Diver Coxswain

AIM

The aim of the Diver Cox’n assessment is to assess a candidate’s practical boat handling skills, and the underpinning knowledge related to the general handling of small boats and to diving specific boat handling activities.

ASSESSORS

All assessors must be approved Diver Cox’n Assessors (DCAs). They may be assisted by Assistant Diver Cox’n Assessors (ADCAs) who may only carry out assessments under the direct supervision of a DCA.

Requirements for qualification as a ADCA or DCA are defined in the relevant standards in the Appendices to these Assessor Notes.

DCAs should not normally examine any candidates who they have taught.

A maximum ratio of three candidates per approved DCA.

FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT

Rooms – a room of adequate size to seat all candidates plus staff for the initial briefing, voyage planning and final debriefing sessions. Sufficient space and tables for each boat group (candidates and Assessors) to lay out charts etc. to prepare voyage plans.

Boats – small planing boats, typically of a length between 5 and 8m. As a minimum, they must be of adequate size for groups of up to four people. It is recommended that they be equipped in accordance with the Combined Diving Agencies document “Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Member Club Dive Boats". In addition to normal boat equipment a suitable shotweight, line and buoy will be required.

All boats used must be covered, as a minimum, by their own third party insurance in accordance with BSAC Rule 5 (E).

APPROVAL

Skill Development Course Registration Procedure applies.

QUALIFICATION

The assessment comprises three sections: Voyage Planning, Practical Boathandling and Theory Knowledge. Failure of any part means failure of the whole.

SYLLABUS

1. Assemble, introductions, Instructor/DCA briefing administration - 15 minutes

2. Practical/Classroom Assessment Voyage planning - 30 minutes
During the voyage planning element, each candidate should be checked for their knowledge of local tidal conditions on the assessment day, and the times of high, low and slack water, as well as the inshore weather forecast.

3. Practical Prepare and check boats - 45 minutes
Each group (DC Assessor and three candidates) to prepare, check and launch boat. The Assessor may appoint an individual candidate to direct the others in the group, for different aspects of this activity.

4. Practical Familiarisation with Boat - 10 minutes per candidate (30 minutes)
An opportunity for each candidate to have 10 minutes to familiarise themselves with the boat being used for the assessment and to ensure they can control the boat in the range of manoeuvres that will later be assessed.

5. Practical
Practical Assessment - min 50 minutes per candidate

• Open water handling – high speed
• Confined water handling
• Anchoring
• Dropping and recover a shot line
• Man overboard simulation
• Dropping and recovering divers
• Coming alongside
• Approaching a shelving shore
• Recovery onto trailer

Practical/Theory - Oral Theory Assessment

Either through practical assessment, or specific questioning, the candidate should demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the following aspects:

• Safety equipment to be carried – See the CDA publication “Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Member Club Dive Boats" available from BSAC HQ.
• Emergencies – radio operation, Mayday and Pan Pan calls, engine failure procedure, overdue divers procedure and emergency signals.
• Knots – clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, anchor bend, reef knot and bowline.
• Rules of the road – collision avoidance, head-on, crossing and overtaking situations, factors likely to influence a vessel’s ability to manoeuvre. Navigation lights. Buoyage, identification of lateral buoys & Cardinal buoys, general buoyage.

During the assessment, each candidate may use other candidates as crew, and should direct them accordingly.

6. Practical Debrief - 30 minutes

Assessors to complete all necessary paperwork

Disperse

Instructor/Examiner debriefing