Training A Partner to Dive

The BSAC does indeed have very few rules:
1) You must be a member to call yourself such (and pay your subs)
2)You must be medically fir to dive (either by self-cert or by medical)

That's about it!

I think there are more 'rules' than this. These are some thoughts.

What about the 'rules' which apply to crossing over from another organisation. These are not viewed as recommendations which can be disregarded but clear rules to be followed to allow a diver grade to be crossed over to.

There are depth 'rules' as stated in the QRB eg 'BSAC Sports divers are restricted to a maximum depth of 35 meters.' This does not sound like a recommedation.

The training and assessments required to gain a BSAC qualification are not recommendations but a clear set of requirements to be completed. To not follow these requirements, which are the 'rules' which govern the training and assessment outcomes, would invalidate the qualifications awarded. If these are indeed recommendations, you suggest that BSAC have only 2 rules, then a DO could change or modify all the training and assessment and still, award a diver grade. Indeed the DO would only need to sign the certification page in the QRB and not bother with anything else as they are , as you suggest, only 'recommendations'!!

Sometimes what people think are recommendations are in fact 'rules'. It is the courts who will, where necessary, decide if something is a recommendation or in fact a rule. To think that the British Sub-Aqua Club have only 2 rules is not realistic.

Further your origonal statement that 'BSAC make very few rules because it cannot police them' is without foundation, this not stated anywhere by BSAC that I can see. Back up you statement with evidence or withdraw it.

Lets not have speed limits etc. because they cannot be policed, where would this type of thinking lead us?

:= If you, and others, persist in flouting the dictates of common sense
:=
:=----------I am not flouting anything, simply at this stage asking a (reasonable) question!!!!! Try reading what I have said instead of jumping to conclusions!

OK...but once you were given an answer (with reasons) you persisted. This implies (or is it infers?) that you either do, or intend to, follow through and do what people advise against.

Simply persisting to gain a direct answer to my question does not imply or infer anything of the sort. How could you possibly know my intensions, thinking or views on this matter as I have not stated them in this forum up to this point. You do not seem to have read what I have written before answering.

I have not trained or assessed my Daughter for any diving BSAC grade and indeed do not intend to train or assess her for any BSAC diving grade. But as a member I can ask the question and indeed insist on an answer from BSAC if I were to so demand, (I pay my fees like everyone else), whether you like this or not.

:=

If you force the issue then those of us who want to get involved in teaching our relatives the odd lesson (and get them assessed by someone else) will be forced to stop doing so when a rule is made

You mention me 'forcing the issue', which you seem to be concerned about. I thought I was just asking a reasonable question.

However lets examine this 'worry' you seem to have if I was to 'force the issue' as YOU suggest, in stopping the teaching of relatives a stage further.

If in fact after listening to the arguments I was to come to the conclusion that training relatives was in my view not a good idea and had implications for diver safety, I have, quite rightly, the right to raise the issue formally with BSAC. Is this what you mean by 'forcing the issue'? And, the possible outcome that you could no longer give the 'odd lesson' is justification for me keeping quiet. I would suggest it would need a better argument than that to keep me quiet, I can make a lot of noise if I want to!

If BSAC were then to agree and decide that not training assessing relatives was the best/safest/proper way to go forward, and put out a 'rule' then so be it. Those that do not like/accept the 'rules' can always leave! (Yes, I know that no one in BSAC likes the word 'leave' and ultimatiums)

However just because it may upset some members does not mean we all have to bury our heads in the sand regarding open discussion on safety issues and best practice.

Rules tend to be very "black and white" whilst recommendations allow shades of grey.

Shades of gray, in training people to dive a recipe for disaster!

"Shades of gray"

Clear enough?

I don't think so!

David

I have, quite rightly, the right to raise the issue formally with BSAC.

Yes you do have that right. The forums are not the place to do it though. Get in touch with HQ, or the NDO, or Council if you wish. The forums are not the place to raise things formally.

HTH
John