BSAC has updated one of our most important technical courses — the Accelerated Decompression Procedures (ADP) Skill Development Course — which is refreshed for 2026 and better than ever.
Divers who have an existing ADP qualification are now able to plan for and use up to 100% oxygen for decompression.
Originally launched in 2010 to replace Advanced Nitrox, the ADP course has served as the cornerstone of decompression training for BSAC divers. Now, 15 years on, the course has been thoroughly revised it to reflect how the sport has evolved — from advances in dive computers and planning software to modern gas-switching techniques that set divers up for the full technical pathway.
This update changes the following:
- Allows the use of 100% oxygen for decompression
- Simplifies planning for decompression and gas usage
- Adds planning using software (PCs, apps and dive computers)
- Introduces a robust gas switching procedure that can be used in more advanced courses where multiple gases may be carried
- eLearning option now available for theory
What the course includes
ADP is the launchpad for a diver's technical journey. Alongside twinset, sidemount, deeper diving, and propulsion techniques, it forms a suite of complementary courses designed to build safe, confident, and capable technical divers — each course reinforcing the next.
Who can take this course?
To take Accelerated Decompression Procedures members must be a Sports Diver or above, hold a nitrox qualification, and have attained the gold standard from the Buoyancy and Trim Workshop (BTW). That last point is essential — the ability to hold depth accurately when carrying a potentially toxic gas is critical, and the BTW assessment must be formally recorded on the student's record. Diver grade alone is not a sufficient substitute; the BTW has clear, specific assessment criteria for good reason.
Get started
- Accelerated Decompression Procedures (2026) is available in the BSAC shop now
- Option 1: Digital pack - £60
- Option 2: eLearning - £80
Students should purchase their own pack or eLearning using the email address linked to their membership.
Find out more about the Accelerated Decompression Procedures course online.
