SDCs / Special Interest Sessions

Skill Development Courses

We sometimes run BSAC skill development courses, and have run the Compressor Operation and Drysuit Training courses in the past.

The best place to find out more about these courses is the SDCs page on the BSAC web site.


Saturday 23rd May 2020 – 5:00pm

SCUBA & Marine Biology Skills: Applying them in the Field

Reading University BSAC are delighted to play host to Mike Barron, Course Director at Cape Research and Diver Development, a marine field station that serves as a platform for researchers in the False Bay area of Cape Town, South Africa.

Mike is a marine biologist and conservationist and a PADI master scuba diver instructor. He has travelled the world diving and experiencing many ecosystems and their inhabitants. His main interests lie in the field of inter-specific animal behaviour and he has worked on shark deterrents using killer whale stimuli.

Mike will be talking about the application of SCUBA diving and field skills as a marine biologists or conservationist. He will also be explaining a little about Cape RADD, what they do, as well as talking about the area in Cape Town and their study site.

For more information on Mike and Cape RADD, please visit:
https://www.caperadd.com/
https://www.caperadd.com/author/mike/

South African White Sharks with Dylan Irion, Cape Research and Diver Development


Dylan Irion

We welcome Dylan Irion - a marine scientist and Save Our Seas Foundation project leader, working towards a PhD that aims to unravel the drivers of white shark population dynamics in South Africa. He is a passionate freediver and SCUBA diver, and volunteers as a Sea Rescue crew member.

Dylan will be talking about some of the work he is doing with Cape Research and Diver Development on monitoring the White Shark population for Southern Africa.

More info about Dylan and Cape RADD here:
https://www.caperadd.com/
https://www.caperadd.com/author/dylan/

Sunday 17th May 2020 – 2:00pm

Shrimp Gobies: Partners in Brine


Dr. Klaus M. Stiefel

Reading University BSAC are super excited to invite you to a webinar, by professional diver, professional biologist
and author of 'Sex, Drugs and Scuba Diving', Dr. Klaus M. Stiefel.

Klaus will be talking about one of our most favourite fish in all the oceans - the consistently overlooked Shrimp Goby!

If you've ever dived in the tropics, chances are you'll have passed by some of these dudes. These fascinating critters live in a symbiotic partnership with their shrimp buddy, looking out for one another and generally being an excellent role model for us all. And they are absolutely fascinating to watch (if you've the patience to wait for them to come out of hiding!).

More info about Klaus here:
http://pacificklaus.com/shrimpgobies/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drugs-Scuba-Diving-Klaus-Stiefel/dp/1475146892

Photo Credit - Professional underwater photographer, Dr. Klaus M. Stiefel.