NDC Steering Group
BSAC National Diving Officer
SEAN GRIBBEN
I have been diving since 1985, learning with Glasgow University branch. This gave me a great opportunity to see the wonderful country of Scotland and also the dive sites around the Clyde, the lochs on the West coast, the Summer Isles, Skye and Mull. I also took part in some excellent expeditions to Ireland, Scapa Flow and the Red Sea.
SEAN GRIBBEN
I have been diving since 1985, learning with Glasgow University branch. This gave me a great opportunity to see the wonderful country of Scotland and also the dive sites around the Clyde, the lochs on the West coast, the Summer Isles, Skye and Mull. I also took part in some excellent expeditions to Ireland, Scapa Flow and the Red Sea.
In 1991 I joined Kirkintilloch Thistle branch. A thoroughly adventurous group of souls who dive all year round. Wreck diving became a must, as virtually every wreck in the Clyde was explored as well as venturing down to the South West Coast of Scotland for "virgin" wrecks. Whilst continuing my thirst for instructing I became an Advanced Instructor in 1992. I also continued my diving abroad going to the Red Sea, Ireland, England, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta and the Maldives.
In 1996 I became more interested in how BSAC developed instructors and started assisting in Skill Development Courses and the Instructor Training Scheme. There is nothing better than working on the Instructor Training Scheme to develop your skills as an instructor. You also get to see fledgling instructors becoming fully proficient instructor trainers themselves, very worthwhile.
In 1998 I took over as South Scotland Regional Coach. With an excellent instructing team a large number of SDC's where carried out and every branch was visited. Being Regional Coach allowed me to see the issues that branches had and needed to communicate. In 2000 I passed my National Instructor Examination and in 2001 I took over the post of Open Water Instructor Chief Examiner. Whilst in this post I endeavoured to improve the feedback that candidates received, and compiled a statistical analysis of examinations. In 2004 I was appointed Diver Training Group Leader on the NDC, implementing an updated diver training programme, updated guidance from the Resuscitation Council, updating 1st Class Diver and introducing new skill development courses.
As National Diving Officer I am looking forward to the challenges of updating our instructor training scheme, the snorkel training programme and providing skill development courses that meet the needs of the membership. Emphasis will be made in the key areas of communication, priorities and effective performance to assist BSAC in promoting diving.
Email - ndo@bsac.com
Chair of NDC Steering Group (Deputy NDO)
JEFF REED
I am as equally enthusiastic about sports diving as the day I started. The diversity and intellectual property of the people I continue to meet absolutely amazes me. Every time I sit down with a group of like minded individuals I learn something new. My overall goal is to promote diving as a fun and challenging activity that offers something for everyone.
For the past three years, I have worked with a fabulous team to develop the new technical diving portfolio. I view the technical group as the R&D department of the BSAC, learning lots, pushing boundaries, making mistakes, but above all, making lots of new friends with similar outlook. There is a lot of good work still to be done and I know it is in extremely capable hands. In my new role, I will aim to provide knowledge, direction, and feed in lessons learnt to all the teams building on the foundations laid down over the past 3 years to further the development and very importantly to promote sports diving. I hope that I can do the role justice.
Chair of NDC Steering Group (Deputy NDO) JEFF REED
I am as equally enthusiastic about sports diving as the day I started. The diversity and intellectual property of the people I continue to meet absolutely amazes me. Every time I sit down with a group of like minded individuals I learn something new. My overall goal is to promote diving as a fun and challenging activity that offers something for everyone.
For the past three years, I have worked with a fabulous team to develop the new technical diving portfolio. I view the technical group as the R&D department of the BSAC, learning lots, pushing boundaries, making mistakes, but above all, making lots of new friends with similar outlook. There is a lot of good work still to be done and I know it is in extremely capable hands. In my new role, I will aim to provide knowledge, direction, and feed in lessons learnt to all the teams building on the foundations laid down over the past 3 years to further the development and very importantly to promote sports diving. I hope that I can do the role justice.
My current role on NDC Steering Group is to assist, advise and support the National Diving Officer in strategy and policy making, by facilitating the work of the group by running the meetings, recording minutes & actions and checking on the progress of the phenomenal amount of work which is being carried out by the 5 NDC working groups. I also act as a point of reference in the event that the NDO is unavailable.
Email - depndo@bsac.com
DIVING GROUP LEADER
DENNIS WIGG
Email - depndo@bsac.com
DIVING GROUP LEADERDENNIS WIGG
Lives in the North West of England
For work- full time Diving Instructor
For play - Diving
Since joining the BSAC I’ve been privileged to be able to visit and dive in parts of the UK that otherwise I wouldn’t have thought to visit.
I enjoy warm water diving but my real pleasure and satisfaction comes from the variety and challenges offered by UK diving.
I find the constant advances in diving equipment, techniques and philosophy fascinating, there really is no chance of me getting bored!
Email - diveg.leader@bsac.com
Having now been appointed as Diver Training Group Leader I have the responsibility to monitor and develop a number of key training areas. They are 1st Class Diver, the Diver Training Programme (Ocean diver to Advanced diver), Rescue Skills, Skill Development Courses (Non-Technical) and the Snorkelling Programme. To assist me I have a number of excellent instructors with experience in their respective areas. As a group we will continue to improve the diver-training programme for our members ensuring that it is kept relevant, up to date and be realistic and achievable. We also want to develop new skill development courses that represent interests from our members but are not dependent for qualification purposes.
Email - dtg.leader@bsac.com
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING GROUP LEADER
MARK WILSON
I first started diving when I was 16, that's 30 years ago now. And for the last 20 years I have been a member of Harrow Sub-Aqua Club, where I have been both DO and Chairman. Wreck diving has been my principal interest over the years and has taken me all over the UK and many places overseas to study the finest scrap heaps the bottom of the ocean has to offer. In 1990 I passed my AI (managing to win the Wilkinson sword in the process, nobody was more surprised than me!) and started to work on the ITS. Two years later I got through First Class Diver, then a year later 1993, I passed NI. I have thoroughly enjoyed working on instructor events, both with the teams in the UK, and occasionally solo abroad. Most recently, I have served for 3 years (2004-07) on NDC as the First Class Diver Chief Examiner, excellent fun.
For work- full time Diving Instructor
For play - Diving
Since joining the BSAC I’ve been privileged to be able to visit and dive in parts of the UK that otherwise I wouldn’t have thought to visit.
I enjoy warm water diving but my real pleasure and satisfaction comes from the variety and challenges offered by UK diving.
I find the constant advances in diving equipment, techniques and philosophy fascinating, there really is no chance of me getting bored!
Email - diveg.leader@bsac.com
DIVER TRAINING GROUP LEADER 
ANDREA DICKENS
I have been diving since 1989 and instructing since 1990. Having moved around the UK since then, I have been an active member of several branches and been the Training Officer and Diving Officer of many of them. I have been an active instructor at a Regional level and so have taught many SDCs both regionally as well as within branches.
I enjoy diving of all kinds but prefer it to have lots of marine life. I have dived in many areas of the UK and overseas and still have a long list of places I haven’t been to where I want to dive!
Having now been appointed as Diver Training Group Leader I have the responsibility to monitor and develop a number of key training areas. They are 1st Class Diver, the Diver Training Programme (Ocean diver to Advanced diver), Rescue Skills, Skill Development Courses (Non-Technical) and the Snorkelling Programme. To assist me I have a number of excellent instructors with experience in their respective areas. As a group we will continue to improve the diver-training programme for our members ensuring that it is kept relevant, up to date and be realistic and achievable. We also want to develop new skill development courses that represent interests from our members but are not dependent for qualification purposes.
Email - dtg.leader@bsac.com
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING GROUP LEADERMARK WILSON
I first started diving when I was 16, that's 30 years ago now. And for the last 20 years I have been a member of Harrow Sub-Aqua Club, where I have been both DO and Chairman. Wreck diving has been my principal interest over the years and has taken me all over the UK and many places overseas to study the finest scrap heaps the bottom of the ocean has to offer. In 1990 I passed my AI (managing to win the Wilkinson sword in the process, nobody was more surprised than me!) and started to work on the ITS. Two years later I got through First Class Diver, then a year later 1993, I passed NI. I have thoroughly enjoyed working on instructor events, both with the teams in the UK, and occasionally solo abroad. Most recently, I have served for 3 years (2004-07) on NDC as the First Class Diver Chief Examiner, excellent fun.
I have instructed and examined all grades of diver from Ocean to First Class. And I have instructed and examined all grades of instructor from IFC up to National Instructor Examination. I now look forward to this latest challenge!
TECHNICAL GROUP LEADERI have been a member of BSAC for 28 years with Bracknell Branch 434, I am a
ITS instructor, SDC Instructor, Area Coach for Southern Region, Regional technical coordinator, and I am a BSAC CCR Advanced Mixed Gas Instructor Trainer
I started using Nitrox “Technical diving” as it was called back in the early 90’s at that time we were doing a lot of deep wreck diving on air, in 1993 I did a trimix course with Rob Palmer of IANTD, then in early 1997 attended the first Cis lunar Mk5 rebreather course in the USA, and have been diving the Cis Lunar Mk5 and other rebreathers for over ten years, I enjoy expedition diving and deep wreck diving, but I still thoroughly enjoy teaching all students from Ocean diver to Advanced mixed gas students.
For the past 6 years, I have been part of the BSAC Technical group evolved in writing the BSAC technical portfolio of courses.
ITS instructor, SDC Instructor, Area Coach for Southern Region, Regional technical coordinator, and I am a BSAC CCR Advanced Mixed Gas Instructor Trainer
I started using Nitrox “Technical diving” as it was called back in the early 90’s at that time we were doing a lot of deep wreck diving on air, in 1993 I did a trimix course with Rob Palmer of IANTD, then in early 1997 attended the first Cis lunar Mk5 rebreather course in the USA, and have been diving the Cis Lunar Mk5 and other rebreathers for over ten years, I enjoy expedition diving and deep wreck diving, but I still thoroughly enjoy teaching all students from Ocean diver to Advanced mixed gas students.
For the past 6 years, I have been part of the BSAC Technical group evolved in writing the BSAC technical portfolio of courses.
My aim as The Technical Group leader is to continue to incorporate the benefits/ Skills of Technical diving into main stream branch diving where appropriate, and ensuring that BSAC has the best advanced diving training available to meet the needs of our membership.
The technical team will continue to review the current courses and continue the development of new advanced and technical diving courses and skills and contribute to the evolution of the Instructor Training and Diver Training Programs and related courses.
Email - techg.leader@bsac.com
COMMUNICATIONS GROUP LEADERMAGGIE DRISCOLL
My introduction to diving began in 1986, when I went along to an open evening at my local Leisure Centre - the equivalent of a 'try a dive' evening. Of course these days, by way of fun, we don't try and see how many people we can get on a 'squidgy' in the middle of the pool - I've been diving with the Harrow Sub-Aqua Club ever since, although somewhere along the line we exchanged the 'squidgy' for a RHIB and Hardboats. Joining the branch was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Branch diving at its best - varied and fantastic UK diving - with the odd trip abroad thrown in. Like so many branches, we have dived (with vis and without vis) everything from delights of Swanage pier to the wrecks of Scapa, the joys of Cornwall, the Hebrides, the Farnes, and all along the South Coast and Wales - one of the benefits of not being a Coastal Branch, we have to travel to go under water. I've been lucky enough to dive with some Coastal Branches as well and benefit from their knowledge of the local sites. Lots of fun along the way and making some of the closest friends I have - a second family really.
I have held every Branch committee role (except Equipment Officer) and sat on the committee for all but 4 of the 18 years I've been diving. I became an Advanced Instructor in 1995 and achieved First Class in 2001 (long overdue) adn National Instructor in 2005. I also teach on the ITS, as have worked as a Area Coach in the London and Southern Regions. I dive open circuit, single or twin and more recently with a Drager - depends what diving we are doing really - and there's always the trusty camera as well.
Times have changed and diving is much more accessible now. Branch diving, however, is still my passion and I firmly believe that it is the best and safest way to go diving, whether in Branch or Inter-Branch…. As leader of the Communications Group my role with the help of my team, is to promote, develop and encourage all aspects of BSAC Diving and the activities of the other NDC Groups in its development. 'Going Diving' that is….
Email - commsg.leader@bsac.com
BSAC HQ links
Diver Resources Team ManagerALISTAIR REYNOLDS
Telephone - 0151 350 6261
Email - alistairr@bsac.com
Safety & Development Manager
JIM WATSON
My role at BSAC HQ involves managing all aspects of Incident reporting, monitoring any related matters including Insurance issues arising from incidents and advising on all aspects of diving safety. The development part of my role is currently orientated towards the redesign and further development of the Members Website as well as supporting the work of the NDC.
I started with snorkelling in 1965 in the waters off North Devon, dare I say spearfishing, and joined BSAC Merseyside Branch in 1969 in order to learn how to scuba dive and appreciate the fish instead. I have been actively involved in diver training and instructor development since 1974 when I gained my Club Instructor. This continued through Advanced Instructor and I qualified as a First Class Diver in '77 and a National Instructor in 1979.
For some 18 years ('79 - '97) I ran a diving equipment servicing company part-time while doing my day job as a college lecturer, servicing all makes and models of diving regulators, dry suit repairs for most manufacturers' models and providing training courses for branch members in equipment care and maintenance as well as Nitrox Diver training.
Between 1992 and '94, I was the Advanced Instructor Chief Examiner and was instrumental, with the then NDO, Tony Hoile, in introducing the Open Water Instructor Course (OWIC) and OWI award.
In 2000 I left FE and took on the role of BSAC Technical Manager at BSAC HQ, the title changing in 2005 to Diver Resources Team (DRT) Manager. I have continued to keep pace with advances in diving technology by becoming a qualified Trimix and Dräger rebreather diver. I have been on NDC Steering Group since my appointment in 2000.
Telephone - 0151 350 6261
Email - alistairr@bsac.com
Safety & Development Manager JIM WATSON
My role at BSAC HQ involves managing all aspects of Incident reporting, monitoring any related matters including Insurance issues arising from incidents and advising on all aspects of diving safety. The development part of my role is currently orientated towards the redesign and further development of the Members Website as well as supporting the work of the NDC.
I learned to dive whilst at Stirling University where I studied Biology (but actually just went diving alot). I began training to be a BSAC Instructor in 1992 and progressed steadily through the grades gaining the National Instructor in 2000. During this same period I first became an Area Coach and ultimately Regional Coach for South Scotland taking over from Clare Peddie. On being appointed as a full time member of HQ staff I handed the region over into the capable hands of Sean Gribben.
Qualified in trimix and Draeger rebreather use I see these as simple tools to allow me to enjoy the diving I prefer safely. By preference I still very much enjoy and prefer the diving off the West Coast of Scotland.
Email - jimw@bsac.com
Page last modified: 28th Apr 2008 - 16:48:20