North Scotland Regional Coaching Team
We are lucky enough to have a team of keen and enthusiastic people who work together to provide a range of courses and services to the branches and members within the North Scotland Region. We are also assisted by a number of keen instructors who help to organise and staff Skill Development Courses throughout the region.
The Coaching Team is about much more than organising SDC's and below you can meet the team and see the diverse roles and services we can offer.
We are always on the lookout for new team members whether it be as Area Coaches or even just helping out on the odd SDC. If you can help even in the slightest capacity we would love to hear from you.
Regional Coach - Sarah Conner
Advanced Diver / Advanced Instructor
Sarah is a very enthusiastic diver and instructor and member of Dundee Sub Aqua Club. She is also rebreather and trimix qualified and currently completing a cave diving course with Martyn Farr.
Contact: Sarah
Inverness (inc. Moray) Area Coach - Tony Allen
Advanced Diver / Advanced Instructor
Tony has the role of Invesness and Moray Area Coach helping to fill the large geographical spread between Aberdeen and Inverness. Tony is an Advanced Instructor and can often be found teaching on SDC's in both Inverness and Aberdeen as well as being on hand to assist with any Coaching Requirements in and around Moray.
Contact: Tony
Aberdeenshire Regional Coach - Iain Paul
Advanced Diver / Advanced Instructor / Instructor Trainer
Having initially trained on the South coast of England in 1987, Iain's diving career really took off when he moved to the North East of Scotland in 1990. Here the sight of guillemots flying around him underwater (and the addition of corrective lenses in his mask!) convinced him that there was a lot more to see and do. Now a BSAC Advanced Diver / Advanced Instructor he averages around 100 dives each year, with time underwater largely split between diver training and photography (www.finsnphotos.org.uk). In both ways he is committed to sharing the privileged visions of the underwater world with those around him. A member of Ellon SAC (Branch 1193 of British Sub Aqua Club, www.ellonsubaquaclub.org.uk ) weather & water conditions permitting he dives all year round in Scottish waters and has also spent time underwater in Malta, the Deep southern area of the Egyptian Red Sea and The Maldives. Currently BSAC Area Coach for Aberdeenshire /Angus and an active instructor on Regional Skill Development Courses, he is also involved as a Trainer on the Instructor Training scheme.
Contact: Iain
Aberdeen Area Coach - Malcolm Gauld
Advanced Diver / Advanced Instructor
Malcolm began diving with Edinburgh University Sub Aqua club back in the days when Jacques Cousteau was in short pants, flares were something you wore rather than fired in the air when in distress, an octopus was an 8 legged squidgy thing found in the sea, rather than on a regulator and you wore a toilet seat round your neck for buoyancy. Malcolm and his Uni pals would think nothing of packing up an inflatable boat in the back of the car and paddling over to St Kilda complete with a compressor for the weekend. You could say that Malcolm relishes Adventurous Diving!
Malcolms extensive diving career has taken him around the globe to such exotic spots as Bikini Atoll, the Red Sea, South Africa, and Boddam Quarry. Jammy sod!
Malcolm is also a qualified Trimix and Rebreather diver and despite having been around for a while (sorry Malx!) still retains the enthusiasm for diving and instructing of someone who has just taken it up.
Contact: Malcolm
Tayside Area Coach - Jacob Thastrup
Sports Diver
Jacob has only been diving with BSAC for a little more than a year, but has taken up cold water diving with great enthusiasm. He hopes to qualify as an OWI within the next 6 months. He is currently a member of both Dundee SAC and Dundee University SAC and hopes that this close connection to two of the four clubs in the Tayside area along with regular visits to the remaining two clubs will make his job as Tayside Coach easier.
Jacob can more often than not be seen diving with a camera in one hand, and will frequently during a dive stop and try to get real close to a critter of the deep, only to have it swim away before he managed to take it’s picture.
Contact: Jacob
SDC Organiser - Vicky McGuire
Dive Leader / Theory Instructor / Assistant Open Water Instructor
Vicky learnt to dive with Dundee University SAC in 2003 after being inspired by fabulous underwater photos. She is fascinated by life under the water, and feels extremely privileged to be able to see creatures in their natural habitats. Diving offers such exciting opportunities and Vicky aims to enthuse and encourage anyone with an interest in diving or developing their diving skills.
Contact: Vicky
Instructor & Student Development - Willie Reid
Advanced Diver / Advanced Instructor / Instructor Trainer
Willie has been diving for a number of years and is an active member of Ellon Sub Aqua Club. As an Instructor Trainer he has plenty of experience to guide any prospective Instructor candidates through their Theory and Practical Instructor Exams and offer advice on the best ways to prepare for the exams, including attending the various 'prep' sessions run in the region.
Contact: Willie
In addition to those mentioned above, we also have a number of other instructors who help out on Skill Development Courses, Instructor Training events or with general regional training requirements. These volunteers are invaluable as far as helping the branches and members of the British Sub Aqua Club in North Scotland to progress. If you would like to help out or get more involved with the Coaching Team in any way please drop an email to the Regional Coach at scotland.north.coach@bsac.com.