Fcd

[Steve Pearson]

Hi guys

Just had my day made, just found out I've passed my FCD theory exam

Should have my completed my FCD by the DOC

Steve

[Andy Wade]

Ha Ha! - Well done!
I say Ha Ha, because the really hard work for you is just around the corner...
Now you've gone and done it.

Good luck with your practical exam. If you need any advice about it, I'd be happy to help if you have any questions either privately or on here.

(FCD 537)

[Steve Pearson]

Thanks Andy

I've already passed my practical, I only have an SDC to do to finish everything off

Steve

[Steve Pearson]

Hi Andy

Now completed my FCD and received my letter inviting me to DOC to receive my Certificate, badge etc.

No rest for the wicked, NI training next

Steve

[Andy Wade]

Now completed my FCD and received my letter inviting me to DOC to receive my Certificate, badge etc.Steve

Congratulations!
I'd say that's the best bit. The respect of your peers when you go up in front of 2000 odd divers to get your cert from the NDO.
I didn't do it for that of course, but it was nice.
:)
No rest for the wicked, NI training nextSteve

Sucker for punishment or what....

I love this forum, colours and everything. Well wicked.
:cool:

[IainC]

Hi guys

Just had my day made, just found out I've passed my FCD theory exam

Should have my completed my FCD by the DOC

Steve

Nice one.
Having recently got my AD signed off, finally (only 5years as a DL!), I am curious, what motivated you do do it? Would you recommend it to others?
How long did it take?

Iain.

[Steve Pearson]

Hi Iain

I wanted to do it to try and get as high as I can because I enjoy diving and always strive to be the best I can.

As far as FCD is concerned it has taken me about 10 months from start to finish to get it. It's a really worthwhile qualification to take and you learn a lot along the way as well as getting to meet some really great likeminded guys.

The examiners are really helpful knowledgeable guys and treat you with the respect you deserve. I would wholeheartedly recommend anyone considering it to go for it, after all you've nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

If you decide to do it, and need any help or advice, then don't hesitate to contact me, I'd be more than willing to help in any way I can, as I'm sure most of the other FCD's would do. It seems that FCD's are the type of guys who love diving and would go out of their way to help other divers. That is certainly the case for the new bunch of FCD's coming through and all of them that I've met are great guys.

ATB

Steve

[MattDuke]

Nice one.
Having recently got my AD signed off, finally (only 5years as a DL!), I am curious, what motivated you do do it? Would you recommend it to others?
How long did it take?

Iain.

:) I took 6 years from DL. :p

Congrats Andy on the FCD, if I hadn't moved away, I would have loved to do the same.

My motivation would be to improve my expedition & task based skills, and try and achive the highest recreational dive qualification the BSAC offers. I can't see that FCD is about "Allowing me to do more" (Except NI) but much more about improving ones own skill set and understanding of the sport.

Pass/fail is not so vital, as there is bound to be much learned either way. Just hope I would get teamed up with easy going buddies. Must be a nightmare if you have to do all the tasks with a hot head!

/Matt

[AndyWilkes]

I am currently doing my AD and would love to go for the FCD once I have the pre-requisit's for it.

For me it's more because it's there to do and diving with other people will always bring in new skills as everybody has a different view on the way to do something.

Cheers
Andy

[Andy Wade]

I am currently doing my AD and would love to go for the FCD once I have the pre-requisit's for it.

For me it's more because it's there to do and diving with other people will always bring in new skills as everybody has a different view on the way to do something.

Cheers
Andy

Oh indeed you will learn new skills, for example, I've always prided myself on my seamanship skills, I am pretty good with knots and rope usage, simply because I've always been interested in the subject.
I was talking to another FCD candidate on a meet and dive weekend some time prior to the FCD exam, I showed him how a coil of rope with a buntline hitch could be used to shorten a shot line whilst in the water, he then went one further than me and added that I should also tie off the bottom end of the coil with another buntline hitch to stop the tide from pulling the coil into a birds nest as it pulled the buoy against the shot. It kind of works the same way as a sheepshank, but more secure. You learn something new on FCD, that's for sure.
:)

[MattS]

I showed him how a coil of rope with a buntline hitch could be used to shorten a shot line whilst in the water[quote]Now look Andy every diver knows that you only need to know one knot and how to tie it lots of times ;)
[quote]You learn something new on FCD, that's for sure.:)There is a bit of me which would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that I can apply the skills I have learnt over the last 10 years. What puts me off about FCD and AI is that I already know as much as I want to know about boats - I want to jump off them not drive them :D ...and I do not have the time to be good at both!

Steve,
Sincerely well done. I will be applauding you at the DOC.

One small request. Please do not forget that what separates you from other BSAC divers is a course and an exam. I have no wish to take anything away from your achievement I am just sick of meeting the minority of FCD, Regional staff that think it is a license to lord it over everyone else.

[Andy Wade]

[QUOTE=Andy Wade]I showed him how a coil of rope with a buntline hitch could be used to shorten a shot line whilst in the water[quote]Now look Andy every diver knows that you only need to know one knot and how to tie it lots of times ;)
There is a bit of me which would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that I can apply the skills I have learnt over the last 10 years. What puts me off about FCD and AI is that I already know as much as I want to know about boats - I want to jump off them not drive them :D ...and I do not have the time to be good at both!

Steve,
Sincerely well done. I will be applauding you at the DOC.

One small request. Please do not forget that what separates you from other BSAC divers is a course and an exam. I have no wish to take anything away from your achievement I am just sick of meeting the minority of FCD, Regional staff that think it is a license to lord it over everyone else.

No arguments from me there Matt.
A diver is a diver is a diver.
"I used to have an inferiority complex, until I found out I was just inferior.
Now I'm fine with it."
:D

I began diving at a time when all diving was off small boats, very few of which were RhIB's, and seamanship was core to diving.
My own view is that it has a lot of value still. However, leading and planning a major expedition is what FCD is all about, Dive supervision in all relevant fields. If your 'type' of diving is from small boats, then that is what you should demonstrate. If however, you always dive from hardboats, then you should demonstrate familiarity with their use as a diving platform. I see no reason why there can't be specialist skills as options in FCD, and that people can opt out of one of the boat skills sections by chosing either 'small' or 'hardboat' skill proficiency. And opt out of trimix or rebreather if wished. But not IMHO, that nasty devil gas.
:)
I do think however, that an FCD who choses hardboat diving should be able to pick up divers with the hardboat's tender, or they wouldn't be much use in an emergency. This is not that difficult to learn. Running an expedition with RhIB's is an entirely different matter and should be the choice of people who dive in this fashion.
The only thing I find that concerns me about some people who dive off hardboats all the time, is their tendency to rely on the skipper to find their dive site for them, I think they should prove ability to navigate (but not drive) the hardboat, and work with a skipper to land a shot in a wreck or similar.
All IMHO.

[Odin]

I took the theory exam three times!
I wanted a merit before I started the practical - and got it!
This was in the good old days of the annual 3 hour paper...
Passed the practical at first attempt..
Now describe myself as a First Class trainee - with 3000 + dives...
Paul

[Deric]

Hi Steve,

Congrats from me too, its a big step to take and a difficult reward to earn - so well done. The next step is to follow Andy on the NI path - we need you all!

cheers,

Deric