Scotland South Region
South Scotland Regional Coach
Sue Mitchell
Hi. I started my 3 year stint as Regional Coach in Nov. 2006, to continue the sterling work that Sandra Castro and previous coaches have put into the region. To tell you a bit about myself, I started diving while at university in 1986 because I'd grown up visiting my grandparents in East Africa and always wanted to explore the reefs and get underwater. My instructor couldn't understand why my first dive in Gildenburgh [a small freshwater quarry for the uninitiated :-) ] was a serious disappointment! As is the way with most university clubs, I was encouraged to do the ITC (forerunner to the IFC) in 1988. I got my Advanced Diver in 1989 just in time to work and dive my way around the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Belize, on expeditions and various scientific surveys for a couple of years (amongst more mundane jobs, of course, in between diving). I finally got around to doing the Club Instructor exam in 1992, and did some interesting diving until a PhD and then living in Germany (where I didn't meet anyone who did interesting diving) got in the way. After about 5 or 6 years of the occasional holiday dive, I moved to Edinburgh, unpacked my kit from my parents loft and joined some clubs in 2001 that did do interesting diving. Still here in 2006, though somehow its also involved ending up with First Class and NI. An interesting journey!
Currently I'm a member of E-divers, BSAC 21 (Edinburgh Divers) and Lothian Divers. BSAC club and regional committee posts held at various stages include: Treasurer, Training Officer, Advanced Training Officer, Diving Officer, Expedition Officer, Area Coach and Regional Coach.
South Scotland Region.
Scotland is blessed with some of the best diving in the world. Believe me - I've been lucky enough to dive some superb places abroad and sites here are up with the best of them - above and below water. Some of my favourites are the walls and other spectacular sites in the Small Isles (Inner Hebrides), the Garvellachs south of Oban, the classic wrecks in the Sound of Mull, St Abbs, and… actually, there are too many to list them all.
The Regional coach and the coaching team - see link to the team contacts page. These are all voluntary roles to manage the BSAC in the region, to offer support to branches and divers, and to offer a link between HQ and members in the region. You, the members, are all part of the region, and it is not only the coaching team but your participation on regional events that ultimately makes this region thrive and be a stimulating place to go diving, have fun and make new friends.
Aims for South Scotland
1) Encourage everyone to get out and have fun diving!
2) Encourage members to further their diving experience and qualifications safely, from Dive Leader, Advanced Diver, to First Class Diver.
3) Organise regional training days aimed at all levels of the Diver Training Programme and also to build up inter-branch relationships within the region
4) Encourage branches to get together to go diving as well as for training.
5) Offer regional SDCs to cover the most popular courses and also to organise additional SDCs as the need arises, especially when branches can offer to host them. In this way, we could offer SDCs in parts of the region where courses are rarely run due to low participation.
5) Support the ITS within the region and encourage members to further their own development as instructors.
5) Support the active regional coaching team and particularly encourage new coaching team members from the western part of the region, which is currently under-represented on the team.
6) Support the role out of the new mixed gas SDCs by encouraging potential instructors to come forward and participate in instructor training workshops, and then offer the courses to members.
7) Listen to what you, the members, want from the region and where possible we will do something about it - particularly if you would also like to be involved and help make it happen!
Area Coaches
Most branches have an area coach assigned to them. If you don't know who is your coach, please see the link to who's who in the coaching team. Do contact me if you don't have one and would like one. Please also contact me if you would like to join the coaching team as an area coach!
Most branches have an area coach assigned to them. If you don't know who is your coach, please see the link to who's who in the coaching team. Do contact me if you don't have one and would like one. Please also contact me if you would like to join the coaching team as an area coach!
Skill Development Courses
Most of these are planned a year or so in advance and published in the BSAC Programme of Events and on the BSAC Website. Additional SDCs are organised during the year, as other requirements come up and when branches offer to host courses. Please let Warren Izzett, the SDC Co-ordinator, know if there are any SDCs you'd like to see run in the region or if you want to assist the coaching team with running events. See link to planned SDCs and ITS events in the region for 2007.
Most of these are planned a year or so in advance and published in the BSAC Programme of Events and on the BSAC Website. Additional SDCs are organised during the year, as other requirements come up and when branches offer to host courses. Please let Warren Izzett, the SDC Co-ordinator, know if there are any SDCs you'd like to see run in the region or if you want to assist the coaching team with running events. See link to planned SDCs and ITS events in the region for 2007.
Regional Training Events - usually 2nd Sunday of the Month, starting 11th February 2007.
Robert Burgess will co-ordinate a regional training day on Loch Fyne at the Furnace tea rooms south of Inveraray, where there is not only a great training dive site but also facilities, car parking, a very diver friendly café and the best hot-chocolate. If it is well supported we will run more through the year. Updates will be posted on the messageboard and also the website once it is up - see communication.
Wayne Murray will co-ordinate advanced diver training, particularly in the Fife area.
The first event was extremely successful, with 20 people attending despite warnings of snow overnight. The day itself was mild, with even some sunshine in the afternoon, and good viz underwater.
Next events: Sunday 11th March, Sunday 15th April.
Instructor Exam prep support
Two members of the coaching team, Chris Holland and Stevie Adams, will specifically offer support regarding preparation for exams. Initially this will be email support regarding how to go about preparing for exams. If possible, the coaching team will offer practical support and training days, particularly if we can identify local instructors willing to assist members.
See link to planned SDCs and ITS courses and exams in the region for 2007.
First Class Diver Development
Sandra Castro and Nigel Goodman will again be co-ordinating FCD development in the region. Essentially this involves encouraging divers to take part, helping members identify other preppers nearby to work with, initiating the theory prep sessions, and perhaps stimulating some practical training. However, most of the prep is best done by divers getting together to work on theory and practical elements themselves, with some timely facilitation by the co-ordinators. Do contact either Sandra or Nigel if you are interested in doing FCD. Also register with the FCD pages on the BSAC website, when you will be sent a study pack and included on the FCD prep forum to communicate with other members around the country who are also prepping. First Class is about expedition diving using teams of divers to achieve a common goal and is well worth doing for your own personal development as well as extending your diving experience and knowledge. It is also a great opportunity to work and dive with other experienced divers outwith your branches, meet new friends and dive buddies, perhaps learn new survey techniques, and take part in and organise more adventurous, exploratory or expeditionary diving while you prepare for the exam.
Communication
We have a "yahoo groups" regional messageboard open to anyone in BSAC South Scotland branches, which all members can use for email communication about what's happening in the region, events, trips, branches needing instructors for training, instructors offering their services, and so on, and to host relevant information files. If you haven't already joined, go to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/southscotland/ and click on the "join this group" button on the right hand side, and give some information about who you are to join the group.
We have a "yahoo groups" regional messageboard open to anyone in BSAC South Scotland branches, which all members can use for email communication about what's happening in the region, events, trips, branches needing instructors for training, instructors offering their services, and so on, and to host relevant information files. If you haven't already joined, go to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/southscotland/ and click on the "join this group" button on the right hand side, and give some information about who you are to join the group.
Ben Panter is also creating a South Scotland BSAC website, which will be used to disseminate information about the region, what's happening and where its happening. The link will be posted here once its up and running. Do contact Ben if you have good ideas about what could be included and news items.
Want to Help?
The region is only as good as the members taking part - both in terms of participating on courses and particularly in terms of running events and contributing ideas. In particular we are looking for another local co-ordinator for the Instructor Foundation courses and Area coaches. The coaching team is still under-represented by members from the western area of the region, and I would particularly encourage any member considering offering help from these areas - you will be more likely to get courses run in your area if you do! I am also keen to hear from anyone who could offer help with SDCs and regional training events even if you don't want to officially join the coaching team. Your input is very welcome, even if you can only spare one weekend a year - every little bit makes a big difference overall. I look forward to hearing from you!
The region is only as good as the members taking part - both in terms of participating on courses and particularly in terms of running events and contributing ideas. In particular we are looking for another local co-ordinator for the Instructor Foundation courses and Area coaches. The coaching team is still under-represented by members from the western area of the region, and I would particularly encourage any member considering offering help from these areas - you will be more likely to get courses run in your area if you do! I am also keen to hear from anyone who could offer help with SDCs and regional training events even if you don't want to officially join the coaching team. Your input is very welcome, even if you can only spare one weekend a year - every little bit makes a big difference overall. I look forward to hearing from you!
Finally, I would like to thank Sandra for all her hard work over the last three years, and also the all coaching team members, most of whom are continuing their work on the team, either in original roles or taking on new areas. I would also like to say welcome to all new members on the team. I look forward to working with all of you, coaching team and dive club members, over the next few years.
Happy and safe diving,
Sue
Page last modified: 6th Mar 2007 - 16:25:30