First Class Diver
Why take the First Class Diver development programme?
Are you ready for the ultimate challenge? First Class Diver (FCD) is BSAC's top diving grade reflecting a high level of theoretical knowledge, organisational and personal diving and dive management skills. First Class Divers have gone on to lead groundbreaking missions worthy of national recognition.
To achieve BSAC’s First Class Diver was extremely rewarding and I have come away inspired. I wanted to stretch myself as a diver and the whole experience has spurred me on to take my expeditionary diving to another level.
- Adrian Cadman, Black Country Barracudas
The highest diver grade First Class Diver is a challenging award to attain. It takes significant dedication, experience and training to get there - but the view from the top is worth it!
There are many reasons why divers want to achieve First Class Diver success, the main one often being the pure personal achievement of earning your place at the very top of the BSAC diving community. You will have demonstrated to BSAC’s most experienced instructors that you can lead safe but challenging national and international diving expeditions.
Also, if you want to progress from Advanced Instructor to National Instructor you will need to be a First Class Diver.
To enrol in First Class Diver training you must have successfully completed an Advanced Diver course. You will also need to have completed 100 dives in a range of conditions since qualifying, at least 20 of which must show experience of diving to depths greater than 30m.
You must also have successfully completed the following SDCs:
- Chartwork and Position Fixing
- Diver Coxswain Award
- Oxygen Administration
- Practical Rescue Management
- Advanced Lifesaver
- First Aid for Divers
I wanted to stretch myself as far as I could
- Mark Paisey
Your next steps – developing your skills
After qualifying as a First Class Diver your diving horizons will encompass exciting, adventurous expeditions to far-flung places.
- Already an Advanced Instructor? You could further your instructing skills by becoming a National Instructor, the highest instructor qualification in BSAC, which opens the door to teaching on Advanced Instructor and First Class Diver events.
- You could continue to expand your diving interests further. BSAC Skill Development Courses (SDCs) include Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver courses and three levels of mixed gas training.
