First impressions count and when inviting a potential new member to your club you want them to feel inspired and ready to join.
Already trained divers from other agencies can be a real asset to any BSAC club. Not only do they come with a formal qualification, they also come with experience, enthusiasm and potentially additional skills that can directly contribute to the running of your club.
Generating enquiries from already trained divers
Your club’s website is your 'shop window' and creates an immediate impression to a potential new member, check out the Webpages to win already trained divers support page for advice and inspiration.
What to do when an already trained diver makes an enquiry
It's essential that any enquiry gets a prompt and friendly reply. Ensure:
- your club's email address and contact phone number are up to date and checked regularly
- that you respond within 24 hours and keep it simple
- you invite them to come along to a club night. Pick a date that’s good for them and your club and go from there.
- you confirm the visit in an email, remember not to overwhelm them with information about your club (unless they specifically ask for it). In the email just let them know:
- where they are going and what time do they need to arrive
- who will be there to welcome them - the name of the person to ask for and a contact number
- what they need to bring if they are wanting a 'refresher' dive in the pool - Send a reminder email or call them a few days before, reminding them of the details. You may also want find out their diving interests e.g. photography, wrecks etc. - so you can make sure you have members around to chat to them about similar interests.
Welcoming an already trained diver for the first time
- Enthusiasm is key - as a club member who trained with another agency but has 'switched to BSAC' is ideal as a buddy for their visit.
- If you have found out the visitors interests before they come you can also make sure you have members around with similar interests.
- Get your members to chat and engage your visitor, tell them about club life and diving stories and upcoming trips you are planning.
Qualifications and crossing over to BSAC
New members can join and dive with their other agency qualifications . If they wish to 'switch to BSAC' use the equivalency chart to see which BSAC diver grade they are currently equal to. View BSAC equivalent qualifications.
They do not have to apply for a BSAC equivalency card or progress to the next diver grade if they don’t wish to. Remember – you must see evidence of their current diver grade and don’t forget to send in this information to BSAC.
Reviewing skills
It's up to your club’s Diving Officer as to whether you formally review a new member’s diving ability. Ensure that your new member dives within the limits of their diving qualification and that BSAC Safe Diving is followed. Complementary training to offer your new member if it is missing from their current skill set:
- Basic nitrox
- Drysuit training
- In-depth rescue and safety skills
- Buoyancy and Trim workshop
Further training
BSAC is all about progressive training so do let your new member know about the further diver training opportunities and Skill Development Courses that are open to them. Find out more at bsac.com/skilldevelopment
Converting an already trained diver to join
As well as being prepared to answer general questions on how they can join your club, it is a good idea to have key information prepared and ready in advance.
- Give your visitor the free 'Already a diver' booklet to take away - order online here. It includes core information for other agency divers looking to join BSAC.
- Tell them about your club, its facilities and membership prices.
- Tell them about the benefits they will receive as a BSAC member too e.g. saving money with Travel and Kit Partners - see BSAC benefits.
- Invite the potential new member to ‘road test’ your club by joining a club diving day/trip (if their qualifications are valid). Also, invite them to borrow dive kit, if needed, from the club. You are covered by your third party liability for your guest diver to join you as long as:
- They are visiting with a view to joining your club/BSAC (if they have no intention of joining they would not be covered).
- In addition, you are currently covered for your guest divers liability towards you but this is restricted to seven visits in any one insurance year.
Do you still have a third party liability insurance question relating to guest divers? Email wendym@bsac.com or call +44 (0) 151 350 6218 for advice.
Following up on visits
If your visitor doesn’t join straight away, make sure you follow up with them. Don’t be too pushy, just a simple email or phone call, asking if they need any more information and, if you can, invite them to join your club on a dive (see above).
Keeping divers
- Your plan should now be to get your new member diving and active within your club as soon as possible.
- Keep 'checking in' with your members to see how they are enjoying club life. Encourage them to join as many dive trips and social events as possible.
- You should also see if they want to further their training if someone is training over the time of their renewal date they are more than likely to stay with you into their second year. BSAC is all about progressive training so do let your new member know about the further diver training opportunities and Skill Development Courses that are open to them.
