Teddington Sub-Aqua Club
Training
[ Home ]

Whichever branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club you may decide to join, your training will contain exactly the same elements. The British Sub-Aqua Club's training programmes are acknowledged worldwide for their thoroughness and emphasis on safety. Safety techniques are an important element right from the outset of BSAC training. The diving qualifications you achieve are respected and recognised all around the World.

There are five diving grades in the British Sub-Aqua Club:
  • Ocean Diver Training begins with lectures in diving theory and practical sessions in the pool. When you have mastered the basics, and passed a theory test, we move on to open water for your assessment. All dives are conducted by qualified instructors in a ratio of one instructor per two students.
    When you have successfully completed the course you will be qualified to dive safely to a maximum depth of 20 metres, accompanied by another qualified diver, and subject to the agreement of the Club Diving Officer.

  • Sports Diver In Sports Diver training, the empasis is on building a sound foundation of open water diving skills and experience through a series of structured practical lessons. Diver rescue and practical safety techniques are an important element of this award.

  • Dive Leader Dive Leader training concentrates on the responsibilities and safety aspects of leading an open water dive. Practical lessons in rescue management and rescue skills will give you the confidence and ability to deal with those unforeseen (and extremely rare) emergencies. Leading a dive will develop your enjoyment and experience as a diver.

  • Advanced Diver This course further develops your knowledge and skills. You will gain experience in planning and organising dives at different sites and under different circumstances. Additional experience will be gained in using small boats, chartwork, navigation and many other related skills. The BSAC consider this grade as being that of a fully trained diver. This is the highest level of training which a BSAC branch can offer.

  • First Class Diver The BSAC's highest diving grade, which requires a higher than average level of theoretical knowledge, organisational and personal diving skills. The First Class Diver award is a culmination of a number of years of diving experience. BSAC First Class Divers are assessed in nationally conducted examinations.

    If you are new to diving, you will want to start your Ocean Diver training as soon as you can. We try to run courses as required, but bear in mind that our instructors are all volunteers and have other demands on their time.

    If you are already qualified to dive with another training agency, you must attend the 'Induction to the BSAC' lecture which we will make available as soon as possible. This lecture aims to:
  • Outline the aims and functions of the BSAC as the UK governing body for recreational diving.
  • Describe what BSAC membership offers.
  • Explain how the Branch structure works.
  • Provide an overview of the BSAC '88 Decompression Tables.
    • Because a Branch Diving Officer has responsibility for the safety and well-being of all Branch members, he or she may require you to undertake a check dive to demonstrate your skills before you join us on Branch dives.

    The Club's DO is also at liberty to require of any member, at any time, that they undertake appropriate refresher training and/or limit their open water diving activities until they can demonstrate a satisfactory level of skills performance.

    Qualifications awarded by other training agencies are recognised by the BSAC as set out below:

    Table of Similar Qualifications Other Agency Qualification Similar to BSAC Qualification All 'Entry Level' qualifications (which typically do not include rescue training) such as: Ocean Diver All 'Second Level' qualifications (which must include rescue training) such as: Sports Diver All 'Third Level' qualifications (which must include dive leadership training) such as: Dive Leader Any higher level of qualification, such as: Because of the variation allowed in training for the higher diving qualifications awarded by US diver training agencies, BSAC is unable to accept them as being of similar standard to BSAC Advanced Diver. Advanced Diver


    Our Club also provides a range of BSAC Skill Development Courses. These typically take place on a Saturday or Sunday and are a good opportunity to extend your skills and have some fun. The courses available include :

    Diving Skills:

    Drysuit Training
    Dive Planning and Marshalling
    Search and Recovery
    Advanced Diving Techniques
    Nitrox Diver
    Advanced Nitrox Diver

    Rescue Skills:

    Lifesaver Award
    Advanced Lifesaver Award
    First Aid for Divers
    Rescue First Aid
    Oxygen Administration Award
    Practical Rescue Management

    Seamanship Skills:

    Boat Handling
    Chartwork and Position Fixing
    Diver Cox'n Assessment
    Marine Radio Operation

    Special Interests:

    Marine Biology
    Marine Life Identification
    Marine Ecology
    Marine Oceanology
    Marine Archaeology
    Underwater Photography