National Instructor
The National Instructor grade requires students to pass a 4 day practical Examination typically conducted at the end of July each year in the UK.
Instructors resident outside the UK are invited to discuss the opportunities with the National Diving Officer to arrange a special event.
The successful candidates on the Examination in 2005 can be viewed elsewhere on this site
Instructors resident outside the UK are invited to discuss the opportunities with the National Diving Officer to arrange a special event.
The successful candidates on the Examination in 2005 can be viewed elsewhere on this site
National Instructor Development Pete Church
National Instructors are really important to the organisation- they are the ones who bring forward new courses and adapt to technical developments in the sport. They have to ensure the safety and the quality of all of the training offered though our extensive instructor base. In order to even enter for this examination you have to be an Advanced Instructor and First Class Diver. It is likely that the National Diving Committee will shortly accept the recommendation that you also have to be an Instructor Trainer with BSAC- that is you must have attended and instructor trainer development course (ITDC) and have been formally accepted onto the BSAC Instructor Trainer Circuit. The evidence for this is you are on the list of the instructors who can staff the Instructor Foundation Course, Open Water Instructor course, act as Theory Instructor examiners and Practical Instructor examiners. Even before any formal decision is made you should be aware that the examination is closely related to the job that National Instructors do for the BSAC on Instructor trainer events. Experience has shown that candidates for the exam who are not firmly established on “The Circuit‿ are now at such a serious disadvantage that they are strongly recommended to achieve this before attending preparation events and progressing to the exam. In short, if are not already an Instructor Trainer then this should be your next step after achieving AI and FCD in your own development as an instructor.
Pete Church
As part of your preparation you should REGISTER with us and we will then do our best to let you observe, coach and teach on Advanced Instructor Events under the supervision and coaching of an experienced National Instructor. (In working towards and examination bear in mind that most Advanced Instructor events in the UK are run during the Summer months.) We will also do our best to provide you with a greater level of coaching and supervision (than would usually be the case) on all of the Instructor Training events on which you teach.
You have to demonstrate the highest levels of theoretical knowledge, organisational and personal diving skills. These are the skills that can only achieved after many years diving experience. In addition you have to be an excellent teacher - both in the water, in boats and in the classroom. You must be a great organizer of people, a leader and a team player in turn. You must be skilled in boat handling, navigation, first aid, rescue management and a confident and competent first class diver. You need to be able to maintain a positive attitude even at times of adversity.
Preparing for and taking the National Instructor examination is one of the most challenging and demanding undertakings most people will experience in their lives. The costs of preparing and the examination itself are highly subsidised by the BSAC. This is by supporting candidates travel expenses, making no charge for the very costly to organize preparation events and by making a charge for the exam that is but a small fraction of the true cost. Even with this considerable financial support it has to recognized that achieving this highest instructor award in the BSAC is also associated with significant personal and financial costs.
The personal rewards are great You will make a contribution at the highest level to this world wide organization. You will work, dive and play with the most talented divers and instructors in the whole organization. You will have some great experiences, tremendous diving and learn a lot about yourself. There will be certainly be some lows and self–doubt, but the friendships you make will endure for a lifetime. Enjoy the experience!
Introduction to National Instructor Examination
This event introduces all of the elements in the current examination. It provides the opportunity to meet the candidate group and the national instructor team who support the preparation events and act as examiners on the National exam itself. It is the first opportunity to work with other potential National Instructors who are preparing for the exam within the next two or three years.
Duration: 1 day October
Location: Tba usually middle England
Format: Taught classroom presentations, discussions and workshops.
Price: No course fee, travelling expenses met
What is included:
This event introduces all of the elements in the current examination. It provides the opportunity to meet the candidate group and the national instructor team who support the preparation events and act as examiners on the National exam itself. It is the first opportunity to work with other potential National Instructors who are preparing for the exam within the next two or three years.
Duration: 1 day October
Location: Tba usually middle England
Format: Taught classroom presentations, discussions and workshops.
Price: No course fee, travelling expenses met
What is included:
- As long as you meet the entry requirements for the exam then BSAC will pay for previously agreed travelling costs for you to the event, in accordance with the 'Expenses Guidelines for AITs'.
- All charges for use of the venue.
- We will offer to arrange accommodation for you but not meet the cost of that. You are welcome to organise your own accommodation locally.
- The costs of providing experienced National instructors to support the event and all of their expenses.
What is not included:
- Cost of your accommodation.
- Cost of meals.
Pool Preparation
This event introduces the pool elements of the assessment. During the course you will present an Instructor Foundation Course practical demonstration and will be teaching and coaching as if you were tutoring on and IFC. You will receive feedback and coaching to improve your instructor trainer performance. You will practice coaching others at this level.
Duration: 2 days January
Location: Tba usually middle England
Format: Some taught classroom presentations, but predominantly classroom and pool workshops led by yourselves and focusing on improving existing Instructor trainer skills.
Price: No course fee, travelling expenses met
What is included:
This event introduces the pool elements of the assessment. During the course you will present an Instructor Foundation Course practical demonstration and will be teaching and coaching as if you were tutoring on and IFC. You will receive feedback and coaching to improve your instructor trainer performance. You will practice coaching others at this level.
Duration: 2 days January
Location: Tba usually middle England
Format: Some taught classroom presentations, but predominantly classroom and pool workshops led by yourselves and focusing on improving existing Instructor trainer skills.
Price: No course fee, travelling expenses met
What is included:
- As long as you meet the entry requirements for the exam then BSAC will pay for previously agreed travelling costs for you to the event, in accordance with the 'Expenses Guidelines for AITs'.
- The costs of providing experienced National instructors to support the event and all of their expenses.
- All charges for the event itself.
- Pool charges
- We will offer to arrange accommodation for you but not meet the cost of that. You are welcome to organise your own accommodation locally.
What is not included:
- Cost of your accommodation.
- Cost of meals.
- Accommodation.
- Air/gas
- Equipment hire if needed
Open Water
This event give the opportunity to improve your skills as instructor trainers on sheltered open water events and to practice coaching others at this level. As well as reviewing the open elements of the assessment the course you will present a demonstration lesson as if on the OWIC. You will receive coaching and feedback from other candidates and you will provide it in turn.
Duration: 2 days March/April
Location: Tba usually a sheltered, fresh, open water site in the Midlands
Format: Classroom workshops. Open water workshops.
Price: No course fee, travelling expenses met
What is included:
This event give the opportunity to improve your skills as instructor trainers on sheltered open water events and to practice coaching others at this level. As well as reviewing the open elements of the assessment the course you will present a demonstration lesson as if on the OWIC. You will receive coaching and feedback from other candidates and you will provide it in turn.
Duration: 2 days March/April
Location: Tba usually a sheltered, fresh, open water site in the Midlands
Format: Classroom workshops. Open water workshops.
Price: No course fee, travelling expenses met
What is included:
- As long as you meet the entry requirements for the exam then BSAC will pay for previously agreed travelling costs for you to the event, in accordance with the 'Expenses Guidelines for AITs'.
- We will offer to arrange accommodation for you but not meet the cost of that. You are welcome to organise your own accommodation locally.
What is not included:
- Any charges to access the open-water site
- Cost of your accommodation.
- Cost of meals.
- Air/gas
- Equipment hire if needed
Small Boat Preparation
This event provides candidates with the opportunity to plan, organise and practice teaching and coaching from un-skippered boats. The scenarios are as if tutoring students at an advanced instructor or first class diver level. It will provide the opportunity to review all aspects of the un-skippered boats aspects of the assessment.
Duration: 2 days June
Location: Coastal location to be decided by candidate groups
Format: Practical boat diving organised and coached by candidates with assistance from experienced national instructors.
Price: No course fee, share of boat costs, travelling expenses met
What is included:
This event provides candidates with the opportunity to plan, organise and practice teaching and coaching from un-skippered boats. The scenarios are as if tutoring students at an advanced instructor or first class diver level. It will provide the opportunity to review all aspects of the un-skippered boats aspects of the assessment.
Duration: 2 days June
Location: Coastal location to be decided by candidate groups
Format: Practical boat diving organised and coached by candidates with assistance from experienced national instructors.
Price: No course fee, share of boat costs, travelling expenses met
What is included:
- As long as you meet the entry requirements for the exam then BSAC will pay for previously agreed travelling costs for you to the event, in accordance with the 'Expenses Guidelines for AITs'.
- The costs of providing experienced National instructors to support the event, all of their expenses and their share of costs of boats.
- The group will usually make its own accommodation arrangements around the venue chosen.
What is not included:
- Costs of your accommodation.
- Cost of meals.
- Accommodation.
- Air/gas
- Equipment hire if needed
- Hire or costs of using the boats
Skippered Boat Preparation
This event is organised by the candidate group as one of their final preparations before the examination. It will usually take place in the area where the exam is to be held and, if possible, using the same boats. It will be ‘a divers event’- the aim is to go diving with a very competent group. As well as enjoying the diving we want to take the opportunity to practice and coach each other on the skills associated with the expedition and task oriented diving. The teaching will almost exclusively as if teaching first class divers or potential first class divers. You will be coaching each other to improve your skills in teaching at this level and will be supported by experienced National Instructors.
Duration: 3 days May
Location: Same area as the examination
Format: Candidate organised, skippered, expedition boat diving
Price: No course fee, share of boat costs, travelling expenses met
What is included:
This event is organised by the candidate group as one of their final preparations before the examination. It will usually take place in the area where the exam is to be held and, if possible, using the same boats. It will be ‘a divers event’- the aim is to go diving with a very competent group. As well as enjoying the diving we want to take the opportunity to practice and coach each other on the skills associated with the expedition and task oriented diving. The teaching will almost exclusively as if teaching first class divers or potential first class divers. You will be coaching each other to improve your skills in teaching at this level and will be supported by experienced National Instructors.
Duration: 3 days May
Location: Same area as the examination
Format: Candidate organised, skippered, expedition boat diving
Price: No course fee, share of boat costs, travelling expenses met
What is included:
- As long as you meet the entry requirements for the exam then BSAC will pay for previously agreed travelling costs for you to the event, in accordance with the 'Expenses Guidelines for AITs'.
- We will usually offer to arrange accommodation for you but not meet the cost of that. You are welcome to make your own local accommodation arrangements.
- We will arrange for the hire of boats and for other local support.
- Costs of providing National Instructor support to the event and their share costs of boat hire
What is not included:
- Your share of the cost of hire of boats – typically £30 per person per day
- Costs of your accommodation.
- Cost of meals.
- Accommodation.
- Air/gas
- Equipment hire if needed
Page last modified: 12th Oct 2007 - 17:02:40