The New Snorkeling syllabus, a step forward or a step backwards

[boggilds]

what are peoples thoughts and opinions on the new snorkeling syllabus, do people think BSAC have gone in the right direction with the new syllabus or in completely the wrong direction?

[DRW]

Since nobody can tell me where to find this new snorkelling syllabus online, I can't comment on what I haven't seen. If you've had the privilege of seeing the document, why not summarise its content for the rest of us so we can make a judgement?

[boggilds]

currently i dont think there is any documentation online, i have recieved an email from my DO with an word document attachment from BSAC, which gives a rough outline of what is going to be on the snokelling syllabus, this email coupled with the rough stuff BSAC give you on the SITC course is all i have seen, dont know if you have seen this? the general jist from what i understand so far is that the amount of qualifications for snorkelers to get has been condensed down to 3 which i believe is no good for kids as i think they should have increased the amount of qualifications, OWSI has been gotten rid of and replaced with snorkel instructor which means no open water lessons can be done unless your an advanced snorkel instructor or above which there isn't many of.

as i learn some more about what is going on with the syllabus i will post it on here

[babylora]

with regard to the new snorkel syllabus, i dont think its a step in the right direction, i think it is wrong,

[MikeTonge]

with regard to the new snorkel syllabus, i dont think its a step in the right direction, i think it is wrong,

Care to elaborate as I'm sure detailed feedback will always be well received.

[boggilds]

well this is the problem you see mike, we would like to elaborate on the comments and give more information on the new syllabus but we've only been given a rough outline of the syllabus, as yet we still only have rough copies of the lectures that we are supposed to give and an email of bsac giving us some information for it, myself as well as a few other snorkell instructors i talk to already dont agree with the draft copy of the syllabus and from the looks of the recent email about the syllabus this will raise even more questions and doubts on the new sayllabus

[Carol]

I received, around last May, a muddled CD with various versions of lectures and practical instructions - some for instructor some for Student but all in draft form.:confused:
I've been waiting for the final version to appear or even to be asked for comments.
I'm surprised, must have missed the info in all the folders, that you had to be Adv Inst to train OW.
I must admit that I dont much like what I've seen.
I would have thought it was obvious that kids want MORE qualifications - not fewer! There was a hint that extra skill Development courses would be introduced - anything other than Marine Recognition been mentioned?
I'll be interested to see/hear what develops.

[boggilds]

hi carol, from the sounds of it i to received the same cd with the muddled draft stuff on to so dont panic :)
i to as well as the 3 other OWSI's in my club have been waiting for the final copy and to be asked any comments but as yet we have recieved nothing.
i have taken a quick look through all the stuff that was given to me in on the CD and i cant find anything on there that refers that you have to be an ASI now to teach OW stuff, but on a recent email i recieved it has stated this on there.
well the aim of me starting this thread is to get people's general opinions and views on what they have seen on the new snorkelling syllabus so far (i know there isn't much out there yet) but none the less i still want to find out as BSAC claim they have had nothing but good comments from the people they asked on this but all i have heard so far is nothing but negative comments about the syllabus, i as well as the rest of my club plus i guess the rest of the BSAC snorkelling instructors would like to know who the hell they consulted on this as i am in constant contact with 4 local clubs and no one from any of them has been asked for their views.
i as well as various other people i have asked also agree that BSAC should have increased the amount of qualifications not reduced them (as to how many we couldn't decide) but we certainly all agreed there should be more than the 5 there was on the old syllabus.
there was talk of introducing what they're calling snorkelling mini SDC's which are similar to the current diving SDC's (what courses there were going to be wasn't certain as they were awaiting more feedback and ideas on this to), this idea i do agree with as i think kids will love doing more qualifications on top of the standard one's which are set out in the standard syllabus.
well anything new that crops up i will try and put on here, but i would appreciate that the more snorkellers that can reply to this with their views the better