enhancing
our skillset and contributing to national databases . They also contribute to the way we dive and see things – so win win .
BSAC has some excellent introductory courses , for example : Marine Life Appreciation , Wreck Appreciation , and the new Underwater Surveyor Course .
Marine Life Appreciation introduces you to the diversity of marine life , an introduction on how we classify and name species , and a fabulous section of images on different species you can see underwater . It finishes with stuff on ecofriendly diving , how you can get involved and what recording schemes are waiting for your input .
It is NOT a marine creature ID course . It IS a springboard for other projects , as well as making your diving more fun . It can be taught by an Open Water Instructor ( OWI ) or a Theory Instructor for the theory and a Practical Instructor for the practical .
For those who prefer wrecks , the Wreck Appreciation Course is a good introduction . It gives basic background on how to find information and locate a wreck , wreck
Jane Maddocks , centre , imparting survey knowledge
“ Diving becomes a skill set that allows you to travel to something more exciting ”
diving equipment and techniques and includes some information about wrecks and marine life , wreck law and ship construction ; handy for navigating a wreck if you get bow / stern confusion .
There are then dry practical lessons on site recording and use of distance lines and tapes , before the best bit of getting into the water and having a go on a real wreck over two ‘ dives with a purpose .’
Fantastic fun . Any OWI in your branch can teach it , as can centres . Finishing off with drawing up a site is always interesting . You learn to appreciate modern small video cameras ! You will also be ace at running out measuring tapes , really looking at the wreck , and making sure you have written down everything you are going to do on your board to offset the effects of water-soluble IQ !
Finally , Underwater Surveyor . This is a new course , a collaboration between Seawilding and BSAC . It ’ s a springboard course for divers and snorkellers covering a number of survey methods .
You do transects ( laying out a line or tape to a specific length to use as a reference for recording material ) and use quadrats , do presence and absence surveys , and face the challenge of understanding what random really means . There is a very thorough eLearning pack that takes you through all the different techniques before you do the practical requirement : two dives , one of which xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
must involve a transect .
Finally , if your dive area is over seagrass or oysters , the data entry form at the end will allow you to input data for the BSAC projects . There is information about other portals to submit what you see to organisations who can use it .
Next month I hope to talk about how you can take this further , with uprating your skills and qualifications with organisations such as Seasearch , the Nautical Archaeology Society and the Seahorse Trust .
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