Sports Diver Training

[Dangerous Dan]

I passed my Sports Diver theory exam back in January. However due to the university dive club being completely useless I still haven't had any practical training not even in a swimming pool. Will I be able to go to a shop such as ROHO and just do the practical side of the training for a reduced price?
Does the exam have an expiry date?

Thanks

[Allan Carr]

You could always try Plymouth Sound BSAC branch.

[Fiona]

No the exam doesn't have an expiry date.

Why do you think you could get the practical lessons done at a reduced rate ?

Have you considered joining another BSAC club in the south ?

I may be of date but you shouldn't be in the pool for practical sessions anyway for SD.

[Dangerous Dan]

Originally Posted by Fiona

No the exam doesn't have an expiry date.

Why do you think you could get the practical lessons done at a reduced rate ?

Have you considered joining another BSAC club in the south ?

I may be of date but you shouldn't be in the pool for practical sessions anyway for SD.

I mean the whole thing at a reduced rate because I wouldn't have to be taught any theory or do the exam?

Oh right - I was told by the DO that we had to have a pool session.

[Fiona]

I could be wrong about the pool sessions but I don't think so, what does your book say ? The training has changed a bit.

Have you contacted the Regional team they might know somewhere locally.

[jptaylor9]

SS1 - Rescue Skills, is normally done in the pool (in the UK anyway).

The rest of the course is done in open water.

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by jptaylor9

SS1 - Rescue Skills, is normally done in the pool (in the UK anyway).

The rest of the course is done in open water.

Blimey they have gone soft since my day Surely there is no reason this can't be done in sheltered water (quarry)

[J.D.]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Blimey they have gone soft since my day Surely there is no reason this can't be done in sheltered water (quarry)

SO1 -Diver Rescue is done in open water, but the skills are covered in the pool lesson first

[Narked@50]

Speak to your training officer and see if they can help, failing that, contact your area coach, the details are on the web site, and see if they can help. You could always put a post on YD for BSAC instructor help in yor area, most of us are happy to help if the student is willing to learn and we are not going to be out of pocket, e.g. I would not come to you from Wigan!

James

[Hellvet]

We've just done our sports exam - we all passed thank goodness!

We did several sessions in the pool, partly because we had 4/5 PADI crossovers (I'm the only BSAC trained diver on the course!) so the instructors wanted to practise rescues, CBL's, AAS so that we are all at the same stage when we reach the sea. We don't have a local sheltered water site such as a quarry, just some reasonably shallow shelving shore dives. The other reason we did quite a lot in the pool is because of me cos i have a PFO and am staying really shallow and conservative. I have to say i'm glad we practised towing and AV in the pool rather than the sea for the first attempt!

I did my first skill on sunday on a club dive - SMB release - made a complete hash of it but hey its a start! Our club will be running a training day in the South west - probably at Porthoustock - at some point over the summer (once i've had my op) to get as many of the skills out of the way in one go as possible, especially the rescue scenarios which are harder to stage on a club dive. Our instructors are happy to complete training on club diving day with divers who dive regularly with the club, in order to get more qualified divers on the boat!

I would try to find a local BSAC club and go out diving with them, then ask to be included in their training regime. If you are really struggling then give me a shout and we'll let you know when we're running any whole day training sessions. However, you might need more of your own kit than you would with your uni club as we tend only to lend out BCD/cylinder/regs...

Try the BSAC forums, or your area coach too - they're there for a reason!