Vectis Expeditions ran a BSAC First Class Diver preparation event for BSAC club members over on the Isle of Wight on the week of the 6^th June.

BSAC First Class Diver is the highest diving grade awarded by the British Sub Aqua Club.  It is the next one up from BSAC Advanced Diver which itself is equivalent to CMAS Four Star Diver.

We faced challenging weather conditions but having resorted to our Plan B sites in the Solent we found that this area was on par, if not better than, classic venues used for such events like the Clyde, Portland and Plymouth.  The students had to contend with an unfamiliar area, extremely busy surface traffic (who often were ignorant of the meaning of a diving Code A flag), complex harbour rules and jurisdictions, very complex (and fast) tides, challenging diving conditions.

The requirements of the combined project preparation and expedition diving event were more than met.

Over the course of the week we:

–          Dived on protected wreck in Thorness Bay (licensee permission obtained)

–          Conducted survey dives in support of BSAC Operation Oyster in Osborne Bay (with permission from QHM and English Heritage)

–          Conducted rescue scenario activities with Cowes RNLI (having obtained a permit from Cowes Harbour Master)

–          Conducted research and actual search for remains of HMS Gladiator (salvage site) using advanced scanning technology which resulted in a wreck being re-discovered

–          Conducted adventurous drift dives

–          Supported BSAC Operation Oyster dives surveying native oysters on the wreck of the Margaret Smith

–          Planned and executed a dive on Hamstead Trough (off Hamstead Ledge) using 3D multbeam data to precisely position the dive site

–          With information provided by Blue Marine we executed a scientific survey gathering evidence of historic oyster beds in Newtown Creek (with permission from the Newtown Creek harbour master).

–         Practiced practical position fixing a lot aiming to position shot lines within 0m of the GPS coordinates (i.e. exactly on them and not just close to them!)

–          Studied the tides in more detail to enable dives to happen where more conventional approaches would have deemed the dive impossible.

–          Had a social night with a sailing experience on a boat without a backup motor; following by a meal at the Island Sailing Club in Cowes.

Overall, a great week. So what did the students think?

Craig:

“Prior to the prep we covered lots of planning and covered all of the lectures needed for the prep which made the week more enjoyable as I found it was all diving focused. Most evenings we covered planning the next day and completing a time line of the next day. Over the week we completed all types of diving, wreck diving, drift diving, surveys in tidal streams, sea life identification, and navigation from one point to another.  On all dives we covered position fixing to the exact location with the use of GPS, side scanner and transits.

We covered tidal streams and looking at the weather and when and where is best to dive with the incoming weather / wind and the tides. Personally, I found that Andy would ask general questions and then probe deeper and deeper into the subject until he exhausted my knowledge and then added a little more for my learning. I would most defiantly would do any course with him again. The whole week was planned by us with Andy overseeing everything. We even managed to go out sailing and a meal which broke up the week.”

Chris:

“I chose Vectis Expeditions as provider of the FCD prep week from prior knowledge of Andy as a BSAC National Instructor, mentor of FCD students and experienced expedition organiser.  I learned a huge amount throughout the week. We were constantly challenged to consider how to overcome various problems and to come up with viable, challenging dive plans. As you can see from the amount achieved they were long days of planning and execution but very rewarding and great fun.”