Training
If you are interested in learning to dive with us, we expect to run another course in spring 2023.
We are an active training club and most of our members learned to dive with the club. All of our courses are run by members who have chosen to progress their training and become BSAC instructors. This is their way of putting back into the club what they took out when they first joined and learned to dive.
We usually run two beginners Ocean Diver courses per year as well as progression Sports Diver, Dive Leader and Advanced Diver courses. See the course overviews below.
Course dates are displayed on our Events Calendar and if you haven’t dived before we recommend you do a Try-Dive first. Before booking a Try-Snorkel, Try-Dive or signing up for a course you will need to complete a medical form. The button below directs you to the BSAC site where you can download and complete the form to ensure you are fit to participate (in some cases the form will refer you to get a medical diving assessment before you can take part). If you are under 18, you will also need a signed parental consent form to be completed.
Please get in touch using the Contact Us link. We can then arrange to give you a call or meet up for a chat.
If you’d like more information on additional special interest courses that BSAC run for its members, visit the BSAC website.
Ocean Diver is BSAC’s entry level scuba diving course and by the end of the course you will be able to dive confidently in controlled conditions to a maximum depth of 20 metres.
While you will need to be reasonably fit for the Ocean Diver course, it is by no means an endurance test. Provided that you are over the age of 14, a reasonable swimmer and in good health, you’re ready to take that first step to becoming a diver.
Through a combination of theory lessons, pool sessions and open water experience, you’ll learn your new diving skills progressively and at your own pace. You will develop your skills in the safe confines of a swimming pool or sheltered water before progressing to your first open water dives and your Ocean Diver qualification.
The course includes:
- Classroom theory lessons – at a time and location convenient to all
- Pool sessions in the Quarry Swimming Pool – On a Thursday evening from 8 – 9 pm
- A short multiple choice exam
- Open water dives – In an inland quarry (entry fees and equipment hire not included)
- BSAC Ocean Diver Student Workbook
- BSAC Qualification Record Book and Qualification Card
- BSAC Decompression Tables
- Use of all scuba equipment required to complete the pool sessions
As a newly qualified diver, you can continue on through BSAC’s diver grades and learn new specialist diving skills. You can dive regularly in the UK’s beautiful and diverse waters or add a new dimension to your next holiday abroad.
Ocean Diver courses typically commence in Late September and February subject to demand.
Have a look on the BSAC site for more details.
Typical cost of learning to dive with us
The cost of undertaking the Ocean Diver course is £100. This includes all the instruction, use of SSAC pool equipment, course pack (provided by BSAC) and Nitrox tables. It does not include any entry charges or kit hire charges for your open water weekend.
In order to qualify as an Ocean Diver you need to complete 4 open water dives. We usually do these at an inland quarry site and you will have to pay daily entry fees. Most quarry sites charge around £15 per day for diving and offer changing facilities, restaurant, gas fills, etc. We would normally expect you to complete your open water dives over 2 days. Â
SSAC pool equipment is not suitable for use in open water. If you do not have your own kit, you can hire it at quarry sites. Hire charges are typically £35 per day for a complete SCUBA set, including a semi-drysuit.
We often do the open water training over a weekend, so there will also be travel and accommodation costs.
Have a look at the following quarry site websites for more details of facilities and prices.
Sport Diver is the BSAC’s next level scuba diving course where further training builds upon a sound foundation of open water diving skills and experience with structured, practical lessons. Qualified Sports Divers are ready to take part in dives with other Sports Divers or higher grades. Depth can be built progressively to a maximum of 35m after qualifying. Sports Divers can embark on the first stage of the route of instruction.
Through a combination of theory lessons, pool sessions and open water experience, you’ll learn how to deploy and use a surface marker buoy, practice using a compass for navigation, learn about rescue skills and experience deeper and decompression diving. You will experience dives in a range of conditions including wall dives, boat dives and low visibility dives.
The course includes:
- Classroom theory lessons – at a convenient time and location for all
- Pool sessions
- Practical lessons
- Open water dives
- A short multiple choice exam
- BSAC Sport  Diver Student Workbook
- BSAC Qualification Record Book insert and Qualification Card
Open water dives will take place in inland or in coastal waters depending on the time of year and weather conditions.
As a qualified Sport diver, you can continue on through BSAC’s diver grades and learn new specialist diving skills, and embark on the first stage on the route to becoming an instructor .
Please contact the Training Officer if you have logged the appropriate number of progression dives and are interested in a Sports Diver course.
In order to complete the course you will need to buy the BSAC Sport Diver pack plus there may be entry fees to quarry sites for open water training.
Dive Leader training covers responsibilities and safety of leading other divers. Practical lessons will give divers confidence to deal with emergencies. Leading a dive will develop enjoyment, confidence and experience as a diver. Depth can be built progressively to a maximum of 50m after qualifying.
Dive Leaders are eligible to progress to Open Water Instructor.
The course  involves a planned decompression dive  with at least 5 minutes of decompression, a night dive, a drift dive, a wreck dive and a low visibility dive as well as others.
The course will explore the role of the dive leader with in-depth planning of dives, rescue management,  dive management, basic life support and oxygen administration
The course includes:
- Classroom theory lessons – at a convenient time and location for all
- Practical lessons
- Open water dives
- A short multiple choice exam
- BSAC Dive Leader Student Workbook
- BSAC Qualification Record Book insert and Qualification Card
Open water dives will take place in inland or in coastal waters depending on the time of year and weather conditions.
As a qualified Dive Leader, you can continue on through BSAC’s diver grades and learn new specialist diving skills, and embark on the training to become an Open Water  Instructor .
Courses are organised when there are sufficient numbers of divers wishing to progress to that level.
Please contact the Training Officer if you have logged the appropriate number of progression dives and are interested in a Dive Leader course.
In order to complete the course you will need to buy the BSAC Dive Leader pack plus there may be entry fees to quarry sites for open water training.
The Advanced Diver course further develops knowledge and skills. Divers gain experience in planning dives at different sites and in different circumstances. Additional experience will be gained in using small boats, chartwork. navigation and many other related skills. BSAC consider this grade as being a fully trained diver.
Advanced Divers are eligible to progress to Advanced Instructor.
The course  involves a planned decompression dive with at least 2 decompression stops, as well as a complex navigational dive involving multiple changes of direction and different navigational techniques.
The course will explore underwater search techniques, surface location of a unknown site and a dive with mixed gases, either open circuit or with a rebreather.
At the end of the course the Advanced Diver will be able to plan and execute dives at any location, known or unknown throughout the world, from any diving platform. Taking into consideration planning for large groups involving travel and accommodation.
The course includes:
- Classroom theory lessons
- Practical lessons
- Open water dives
- An in depth exam
- BSAC Advanced Student Workbook
- BSAC Qualification Record Book insert and Qualification Card
Open water dives will take place in inland or in coastal waters depending on the time of year and weather conditions.
As a qualified Advanced Diver, you can embark on the training to become an Advanced Instructor.
In order to complete the course you will need to buy the BSAC Advanced Diver pack plus there may be entry fees to quarry sites for open water training.