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Buoyancy and Trim workshop launched 01 August 2008

Posted in Diving.

Front cover of the BSAC Buoyancy and trim workshop manual

The British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC), as governing body of the sport in the UK, maintain annual, diving related incident reports for all recreational diving activity. From these it became clear that poor buoyancy has been the cause of an increasing number of incidents.

Around 12 mouths ago, Sean Gribbon, BSAC National Diving Officer, asked the Diver Training Group of the National Diving Committee to develop a Buoyancy workshop.

Alan Jefery (Diver Training Chief), Richard Scarsbrook (Diver Training Technical Editor) and myself as Diver Training Development Leader, took up the challenge to write a course and on August 01, 2008 the workshop was released.

The workshop consists of theory and practical sessions, the latter taking place in sheltered water. It is intended for any level of diver, but will be indispensable for Ocean and Sport divers who really want to enjoy the feeling that comes from great buoyancy and trim.

Who can teach it?

Any BSAC Open Water Instructor or above!

What are the levels?

A number of levels have been defined and Qualification Cards allocated to match the performance. The standards are based upon the diver being able to hold a stop, for two minutes, at a depth of six metres or less.

  • ±2m Bronze
  • ±1m Silver
  • ±0.5m Gold (BSAC recommended level for maintaining decompression stops)
  • ±0.3m Black
What's the cost?

The materials are available as a free download from the BSAC website. BSAC Centres will charge for the instructor time, BSAC branches will not charge for the course but, depending upon the policies of the individual club, may ask for expenses. When you have completed your workshop, Qualification Cards showing your attainment level will be available from BSAC HQ at a cost of £15.

How do I book on the course?

Just go to your branch or centre and they can organise a workshop for you!!!

To find out more go to the website of the BSAC or go to the writing section of this site.

4 comments

Chester WIgwam on 31 Oct 2008 at 5:56

Is that picture on the cover for real? Or is it just an example of how to be a stroke?

Is it recommended trim for cave?  Or do I sign up for the new BSAC course “Boollocks trim for non normal folk diving .... what’s all this horizontal shite?” if I want to be prepared for cave?  Above course can be taught by any chuffing numpty bored enough on a tuesday to earn a BSAC Instructor Ticket

Mike Taylor on 03 Nov 2008 at 12:58

Harsh

Matt Reed on 03 Nov 2008 at 1:00

But fair, Mr. Chairman

Simonski on 03 Nov 2008 at 10:39

Blimey Mr Wigwam

I always worry when people don’t leave their real name or email address. Does this mean that you wont stand up and be counted? If you do reveal your identity, it would be useful for you to list your last 20 dives so we can can all see your pedigree; I am happy to give you mine.

Matt Reed and Mike Taylor both have commented above. Even though I disagree with Matt (I know his partner does :-), I respect their opinions as superb, highly experienced and practised divers and instructors.

99% of the worlds divers are recreational and have no intention of diving in caves or the bowels of wrecks. The job here was to avoid uncontrolled ascents and save peoples lives by improving their buoyancy control. Simple as that. The picture on the front shows someone who is clearly relaxed and, dare I say it, enjoying themselves.

Attitude in the water is very important when silting is an issue, but some people like to look around at stuff which sometimes requires them to alter their attitude in the water. I have no problem with this providing they are neutrally buoyant and relaxed; they can stand on their head if they like. As far as I can recall there is no law to say people must be horizontal.

With respect to BSAC, yes it not a perfect organisation and yes the ability of instructors varies, but isn’t that so in every agency. I have met come shocking IANTD / TDI / PADI instructors in my time.

The difference with BSAC is the ‘chuffing numpties’ to which you refer are all unpaid volunteers and GIVE back to the organisation who trained them.

Anyway, if you reveal your identity, I would be pleased to come and dive with you so I can wonder at your personal trim and control. I may even learn something.

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