Jane Maddocks explains how three BSAC programs function springboards to a better type of diving, creating abilities to document the marine world.
Studying to dive is power intensive. Persevering with to dive in all probability means extra tools, time and power. However have you ever ever puzzled why you’re doing it? For a few of us there may very well be that query – why am I doing this?
There’s probably a stage that divers attain the place simply going diving just isn’t sufficient. Diving turns into a skillset that permits you to journey to one thing extra thrilling. Industrial divers use it as journey to work, others use it as journey to wreck exploration, or photograph alternative, or scenic wow issue.
For some there’s the popularity that we have to survey and document what modifications we see as local weather change makes itself felt in species motion, elevated water air pollution and extra fast wreck degradation.
So, what does survey imply on this context, and the way do BSAC divers go about it?
Divers are fortunate, as a result of there are a variety of alternatives to stand up shut and energetic, recording quite a lot of underwater points. These vary from BSAC programs that may be taught within the department or centre to specialist programs run by different organisations enhancing our skillset and contributing to nationwide databases. Additionally they contribute to the best way we dive and see issues – so win win.
divers attain [a stage] the place simply going diving just isn’t sufficient. Diving turns into a skillset that permits you to journey to one thing extra thrilling
BSAC has some glorious introductory programs, for instance: Marine Life Appreciation, Wreck Appreciation, and the brand new Underwater Surveyor Course.
Marine Life Appreciation introduces you to the range of marine life, an introduction on how we classify and identify species, and a wonderful part of pictures on completely different species you’ll be able to see underwater. It finishes with stuff on eco-friendly diving, how one can become involved and what recording schemes are ready in your enter.
It’s NOT a marine creature ID course. It IS a springboard for different initiatives, in addition to making your diving extra enjoyable. It may be taught by an Open Water Teacher (OWI) or a Principle Teacher for the speculation and a Sensible Teacher for the sensible.
For individuals who favor wrecks, the Wreck Appreciation Course is an effective introduction. It offers fundamental background on the right way to discover data and find a wreck, wreck diving tools and methods and contains some details about wrecks and marine life, wreck legislation and ship building; useful for navigating a wreck if you happen to get bow/stern confusion.
There are then dry sensible classes on website recording and use of distance strains and tapes, earlier than the very best little bit of moving into the water and having a go on an actual wreck over two ‘dives with a goal.’
Incredible enjoyable. Any OWI in your department can train it, as can centres. Ending off with drawing up a website is at all times attention-grabbing. You be taught to understand trendy small video cameras! Additionally, you will be ace at operating out measuring tapes, actually trying on the wreck, and ensuring you will have written down all the pieces you’ll do in your board to offset the consequences of water-soluble IQ!
Lastly, Underwater Surveyor. It is a new course, a collaboration between Seawilding and BSAC. It’s a springboard course for divers and snorkellers protecting plenty of survey strategies.
You do transects (laying out a line or tape to a particular size to make use of as a reference for recording materials) and use quadrats, do presence and absence surveys, and face the problem of understanding what random actually means. There’s a very thorough eLearning pack that takes you thru all of the completely different methods earlier than you do the sensible requirement: two dives, considered one of which should contain a transect.
Lastly, in case your dive space is over seagrass or oysters, the information entry type on the finish will can help you enter knowledge for the BSAC initiatives. There’s details about different portals to submit what you see to organisations who can use it.
Subsequent month I hope to speak about how one can take this additional, with uprating your abilities and {qualifications} with organisations equivalent to Seasearch, the Nautical Archaeology Society and the Seahorse Belief.
Article ‘A unique kind of journey’ by Jane Maddocks first printed in SCUBA journal, Situation 146 June 2024.
