BSAC is increasing support for clubs in the Asia Pacific region by appointing a new Regional Coach for the Asia Pacific.
Gareth Morris, who is based in Adelaide in Australia, has been welcomed by the Regional Coaching team as he takes over this important position in the Asia Pacific area.
The Asia Pacific region is immense geographically, with diverse, spectacular diving and scattered BSAC clubs, some of which are quite isolated. In taking the role of Regional Coach, Gareth plans to establish a team to help co-ordinate and share training opportunities across the region as they arise and organise regional coaching events to support the various clubs.
Meet Gareth
Gareth started diving in North Wales back in the early 90’s, before moving to Peterborough and joining the BSAC branch there, ("a fantastic club",) where he completed a lot of his early training through to Dive Leader, diving on the great ship wrecks scattered along the Norfolk coast.
He explained:
I moved to Hong Kong in 2001, joined a local BSAC branch and made some great friends including my partner Angela Cogman. In Hong Kong I completed my Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor and Advanced Instructor, enjoying the local diving and taking the opportunity to dive widely through South East Asia.
In 2011, we moved to Adelaide, Australia, where the local BSAC club offered a circle of friends and an introduction to the excellent local diving where Leafy Seadragons abound and thousands of Giant Cuttlefish congregate annually to breed.
With support from National Instructor, Mike Thomas, Angela and Gareth completed the Instructor Training and Development Course in 2016, and have subsequently instructed on several Instructor Foundation Courses, Open Water Instructor Courses and the associated exams. With Mike’s support Gareth also became a First Class Diver in 2019.
Gareth continued:
In 2024 I joined the Regional Coaching team, to help support the training and development of the next generation of divers and instructors for the Asia Pacific region. To achieve this we need to facilitate inter-club co-operation, improve the utilisation of the resources we already have in the region and improve the coordination of regional training opportunities as and when they arise.
Need help from the Asia Pacific Regional Coaching team?
For those of you who would like to be involved or help with activities in the region please let us know.
To get in touch or to join the team please email Gareth via asiapac.coach@bsac.com