Go Snorkelling - New BSAC Training Programme

[RobinT]

Just read about the new snorkel training programme and was wondering if anybody had any views?

Robin

[john boggild]

I have read the new training program for snorkelling and think that BSAC have made a huge mistake, they do not appear to have a proper grasp or understanding of snorkelling. Most people who come into snorkelling are children and as such like to keep on learning different things and gaining awards, the new program has less awards. They also say that the OWSI award has not been down graded but if you cannot teach in open water any more then that is exactly what has happened, i wonder what sort of outcry there would be if this happened to diving instructors?

How many snorkel clubs out there will now not been able to teach open water skills because they do not have advanced instructors in there club, surely BSAC should have addressed this issue before embarking on such changes. It is hard enough at the best of times to get snorkel training nationally so how long will it be before snorkelling can get sufficient instructors to teach open water skills?

I for one will have to consider whether it is worth being a member of BSAC or even one of the clubs, as i can now not teach in open water.

[boggilds]

i think when BSAC were coming up with the new syllabus and was asking for feedback on it i dont think they asked the right people, surely the people to have consulted on this would have been snorkelling only clubs or at least clubs with a big vested interest in snorkelling

[babylora]

I like John agree, we wont be able to teach as OWSI, so what is the point in carrying.