First Class Diver Experiences 2005
First Class Diver Chief Examiner - MARK WILSONWith a view to continuing to help divers aspire to and achieve the First Class Diver award we have compiled the following information from those members who achieved the award of First Class Diver during 2005
We have invited each of them to provide information on their experiences and aspirations and I'm sure you will all find these as varied and colourful as the individuals themselves.
I congratulate them all for their hard work and commitment in gaining this award and wish them well for their future adventures diving with the BSAC
Mark
Email - fcdchief@bsac.com
FIRST CLASS DIVER EXPERIENCES
Simon CampbellWhy did you do First Class?
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
(see diary link below)
What lessons did you learn?
How not to dig a hole for yourself.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
Go on to NI and organise loads of really challenging expeditions all over the world
read Simon's Diary from 2005
Biography
Started diving in 1996
Diving Officer of Ribble Valley Branch.
Advanced Instructor and TDI Trimix working towards going for National Instructor in 2006/2007 and just started on the ITS. Where do you dive?
Experienced in and enjoys organising big trips both UK and abroad. He is an area coach and the Yorkshire Regional Expedition Scheme Coordinator. Type of diving preferred
Deep wrecks (am TDI Trimix) and scenic diving but will dive in 300mm of water if there is something to see. Basically a scuba whore and next year probably a CCR trainee.
Favourite diving in the world St Kilda.
Email contact - simon.campbell@rvsac.org
John GibbonWhy did you do First Class?
I thought I would learn a lot and I did, but also it was a personal goal that I had long wanted to achieve
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
Diving with a great bunch of like minded people can only be good. It wasn’t great fun, but it wasn’t the horror story I’d heard from others. It’s terrific value for a weekend’s diving!
What lessons did you learn?
The advice to tackle the 4 parts in the order: exped plan, theory test and both practical exams is entirely sound. Preparing the plan gave me a lot of knowledge of Plymouth, which was invaluable for the 2 days of practical exam and also highlighted areas where I needed to improve my theory knowledge. Getting ready to take the theory exam was very informative and I learned and re-learned much. Getting together the week before the practical was invaluable: effective team work was critical. Looking at the year it took me to prepare as well as acquire the necessary SDCs – I met lots of good, like-minded people, I’ve learned a great deal and I’ve had some great diving
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
I’ve been appointed DO and then Vice-Chairman too. I’m pretty busy with ITS events too, particularly for the Services, and an area coach in Dorset. I was also selected to be the Joint Services Representative to the NDC, so I’ve got lots on currently. But above all, I want to go diving.
Biography
I started diving in 1994 and am a member of ASADA.
I'm an Advanced Instructor and Instructor Trainer and a SADS.
Where do you dive?
Everywhere - mainly south west England.
Type of diving preferred?
no preference, provided it is with good people
Favourite diving location?
Plymouth, but I’m prepared to be convinced by other locations!
Email contact - jointrep@bsac.com
Andy GroomWhy did you do First Class?
The FCD remained unfinished business for me as I first thought about it in the late 90's but due to other commitments put it on hold and always regretted not finishing it. At DOC in 2004 a number of people I knew were expressing an interest in going for it so though 2005 was about time to give it another bash.
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
I guess everyone has heard the horror stories so you expect the worse. It wasn't that bad.
What lessons did you learn?
Make sure you know the area like the back of your hand. It might no actually help on the day but you wont spend all weekend trying to play catch up.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
Take a year out of swatting, then think (long and hard) about NI.
Biography
Started diving in 1987
Currently with Strath Alba Divers Branch and am an Advanced Instructor actively teaching on the ITS and helping out as a coach for Southern Region.
Where do you dive?
Where do you dive? Isle of Wight
Type of diving preferred?
just starting to get into underwater photography.
Favourite diving location?
Oban
Email contact - andy.groom@bsac.com
Gary MulhallWhy did you do First Class?
As the pinnacle of BSAC diver training, it was the last mountain to get over and I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Additionally, I was the first member in our Branch in nearly 25 years to do First Class and the only candidate from Ireland in 2005.
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
The FCD exams were the toughest diving exams that I have ever experienced but they were not as bad as I had expected. At the end of the day, from start to finish, it was one heck of an experience that will always stay with me.
What lessons did you learn?
The three main lessons were :
1) That you can't do everything yourself and even if you think you can, you can't.
2) Shout loudly, and when you get everyone's attention, shout even louder.
3) And lastly, there is always something that you don't yet know but can still learn.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
After recovering from the self-inflicted tortures of sleep-deprivation, seemingly never-ending preparation, and general panic, I intend to simply go diving.
Biography
Started diving in 1999 with the Belfast Sub-Aqua Club, the oldest Branch in Ireland. I am an Advanced Instructor and a member of the Instructor Training Scheme as well as being the Deputy Regional Coach for Ireland. I am also an active Rebreather diver and a TDI instructor.
Where do you dive? Mainly the North-West and East coasts of Ireland but have also dived extensively overseas.
Type of diving preferred ? Wreck diving in general but also any dive with a specific purpose in mind.
Favourite diving location? The west coast of Ireland for pure convenience and some stunning dives.
Email contact -
gary.mulhall@bsac.com
Steve ParryWhy did you do First Class?
Because it's there ! Seriously, I am really into exped planning and diving. I wanted to see if I could combine all that I had learned through BS-AC training (and the additional knowledge I learned when preparing for FCD) and put it all into practice and achieve the standard required. I would like to go on to Lead regional/ National/ International expeds, particularly involving surveys and photography. I developed a taste for surveying during prep and about to do a few of the NAS courses. I feel I should be diving with a purpose from now on.
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
Theory
I started by taking the theory exam. I attended several prep workshops run by our local FCD co-ordinator (Dave Lock) to get a feel for what was expected and to identify the areas that I would need to study to get to the required standard. I nearly did not sit the exam. I was working in Belgium the day before and got mugged ! all my condensed prep notes and my laptop got taken. I arrived back in the UK rather shaken and in a state of mild shock, but decided to sit the exam anyway. How the examiner managed to read my shaky hand writing is still a mystery to me ! I did not quite finnish the paper in time but managed to pass.
Practical Prep.
I had a few outstanding SDC's to take so had to travel a few miles to get them completed. I then had to decide where to do the practical exam. I considered Malta but ultimately decided on Plymouth. My reasoning being that I knew a bit about Plymouth and the diving but have never dived Malta. As far as prep was concerned I decided I could spend more time prepping in Plymouth than Malta. I took a structured approach to my prep. I looked for any opportunities to dive Plymouth, particularly with others who were going to do their practical in Plymouth on the same weekend. Apart from just diving in Plymouth I also went to a few AI/FCD workshops organised by west midlands region where we practiced seamanship skills and chart work & underwater surveying. Another useful prep session was a 3 day REDS trip out of Weymouth organised by South East Region. We had 2 NI's along who dived with us and created some scenarios both above/below water. The feedback and critique was very useful and in hindsight, about as close to the exam format as it gets.
I should also mention that my wife (a DL) also dived with me on several occasions. I'm sure if you ask her what the water temperature in Stoney cove was like in March when I decided to create a detailed drawing of the stern of the stanegarth, she will feign hypothermia then tell you how many blades there are on the prop and how many pivot-points on the rudder -:)
I think I am very lucky to have a diving wife who understood what I was putting myself through and who took an interest & supported me along the way.
I can honestly say that when I first booked myself on to the practical exam in January 2005 , it was with a sense of foreboding. However, by July I felt I was ready for it (final few prep days in Plymouth with the other candidates helped- thanks Sophie R). I really enjoyed that exam weekend. Everything came together and I also felt that the rest of the group I was with were giving it their best shot. I'm really indebted to those guys. We would not have passed without team work.
The Exped Plan.
I decided to do my exped plan based on Plymouth with dates offset by +1 month. I actually did the plan last winter. The reasoning behind Plymouth for the plan was to create an exercise in the area I wanted to do my practical, as I felt I would gain further planning knowledge and data that might be useful/ save time when planning on the practical exam. As it happens, I felt this strategy did help in part with the planning.
I gathered masses of information from many trips to Plymouth. It took some editing to get down to the prescribed 15 pages! I felt it best to complete a draft, wait a week, then re-read. You will spot a few mistakes that will need correcting before you submit and think of better ways, in the cold light of day, of presenting your plan.
What lessons did you learn?
The planning for FCD level is very similar to my work ! only I don't get wet at work ! Planning and communication of the plan are vital to the team. Sit down as a group just before you start the exam weekend and Identify everybody's strengths and weaknesses. This way you can optimise the strength of your group and help others when you know they will appreciate some support.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
I want to concentrate on more specialised expedition based and wreck/ marine life based diving surveying/ research. I have joined NAS and looking at various marine study groups.
Biography
I started diving in 1977 in South Africa.
Currently a member of BS-AC Direct and am an Open Water Instructor and actively teaching and assisting with training for the Eastern region Coaching Scheme.
Where do you dive?
All over the UK, the world ( South East Asia in particular) Type of diving preferred.
Wreck, marine life and photography
Favourite diving location?
Littlehampton
Email contact - stephen.parry@bsac.com
Stephen PearsonWhy did you do First Class?
I always try to be the best I can at most things I do, and wanted to prove that my diving skills were up to the challenge.
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
The FCD exam for me was terrific and I really enjoyed the whole experience.
Expedition Plan: Decided to do a plan away from the normal Cumbrae/Plymouth because I thought that the examiners would have an intimate knowledge of those sites and any minor discrepancies in my plan would stand out. I chose an area I was familiar with - Lochaline and set about preparing a plan. I along with several other preppers had come up with a fairly definitive list of sections to be included in the plan and I started putting together my first draft for each sections. The whole plan took several weeks on and off to prepare, amend, improve, check and double check before finally submitting it. the effort paid off with a Merit and the comments from Mark Wilson that it was one of the best he'd ever seen.
Practical Exam: Decided that on the practical weekend I would try and take control of the planning phases for the exped which I did, which helped focus the group towards the task in hand, and delegated various tasks to group members. This was also helped by the fact that we had been up to Cumbrae the week before, used the hardboat for the exam, and got to know it's control, equipment and the locations and transits for a lot of the wrecks up there.
The first day (expedition) went really well, after the initial apprehension of not knowing what to expect, the nerves soon went, and as I was being asked questions about various topics I surprised myself with how much I actually knew. I had spent a lot of free time sat watching TV practising tying knots and had a comprehensive repertoire of about 20-30 knots I could tie. This impressed the examiner when he asked me to show him what I could do as I duly went through the more unusual ones explaining potential uses for each one. The dive went really well with Chris Cook as my Buddy, we did a 37m survey of a wreck, and then went on to do one of the tasks set for another buddy pair as they had been unable to complete theirs due to time constraints.
Day two (task/survey) Having had a terrific first day with the feeling I had done really well, I was perhaps a little complacent and didn't put in the same amount of effort as I had done on the previous day, however the day went well, and I received some good comments for my performance.
Theory Exam: Found it difficult to knuckle down to revision, and couldn't get as motivated as I should have been. I therefore managed three days of cramming prior to the exam. The exam itself I found to be quite a difficult one, certainly in some areas, with questions I knew very little about. (partially my fault as I only did my ERD course after the exam and three questions were ERD related, which I couldn't fully answer). I would certainly recommend that everyone taking the theory completes their SDC pre-requisites before doing so in order to give themselves a better chance.
See Steve's advice for preparing for the Theory Exam
What lessons did you learn?
I learned that, I still had a lot to learn. It identified to me, weaknesses I had in my knowledge, and I have been addressing those and gaining more experience.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
I intend passing on my knowledge and experience to others, not only to help them pass their exams but also make them better divers. I also intend becoming a National Instructor, having seen and worked alongside them it appears that most are really good guys, with a passion for diving, very experienced and knowledgeable about the sport.
Biography
Started diving in 1987 at SEESAC (School of Electronic Engineering Sub Aqua Club) at Arborfield, Reading.
Currently Chairman of Mid Lancs Sub Aqua Club BSAC Branch
Advanced Instructor, TDI/PSAI Trimix Qualified, and doing CCR MOD1 course in Feb
Where do you dive?
I dive literally anywhere, I enjoy just getting in the water, and the excitement and thrill of seeing things not a lot of other people have. My father (66) and son(18) also dive (PADI Qualified) and we go away each year on a boys week away on a diving holiday and leave the wives at home.
Type of diving preferred?
I prefer wreck diving, and relish a challenge.
Favourite diving location?
I don't have a favourite location, just a passion for diving which makes every dive I do an enjoyable one.
Email contact - stephen.pearson@bsac.com
Graham PettettWhy did you do First Class?
Partly I guess because I like a challenge and wanted to test my diving abilities, but I guess it was mostly one of those Mount Everest things 'because it was there'
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
Overall, I really enjoyed it, I learnt a lot and met a great bunch of people along the way
Theory Exam: This was where I chose to start. This was actually surprisingly the easiest bit. I've never been any good at revision. I tried all the past papers and I seemed to not be a million miles away, so I thought, I'll take the exam as a 'mock' and see how I get on. I didn't expect to pass, never mind get the merit that I did. What I found was that simply by being an active diver who reads the dive press and also being an active regional instructor, was really the only preparation that was required.
Practical Exam: This for me was the most fun element as we actually got to go diving. The thing that I took most away from this was the absolute key to success is team work, and the key to working well as a team is time together bonding. Most of the group arrived in Plymouth a week before and spent the week together with Sophie Rene (many thanks!) who got us practising various diving activities. One regret I had was I'd never dived in Plymouth before, I had intended to, but best laid plans and all that, it never happened. But I thought, an FCD is supposed to be able to pick up a chart and some local intel' and dive anywhere, and whilst this proved to be true, it caused me a little more stress that I could have avoided, by lacking local knowledge.
Practical day one (task) This came as a bit of a surprise, the survey task we were given, sounded far more complex than anything we had expected, but we got straight on with a plan and worked really well together as a team, we had heeded advice an made sure we were finished by 01:00. The day actually went really well, although we didn't quite complete the task we achieved 90% of it.
Practical day two (expedition) This was the most enjoyable day, I had relaxed by know and this was just a nice day's diving, with a few questions thrown in. I had a really nice dive on Hand Deeps.
Expedition Plan: This to me was actually the hardest part, probably due to me making it 10 times more complicated than it needed to be. I decided to do this last after the practical event to give me more of an idea of what FCD diving is expected to be, rather than the roughty-toughty hard core techy diving it is perhaps perceived to be. I went against the recommendation of using Plymouth (the practical exam venue) and chose Porthkerris as this is an area I know well and offers a huge variety of challenging diving.
What lessons did you learn?
Teamwork, teamwork, flexibility.... oh and teamwork.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
Enjoy going diving. I've decided this year is the year of the Rebreather for me. I guess I will consider doing NI sometime in the not so distant future as I really enjoy instructing, especially the ITS events.
Biography
Started diving in 1992 with Swale Divers
Currently DO and TO of Swale divers and an Area Coach in the South-East region Advanced Instructor, TDI Trimix qualified Lives in Iwade, Kent
I'll dive in a muddy puddle, I just love being in the water, although I am starting to favour wrecks a little more.
Although I've been lucky enough to dive in many places around the world, I still prefer UK diving, my favourite being the Scilly Isles
Email contact - graham.pettett@bsac.com
Paul RosendaleWhy did you do First Class?
I do a lot of organising and running our club RHIB trips; finding and shotting new (to us) sites, so wondered if I was up to it. We have a few FCD's in our club and I thought it was about time we had a new one.
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
Fantastic. Met and dived with some great people and had some real fun. The two day practical is as much hard work as they say, but fun.
Theory Exam
The questions are only easy if you know the answers! I only decided to "have a go" two weeks before the March exam so didn't have much time to revise. I did manage a pass though. I think it helps to have done the pre-requisite SDC before the theory exam so that you have covered all the fields of expertise.
Practical Exam ~ Plymouth
There were 12 of us on this exam; most of us met down at Plymouth the week leading up to the exam. This was of great benefit in getting to know everyone and all diving together.
Expedition Day ~ Plymouth
Friday night, planning over (1 a.m.) it is off for the Expedition Day. Two dive sites, one a marine survey and the other to sketch the wreck of the Persia. We were warned there would be a rescue scenario during the day. Imagine my horror when 2 mins after leaving quayside, Mark Wilson corners me and says he is feeling dehydrated. Just about to swing into First Aid etc. when he comes out with "I'm gagging for a cuppa, put the kettle on". Phew!
Diving went great. Some marshalling parts I let myself down on I felt. Nerves? I lost marks on Marshalling change over. I think each individual knew what they were doing but, not everyone was aware of who else was doing what. Got a borderline for that.
Also got a borderline for the planning stage. Bit peeved about the planning one as I put a lot of work in with Simon doing all the passage plan. But alas, this was after the examiners had left for the pub. Moral here is, make sure they see your input before they depart. This left me with a "B" for Borderline on the Planning Section.
There was a general grilling on everything from weather, lights and buoys, kit, first aid, decompression and hull design. All in between, driving the boat, navigating, marshalling etc. The diving went great.
I had two borderlines in one section, which generated an overall fail. Back to the drawing board for this section.
Task Day ~ Plymouth
Up til 1am planning again. Up at 6am to get everything ready for the "Dry Run". Off we set but can't find a suitable site for our vertical wall survey and have to opt for a site that is not really suitable, but time is running out. We manage to deploy our equipment, set it up and recover it. The equipment wasn't really up for the job but we had to work with what we had and it worked to a fashion. 'I think' the end results is not critical but they're looking at how you work underwater as well as on the RHIB with the equipment you have.
Just myself and Simon Campbell were stuck on the RHIB At One Time with Jeff Reed with the sun beating down and Jeff asking us questions on propellers. Believe it or not, Jeff has 30 minutes of questions on propellers. I passed this section
Expedition Day ~ Cumbrae (re-take)
I decided to dive (excuse the pun) straight back in and re-take at Cumbrae some eight weeks later. Late night planning (made sure of early input). Our task was to survey the stern section of the Beagle in 38m and the Greenock in 35m (I think).
Dive time 20 mins.
Myself and examiner are first to dive. Job is to tie in the shot, send up and tie a delayed from the stern section for the others to descend down and draw and measure the stern. Trouble was shot was nowhere near the wreck. I clipped off a reel and searched and found the wreck eventually. By the time the stern was located (we ended up at the bow first), we were 22 mins into the dive. The delayed was sent up but we had racked up about 18 mins of deco. There was concern on the boat for our overdue return. On the debrief I explained why I had taken the decisions I had, i.e. searching, swimming from the bow to the stern and not just aborting the dive on the agreed time. I was told that at this level this is acceptable if it is done safely (air, cold, safety etc) and got a merit for adaptability. So the moral here, I think, is if the plan goes wrong underwater, they are looking for you to think on the swim as to how to adapt the plan safely.
Expedition Plan
I decided to do this from Portland as I dive out of there a lot. I like wreck diving and planned it around wrecks I like to dive or would like to dive. Also had to put in the scenic stuff as well. Thoroughly enjoyed doing this part. I think if you plan something you would actually like to do/dive yourself, it makes it more enjoyable and easier to plan.
Got a Merit for my plan and some nice comments from Mark Wilson.
What lessons did you learn?
If you see something going wrong, or something that could be changed for the better, speak up and have belief in your convictions. Team work with a flexible Leader/Dive Marshall.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
Chill out and dive would be nice but I am DO of our Club so the "chill out" has gone. I would like to expand our wreck database by finding wrecks we haven't dived before and getting members more involved in researching, finding and shotting new sites.
Biography
Started diving in 1993 with Padi.
Joined Hoddesdon SAC in 1999
I am the current Diving Officer and am an OWI
I have done various courses with other agencies, IANTD, YMCA, TDI, NSS,CDS.
I am Advanced Open Circuit Trimix
MOD 3 on the Inspiration CCR
Full cave, open circuit and CCR
BSAC Ice Diver (new this year)
Advanced Gas Blender
Type of diving preferred
Wrecks and submarines in particular, and annually go to North West Florida for a week or two of cave diving. I prefer the deeper (Trimix) wrecks as they are generally more intact, less (sometimes never) dived and better viz. I still get a buzz out of my club diving.
Favourite diving location?
Portland for club dives
Littlehampton and Plymouth for Trimix dives.
North West Florida for cave diving.
Other than that, anywhere there is a sunken ship or preferably a submarine.
Email contact -
Andy SeddonWhy did you do First Class?
After a number of years of diving, it was the ultimate test to see if I could apply all the skills I had learned over the years and ‘cos it’s there.
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
I learned a lot from the group of people aiming for FCD on the prep as well as the exam.
What lessons did you learn?
A lot about team work realising that you can’t know everything but as a group you might.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
Go diving and enjoy myself. I’m planning to do the NAS foreshore course in March of 2006 to put some more purpose in the diving I do.
Biography
I started diving officially in 1986 at North Staffordshire Poly.
Currently a member of Boldmere Dive Club in Birmingham as an Advanced Instructor and getting back into instructing, after taking time out to do the FCD, by helping develop our in branch instructors.
Where do you dive?
Over the last year I have been mainly diving in Mull, Cornwall and Northern Island along with Dosthill!
What is your favourite place to dive?
West Coast of Scotland closely followed by anywhere warm with good viz and wrecks.
Email contact - andrew.seddon@bsac.com
David TresidderWhy did you do First Class?
I wanted something to aim for with my diving. It didn't look that difficult and others around me who were first class divers didn't seem like diving gods to me.
What was your experience of the FCD exam?
It was harder than I initially expected. I had fun and learned an awful lot that I thought I knew already.
What lessons did you learn?
Loads - the fact that I can't list all that I learnt indicates the depth and diversity of the work required to achieve the grade.
What do you intend to do now as a First Class Diver?
Smile and go diving, for me this was a personal goal and not about recognition. Where I can pass on my expereince and knowledge to others I'll do so.
Biography
I started diving in 1985 and am a member of Kingston and Elmbridge Branch
Instructor quals? Advanced Instructor
Where do you dive?
Everywhere - mainly south coast of England.
Type of diving preferred?
Wrecks
Favourite diving location?
Anywhere with those I enjoy diving with.
Email contact - dave.tresidder@bsac.com
Page last modified: 22nd Mar 2007 - 17:38:10