The Snorkel Instructor Training Course and Assessment (SITCA) is the first step in your snorkel-instructor training journey with BSAC.
It’s a great introduction to teaching snorkelling skills, allowing you to join BSAC's extensive network of highly skilled instructors – the driving force behind the club’s worldwide reputation for training excellence and safety. The course is good fun and gives you a chance to mix with snorkellers from far and wide.
If you are a BSAC snorkeller who wants to teach others the skills involved, or already a BSAC scuba instructor who wants recognition for your snorkel training skills this is the course for you.
The two-day Snorkel Instructor Training Course and Assessment introduces you to the essential elements of both theory and practical snorkelling instruction. There is the opportunity to practise everything that you learn, above and below the water.
The Snorkel Instructor Training Course and Assessment is open to any member who is at least 16 years old. Students will be taught the Snorkel Diver course as part of this foundation instructor course.
In the classroom you will learn presentation techniques to successfully transfer theory knowledge to students. During in-water practical sessions, you will see in action the well-proven teaching method of demo-mimic: that is doing a perfect demonstration of skills, then asking students to mimic you.
You will develop your personal instructing skills including:
- How to break down basic snorkelling skills into easy steps.
- How to successfully develop the skills of a trainee.
- How to give useful feedback to trainees.
- Practising your theory and practical instructing skills.
The action-packed Snorkel Instructor Training Course and Assessment includes theory sessions, a theory assessment, teaching demonstrations, a practical skill-development session in the pool, some lesson planning, and the chance to deliver your own mini classroom lesson and mini pool lesson to a small group of three or four fellow attendees.
Course instructors will have plenty of time to deliver personal feedback to everyone involved. On day two of the course you will be assessed on your classroom lesson presentation skills and your snorkelling instructor abilities in the pool. You will also sit a multiple choice assessment on snorkelling theory.
Having successfully completed the Snorkel Instructor Training Course and Assessment you will become a Snorkel Instructor and can begin to teach snorkelling in your club. If you are aged between 16 and 18 you will qualify as a Snorkel Instructor but you are required to teach under the supervision of a suitably qualified adult instructor.
You can do the Snorkel Instructor Training Course and Assessment at a BSAC regional event.
Alternatively speak to BSAC HQ about arranging an event locally with the teaching taking place at your club facilities over a series of weeks and the assessment taking place in conjunction with a Scuba Instructor Foundation Course at a later date.
Not a BSAC member? You can do this course by joining BSAC directly or joining via a local club. Find a club.
Students will be given a pack of supporting learning materials. You will need pool snorkelling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel). You will also need writing materials and a slate.
Your next steps – developing your skills
Having consolidated your Snorkel Instructor skills on this course, you will be nationally recognised as able to teach people snorkelling activities.
You could also go on to develop specific skills to expand your personal interests. Imagine learning to drive a dive boat or becoming an underwater photographer. Check out the Skill Development Courses (SDCs) you can get involved in.
Or you may want to continue your snorkel diver training to the next level, or learn to scuba dive.
