Dive leader

The Dive Leader Award is the BS-AC’s third diving grade awarded within a Branch or Centre. Following the completion of a series of Classroom Lessons, Open Water Lessons and Dry Practical Lessons, the award of Dive Leader prepares the diver to lead less experienced divers to extend their diving experience and to manage branch diving activities to known locations.

Definition of a Dive Leader
A Dive Leader is defined as a diver who:
  • Can plan and lead a range of dives including those requiring detailed dive, breathing gas and decompression requirements planning
  • Has the skill and level of knowledge to progressively extend their skills to take part in a wide range of adventurous dives
  • Has rescue management skills
  • Is competent to manage and supervise branch dives to locations well known to the branch, or using experienced skippers, or in conditions not normally described as ‘challenging’
  • Can dive to a depth which is initially limited to 35m, but which can subsequently be extended progressively to a maximum of 50m
The Dive Leader course continues to build on the skills and knowledge of the diver. However, the experience element becomes increasingly important. The definitions of the qualifying dives therefore cover a wide range of conditions to provide the essential consolidation of skills and knowledge.

Assessment Components

A Dive Leader must successfully complete the following components:
  1. Attend lessons on diving knowledge and specific rescue skills
  2. Demonstrate a high level of diving knowledge through a written Theory Paper
  3. Demonstrate their ability to plan and organise groups of divers to a location known to them or the branch
  4. Demonstrate competence at managing rescue scenarios
  5. Demonstrate they have retained and developed a suitable level of competence in their personal Rescue Skills
  6. Assessment on organising and managing a day’s divi


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