CMAS/FFESSM -> BSAC

[hoss]

Hi,
I'm a brit who has done his dive training in France, due to living here.
I may come back to the UK at some point, and think it would be a good idea to join BSAC and get the equivalent quals if possible.
I've trained under the French federation FFESSM/CMAS
-FFESSM N3 diver with E1 Instructor (CMAS 3*)
-Advanced Nitrox (FFESSM & TDI)
-Marine Biology (FFESSM)

I'm guessing this gets me Advanced Diver + Club Instructor in BSAC?
Whats involved in joining BSAC in this way?
Do i need to be evaluated or is it simply paperwork?
Are there any equivalences for the Nitrox & Biology?

[Eddie Clamp]

Hi,
I'm a brit who has done his dive training in France, due to living here.
I may come back to the UK at some point, and think it would be a good idea to join BSAC and get the equivalent quals if possible.
I've trained under the French federation FFESSM/CMAS
-FFESSM N3 diver with E1 Instructor (CMAS 3*)
-Advanced Nitrox (FFESSM & TDI)
-Marine Biology (FFESSM)

I'm guessing this gets me Advanced Diver + Club Instructor in BSAC?
Whats involved in joining BSAC in this way?
Do i need to be evaluated or is it simply paperwork?
Are there any equivalences for the Nitrox & Biology?

Welcome. Can't help you with the complexities of cross over agency diving but I am sure others here will help :)

[deandive]

I think you are correct with regards to advanced diver but im not so sure how the instructor would cross over Im pretty sure you would have to participate in an instructor foundation course which would make you an assistant instructor as a product of attendance, however as bsac no longer issue club instructor im a bit stumped, possibly someone else will have had some experience of this.

[craigwarren]

There are no Cross-overs to BSAC qualifications.

If you want to have one of the BSAC qualifications then you have to do the course for that qualification.

Your existing qualifications may allow you to skip straight to advanced diver, but you have to do the advanced diver course.

[neil_richardson]

Hiya,

had that query down here a few times :-)

As it stands, you CANNOT Salt direct to Advanced Diver.... its the first grade you cannot directly SALT over to...

However, you can SALT your individual skills, and then "complete" the Advanced Diver programme.

Hence, from what i see, you'd SALT as a Dive Leader (subject to check out dives etc?) you're individual training / learning can then be SALTED where it can be demonstrated, and then you just need to get signed off as an Advanced Diver...

Does that make sense???

[deandive]

according to my blue bsac qual book advanced diver is eqiuvalent to cmas three star diver and if you were to apply for a cmas equivalancy card this is the rating an advanced diver would be given, I know that it does not allways work both ways and I agree that you do not cross over, only meet the pre- requisites of the next course however on the salt certificate it states that any equivalancy is down to diving officer discretion therefore with the content of the ffessm courses you have undertaken and any subsequent experience you may have gained I feel it is likely you would be the equivalent of an advanced diver, the instructor qual however is an entirely different kettle of fish and one I do not feel able to competantly offer advice on, any ITS instructors out there?

[Edward]

Hi,

As others have already stated there is NO crossover to a BSAC qualification, you should just dive on your FFSSM N3 qualification just like a Scottish Sib-Aqua Club Master Diver would, see here (http://www.bsac.com/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=10131&filetitle=Other+agency+qualifications+and+BSAC+div er+grades).

Instructor qualifications are a bit different in that the BSAC Open Water Instructor (OWI) qualification is awarded, see here (http://www.bsac.com/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=14453&filetitle=Instructor+Crossover+Application+Form). However, OWI is equivalent to CMAS 2* whereas the old Club Instructor was 1*.

Joining BSAC. There are a number of options open to you:

* Join a Branch and pay both BSAC and Branch fees through the Branch.
* Join a Branch, but pay BSAC fees by Direct Debit and the Branch fee to the Branch.
* Join BSAC Direct and pay either by credit card of Direct Debit, plus an admin fee to HQ.

See here (http://www.bsac.com/landing.asp?section=29&sectionTitle=There+are+two+ways+to+join+BSAC) for full details.

Nitrox is now part of core diver training so having it is an advantage.

Biology, pass.

HTH

Edward

[Gareth]

As Others have said, you don't just get a BSAC diving qualifcation. You either;-

a/ Dive on your existing qualifcations. Within its limitations.
b/ SALT to a STARTING POINT to train for the next BSAC diving Grade.

Either are perfectly valid approaches to diving with a BSAC Branch. The only negative with a/ is that most BSAC members won't know what limitations / benefits your qualifcation gives. So the responsibility lies with you to ensure they understand.
If you do do b/ then a/ still applies until you COMPLETE the BSAC qualification.

With regard to the Instructor qualifcation, from memory, you need to complete the BSAC Instructor Foundation Course (IFC), which takes two days. The IFC is not an exam, but it shows the BSAC approach to teaching diving and is the starting point for any potential BSAC Instructor.

Because you have already been assessed as a Scuba Diving Instructor, having completed the IFC, you could then apply for a BSAC Open Water Instructor Qualifcation, skipping the following courses & exams.
To be 100% certain of this please contact HQ, they will be able to confirm this for you.

The other point to remember is than you can only teach BSAC courses if you are
a/ qualifed to do so
b/ a BSAC member
c/ a member of a branch or teaching for a branch or teaching for the region or teaching for a school.
(Basically you can't teach as a one man band as a direct member)

Gareth