Take the Lead: BSAC Dive Leader
Ariel Sub Aqua Club (ASAC) is more than just a training school; we are a community of divers who look out for one another. The BSAC Dive Leader course is a pivotal qualification that transitions you from being a “managed” diver to a “manager” of diving activities.
If you enjoyed the rescue skills in your Sport Diver course and find yourself naturally wanting to help organize trips and lead less experienced buddies, Dive Leader is your next logical step.
What is a Dive Leader?
A Dive Leader is a diver who is proficient in rescue skills, dive planning, and management. You become the “person in charge” on the boat or the shore, responsible for the safety and enjoyment of the group. It is a highly respected qualification that proves you have the experience and “sea sense” to handle complex diving scenarios.
What You Will Learn
The Dive Leader course shifts the focus from your own skills to the oversight of others:
- Dive Leading: As a Dive Leader, as well as being able to take part in more adventurous diving, you will be leading dives with newer divers, helping to expand their experiences and practice the skills they have been taught
- Dive Management: Learn how to plan and manage a day’s diving for a group of divers, including site selection, safety briefings, and coordinating logistics.
- Rescue Management: Moving beyond the rescue skills learnt in Sports Diver, you will learn how to manage a rescue situation, including delegating tasks such as oxygen administration and communications with the emergency services while keeping across the whole situation.
- Navigation & Pilotage: Master the use of nautical charts, GPS, and echo sounders to locate dive sites and manage boat positioning.
- Expanding Your Depth: Following your training, you can build experience to dive to a maximum of 50 metres.
Leading the Way at ASAC
At ASAC, our Dive Leaders are the backbone of our club’s diving program. By becoming a Dive Leader, you:
- Mentor New Divers: You will be qualified to lead Ocean Divers on expeditions, helping them gain confidence in the open water.
- Organize Club Trips: You gain the skills to run the “Diving Officer” duties for a weekend away, choosing the best sites and keeping everyone safe.
- Progress to Instruction: Dive Leader is the required grade to progress instructor training beyond the Instructor Foundation Course as an Open Water Instructor.
Course Structure
The course involves several theory modules, a series of practical “Dry” and “Wet” lessons, and a period of dive leadership experience where you lead dives under the supervision of a Dive Marshal.
2026 Training Opportunities
While much of the Dive Leader training happens organically during our club trips, we have specific slots for core skills:
- Boat Handling Practice: We will have specific days set aside for Boat Handling, but you can always get the opportunity to drive the boat on most dive trips
- Rescue Management Scenarios: Integrated into our Stoney Cove training days
- Dive Management Experience: You can gain dive management experience on any dive trips in the calendar, just speak to the organiser!
