of membership is because they struggle to get their training completed as quickly as they might wish. Many branches have to train around the rhythm of their own weekly cycles, and have a limited instructor availability. My own branch is a case in point.
Hence HQ has for over the last year prioritised increasing instructor capacity, including by modernising the Instructor Foundation Course. We’ ve started emphasising prior learning, prior preparation and so reducing the amount of face-time needed. That has certainly generated a significant in-flow of assistant instructors, who are often the backbone when it comes to pool training. That has led us generating more Open Water Instructors, while protecting standards.
Another important step is supporting those branches( directly or through the region) who may be struggling to meet their members’ training requirement. That can often be addressed by cross branch support, where the presence of an active Regional Coach is often crucial to provide support.
Andy in Croatia in 2023, diving from the MV Bodul
How can we make diving more inclusive?
While there have certainly been some initiatives to make BSAC more inclusive( including our support for the This Girl Can campaign), this remains a key issue. Branch culture is crucial. If a new member goes to a club night at the pool, how are they made to feel welcome both at the that point and thereafter? The fact is that some branches have made great strides in this area, but it is by no means universal.
There are other forms of accessibility, such as overcoming the financial barriers to participating in scuba. Snorkelling is central to our strategy for attracting people to experience the underwater world in an economic way – and as a gateway to scuba for those who wish to progress. I understand we are experiencing a material upturn in snorkel members which is both encouraging and an opportunity to draw future generations into the magic of the underwater world. �
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