Already a qualified scuba diver? Great! You'll find answers to your questions here.
Diving with a club
Can I dive with a BSAC club using my existing qualification?
Yes. You can join a club and take part in club diving within your qualification and experience.
Do I have to retrain?
No.
Do I have to become a BSAC Ocean Diver or Sports Diver first?
No. Your existing recognised qualification and experience are taken into account.
Can I just join and go diving?
Yes — within your qualification and experience, and subject to the normal considerations for any dive: conditions, the site, equipment and dive planning.
What will the club ask me?
What you're qualified to, when you last dived, and whether you're happy with the dive being planned. The same questions any diver gets asked.
Which agencies does BSAC recognise?
BSAC recognises qualifications from a wide range of training agencies including PADI, SSI, SAA, NAUI, CMAS, TDI and others. If yours isn't listed on our qualifications page, ask us or ask a club.
Qualifications and training
Can I become a BSAC-qualified diver later?
Yes. Your existing training is recognised and you won't repeat what you've already done. You can progress on the BSAC programme from where you got to with the previous agency.
Do I lose my current qualification?
No. Nothing about joining BSAC affects the certification you hold with another agency.
Do I need to do a crossover course?
No — not to dive. There is an Instructor Crossover Course for instructors who want to teach within BSAC, which is a different thing.
I haven't dived for years. Where do I start?
With a club. Most run pool sessions and easy first dives to get you comfortable again. Getting back in the water
Membership and cost
What do I get for joining?
A club community, buddies, organised diving, shared club kit and facilities, third-party liability insurance, SCUBA magazine, diving advice, member discounts and access to training and projects. Member benefits.
How much does BSAC membership cost?
It depends on whether you join a BSAC club or join BSAC directly, and whether you fit into a specific category such as student.
If you join a club, you pay two things:
- Your club's own fees. Most BSAC clubs have their own local charges, which vary depending on things like pool time, boats, compressors and other facilities. Your club can tell you what's included.
- BSAC membership. As a club member you also need BSAC membership. The club rate for a Full Member (18+) is around £75 a year.
You don't need to arrange both separately. When you join a club, they'll sort out your BSAC membership as part of the process.
If you join BSAC directly, without a club, Full Membership (18+) is around £85 a year.
All Full Members get member insurance, SCUBA magazine, access to diving and training advice, voting rights and discounts on dive travel, kit and courses.
See all membership prices | Find a club near you
Can I try a club before I join?
Usually, yes. Most clubs will welcome you to a club night or a even along to a dive to see whether it suits you. Contact the club directly to ask. Find a club
Do I need a medical?
BSAC uses a self-declaration process, with referral to a doctor where a condition needs it. Diving fitness and medical forms
Do I need my own kit?
Not necessarily. Many clubs have club equipment members can use, but most divers build their kit up over time.
Still not sure?
The best way to get a real answer is to talk to a club near you. Find a BSAC Or feel free to email BSAC directly.
