British Sub-Aqua Club

BSAC logo

The British Sub-Aqua Club or BSAC has been recognised since 1954 by the Sports Council as the governing body of recreational diving in the United Kingdom.^[1]

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 1100 local, independent diving clubs and around 400 diving schools worldwide. The logo (pictured right) features the Roman god Neptune (Greek god Poseidon), god of the sea.

BSAC is unusual for a diver training agency in that most BSAC instructors are amateurs operating in diving clubs as opposed to professionals operating in diving schools.

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 [1]

The current President of BSAC is the Prince of Wales. His sons, William and Harry are also trained divers [2].

History

For earlier events, see Oscar Gugen.

15 October 1953: BSAC founded by Oscar Gugen, Peter Small, Mary Small, and Trevor Hampton.^[2]^[3]
1954: First BSAC branch formed, in London.
1954: Members of the newly formed BSAC Branch No.9, Southsea Sub-Aqua Club, invent the new sport of "Octopush" - a game now played internationally and more commonly known outside of the United Kingdom as Underwater Hockey.
March 1955: BSAC is accepted by the Central Council of Physical Recreation.
1957: Alan Broadhurst became BSAC's second national diving officer. He modernized BSAC official diving terminology, including getting rid of the word "frogman".
October 1957: BSAC's first overseas branch is formed in Kingston, Jamaica.
January 1959: First edition of the BSAC Diving Manual appeared and cost ten shillings (now 50p).^[3] It was written by George Brookes and Alan Broadhurst.
November 1960: First Diving Officers' Conference, at St. Abbs, with 15 delegates.
1965: Fort Bovisand diving center opened.
1995: BSAC allows Nitrox diving and introduced Nitrox training.^[3]^[4]
2001: BSAC allows rebreather use by BSAC branches.^[3]
2006: BSAC Mixed gas diving.^[3]

See Timeline of underwater technology.

Qualifications

Diving

BSAC currently has five diver qualifications. These are:

Ocean Diver - Basic skills, non-decompression diving (depth limit 20 m)
Sports Diver - Rescue and decompression diving (depth limit 35 m)
Dive Leader - Dive leading, marshalling and rescue management (depth limit 50 m)
Advanced Diver - Fully trained diver capable of leading a group of divers in normal club activities
First Class Diver - Trained to lead a group of dives carrying out a project. This is nationally examined with a two day practical test

Instructing

BSAC has eight instructor qualifications:

Assistant Diving Instructor - Trained but unqualified. Must be supervised when instructing
Theory Instructor - Qualified to instruct unsupervised in the classroom
Assistant Open Water Instructor - Qualified to teach open water under supervison
Practical Instructor - Qualified to instruct unsupervised in open water
Open Water Instructor - Qualified to supervise other instructors in classroom and open water training
Advanced Instructor - Trained to teach advanced skills, such as boat based skills and group diving techniques
Instructor Trainer - Qualified to staff Instructor events
National Instructor - Leads Instructor Training courses and BSAC National exams

Grades previously awarded

Some qualifications which are no longer awarded may be encountered:

Novice I - 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.
Novice II - 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.)

Club Diver - 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.
Club Instructor - An instructor grade junior to Open Water Instructor, but allowing the holder to instruct practical and theory lessons without supervision.
Third Class Diver - Divers who held this grade were awarded the Sports Diver grade when the new grades were introduced.
Second Class Diver - Divers who held this grade were awarded the Advanced Diver grade when the new grades were introduced.

Skill Development / Specialities

BSAC has a range of skill development courses:

Diver rescue courses:
- Lifesaver Award
- Advanced Lifesaver
- First Aid
- Oxygen Administration
- Practical Rescue Management
- Rescue First Aid.

Diving Skills courses:
- Dive Marshalling and Planning
- Search and Recovery
- Compressor Operation
- Crowbar handling
- Equipment Care

Seamanship Skills:
- Small Boat Handling
- Chartwork and Position fixing
- Diver Coxswain
- Outboard engine and Boat Maintenance.

Technical diving Courses:
- Advanced Nitrox Diver
- Extended Range Diving
- Sports Mixed Gas Diver
- Advanced Mixed Gas Diver
- Mixed Gas blending
- Full face mask.

Rebreather Courses:
- SCR Dolphin/CCR Inspiration/Evolution and CCR Inspiration/Evolution.

General Interest:
- Disability Awareness
- Marine Life Identification
- Marine biology
- Underwater photography.

References

^ Geraint, J. (1996). Handbook of sports and recreational building design. Vol. 3. Architectural Press. p. 191. ISBN 0750622563. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ Valentine, R. BSAC: The Club 1953-2003. BSAC. ISBN 9780953891955.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e BSAC. "Section 1.1 A Brief History of the British Sub-Aqua Club". BSAC. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
^ Allen, C (1996). "BSAC gives the OK to nitrox. reprinted from Diver 1995; 40(5) May: 35-36". South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal. 26 (4). ISSN 0813-1988. OCLC 16986801. Retrieved 2008-09-05.

External links

[Geraint-1] Geraint, J. (1996). Handbook of sports and recreational building design. Vol. 3. Architectural Press. p. 191. ISBN 0750622563. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

[BSAChxBook-2] Valentine, R. BSAC: The Club 1953-2003. BSAC. ISBN 9780953891955.

[BSAChxWeb-3] BSAC. "Section 1.1 A Brief History of the British Sub-Aqua Club". BSAC. Retrieved 2008-09-05.

[BSACnitrox-4] Allen, C (1996). "BSAC gives the OK to nitrox. reprinted from Diver 1995; 40(5) May: 35-36". South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal. 26 (4). ISSN 0813-1988. OCLC 16986801. Retrieved 2008-09-05.

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