North West Region

Regional Coach
Robert Asquith

Born in Yorkshire I moved to Lancashire in 1979. After a Try-A-Dive at the London Boat Show I joined the BSAC and have now been diving for 20 years, instructing for 15 years and a regional team member for 10 years becoming Regional Coach in 2006.

So, without further ado, what does the North West hold for you?

The Regional Coaching Team:

Area Coaches: One of our main aims is to support our branches and to do this we have a team of Area Coaches, each of which looks after a number of branches. They offer training and advice on branch matters when required. The coaches will visit branches and arrange all levels of training including branch run Skill Development Courses. Branch members can find their Area coach by visiting our Regional Web site.

Photographic Competition

A free entry competition with £1500 in prizes to be won. Open to all amateur underwater photographers and sponsored by Cameras Underwater, INON uk and FujiFilms.

To obtain your application form visit the North West Regional Web site.

Closing date: 31st December 2008

Technical Diving: Martin Frankcom is the Technical co-ordinator for the Region. In addition to providing advice and support to members on technical issues he will be organising the new technical courses to be run in the North West. The North West is looking to identify enthusiastic members with a minimum of OWI and ERD instructor or OWI and CCR air diluents divers who are interested in becoming BSAC Technical instructors. If you would like to be in the forefront of Technical diver training contact Martin by email

Skill development Courses: Regional courses are organised and then published in the BSAC’s “Programme of Events", Dive Magazine and on the Regional website (North West Events) These courses can be booked by contacting the North West Regional Skill Development Course Organiser (SDCO) Richard Northing on nw.sdco@bsac.com or if you wish to discuss a specific SDC contact the event coordinator.( SDC coordinator.) To collect your free 2008 calendar of the North West’s regional events contact the Regional Coach.

We provide local organisers for the Instructor training scheme – Colin Mills and Anthony Waite organise Instructor foundation (IFC) and open water Instructor courses (OWIC) and exams (PIE).

Instructor training preparation: Planning to take an Instructor examination in 2008? To help you prepare for the practical aspects of the open water instructor or the advanced instructor examinations we organise prep courses. For further information and to book your place contact Steve Pearson on stv@vtgroup.co.uk

Advance Diver: To assist members obtain their Advance diver grade Jim Donbavand (jamesdonbavand@hotmail.com) arranges Regional courses.

Dive Leader: To assist members obtain their Dive Leader qualification Joe Adshead arranges Regional courses.

First Class Diver preparation for the First Class Diver exam contact Simon Campbell.

Snorkelling advisors to help promote snorkeling as an introduction to scuba diving and as a stand alone activity. Bob Healey the Northern Snorkeling Development Officer (north.sdo@bsac.com) will help you.

How to be part of the Team: Being a member of the team is an excellent way of increasing your own instructor and organisational skills, new members are always welcome. They should be a minimum of open water instructor. For more information contact the North West’s Regional Coach.

Diving in the North West: The region includes Cheshire, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside.

Regional Website: In 2007 we launched our new Regional website which has been warmly received from members. The website will direct you to branches and information about the diving community, facilities, courses and events that are available in the North West.

E-Newsletter: Keep up to date with the North West diving news by subscribing to the monthly regional E-newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter click here. If you or your Branch have any news, articles or have places available on a dive trip and would like to advertise it to the 3,400 members in the North West forward your details to northwest@bsac.com

In Deep 2009

Your chance to have a great day out with the BSAC North West Region conference sponsored by SCUBAPRO UWATEC UK LTD at The Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard, Lancashire.

There is something for everyone.

The day is open to all, divers and non-divers for more information watch this site.

Your comments and suggestions on how we can improve our services to you are always welcome. If you would like to know more about the BSAC North West Region and its Team contact me at northwest@bsac.com

Please click into this link for the contact details for Members of the Regional Team

Robert Asquith
BSAC North West Regional Coach

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Page last modified: 8th Jun 2008 - 17:58:42