What can a club instructor now teach?

[Graham Bowers]

Hello. I recognise some names from UKRS in here!
I'm seeking clarification on what a BSAC club instructor with past open water instructing experience can now teach after the introduction of the 2002 changes. Some say one must do the OWI qualification to continue teaching in open water and some say one is still qualified to teach in open water, as before. What's the real truth and where is it documented please?
Cheers
Graham

[Mike Halligan]

Graham,

Elsewhere on this site you will find the following,
but only if you know where to look :-)

As TO, I encouraged Branch CIs to do the OWIC, even though they had been instructing in OW for some years, and one of the three is still accumulating his evidence. We still have some ACIs, who of course are being treated exactly as DL/ADIs.

"The Club Instructor grade will continue to be valid. To progress to OWI, CIs will be required, as under the present system, to extend their skills in the open water by attending an Open Water Instructor Course. Having already passed the theory paper and the classroom teaching exam, these elements will not need to be repeated. To give CIs credit for already having proved their ability at teaching practical skills in the pool, they will then be able to submit 12 hours logged experience for assessment, as under the present scheme, to gain the OWI award. For those who would prefer to take the Practical Instructor Exam, this option will also be open to them, as an alternative to logging experience.

"Those CIs who have already attended an OWIC, will have the same option of either completing their transition to OWI under the current system (by logging experience) or under the new system (by passing the Practical Instructor Exam)."

HTH

Mike

[Graham Bowers]

Mike
Having read your reply and the related page from your link, I conclude that if a CI wishes to, he may remain at CI grade and continue to teach in open water as he used to, and is able to sign the training off as he used to? I take your point about encouraging progression!
Cheers
Graham

[Mike Halligan]

Having read your reply and the related page from your link, I conclude that if a CI wishes to, he may remain at CI grade and continue to teach in open water as he used to, and is able to sign the training off as he used to? I take your point about encouraging progression!

Graham,

That's my understanding and I recall remarks from HQ along the lines of "penny numbers" and "not removing faculties already in use".

Strangely, for all the recent debate about the value of OWIC, none of the CIs involved had any criticism of the course - and these are the ones you would expect to feel it beneath them. Did they perhaps know better?

Regards,

Mike

[iainmsmith]

Strangely, for all the recent debate about the value of OWIC, none of the CIs involved had any criticism of the course

I beg your pardon?

You only have to do a search for "Open Water Instructor Course" to find the following:

<a href="http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/instforum/posts/1096.html" >http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/instforum/posts/1096.html</a>

Iain

[Mike Halligan]

You only have to do a search for "Open Water Instructor Course" to find the following:

http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/instforum/posts/1096.html"

Iain,

I read all that at the time, but will speak only as I find.

4 out of 4 from our Branch represents 100% satisfaction with NW events. Hence, I am prepared to maintain "none had any criticism".

Regards,
Mike

[iainmsmith]

4 out of 4 from our Branch represents 100% satisfaction with NW events. Hence, I am prepared to maintain "none had any criticism".

My apologies - when you said, "for all the recent debate about the value of OWIC, none of the CIs involved" I thought that you were discussing the CIs and debates on this Forum.

Iain