Leading From The Front

[neil carter]

Rather a red letter day on the Forums yesterday. Bren Tierney's reply about PADI vis a vis BSAC was probably the best and most considered writing I've yet seen on the subject. Instead of the more usual angst and flame wars, a well thought out response to an enquirer genuinely seeking usable information, and not just biased opinions. Thanks Bren, I wish I could have expressed it as cogently.

Then there was Matt's response on the Membership numbers debate, oh how true, and oh how sad, and again one of the best and most considered replies in this most crucial thread. Consider from the top down, and how many committed and dedicated people we've lost from Council right down to our own Branch Committees. It doesn't matter how many people we shove in the top of the bucket, if the hole in the bottom hasn't been plugged, and only five per cent, or whatever, of our losses are the dedicated and committed, then we're losing the future of BSAC, because those members are the very members whose commitment and enthusiasm ensures that BSAC is here for the one in a hundred of today's trainees to become tomorrow's dedicated enthusiast.

So yesterday on the Forums we had some really meaty, helpful and well thought out responses to previous postings.

Then there is the fairly lightweight debate about entry levels for Basic or Advanced Nitrox Courses, and combined with all of the above, it rather set me thinking., because there is a connection between each of these three threads. For virtually every advance, or if preferred, change, in diving procedures and activities since I trained, with BSAC, about twelve years ago, BSAC has been last to enter the fray. Nitrox, Tri-mix, Re-Breathers; Computers, Octopus Regs, Stab Jackets, Wings, Long Hoses, etc. the list is, if not endless, pretty formidable. And in many areas, we are still lagging behind - why can't we simply recognise the Tri-mix, or Re-Breather qualifications awarded by other Training Agencies, after all we expect them to recognise ours - as I understand it the debate continues to rage.

This year we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the founding of BSAC, the anniversary of our visionary founding divers, WHO LED FROM THE FRONT, and by their vision, and their commitment, and their dedication, created the BSAC of which we are the heirs today. Had they waited for the training, the qualifications, the equipment etc etc to appear from elsewhere for them to approve and implement, we may well still be waiting.

So how about we consider going back in time, AND LEADING FROM THE FRONT, AGAIN. It may just help with some of the points revisited above. Rather than discuss at what level we can introduce Nitrox, why not move forwards to the introduction of Nitrox as the basic gas of choice for Entry Level Training. We are trained that Nitrox is not a "Technical" gas, it is unsuitable for deep diving, and is mostly the ideal gas for typical Club diving. Already one of the Technical Agencies offers basic Nitrox alongside their own Entry Level Training, yet another incursion into BSAC territory, (but then the professional Dive Training world certainly doesn't owe BSAC a living,) and yes there would be logistical and cost implications for Club equipment budgets. However I am convinced that if BSAC were to return to it's roots as innovators and instigators, rather than the followers we have become, some of the perceived problems of inter Agency rivalry, and some of the problems of the loss of the members we can least afford to lose would be moving some way towards being solved.


BSAC is now over fifty years old. The young would have us believe this is well past middle age, (not quite sure where that places me!!!), and that we must move with the times. My suggestion is that just like fifty years ago, we should move ahead of the times, embrace the future and turn the best of what the future has to offer to our own advantage. BSAC was dragged kicking and screaming into the era of Nitrox diving, which is now regarded as everyday diving for very many Sport Divers. The time will come when tomorrow's divers will look back with amazement at the idea of training Entry Level divers on a gas as fraught with problems as ordinary compressed air. Integrating Nitrox with Entry Level training will happen, indeed as mentioned above, it is already happening, so why not let's lead from the front today, and not wait for the rest of the industry to get there before us - again???

Neil Carter

PS. Forgot to mention the happy new post from Paul Thomas, who having made a full recovery from a devastating diving incident, is now apparently considering getting wet again. Welcome back Paul, so glad you made it through such desperate times.

[Paul B]

(Snip)
However I am convinced that if BSAC were to return to it's roots as innovators and instigators, rather than the followers we have become, some of the perceived problems of inter Agency rivalry, and some of the problems of the loss of the members we can least afford to lose would be moving some way towards being solved.


Well put Neil!
& if those in power could occasionally find time to take a quick look at the Articles & constitution of our organisation they would find:

"The objects for which BSAC is established are:

To promote underwater sport, exploration, science and related studies to promote safety in these activities and by co-operation with other organisations with related objects to provide the widest exchange of knowledge and experience therein and by setting and maintaining the highest standards to sustain recognition as the governing body for all such amateur activity".

Which I think says it all?

As you say lets lead from the front not follow like sheep!

Paul

[Chris Cherrington]

on a gas as fraught with problems as ordinary compressed air. Integrating Nitrox with Entry Level training will happen, indeed as mentioned above, it is already happening, so why not let's lead from the front today, and not wait for the rest of the industry to get there before us - again???

Neil Carter

There are people in this organisation who still think Nitrox is "technical" and PADI is "dangerous". When you lose these guys BSAC can be a frontrunner again.
I've just joined and I enjoy the diving, but BSAC training has a way to go...
Chris

[Paul Oliver]

Hi Neil

Quality statement, you have my total agreement on that.

Strikes me that a lot of National Instructors and other senior BSAC members did their Nitrox with TDI or elsewhere as BSAC did not run the course when they wanted to do it.

Surely some support from the top for a situation many have experienced?

Dive Safe

Paul

[neil carter]

Morning Chris,

Having read some of your earlier posts it's good to see that you are enjoying your own experience of BSAC, and our diving and training programmes. I trained with BSAC some twelve years ago. I believed then, and as a slightly more experienced BSAC diver and Instructor, (and Branch DO), I still believe now, that for my money BSAC offers the best experience of Entry Level Diving and Training within our unique Club system that can be found here in the UK.

However, as was pointed out in another thread, it is very easy to misinterpret ideas when expressed in writing, without any reference to vocal inflexion, body language etc. My thoughts which I was trying to express in my initial posting were that it was
a) good to see a positive approach being given to the continuing PADI/BSAC comparison argument.
b) good to see, although somewhat worrying, such a well reasoned post discussing the disaster of the drain from BSAC of "any is too many" experienced, dedicated, and committed, senior and long standing members. Particularly when the reasons mostly seem to be frustration with a lack of understanding, or willingness to accept, the changes within our sport brought about by today's technological advances.

You wrote "There are people in this organisation who still think Nitrox is "technical" and PADI is "dangerous". When you lose these guys BSAC can be a frontrunner again." (Interrogative implied??)

This was the exact opposite of what I was trying to convey. The "guys" which we (are concerned that we) are losing, are those who do NOT think that Nitrox is "technical". They are those experienced divers who want to dive Tri-mix according to their other Agency Certification, they are those experienced divers who want to dive their Re-Breathers according to their other Agency Certification. If we lose these guys, and the type of commitment and interest which they represent, we will never be a frontrunner again.

Let me , if I may, copy and paste from Matt"s post, the most significant four or five paragraphs yet written, IMVHO, about why we simply cannot allow the current haemorrhage of "selfless passionate" individuals from our Clubs to continue. This should be required reading for every Council Member, for every member of the NDC, and for every BSAC member concerned about the future of our Club.

Matt wrote:-
"Chris correctly states;
"Like any club we are over-reliant on a few selfless individuals to organise everything and all the rest of us take this for granted. "

This situation is a fact of club life we have to live with. These selfless individuals have a special blend of motivation, personal circumstance and ability which is far from common. They make a dive club a high prority in their lives, something worth contributing their free time to, something worth trying for. These people are our key personel. Without them a club may be able to survive but it is unlikely to be successful.

This brings us back to the point Vic raised. The people that make dive clubs a high prority in their lives are generally those for which diving itself is a priority. We can expect these people to progress in the sport and to find an underwater challenge which is more than just diving for the sake of it. So called 'technical' diving is one such challenge. In fact technical diving itself has broad appeal as a compliment to other specialisations. Photographers, archaeologists, marine biologists, cavers etc. are using twinsets, mixed gas and rebreathers to help them in their chosen interest.

IMVHO BSACS CURRENT POLICY OF TRYING TO DICTATE HOW TECHNICAL DIVERS SHOULD DIVE IS AT BEST NATIONALLY SANCTIONED AGENCY BASHING AND AT WORSE COMPLETE LUNACY. (NC's emphasis) It makes as much sense to ban those who wish to use 100% or 1.6PPO as it does to ban everyone using a Buhlmann table or all photographers who use SLRs - none at all.

If we place barriers in the way of the 'pasionate' people who by their nature are most likely to progress, we lose them. These people are a minority but they are by and large the minority who make diving enough of a priority to contribute to the clubs which offer them involvement. If we fail to involve this minority where do we find our key personel? Without these key people who provides the services to attract new members? Who provides the example to show contributing to the club creates a better club? Who provides the inspiration and motivation which encourages new members to make diving a priority?

It is worth considering just how rare these people are. I would suggest that of 10 people that join we are lucky if we get one inspirational individual. Three leave in the first year when they realise how much effort is involved in diving. Three leave by year three by which time the novelty has worn off. Of the four left, one will actively avoid helping, two will want to help but will not get round to it, leaving one willing to make a difference to branch operation. I can't speak for other branches but quite frankly if I lose just one committed person branch services suffer significantly until a suitable replacement is found which can take several years. In looking at my own clubs high and low points they are directly attributable to the comings and goings of key individuals. "

Let's read again Paul B's reply to my initial posting, and his reference to BSAC's Articles of Association, (also re-quoted on the first page of the Branch Officers Handbook)

"The objects for which BSAC is established are to promote underwater sport, exploration, science and related studies to promote safety in these activities and by co-operation with other organisations with related objects to provide the widest exchange of knowledge and experience therein and by setting and maintaining the highest standards to sustain recognition as the governing body for all such amateur activity".

If we are ever to regain our once pre-eminent role in Sport Diving we will have once again to encompass this ethos, we will have once again to lead from the front. We will have to embrace today's, and tomorrow's, technology, and empower our divers, our BSAC divers, to lead from the front, not to be dragged almost reluctantly into an acceptance of what is the norm for most other Agencies.

SFX, Epson Seiko Voice, "one day, all divers will breath this way"

Neil Carter

[Alan Taylor]

on a gas as fraught with problems as ordinary compressed air. Integrating Nitrox with Entry Level training will happen, indeed as mentioned above, it is already happening, so why not let's lead from the front today, and not wait for the rest of the industry to get there before us - again???

Please forgive an older duffer but i thought man was an air breathing mammal. Will the re-naming of air as Nitrox 21 sound better? Dos'nt all breathing mixtures have there own problems according to Dalton's law?
:=
:=Neil Carter

There are people in this organisation who still think Nitrox is "technical" and PADI is "dangerous". When you lose these guys BSAC can be a frontrunner again.
I've just joined and I enjoy the diving, but BSAC training has a way to go...

Which particular direction would you like BSAC training to take as it seem to have done resonably well for a few years more than some. Do you want Big Mac or fish & chips, fast or with a little thought and care. Stick around and find out what BSAC has done and with positive atitude what it can do.

Keep on BSAC divin'

Alan
Chris

[Dominic Humphries]

Please forgive an older duffer but i thought man was an air breathing mammal.

Ahh, but not a COMPRESSED air breathing mammal :o)
If we want to stick to "nature's way" we should stick to freediving. And where's the fun in that? :o)

Which particular direction would you like BSAC training to take as it seem to have done resonably well for a few years more than some. Do you want Big Mac or fish & chips, fast or with a little thought and care.

"I want to be a Dive Leader!"
"Do you want fries with that?"
:o)

[Chris Cherrington]

:=on a gas as fraught with problems as ordinary compressed air. Integrating Nitrox with Entry Level training will happen, indeed as mentioned above, it is already happening, so why not let's lead from the front today, and not wait for the rest of the industry to get there before us - again???

Please forgive an older duffer but i thought man was an air breathing mammal. Will the re-naming of air as Nitrox 21 sound better? Dos'nt all breathing mixtures have there own problems according to Dalton's law?
:=:=
:=:=Neil Carter
:=

Air is possibly one of the worst gasses for diving. We are an air-breathing mammal, but we are terrestrial not marine animals also. EAN32 gives better no-stop and less DCI up to 35m and after that 21/30 Trimix is a better gas. Air is good for filling drysuits........


:=There are people in this organisation who still think Nitrox is "technical" and PADI is "dangerous". When you lose these guys BSAC can be a frontrunner again.
:=I've just joined and I enjoy the diving, but BSAC training has a way to go...

Which particular direction would you like BSAC training to take as it seem to have done resonably well for a few years more than some. Do you want Big Mac or fish & chips, fast or with a little thought and care. Stick around and find out what BSAC has done and with positive atitude what it can do.

Keep on BSAC divin'

Alan
:=Chris

I hope very much to stick around although whether when next year's subs are due I do or not is open to question..

In terms of training I am working on my Trimix at the minute and BSAC doesn't do it. Also as a crossover at sports level I can only dive to 35m. I am hoping to work through to DL with my branch and pay for the helium lessons.
maybe I have not been here long enough to sound off - sorry if not - but a "leading from the front" agency should surely be looking at mixed gasses and Trimix in particular?
Maybe that would settle all the 1.6PPO2 arguments etc too??

Still enjoying the diving - with some very nice people!!
Chris

[Alan Taylor]

:=Please forgive an older duffer but i thought man was an air breathing mammal.

Ahh, but not a COMPRESSED air breathing mammal :o)
If we want to stick to "nature's way" we should stick to freediving. And where's the fun in that? :o)

Don't let Tanya her you say that

:=Which particular direction would you like BSAC training to take as it seem to have done resonably well for a few years more than some. Do you want Big Mac or fish & chips, fast or with a little thought and care.

"I want to be a Dive Leader!"

Whose dive do you want to lead

"Do you want fries with that?"

HP Sauce or ketchup
:o)