Already trained divers are a real asset to BSAC clubs. They come with a qualification and can bring experience, enthusiasm and additional skills that can contribute to the running of your club. Here are the essential facts you need to know...
- BSAC welcomes ALL divers. If their qualification is recognised and valid then they can dive with us!
- A qualified diver can 'guest dive' with a BSAC club and will be covered by BSAC’s third party liability insurance.
- A club’s Diving Officer must see evidence of the diver’s qualification and can ask to see their logbook to assess competence and experience.
- As long as it is valid, a diver with a qualification from another agency does not have to re-train with BSAC or apply for a BSAC equivalency qualification card. They can simply dive within the limits of their current diver grade (and within BSAC’s Safe Diving guidance).
- They can, if they wish, continue their training with BSAC, moving on to the next BSAC diver grade relevant to their existing qualification. (See BSAC’s diver grade equivalency chart).
- It is at the discretion of the Diving Officer and/or Training Officer to offer and provide remedial or refresher training. Please note: BSAC has an in-pool Scuba Refresher session aimed at divers that need to brush up their skills. Scuba Refresher session info for instructors
- BSAC welcomes instructors who have trained with other agencies and there is a simple route they need to follow to be able to teach in-branch. More on Instructor crossover process.
- The buddy pairing of an already trained diver must adhere to BSAC Safe Diving, taking into account their BSAC equivalency grade.
- BSAC’s Diver Training Programme incorporates training modules such as drysuit, nitrox and SMB/DSMB use which would be a separate paid-for speciality with other diving agencies.
- A trained diver from another agency can access the above training modules for free in order to develop and consolidate their existing skills.
- BSAC and Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) have been in discussions regarding the integration of GUE divers into a BSAC club. There is now advice online to support this.
Welcoming other agency divers to your clubYou may find the below steps helpful when welcoming other agency trained divers to your BSAC club. For more information on training other agency divers, please visit the instructor section. |
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Step 1 |
Make them feel welcome, as you would any new member of your club, already trained or otherwise. |
Step 2 |
Ask them about the diving and training they have done, including how long ago it was, to gauge their ability. |
Step 3 |
Discuss and agree if a refresher is needed. Think about how long it has been since they last trained and if they dived regularly or seasonally, as well as their qualification level and their time as a diver. |
Step 4 |
Understand their plans and aspirations - they may want to continue their training with BSAC, or they may just want to dive with your club. |
Step 5 |
If they want to continue their diver grade training, then work out their equivalent qualification with BSAC and begin training them on the next level up (i.e. if they arrive as a PADI Open Water Diver, their equivalent qualification is BSAC Ocean Diver and so their progression would be to BSAC Sports Diver). For more information about progressing other agency divers, including which training pack to buy, visit the Training other agency divers page. |
Step 6 |
If they want to try out some SDCs and workshops, consider beginning with the skills they would have been trained in had they learned to dive with BSAC. For example, Ocean Divers learn drysuit skills and can dive with nitrox, while for many other agencies, these are additional courses. Divers who join BSAC with equivalent to Ocean Diver qualifications can take training modules such as these free of charge. |
Welcoming already trained divers to your club
For a complete overview on welcoming already trained divers, including frequently asked questions from other agency divers, please see the booklet below.