BSAC 1st Class Diver

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 ground-breaking missions worthy of national recognition.

A First Class Diver is defined as a diver who has a high level of practical diving skills and knowledge, can organize groups of divers to achieve specific aims or objectives, can organize and lead major diving expeditions and has the skill to contribute to BSAC developments at a national, regional and branch level.

Unlike the other diving qualifications which are awarded by BSAC Branches, the First Class Diver assessment is conducted by assessors specifically appointed by the First Class Diver Chief Examiner. Some elements are also conducted at venues designated by the First Class Diver Chief Examiner.

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.

What the Course Entails

There is no set training programme for First Class Diver; instead there is a support network to help candidates to prepare. The First Class Diver Exam consists of three separate modules, assessed nationally, that can be taken in any order.

Expedition Plan

Course Duration: 0 Days

Course Pre-requisites

You must also have successfully completed the following SDCs: · Chart work and Position Fixing · Diver Coxswain Award · Oxygen Administration · Practical Rescue Management · Advanced Lifesaver · First Aid for Divers · 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.

Course Flow

This fantastic opportunity to learn more about diving than can be achieved at many BSAC clubs. Working with mentors in regional and national groups of fellow candidates and attending preparation events will allow you to meet new people with similar aims and learn from them.

How Can I Get Started?

The Expedition Manual at the BSAC shop. You will need full open-water diving kit to do this course, and access to some of the equipment needed for various types of diving with a purpose.