Dive Leader course - More than recreational diving???

[stewybear]

Hi Guys,

I am in the middle of the lectures for the Dive Leader course and whilst doing the O2 equipment lecture noticed that it kept refering to equipment suitable for 'recreational diving'. Surely the fact that you are doing dive leader means that the type of equipment will need to change to be more suitable to more challenging diving. It does not go on to mention what changes may be required.

I have completed to O2 Administration course aswell, prior to the dive leader course and this did not comment further either apart from commenting about the more automatic versions of AV.

Any comments? or suggestions please?

[Fiji Dave]

It's been a while since I did any bsac training so I may be wrong, but I would have thought that dive leader meant that you were qualified to act as the leader for the dive, be responsible for the planning etc. That doesn't mean that the diving has to be any more challenging (in terms of time/depth/environment) just that you are qualified to lead, rather than be lead. As such I would expect the equipment being used to be the same as it is for the levels below. It is likely that you'll be leading people who are not yet at Dive Leader and who, on the whole, may not be qualified to do more challenging diving?

But I may be wrong...I often am.

I agree with Fiji Dave regarding the role of the BSAC Dive Leader and the aims of the course.

Also, what is your definition of "Recreational Diving"? More importantly, what is your DO's definition of "Recreational Diving"? This will vary greatly from club to club.

[Justin Owen]

hmmm, interesting one... i suppose its down to the person really... what dave has said is true to an extent - there's a lot of experience dives you need to do for the qualifiaction - you have to log lots of dives before you eventually get the stamp, including leading dives...

then there's the element of dive planning & marshalling (generally done as an SDC these days) and the 'practical' rescue management (likewise done as an SDC more often than not). All in all it expands your role within the branch a fair bit - and those new ocean divers looking to do there first open water dives will be looking up to you!

At the same time - the depth progression is to 50m. Now there's a fair bit of debate on here already about air diving to 50m. I for one wouldn't dream of doing a 50m air dive on a 12 and pony - I'd be twins minimum and probably a stage, and then i'd need a reason to be down there in the first place... So in that sense if your progressing your depth I personally wouldn't consider what you were doing 'recreational' (in the general meaning of the term - I know technically the majority of us still fall under the recreational label!)...

There's mumbling/rumour that the 50m/air situation might be changing in the near future..?

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Steve Robinson

Also, what is your definition of "Recreational Diving"? More importantly, what is your DO's definition of "Recreational Diving"? This will vary greatly from club to club.

I don't see how it can.
If I go diving with my club it is recreational diving.
Even if I am teaching.
Even if I put trimix in the rebreather and do shed loads of stops that is for fun and unpaid = recreational.

To do non-recreational diving I will need a commercial qualification, either school teaching or real diving work, and I would expect to get paid for it.

For the record I am also doing BSAC DL at the moment and have done an IFC. I don't expect the DO to make me do the progression to 50m by stages though.

[stewybear]

I suppose it was the 50m issue that I was enquiring about. I thought it was basically considered that 'Sport Diver', hense 35m depth rating, was were recreational diving finished and everything else carries on. I have even heard it said that once you go into a deco situation, you have already exceeded recreational diving.

Thanks for your replies so far.....please keep them coming.
Regards
Stewybear

[Fiji Dave]

stewy,

have you asked the guys at your club? They may be able to give you a more definitive answer. Certainly don't take my word for it, as I say, I've not been in a bsac training situation for many a long year and didn't go as far as dive leader on that route (I'd forgotten about the 50m depth)

Anyway, good luck with the course.

[Paul Oliver]

Well you don't have to progress to 50m anyway, its your choice. All of my diving is recreational, no matter if i have a single 12L on or twinset and stages.

Its getting you the experience to lead inexperienced divers, so OD and new SD. I would say the main definitions if you like in the progression is that you should have your skills and kit well sorted out by now. If you don't have an independent reserve of air (Pony) then you should have by this stage. The Rescue skills should be very slick by now, thats why they are done in scenarios.

As for the deco, a bit of deco goes along with many clubs diving as standard. Off Dover where we are at 30m generally we will often run up 10-15min of deco, it goes with the depths, its not a big issue and it is definitely still recreational diving.

[Adrian Kelland]

AFAIAC Recreational is unpaid for fun. Be it 6m on air or 100m trimix/RB. The detail within your branch may vary depending on training and experience.

Simple really.

Adrian

[Dave Crampton]

Stewart,

Dive Leading is just that, Leading and organising dives. Its a qualification to give you the skills to plan, organise and marshal dives. The course refers to recriational dives as BSAC are a recriational organisation. You are given an intro into more 'technical' equipment but this is purely as you will be introduced to deeper dives if you wish, and the type of equipment needed for deeper, longer dives is more complex than standard OD/SD levels. You should recall being introduced to twinsets and Ponies during the Sports Diver lectures.

Dive leading is more challenging diving than SD or OD as you are expected to be more responsible and a more competent diver, having more influence on less qualified divers. If in doubt I'm sure the DO will help you out with any questions.

Dave C