Get on the water with Argyll College

With a staggering 80 per cent of Argyll’s population living within 1km of its 3,700km coastline, and the recent spell of glorious weather, more and more people are queuing up to learn how to get afloat safely.

Argyll College UHI is an approved RYA training centre, and offers a full-time course in Maritime Skills starting in September.

The Maritime Skills course combines SQA and RYA units and gives students a very comprehensive introduction to maritime industries, plus additional internationally recognised certificates. With no formal entry requirements, it is an ideal way to get a range of basic skills to make sure you can enjoy Argyll’s coastline in safety. The course is available in Oban, Lochgilphead and Helensburgh.

SAMS UHI student Daniel Haan, undertook the course last year and said: ‘It was a very hands-on course. Very early on we were allowed to drive a RIB, which was awesome! After that it got a little more serious with health and safety, first aid, and sea survival. All of the instructors are people who come from the maritime industries so can tell you how all of this applies in real life. It’s opened doors for me and I’d definitely recommend it.’

Argyll College maritime tutor Derek Grier was named RYA instructor of the year at their Scottish Annual Awards earlier this year. As well as teaching Argyll College UHI’s Maritime Skills course, Derek also trains around 20-25 candidates a year to Powerboat Level II standard at Oban Sailing Club. While extremely knowledgeable, Derek was initially anxious about teaching. He put in extra time to develop his teaching techniques and in the course of two years he has become an outstanding instructor.

Don Mitchell, head of curriculum at Argyll College UHI, said: ‘Derek’s enthusiasm and dedication to making the RYA student experience as engaging as possible is evident in all he does. He brings a wealth of maritime knowledge to his training classes and his anecdotes and experiences help students grasp the reality of maritime situations.’

In addition to full-time courses, Argyll College UHI will this year introduce STCW tickets in first aid, personal survival techniques and personal safety and social responsibility.

If you’ve been inspired to get on the water, why not apply now for Maritime Skills at www.argyllcollege.ac.uk , or call 0345 230 9969 to find out more.