BSAC

The Course Syllabus is also available on the website and will outline the scope, content of the course and the necessary instructor to student ratios.

Course Duration
This will be dependent on the type of course. Where the course is for more than one day, or when there are theory lectures as well as practical sessions, as a branch you will have the opportunity to spread the lectures over a period suitable to members prior to any practical element.

NOTE All theory MUST be completed and students MUST receive the course notes supplied by HQ PRIOR to undertaking any practical open water elements.

Student Entry Grade
For each course there will be a minimum student qualification stated. As well as a diver qualification there may, for some courses, be a requirement for prior attendance on other skill development courses and/or a requirement of diving experience (a set number of open water dives at a particular Diver Grade). Student’s qualifications and relevant experience MUST be checked prior to enrolling them onto the course.

Establish the number of students for the course.

Instructor Requirements

Chief Instructor
Each course requires a ‘Chief Instructor’ who will be in overall charge of the course and will be registered as such at HQ. The Chief Instructor will need to be present during the course and it will be their responsibility that the course is delivered to an acceptable and appropriate standard. There will be a minimum qualification for chief instructor required for the registration of the course. Photocopies of these qualifications may be required by HQ with the course registration. Some courses require that instructor have gained 'approved Instructor’ status to be able to teach on the course. A database of ‘approved instructors’ is maintained by BS-AC. If your branch does not have suitably qualified instructors the Regional Coaching Team may be able to provide an instructor.

 

Appoint a Chief Instructor who will run the course.

Course Instructors
There will again be a minimum qualification for other instructors working on the course. On courses that require ‘approved instructors’ and your branch has suitable NQI’s who need to gain‘approval’ they will be able to assist on the course. Provided that their instruction is of a suitable standard and with the endorsement of the chief instructor they can then apply for approval status. Details of applying for Approved Instructor status are available on the website in Information Sheet 9. This will be of immense value to the branch as it will allow future courses to be run ‘in house’.

Identify Instructors who are able to work on the course.

Course Instructor to Student Ratio
According to the type of course being run, there will be a given ratio of instructors to students. These ratios will be set out in the course syllabus and MUST be adhered to. The course Chief Instructor will be counted as part of this ratio. When the student numbers have been established simple divide that number by the appropriate number. (e.g. 12 students with a course ratio of 3 : 1. Instructors required will be 12 students divided by 3 = 4 instructors).
Note some courses have a stipulated instructor to student ratio that may be more beneficial to adjust to a lower ratio. (e.g. Advanced Nitrox ratio is 1 instructor to 4 students – Practically the branch/chief instructor may decide that the ratio of 1 instructor to 2 students may be safer and of more benefit to the students).

Appoint the appropriate number of course instructors.

The facilities and equipment that will be required

In general these requirements will be set out in the syllabus. However, you do need to consider the specific equipment that will be required to teach both Dry Practical and Wet practical lessons. A full set of equipment will be required for each of the instructor/students group.

For example on the Oxygen Administration course 1 resuscitation manikin and 1 Oxygen kit will be required for every 2 students. For a Search and Recovery course each student/instructor group would require enough equipment to be able to learn how to tie knots, set up shotlines, perform a variety of search patterns, attach and use lift bags of various sizes.

It should be remembered that the dry practical sessions act as ‘Dry Runs’ for open water and should be carried out using that actual equipment that will be required in open water. Some equipment may be available from your Regional Coaching Team.

Also to be considered is the personal equipment that the students will require for any open water activities, and they will need to be informed of these requirements (for example - O2 clean cylinders and pony cylinders for Nitrox course) in the course instructions.

1. Identify the equipment required.
2. Assemble a full set for each instructor on the course.
3. Compile a list of student’s personal equipment requirements.

Qualifications
The syllabus will show the type of qualification that will be awarded on successful completion of the course. It will also show which sections of the students QRB can be signed up for core diver training.

Return to Branch Course Intro Return to SDC Section