National Instructor Experiences Richard Handy
Below is an article reproduced from the branch newsletter, Undercurrrents, of Totnes Sub Aqua Club on the recent life history of Richard Handy and his progress towards ultimately achieving his National Instructor Award.
It serves as an insight into the influences and highs and lows of this progression and the ultimate achievement and accolade.
The Shield, The Sword, And The Diving Instructor....
This story starts a long, long time ago...and in truth may never have started at all but for a series of fortunate events. There was a certain dive club (Totnes) that not only went diving, but also took the time to invest in the training of its members- not just in diver training, but instructor training too. So it was, that a certain diving instructor (Richard Handy) took the first steps to improving his instructional and diving skills. This started with the Advanced Instructor Exam in Plymouth some 6 or 7 years ago. The exam went smoothly, and employed many skills that Totnes divers posses- such as using Gaffer tape to hold the boat together while you limp back to shore during your exam, and eating seawater encrusted cheese sandwiches whilst still remaining cheerful and up for the next dive. So it was that Richard Handy passed the AI and another instructor in the branch (he will remain nameless, but he is an old sea dog who keeps a boat in Dartmouth, and only charges one brown drinking voucher for an evening dive!) made the suggestion; “Have you thought about first class?�. Obviously, Handy AI had not!
So it was that he went to a few first class diver preps and came back with some ideas of things to practise. The club willingly, once again, offered divers and boats to try out some of the first class diver planning, marshalling (sorry, dive management now!) skills. On grim winter mornings, the experienced national instuctors in the branch gave their time to put Handy AI in the picture.....�do it again lad.....it needs to be much slicker than that....�. After many hours underwater the comments started to change...�mmmm.....you’re in with a chance...give it a go�.
After, many hours also swotting on the theory Handy AI was ready. So, on a blistering July weekend Handy AI took the First Class Diver Exam. After a weekend of no sleep, heat exhaustion, and some memorable dives he passed. Handy AI/FCD, suddenly had his commitments on the instructor training circuit increased! So for several seasons he dragged along divers from the branch, to replenish and renew the pool (excuse the pun!) of enthusiastic instructors....who teach enthusiastically to generate enthusiastic divers...who (as it turns out) make an enthusiastic dive club. Then one fine day, the Old Sea Dog of Dartmouth made another suggestion.........�Have you ever though about NI?�.
Obviously, Handy AI/FCD had not!
So it was that he went on a few national instructor preps, and after lots of petrol and air fills, came back (once again) with some ideas of things to practise. The club willingly, once again, supplied divers and boats for Handy AI/FCD to try out his would-be national instructor skills....Well, the NI exam was fast approaching and it was in Plymouth. So, with nothing to lose Handy AI/FCD went along. The first day of the NI exam was instructor training in the pool. Handy AI/FCD left his brain in his bunk that day...and despite doing some good open water dives, didn’t make it.
Not to be put off, Handy AI/FCD/would-be-NI tried again.
After another year of trying out various ideas, this time exhausting all the other instructors in the branch. Handy AI/FCD/would-be-NI gave the exam another go. This time in the Isle of Man, and things went well until Handy was passed a “Dog’s breakfast� of a Dive Plan and miraculously made it much worse by trying to change it....and after putting the National Diving Officer on a very nice wreck...but not the one she wanted....Handy AI/FCD/would-be-NI... failed.
Well, not to be put off, the branch rallied round and encouraged Handy to have another ago. This was unheard of........doing the national 3 times.........you must be mad! Anyway, by this time he knew exactly what was required: practise, practise, practise and more practise. So, it was that all the instructors were dragged into the pool, off Brixham Breakwater, or on a boat dive to do instructional dives. The Old Sea Dog of Dartmouth pressed Handy AI/FCD/would-be-NI to give polished performances on the instructor circuit (now Handy understands why he always had more students and less time than all the other instructors!). Handy was going stir crazy......and could even dream an accurate pool lesson, compass dive and jackstay search in his sleep. So by this time, the club and the instructors, and the Old Sea Dog had done a lot of diving. It was suggested that the Totnes club made an entry for the Heinke Trophy. The most prestigious award to be given annually to a BSAC branch. Allen the invincible and small team of dedicated scoundrels took on the mammoth task of putting the branch entry together: everybody helped. Everyone from the newest branch member to the Old Sea Dog of Dartmouth. The judges were most impressed, and Totnes won the shield. By this time, Handy AI/FCD/would-be-NI had done the National Exam for a third time. This time still in the Isle of Man, and despite a Force 7, torrential rain, doing an underwater archeological survey in 4 knots......Handy managed to put the National Diving Officer on the right wreck......Handy passed.
So it was that Handy FCD/NI 226 went to the Diving Officers Conference to collect his hard-earned certificate. Little did he know, that his diving friends had been cooking up a surprise.....the Wilkinson Sword Trophy. This is THE Wilkinson Sword (wow!) and is awarded to one member of the BSAC who has excelled at an “underwater endeavour�. The award is a high honour that will normally go to an exceptional first class diver or national instructor. 
Well...Handy was proud to collect his certificate at the Diving Officers Conference, and had just made it back to his seat and could hear the National Diving Officer talking about a tenacious and excellent instructor who had done the NI exam three times (oddly, no mention of wrecks though!). Handy suddenly heard his name....and with much screaming and whooping from the Totnes branch members...found himself on the stage collecting the sword (Handy FCD/NI was speechless..). Later that afternoon, Totnes branch took the stage to collect the Heinke Trophy for a second time, to much applause from all. It is indeed a high honour for the branch to win this twice in it’s history-no other branch has done that. This is a great year for Totnes BSAC, Handy FCD/NI 226 is now in therapy and will be found at an instructor event near you soon. The odds of a branch holding both awards is a million to one, and Totnes Branch will go down in history, for both awards are founded on an immense team effort within the branch and the region. Well, considering the branch has beaten the odds.........that only means two thing folks:
(1) We have one hell of show to put on when we host the BSAC AGM to keep the momentum going.
(2) The Old Sea Dog of Dartmouth will need a drink....yohoho and a bottle of rum!
Cheers!
Richard Handy
Page last modified: 18th Dec 2006 - 13:08:10