All BSAC members are free to visit other clubs and to take part in their activities, as long as it is practical and the club is happy to have them come along.
One of the benefits of BSAC membership is access to the world’s largest network of clubs and divers, and the training and diving that network offers. Here’s how it works.
Visiting members
Members from other clubs (or BSAC Direct) can join in training and diving activities of any club, should the club be happy with this. This can be a great way of filling training courses and dive trips. Plus, networking with other members and clubs can lead to other great things such as joint trips, events and resource sharing.
Transferring members
Members can transfer from one club to another. The Membership Secretary of the club being transferred to should be advised, so that renewal of membership when due and payment of a club subscription portion can be arranged.
Accepting their qualifications
Before allowing a visitor or transferring member to take part in diving activities, Diving Officers should satisfy themselves of the visitor’s diving ability. Both Qualification Record Book and diving logbooks should be inspected to determine the level of qualification and recent diving experience. Attention should also be paid to evidence of current fitness to dive and BSAC membership.
Completed BSAC qualifications should be accepted without question. However, if the Diving Officer then finds that the diving abilities and standards of the visitor / recently transferred member are below standard, the facts can be discreetly discussed with the member and remedial training given until an appropriate standard is reached. Whilst this is going on, the member’s diving activities can be restricted.
What if they haven’t dived for a while?
If the transferring member hasn’t dived for a while the Diving Officer should ensure that the diving skills are up to standard and the diver is diving to their qualification level.
Those with incomplete training for a BSAC diving qualification should be integrated into the club training programme for the next level, and it becomes the club’s responsibility to complete that training.
BSAC members transferring from an overseas club to the UK, or vice-versa, should realise that diving conditions can be quite different, perhaps requiring the use of unfamiliar equipment and techniques. A short period of retraining and familiarisation with the local conditions may be necessary before they participate fully.
Why are they changing clubs?
The Diving Officer should be aware that a member may be transferring from one club to another because they have been excluded from their previous club. A club is unlikely to want to take on someone who was found to be disruptive or who has failed to dive safely and in accordance with BSAC recommendations. Ask why they are transferring, especially if from another local club.
Accepting qualifications issued by BSAC centres
The lead instructor of a BSAC centre may award BSAC diver qualifications. BSAC centres will grant BSAC mini-membership to clients who undertake the Ocean Diver course. All clients become members of BSAC for a free three-month period. Many who initially train at a BSAC centre later seek a club to join in order to continue with the sport.
These clients receive the same student pack as club members training for Ocean Diver and so have a Qualification Record Book the same as club members. The page showing the Ocean Diver qualification will show the centre name where this award was gained.
