British Sub-Aqua Club

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox organization

The British Sub-Aqua Club or BSAC has been recognised since 1954 by UK Sport as the national governing body of recreational diving in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Geraint"/>

The club was founded in 1953 and at its peak in the mid-1990s had over 50,000 members declining to over 30,000 in 2009. It is a diver training organization that operates through its associated network of around 1,100 local, independent diving clubs and around 400 diving schools worldwide. The old logo featured the Roman god Neptune (Greek god Poseidon), god of the sea. The new logo, as of 2017, features a diver with the updated BSAC motto "Dive with us".

BSAC is unusual for a diver training agency in that most BSAC instructors are volunteers, giving up their spare time to train others, unlike many other agencies, in which instructors are paid employees, or self-employed.

Given that UK waters are relatively cold and have restricted visibility, BSAC training is regarded by its members as more comprehensive than some. Specifically it places emphasis on rescue training very early in the programme. BSAC also maintains links with other organisations, such as NACSAC.

Science writer and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke was a famous member of BSAC.<ref>Diving Officers Conference 2003</ref>Template:Full citation needed

The current President of BSAC is William, Prince of Wales. His father Charles III, and grandfather Philip also held that position and his brother Harry, Duke of Sussex also trained with BSAC.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Timeline

Template:See also

Presidents

<ref name="2023report" />

Recognition

BSAC is the National Governing Body (NGB) for sub-aqua within the United Kingdom, a role it has held since 1954.<ref name="Geraint"/><ref name="UK Sport">Template:Cite web</ref> The body is recognised by Sport England as the NGB for sub-aqua in England,<ref name="Geraint">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="UK Sport"/> and by Sport Wales as the NGB for sub-aqua in Wales.<ref name="WalesNGB">Template:Cite web</ref>

Regional bodies

The Scottish Sub Aqua Club, formed in 1953 (the same year as BSAC) is recognised by sportscotland as the NGB for sub-aqua in Scotland.<ref name="sportscotland">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Northern Ireland Federation of Sub-Aqua Clubs is recognised by Sport Northern Ireland as the NGB for sub-aqua in Northern Ireland.<ref name="UK Sports">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sport Wales previously recognised the Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs as the NGB for sub-aqua in Wales until January 2016.<ref name="WalesNGB" />

Competitive sub-aqua

While forms of sub-aqua, many competitive forms of sub-aqua are not governed by BSAC, as BSAC is not a member of the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) who is the global governing body for competitive sub-aqua.

Underwater hockey in Great Britain was governed directly by BSAC with the sport being invented by one of its branches in 1954. BSAC remain the NGB until 1977 when they recognised the British Octopush Association (BOA), who formed a year prior, as the new NGB. BSAC remained a governing body for a limited number clubs who didn't switch to BOA governance. In 2013 the BOA affiliated itself to BSAC to legitimaise its safeguarding procedure. The BOA is recognised by CMAS as the NGB for underwater hockey in Great Britain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

BSAC was the first body to govern underwater rugby in the United Kingdom, though only two clubs are affiliated to the body.<ref>British Sub-Aqua Club SCUBA magazine: October 2024 Issue, pg 29.</ref> The British Underwater Rugby Association (BURA) is the UK's governing body affiliated with CMAS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Diver Training Programme

A chart explaining BSAC diving progression (c. 2011)

Diving Qualifications

BSAC currently has seven diver qualifications (five standard and two intermediary):<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Instructor Qualifications

BSAC has eight instructor grades:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Template:Dfn: Trained but unqualified. Must be supervised when instructing.
  • Template:Dfn: Qualified to instruct unsupervised in the classroom.
  • Template:Dfn: Qualified to teach open water under supervision.
  • Template:Dfn: Qualified to instruct unsupervised in open water.
  • Template:Dfn: Qualified to supervise other instructors in classroom and open water training.
  • Template:Dfn: Trained to teach advanced skills, such as boat based skills and group diving techniques.
  • Template:Dfn: Qualified to staff Instructor events.
  • Template:Dfn: Leads Instructor Training courses and BSAC National exams.

Grades no longer awarded

The following grades which are no longer awarded may still be encountered:

  • Template:Dfn: A diver who has completed the extensive sheltered-water (i.e. pool) training of the BSAC syllabus of the time, but has not yet dived in open water.
  • Template:Dfn: A Novice I diver who has completed two open-water assessment dives.

The distinction between Novice I and Novice II was mostly for practical reasons to do with the difference between hiring a pool and travelling to the coast. A Novice I diver would normally complete the two open-water dives as soon as possible, but if this were not possible straight away (perhaps over winter) they would at least have a specific grade within the club. The lengthy and club-oriented Novice syllabus was replaced with the Club Diver and Ocean Diver syllabuses in the late 1990s. (However, some argue the Novice description was usefully accurate and aided diver safety because nobody with such a qualification would attempt dives beyond their capabilities).

  • Template:Dfn: This is more or less the same as Ocean Diver; originally the two were operated in parallel with Ocean Diver awarded at schools and Club Diver at clubs.
  • Template:Dfn: An instructor grade junior to Open Water Instructor, but allowing the holder to instruct practical and theory lessons without supervision.
  • Template:Dfn: This was the entry-level grade prior to the splitting of its syllabus during the mid-1980s to create the Novice and Sports Diver grades. Divers who held this grade at the time were awarded the Sports Diver grade.<ref>Sport Diving: The British Sub Aqua Club Diving Manual, 1985, Stanley Paul & Co. London, page 244.</ref>
  • Template:Dfn: This was the immediate grade prior to the splitting of its syllabus during the mid-1980s to create the Dive Leader and Advanced Diver grades. Divers who held this grade at the time were awarded the Advanced Diver grade.<ref>Sport Diving: The British Sub Aqua Club Diving Manual, 1985, Stanley Paul & Co. London, pp. 244–245.</ref>

CMAS equivalencies

The following CMAS equivalencies have been agreed with the Sub-Aqua Association.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

CMAS BSAC
CMAS 1 Star Diver BSAC Ocean Diver
BSAC Sports Diver
CMAS 2 Star Diver BSAC Sports Diver with 10 logged dives
BSAC Dive Leader
CMAS 3 Star Diver BSAC Advanced Diver
CMAS 4 Star Diver BSAC First Class Diver
CMAS 1 Star Instructor BSAC Club Instructor + BSAC Advanced Diver
CMAS 2 Star Instructor BSAC Open Water Instructor + BSAC Advanced Diver
CMAS 3 Star Instructor BSAC Advanced Instructor + BSAC Advanced Diver

EUF Certification

BSAC obtained CEN certification from the EUF certification body in 2007 and re-certified in 2012 and 2019 for the following recreational diver grades:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Discovery Diver – ISO 24801-1
  • Ocean Diver – EN 14153-2/ISO 24801-2 – 'Autonomous Diver'
  • Dive Leader – EN 14153-3/ISO 24801-3 – 'Dive Leader'
  • Open Water Instructor – EN 14413-2/ISO 24802-2 – 'Instructor Level 2'
  • Sports Diver – ISO 11107 – 'Nitrox diving'
  • Nitrox Gas Blender – ISO 13293 – 'Level 1 Gas Blender'
  • Mixed Gas Blender – ISO 13293 – 'Level 2 Gas Blender'
  • Snorkelling Guide – ISO 13970 – 'Snorkelling Guide'

Snorkeller Training Programme

Snorkelling Qualifications

BSAC has four snorkeller grades:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Dolphin Snorkeller: swimmingpool based course designed for children.Template:Efn
  • Snorkel Diver: training for pool or sheltered water activity.
  • Advanced Snorkeller: training for open water activity.
  • Snorkel Dive Manager: training to plan, organise and lead snorkelling activities, in addition to snorkelling first aid.
  • Snorkel Guide: furthering skills learned on Snorkel Diver Manager.

Instructor Qualifications

BSAC three snorkel instructor grades:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Snorkel Instructor: club instructing, qualified to teach Snorkel Diver and Advanced Snorkeler (provided these qualifications are held by the instructor)
  • Advanced Snorkel Instructor: qualified to teach Snorkel Diver Manager and Snorkel Guide
  • Snorkel Instructor Trainer: qualified to train instructors.

BSAC scuba instructors can also teach all or parts of the Snorkeller Training Programme subject to meeting pre-requisites including additional training.

Skill Development Courses

BSAC offer range of specialist diving courses known as Skill Development Courses (SDCs). While mainly for scuba divers, a number of courses can be taken as snorkeller, and some without any dive qualifications:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Courses in brackets () indicate pre-requisites for the SDC

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break Club Diving:

Template:Col-break Safety and Rescue:

Template:Col-break Seamanship:

Template:Col-break Special Interest:

Template:Col-end

Technical Diving Courses

BSAC offer a number of technical diving courses:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break CCR Courses:

  • Poseidon Se7en CCR Diver (40m)
  • Divesoft Liberty CCR Diver (45m)
  • MOD 1 AP Vision CCR Diver (40/45m)
  • MOD 1 AP Mixed Gas Top-up (45m)
  • MOD 2 CCR Diver (60m)
  • Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m)

Template:Col-break Open-circuit mixed gas courses:

  • Sport Mixed Gas Diver (50m)
  • Explorer Mixed Gas Diver (60m)
  • Advanced Mixed Gas Diver (80m)

Template:Col-end

See also

Organizations

People

Wrecks

Notes

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References

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Template:Underwater diving Template:Sports governing bodies of the United Kingdom Template:EngSport Template:Governing bodies of sports in Wales Template:Authority control

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