FAQs

We certainly can! We periodically have courses run by qualified instructors to teach you theory and practical skills. You will initially get the BSAC Ocean Diver qualification. Even at the entry level, the BSAC training system offers advantages over some other diver training organisations, as additional skills such as rescue and nitrox diving are included, rather then being provided as add-on courses.

When you join our club you get these advantages

• All training is performed by fully qualified instructors who are doing the training because they enjoy it (you get the benefit of that enthusiasm.)
• Because there are no commercial constraints and time limits, training can be performed at your pace; if you need a bit longer to perfect a skill then it really isn’t a problem.
• You’ve immediately put yourself in touch with a lot of other people who enjoy diving you have friends to take you diving when you have qualified
• If you wish to progress to more advanced diving then it’s often the cheapest way to do this. You just continue to pay club membership, which mainly covers our overheads (including maintaining the club equipment) and pay a bit for further training. This is generally cheaper then progressing on commercial courses.

Training from BSAC clubs or other organisations follows a broadly similar pattern. The entry level course will consist of three elements:

• Theory
• Confined water training (skills practice in a swimming pool)
• Open water training (further training in a lake or the sea).

The entry level qualification for BSAC is “Ocean Diver”. This qualifies you to dive to a depth of 20m. Further BSAC qualifications are “Sports Diver”, “Dive Leader”, “Advanced Diver” and “First Class Diver”. There is a parallel set of instructor qualifications and also specialist skills courses. The depth to which you are qualified to dive increases with diver grade.

Yes, they are. Your BSAC qualification is aligned with the international CMAS standards.

You should be in a good state of health but do not need to be a superman or superwoman! There is a medical to be passed before starting a course. This comprises of a self-certification form in the first instance. Provided the questions don’t identify any concerns, there is no further need to do anything more. Occasionally the answers you give may require you to go and see a medical referee to clarify a condition before diving can start.

There is a swimming test at the beginning of the course. This consists of swimming 200m within a limited time period, but again we are looking for basic competence here not Olympic class speed!

When diving you need to be able to lift the dive equipment and walk to the water’s edge with your kit on. Once in the water you need to fin to propel yourself and this requires a little bit of fitness.

To train with the BSAC you need to be at least 12 years of age. Within our branch we also vet applications from under eighteens, typically these are accepted for people who have a relative in the club or are known to a member willing to take responsibility for them.

Certainly. You not only get instruction from qualified and enthusiastic instructors, you also get a world of knowledge from other members. Apart from the diving you can join social events or just use the pool for a swim. Membership is for a year and in that year you can come diving and learn new skills. It does not have to stop after the initial Ocean Diver qualification.

Nothing!

Initially, if you dive with us, we provide you with all the kit you will need for the first stages of training. The one item we cannot provide (for open water training) is a wet or dry suit. These can be hired from various outlets or other club members might have one you can use. Often people buy the basics pieces of kit (Snorkel, Mask and Fins) in the early stages of training. Once training has finished you can continue to hire kit, buy your own, or most likely buy it in stages.