BSAC Level 6: Open Water Snorkel Instructor

OPEN WATER SNORKEL INSTRUCTOR 

The BSAC teaching methodology is identical to the way we teach our scuba diving course and snorkelling. Trainee BSAC scuba diving instructors will have normally completed an Instructor Foundation Course, received training in teaching in open water and will have been examined on their teaching abilities in all of these areas. This Snorkel Instructor exam follows exactly the same syllabus. Obviously all-theoretical and practical lessons within the exam will be based around snorkelling topics.   

Practical Training

• Teach students how to teach basic practical snorkelling skills and theoretical knowledge associated with snorkelling
• Give students experience of teaching practical snorkelling skills and theoretical knowledge
• Give students constructive feedback

Theory Training

• Personal Characteristics of an Instructor - We start the course by taking a look at what personal attributes a snorkelling instructor should have and what we would expect from a snorkelling instructor, if we were the students. Being a good instructor is not just about being a good teacher! A good instructor needs to have the right qualities and attitude. The instructor must be, Experienced, Reliable, Enthusiastic, Sympathetic to students' learning difficulties, Open-minded, Friendly and Approachable, Safe, a Skilled snorkel diver, a Good organiser, Flexible, Patient and an Effective communicator. These are just a few of the attributes the snorkelling instructor must possess.

• Best way to teach snorkeling - Once we have established what kind of an instructor we would like to see teaching us, we then move on and take a look at what is the best way to teach snorkel diving as well as how the students will be able to understand the theory being taught and master the practical skills being demonstrated. We do this by using the “five senses.” 75% of effective learning is achieved through sight, so with the use of visual aids and progressive demonstration, we make it easy for the students to learn how to snorkel.

• Plan, prepare and present a Classroom Presentation – you will be shown how to breakdown the lesson content into small logical and progressive steps so that the students can grasp the information being presented more easily. On the evening of day 1 of the course, you will prepare your own presentation, which you will then present to the other students the next day. Within this lesson, we will plan your lesson in order to meet the teaching criteria and achievement targets.

Practical Presentation Workshop

Practical Pool Demonstration - The skill that will be demonstrated to you will be one of the skills taken from the Snorkel Diver programmes. Skills such as mask or snorkel clearing, surface dives, surface recue towing, surfacing procedures etc. The instructor will once again show you how to break down these skills into simple steps with each correct step building from the previous one. Following the demonstration, you will have the chance to teach the student your own snorkelling skill. At the end of day 1, you and your group will also be asked to plan an open water lesson. On completion of your plan, a representative from each group will then present this plan to the rest of the class. The course finishes with an open forum with your Instructor about the course and what you have learnt. This session is aimed at giving you useful feedback on your performance.

The Exam

On the last day, you will be examined on the skills learnt. You will have already been given an additional theory presentation topic on day 1 in which you will now present in this exam. In this assessment, you will need to have met the standard criteria’s in order to pass this section of the exam. The second part of the exam takes place in open or sheltered water. In this practical assessment, you will have 40 minutes in which to teach the class a snorkelling skill. Again, on this part of the assessment, you will need to meet the standards and criteria in your practical teaching, in order to be successful. Successful completion of this exam will result in the candidate being awarded the Open Water Snorkel Instructor qualification.

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Information by BSAC Thailand.