National Diving Officers Report
As the newly elected National Diving Officer, I would like to express my gratitude to the previous NDO Ian Pilling for the time he spent in the position.
The SAA has seen declining membership levels over the last few years. With this in mind the National Executive are pursuing a number strategies to try and reverse this trend. As the previous National Coach I was asked to investigate a “fast track training system” with which to compete with other training agencies on a more even footing. Now as NDO, I will be progressing this urgently for quick implementation.
The SAA has also witnessed a decline in the number of divers progressing to the higher grades within the club taught training system. It has been suggested to me from a number of different sources that one reason for this is that the pre-requisite of Diver Rescue is interfering with progression. At the same time Diver Rescue has not been a pre-requisite for Open Water Instructor. With immediate effect it is strongly recommended that Diver Rescue be undertaken before starting or gaining Dive Leader, and Diver Rescue is now a pre-requisite for Open Water Instructor.
At the AGM (April 19th 2008) Ian Pilling announced that the SAA Nitrox course can now be taught within member clubs by an SAA Club Instructor who has gained the SAA Nitrox Diver qualification. I can advise that this is with immediate effect. Clubs wishing to do so must still register the course with their regional representative first. Regionally run Nitrox courses will continue to be available too.
Other courses are also currently being examined for suitability of being undertaken within clubs as well as Regionally.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind Club Diving Officers of their responsibilities when signing National Course Application Forms…… you are signing that the diver concerned is of a suitable standard to commence the training course applied for. There have been a number of instances where this has not been the case, please ensure that the applicant diver posses enough skill to start the course. As an example, this may mean that you have to ensure that an applicant has basic practical buoyancy skills in the water, not just theory.
I hope to keep this page updated as issues arise, to help keep you informed of what’s going on. It will also be worthwhile checking the website for up-date pages for your Club Guidance Manual, these pages will be sent out to Clubs anyway via e-mail, or hard copy for those who “don’t do e-mail”.
I have made a number of appointments to my team of National Co-ordinators;
National Coach Danny Connelly
Master Diver Co-ordinator Steve Love
Diver rescue Steve Orange
O2 & 1st Aid Co-ordinator James Watson
Chartwork & Navigation Co-ordinator Jeff Rushton
Others remain unchanged.
There may well be occasions where ideologies might not coincide, when this happens I would ask all to adopt a “can do attitude” with a bit of common sense. Lastly I would like to say that I would like to see all SAA officers, instructors, and members help to the common aim, of progressing divers to further qualifications efficiently, enthusiastically, & helpfully.
Steve Wallis
National Diving Officer