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First Class Diver - Task Diving Practical Exam

The definition of a First Class Diver is a diver who:
 
·        Has a high level of practical diving skills and knowledge
·        Can organise groups of divers to achieve specific aims or objectives
·        Can organise and lead major diving expeditions
·        Has the skill to contribute to BSAC developments at a national, regional and branch level.
 
Unlike the other diving qualifications you may be used to, assessors specifically appointed by the First Class Diver Chief Examiner conduct the assessment at venues that are also designated by the Chief Examiner . There is no formal “practical course" for the qualification as divers at this level are expected to go beyond “taught skills" and be able to apply their own combination of skills and experience to the leadership and organisation of challenging diving.
 
Diving Task
 
This assessment typically makes use of diving from small boats (though alternative platforms may be used depending on location) and involves us carrying out an underwater exercise using a team of divers. 
Typical examples of tasks include :
  • Underwater surveys (for example, of small wrecks),
  • Marine Life survey
  • Search and recovery exercises
  • Underwater activities using ropes 
During this session you will be working alongside the other candidates to plan and execute the task assigned to the group by the examiners. The task will be assigned to you the evening before and you will have a one-hour planning session, with the examiners looking on, to work together as a group and come up with a plan. You then have the rest of the evening to finalise the plan, collate equipment get any preparations done. The next day, the group will execute the plan. 
 
During the session, the examiners will be monitoring your :
  • surface skills (e.g. boat handling, position fixing),
  • underwater skills (e.g. carrying out work underwater,
  • personal diving skills, dive leadership)
  • leadership/managerial skills (e.g. contribution to the organisation and planning of the project, leading the team of divers, decision making, dealing with emergency situations).
More detailled advice on preparing for the Practical Examination can be downloaded as part of the First Class Diver Pack.
 
On most UK events the exam will be made up of two teams of students.
 
To Book a Practical Examination make sure you have Registered for the FCD Programme first and then go to the Online Booking Form.
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Page last modified: 27th Nov 2007 - 12:18:00