If you are an already qualified BSAC Advanced Ocean Diver and would like to learn new practical and rescue skills, then Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver is for you.
If you want to do more with your diving, the Sports Diver qualification gives you the freedom to explore. Being a Sports Diver allows most people to do all the diving they want in the UK and abroad.
I couldn’t wait to start my Sports Diver training and I’ve not been disappointed. I’ve been able to extend my depth and dive times while building my experience in a range of conditions. I’m excited about where my diving can now take me!
– William Cave, Flintshire SAC
As an Advanced Ocean Diver, you've already progressed to 30m and opened up a wealth of exciting underwater adventures. Moving to Sports Diver will broaden your experience in a variety of challenging open-water conditions and learn essential techniques to prepare you for diving to a maximum of 40m.
To complete Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver training, you must be a BSAC member and have successfully completed the Advanced Ocean Diver course. You will also need to confirm you are medically fit to dive by following the current BSAC medical requirements.
Skills that make Sports Divers stand out from the crowd include doing longer deeper dives, with decompression stops if needed.
You’ll learn how to spot if something is wrong and what to do in an emergency including self-rescue, recovery of unresponsive divers, and basic life support – these are among the most valuable skills any diver can learn.
It’s a continually assessed qualification, so after your classroom and in-water training and a short theory exam, you’ll be competent to complete a series of depth progression dives – at increments of 5m – enabling you to dive down to a maximum of 40m.
How do you get there?
- Four classroom modules
- Theory assessment
- Two dry practical modules
- One sheltered-water module
- One optional refresher/orientation dive
- Three open-water modules
- Experience of three different conditions
Sports divers can:
- Dive to depths of up to 40m, with a suitable buddy
- Plan and execute dives requiring mandatory decompression
- Use Nitrox mixtures containing up to 36% oxygen to extend their dive times
- Rescue other divers, should it be required
- Assist in the management of branch dives
- Attend many more Skill Development Courses
What diving experiences will this open up for me?
Being competent to dive to 40m allows most divers to do all the diving they want in the UK and abroad. At these depths you can access the majority of UK wreck diving, and with Sports Diver skills you can extend your dive times safely and relax to take in your surroundings and any wildlife you encounter.
Qualifying as a Sports Diver will also enable you to take part in a wider variety of BSAC Skill Development Courses to increase your diving skills.
Not a member yet?
- Enquire now to get started
Members:
- Option 1: Train with your club - Log in to MyBSAC to buy digital training packs or eLearning in the BSAC Shop
- Option 2: Book onto a scheduled Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver Course
- Option 3: Train with a BSAC Training Centre
Your next steps – developing your skills
After completing Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver, you could also:
- Continue to progress towards Dive Leader to begin adventurous and exploratory diving and extend depth to 50m with decompression.
- You could start on the road to instructing by signing up for BSAC’s Instructor Foundation Course to become an Assistant Diving Instructor.
- Not yet dived in UK waters but want to try? Then our Drysuit Workshop is perfect for you!
- Start exploring and expanding your specific diving interests with one of BSAC’s Skill Development Courses (SDCs). From boat handling, wreck appreciation and oxygen administration, there’s a host of SDCs you can now enjoy.
