The amount, type and quality of club equipment is for the club committee to decide. It’s useful to have a club Equipment Officer to manage the club equipment.
Typical club equipment:
- Classroom teaching aids such as laptop, projection equipment and a resuscitation manikin.
- Scuba sets and weightbelts, for students use during pool training and perhaps initial open water training and dives.
- Ideally a fully-equipped boat, for safe and adventurous diving and training.
- If the club is distant from a reliable dive shop for compressed diving gas, a compressor may be required.
- Marine radios, GPS, oxygen administration apparatus, first aid kit, Nitrox analyser.
Maintenance
Club equipment represents a considerable capital asset, and its working life can be maximised by regular maintenance. Also, part of the club's duty of care is to ensure that equipment for use by members is kept in good order and is thus 'fit for purpose'.
A regular testing and overhaul programme led by a competent person should be used to check kit - especially scuba sets. The quality of the breathing gas from a club compressor should be regularly analysed according to manufacturer recommendations.
It is recommended that an asset list is kept recording serial numbers, maintenance dates and other relevant information.
BSAC recommends that scuba sets are inspected and tested, and regulators serviced, by competent ‘manufacturer approved’ service agents. Regulators should be serviced at the manufacturer’s recommendations whether used for pool, sheltered water or open water.
Cylinders should be serviced and tested according to local legislation. If any equipment is used for Nitrox, oxygen service intervals should be adhered to. A manufacturer’s approved service engineer should inspect diving gas compressors periodically.
Equipment use and insurance
Club members are co-owners of club equipment, since all members of the club are deemed to be ‘mutually trading’. Consumer Legislation governs hiring club equipment to non-members.
It is a sensible safeguard to insure club assets / equipment. Club committees are advised to have:
Diving equipment insurance
Diving equipment owned by the club should be insured as a minimum against loss / theft.
Boat insurance
For Third Party / Public Liability risks, in line with Article 87.(E), and obviously such a valuable asset should be insured against loss and damage. A marine / boat insurance policy should provide this cover as well as protection against loss, theft, and damage. The marine policy should also cover members while they are being trained to use the boat.
Compressor insurance
Whilst damage or injury caused by improper or negligent use of a club compressor is covered by the Membership Liability Policy, damage or injury caused by mechanical failure of the compressor is not. Separate ‘engineering policies’ are available to cover compressors against mechanical failure, and clubs are advised to seek such cover.
Loan repayment insurance
If the club has taken out loans to fund the purchase of equipment or assets. Without this cover all club committee members are equally liable to repay any loan, even if taken out by a previous committee.
Premises insurance
It makes sense to insure any premises owned or rented by the club. Advice should be sought from a reliable insurance broker.
