BSAC Diver Cox'n

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. The CDA Diver Cox’n Certificate will be awarded to those who demonstrate competence in the handling and management of a small powerboat.

DURATION: Four hours.

PRE REQUISITES:

• RYA Powerboat Level 2 or BSAC Boat Handling Certificate
• Five hours driving experience logged since taking the boat handling course or 20 hours logged experience as driver
• Minimum age 16
• We also strongly recommend that candidates have completed a RYA SRC Radio Course.

ASSESSMENT CONTENT: The assessment comprises three sections:

Voyage Planning, Practical Boat handling and Theory Knowledge. Failure of any part means failure of the whole.

• Voyage planning: (taking consideration of local tidal conditions on the assessment day, and the times of high, low and slack water, as well as the inshore weather forecast). Preparation and checking of the boat.
• Practical Boat Handling: 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 and Recovery onto trailer.
• General Theory: 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.

 BOOKING: Please contact the office.