Vectis Expeditions supported two combined BSAC AIC / AIE events at the tail end of 2024

The first was in Portland Harbour UK at the end of October and the second was in Cyprus at the end of November/beginning of December.   These types of events are popular because whilst they are intense and focussed, you roll straight from the course into the exam so that what you have learnt is still fresh.  On the course you learn about complementary teaching skills in theory, and then in practice on adventurous instructional dives and project based dives.  You learn about supporting instructor development in your branch, teaching seamanship skills, teaching dive management and developing divers using coaching techniques and something called a PDP (personal development plan).  The course structure mimics the exam and so the main two changes for the exam phase is that i) instructors become examiners and are not allowed to coach/mentor any more and ii) students become candidates, take the lead in organising the diving to a given brief show and show not only what they can “do” (which as BSAC Advanced Divers they should be able to “do” it all already) but also as its an instructor exam – show that you can teach about what they are doing aswell.

In Portland we had some challenging conditions; very large spring tides, poor weather and heavy rain before and during the event and strong winds.  We were expecting the worst yet managed to get some superb diving in.  Oddly, the visibility was the best I’d known in the harbour for many years – sheltered from the wind by the harbour wall we dived (and saw)    the Cragside, Enecuri, Bombardon, Landing Craft and Lighter.  We also had permission to dive seagrass beds amongst the deserted moorings and gather data for the Great Seagrass Survey which would have been impossible a couple of months earlier due to vessel traffic.

In Cyprus we were supported by Will and the team at Dive Stop in Paralimni.  Water temperature was about 20 degrees (air temperature about 17 degrees) so doable in a thick wetsuit but very comfortable in a drysuit.  Being out of main tourist season we had the dive sites largely to ourselves.  We used Will’s RHIB for the event and whilst the underwater visibility was great and the water warm,  the selection of sites and the out of season weather and tides kept us on our toes and provided just the right level of diving ‘challenge’ commensurate with a BSAC Advanced Instructor Course / Exam.  

Vectis Expeditions bossed both events and as such planned the events in dovetailing into a couple of diving projects we are supporting.  On both these events we trialled material for the forthcoming BSAC Underwater Surveyor Course and continued to support BSAC Operation Oyster. With an increase in public interest in the oceans there are a plethora of projects to support which is where BSAC Advanced Instructors can help out.

For further information on BSAC Advanced instructor click here: https://www.bsac.com/training/instructor-courses/scuba-instruction/advanced-instructor/#tab-1

For what one of the students thought of the event see here: https://www.facebook.com/BritishSubAquaClub/videos/381389574284293