Simon Campbell

Posted at 1114 hours on 19/03/09 | Posted in Diving

National Diving Officer: First proposals

I have now sought feedback from the BSAC Forums, and opinions from many others throughout the organisation from Ocean Divers to Regional Coaches. Also, I have spoken to many outside our fine organisation for their perception of BSAC. The results have informed the development of a series of proposals. Here you go!!!

Well, these are my first proposals based upon developing four points from my initial manifesto…

• understand what the membership want from BSAC and then, most importantly, deliver
• dive regularly, using up to date techniques and equipment, leading expeditions and pushing boundaries
• consider all opinions but then make clear decisions
• be a real team player with the ability to listen, nurture, manage, motivate and inspire others to perform and achieve their potential.

An NDO should have two ears and one mouth using them in that proportion…

Proposal one: Going Diving

I believe BSAC is primarily a Diving organisation that facilitates its safe implementation by having a comprehensive and extensive Diver Training programme.

Currently I think the tail (training) is wagging the dog (diving). This is especially prevalent in the higher echelons of the organisation.

So, the focus should be helping and encouraging our members to go diving. If we do this, we will make the organisation a fantastic success. I have loads of ideas how we can do this, here are a few examples.

I am a believer in leading from the front and, if successful, plan to go diving with branches that are doing interesting (not just deep wrecks) stuff: Sort of a ‘Dive with the NDO’ type of thing.

How about having a weekend during the year for all the National Diving Committee (NDC)/Coaches to go diving rather than sitting around talking about it? Could this also apply to the Regional Coaching Teams?

We now have excellent events like DIVEFEST coming along. Shouldn’t the NDC and National Diving Officer actually be involved in the diving?

It would be interesting to see a poll of National Instructors on how many dives they do per annum. There are of course some notable exceptions that would raise the average quite a bit! We have to remember that these people are at the head of BSAC’s training, examining National Instructor, First Class Diver and Advanced Instructor plus developing Instructor Trainers. Do we not owe it to our candidates to be really hot and on the ball?

Proposal two: Creating a joined up team

The way National Diving Committee (NDC), the steering committee, coaching scheme, council and head office work together (or more accurately don’t) needs to be changed. It’s pointless trying to implement any strategic / joined up changes without sorting this first…

This may not seem significant but greater motivation, improved communication and clarity of direction will bring very fast benefits to members.

The current NDC is far too big, influential and expansive (see tail and dog comment above). This often results in the National Diving Officer (NDO) thinking they are all powerful. Yes, they are vital to the success of the club but they are one of the board of Directors who together form ‘Council’ to run the organisation on behalf of the members.

I think that certain sections of the current body need to work directly with council rather than through the NDO. The vital work of the Wreck Protection & Underwater Heritage and Environment officers should be at the heart of the organisation. The Communications group, (why is this on NDC anyway?) and membership representatives need to work directly with council.

Before we go any further lets use more appropriate names for the groups just for the purposes of these discussing these ideas.

• National Diving Committee (NDC) = BSAC Development Group
• Steering Group = NDO Advisory Group

So, what will these bodies look like?

Diver Development Group

This would deal with the ongoing improvement and maintenance of the Diver Training programme plus the creation and maintenance of the Diver Development Courses (SDC’s). One of the first jobs would be to focus upon existing SDC’s and bring them up to the new standard, that’s content and presentation.

It would also look at the grades with fresh eyes. It is clear that Advanced Diver and First Class are not hitting the spot with the membership as less and less people are taking them up. I presented ideas on the review of Advanced Diver to the current Diver Training Group last year but have yet to be discussed.

This group would also incorporate the current ‘Technical Group’ for better communication and cohesive development of the whole Diver Training Programme. I also believe that ‘Technical’ can put off many people. After all, what is Technical? I am trimix & rebreather diver but does this make me a technical diver? Probably not, I just like to be safe and remember my dives deeper than 35m…

Instructor Development Group

Would deal with the creation and the development of instructors. This last phrase is very important. When was the last time we helped instructors improve their skills and ability without moving up a grade?

Increasingly, we are asking our OWI’s in the branch to deliver Skill Development Courses. Now, with the new Underwater Photography course, the instructor doesn’t even need to have held a camera underwater before!

Surely we should look to create refresher and up-skilling programs for all Instructor Grades (yes, that includes Instructor Trainers and National’s folks).
Advanced Instructor has been under review for a long time now. This team would crystallise and implement these recommendations.

Before anyone says it the whole programme needs to be looked at but lets prioritise and knock the skittles down one at a time.

Assessment Group

This will deal with the examinations and assessments so we achieve consistency across all the diving and instructor grades. Many of the diver and instructor grades have anomalies that need to be addressed, specifically routes to the more technical courses.

Continuity & Coordination Group

This group will ensure the materials we produce are consistent in look and quality, plus preventing duplication of effort and parallel processes. This is very prevalent as currently each current group works in isolation with a very limited communication between them.

Coaching Group

The Regional Coaches would work within the whole Development Group to feed in what the members actually want and diving/training related issues with the members and regions. More importantly they would go out and, with their teams, to deliver high quality regional diver and instructor training courses.

We have a sizeable number of members in BSAC Direct, many of which are warm water divers, who I believe could benefit by Regional events and enhance their BSAC experience. The new Dive UK Skill Development Course could certainly persuade them to dive in the lovely temperate waters surrounding the UK.

Advisory group

I believe that currently we are inward looking; this needs to change. This group would develop high level strategy based information from our membership, Council, head office, interaction with other training agencies and the rest of the diving industry.

Who are going to be on these groups?

Change requires new thinking and new blood balanced with experience to prevent prior mistakes being repeated.

In light of this, I have been thinking about the selection of the team that can smoothly and efficiently, deliver these changes. I am currently on iteration seven of my original thoughts and, if successful would invite them to join the team.

All the group leaders would be involved in the advisory group, plus an elected ‘Chair’ of the coaching team, the ‘Chair’ of BSAC plus some advisers from outside the organisation.

So there you go, two solid proposals to develop and refocus the club on the issues at hand. Next up will be proposals on communication and the operation of the Regional Coaching Scheme…

1 comment

1. Rob Higgie on 31/03/09 at 1625 hours

   Hi Simon

   I like a lot what you have written especially going diving concept!

   Instructor development and support, I am in full agreement that refresher course should be run for instructors. We can easily get into bad habits and not realise this. Divefestivals, I would very much like to see this type of event organised around Britain. This would make easier for more divers to enjoy them. For example we could have the four months from June to Sept where these event visit Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland.
   Carpe Divem

   Rob

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