The British Sub-Aqua Club was founded in 1953 by Oscar Gugen and Peter Small. The club was there to promote diving and to make sure that it was done safely. In 1954, following a quick initial growth, the BSAC became the governing body for all underwater sports in the UK. By 1955, membership of the club had grown to 1100. In 1959 it helped found CMAS, the world underwater federation. With an impressive list of achievements along the way, BSAC now has membership figures of about 45000 and is still the driving force behind diving in the UK and other countries overseas, managed by a subsidiary called BSAC International.

The BSAC is founded mainly on clubs, which train divers to set guidelines laid down by the HQ. Each club has its own constitution and runs itself by committee and a number of officers responsible for diving, training, membership etc.

The club system itself works well for those who are new to diving and experienced people alike. Training takes place initially in swimming pools and after assessments, moves to sheltered water, where Club Diver and Sports diver qualifications are initially attained. The Club and Sports diver syllabuses are founded on common-sense theory (presented in well-written manuals and workbooks) and several practice sessions with qualified instructors. Once a Club Diver, that diver may undertake dives with any suitably qualified diver down to a maximum depth of 20m. Sports divers have optional depth progression dives at the end of their course (which teaches more diving and also rescue skills) which will allow them a maximum depth of 35m.

BSAC arguably teaches the skills necessary for diving in the UK or colder climates. Thus, emphasis is placed on rescue, the buddy system and personal skills in a variety of different scenarios.

An alternative to the club system is through PADI-style diving shops, which can sell Club Diver (known as Ocean Diver) and Sports Diver Courses. These are taught in a more intensive fashion but achieve the same goal. Instructors that teach in a club are not paid, although the club may receive money from divers in their club annual subscriptions to pay for expenses accured when training.

Speaking as a BSAC diver and instructor with experience of other training systems, I would argue that it is not necessarily the organisation that provides the best teaching, but the instructor. BSAC's instructor training is comprehensive, with a stipulation on Dive Leader level (one level above Sports Diver) and several courses and assessments. Hopefully, the instructor will be a polished presenter, a confident diver and a patient teacher. Not all organisations can guarantee this...

For me, the BSAC is a good start point, especially where diving is not restricted to clear blue waters. However, the BSAC is a recreational organisation, and its embracing of Nitrox and other forms of technical diving (including the use of semi-closed and closed-circuit rebreathers) has been tardy and not as extensive as some would have expected. I do not necessarily believe it is the place of recreational diving organisations to pretend they are as able to teach technical diving as some of the more technically-focused organisations (IANTD, TDI, etc.), but their 3rd party divers insurance ought to cover people diving to the limits through these organisations, not hampered by the BSAC's own limits.

If the level of detail were increased in Epinions to discuss each level of diver training in the BSAC, perhaps you will be able to read more about the BSAC teaching system!

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