Dive boat handling

[nichollsboo]

Hi all, I am interested in eventually becoming a dive boat skipper. I need to know what qualifications I am going to need and also any that you may not actually have to have but would be of benefit? from both RYA and BSAC??
Would be very grateful of any info you can give me.
Many thanks

[Dave Lee]

I would think that RYA level 2 powerboat & SRC Radio courses would be a good place to start followed by a BSAC skill development courses in Seamanship (for the dive specific elements ;) ) & Safety & Rescue (you don't want to be learning this when the chopper is above the boat! :eek: )

I also highly recommend getting a copy of the BSAC Seamanship for Divers book.

We (007) are based at Sussex Yacht Club who are a RYA training centre, here's the course schedule if you need it:-

http://www.sussexyachtclub.org.uk/normal.asp?pageid=745

Hope this helps

[ChrisA]

As a professional skipper I have a RYA coastal commercial ticket,ML5 medical,sea survival and vhf, this gives me a 20 mile from safe haven limit.I believe that the PBII can be given commercial status as well.

[Andy (treerat)]

Key bit is the commercial endorsements. Depending on where you want to operate - miles offshore - will depend on what certificates you need.

RYA L2, sea survivial and a medical is a start but this will explain all;

http://www.rya.org.uk/COURSESTRAINING/PROFESSIONAL/COMMERCIALEND/Pages/commercialendorsements.aspx

[DiveandSeaTenerife]

Hiya

Just thought I would let you know that before I moved to Tenerife I progressed through all the RYA courses and ended up at the dizzy heights of Yachtmaster.

Unfortunatly in the Canary Islands the RYA, with MCA endorsements, are not worth anything !!

Out here they insist on the Spanish version for commercial purposes, so if you ever fancied working in the sunshine, the RYA licences are of no use.

Just something to bear in mind before commiting alot of time and money, and I wish someone had mentioned it to me :mad:

[toniken]

i can endorse this view, the spanish authorities are coming down hard on all aspects of diving, in Murcia they are insisting that all dive boat skippers hold a commercial licence, overkill in our area, the boat never goes more than a mile offshore, plus, there is a five year wait to do the course!!.
another new regulation is that all centres charging bottles must have a blast proof chamber to put the bottles in, this is due to be rolled out through the eu in the next few years. meanwhile commercial fishing boats continue to ignore all the rules and safety regulations with no comment, bless 'em.
Just thought I would let you know that before I moved to Tenerife I progressed through all the RYA courses and ended up at the dizzy heights of Yachtmaster.

Unfortunatly in the Canary Islands the RYA, with MCA endorsements, are not worth anything !!

Out here they insist on the Spanish version for commercial purposes, so if you ever fancied working in the sunshine, the RYA licences are of no use.

Just something to bear in mind before commiting alot of time and money, and I wish someone had mentioned it to me :mad:[/QUOTE]

[DiveandSeaTenerife]

Similar situation in Canary Islands.

The Spanish commercial licence must be held by all operators by January 2011.
However they are only 25 places available on the 1 course they run a year in Tenerife!!

Strangely the licence is for those operating a vessel of more than 5 tonnes and / or carrying more than 150 passengers.

Not many dive ribs fall into that category, but again the authorities stated if you don't like it ***k off.

As for the tank filling, that has been in here awhile now, its not just the cost of building your "blast proof" station but the engineers reports / electrical reports and certification fee's that go with it !!

And to think i used to say the UK was H&S mad :D

[frostage]

Hi all, I am interested in eventually becoming a dive boat skipper. I need to know what qualifications I am going to need and also any that you may not actually have to have but would be of benefit? from both RYA and BSAC??
Would be very grateful of any info you can give me.
Many thanks

Strangely if you buy a boat you do not need to hold any qualification to use one in the UK for personal use. If you are wish to run a boat for a living then you do need the relevent qualifications depending on where you are globally.
Visit here for more info on UK Skipper qualificationshttp://www.rya.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

For anyone new to boating then i strongly advise you go on a course.
The RYA powerboat coarse level 2 is well worth going on if your thinking of becoming a dive club skipper, at the same time book yourself on the RYA VHF course which includes a licence to use VHF. The RYA powerboat level 2 does give you valuable knowledge although the majority is common sense. I would advise though that you gain experience by assisting a dive boat skipper for sometime before having a go yourself. Its easy being a passenger on a boat, but when you are in charge you are also responsible for the peoples lives on board, which puts a whole different angle to it.I am unsure to what the BSAC boat handling course would give you as i have not had the pleasure. I am unsure what way it would differ though to the RYA course, perhaps someone could advise for my interest.
Another advantage to doing a rya level 2 powerboat coarse is that if you buy a boat and insure it, alot of insurance companies give you a discount for having the qualification. After having my boat for 2 years the discount i received paid for the course. I am unsure though if Insurance companies would give any discount for the BSAC one as it may not be recognised. However i may be wrong and stand to be corrected.

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