Want to learn to scuba dive? You’re in the right place. Thousands of underwater explorers and adventurers started right here with BSAC.

Welcome to the wonderful world of scuba diving, where amazing adventures are just around the corner and you can experience the world like you never had before.

Your chosen BSAC Training Centre will teach you to become a safe, confident and self-reliant diver in around five days. Or, if you choose to train with a BSAC club, you will learn over a period of weeks or months. By the end of your scuba lessons, you will have unlocked the door to a new underwater world and countless new adventures.

Learning with a BSAC Training Centre gives you the best of both worlds. You can train in as little as three days and afterwards you have the option of going diving with either a local BSAC club or stay with the centre for more training or just diving.

Get in touch! If you have any questions about learning to dive or want to chat about getting started, please click the button below to fill out an enquiry form and we'll get in touch.

Important note: if you're already a member, you can access your learn to dive training options here.

Submit a learn to dive enquiry

More on learning to dive with BSAC...

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You have two beginner course options…

1. BSAC Ocean Diver

Our Ocean Diver qualification is BSAC’s most popular beginner course. The qualification enables you to dive anywhere in the world to a depth of 20m. The course has three parts: a self-study eLearning element, swimming pool dives (to learn basic scuba skills) and open water dives (to develop skills and explore).

Age requirement: 12 years or older
Course prerequisites: Able to swim and medically fit for diving
Maximum depth of certification: 20m
Price for eLearning: £119.50 (Full time students and under 18s, £91)

2. BSAC Discovery Diver

Our Discovery Diver qualification might be the right choice for you if you expect to go scuba diving primarily with a dive guide. This course is an intermediate step for earning an Ocean Diver qualification if that’s your ultimate goal.

Age requirement: 10 years or older
Course prerequisites: Able to swim and medically fit for diving
Maximum depth of certification: 12m
Price for eLearning: £99.50 (Full time students and under 18s, £71)

Please note that for both of the options above, an additional cost is the practical training. Your chosen Training Centre or club will charge for this. 

How it works…

1. Firstly, you need to choose your beginner course and sign up to learn to dive.
2. Then, you complete your Ocean Diver or Discovery Diver eLearning in your own time (and at your own pace).
3. A BSAC mentor will liaise with you to support you and arrange the training provider to facilitate the pool and open water training.
4. The training provider will schedule your pool and open water training (dates that work for you). All dive kit will be provided.
5. Once you have qualified you can join a club to continue your diving or stay with the centre.
   
   

Submit a learn to dive enquiry

Need help?

We’d love to help you. Please email us or call us on 0151 350 6201 if you need any assistance getting started.

Sheltered water training

Once you've completed your eLearning theory sessions, your chosen training centre will get you in the pool (or other sheltered water area) to teach you the practical skills you will need in open water.

FAQs

How much does it cost?

The costs come in two parts. The first part covers your eLearning and includes your training materials, qualification upon completion, and 12 months of BSAC membership. Membership provides divers with the benefits of one-to-one training support, diving insurance, diving kit offers and much more.

Adults:
Ocean Diver costs £119.50
Discovery Diver costs £99.50

Students (full time further education) and Juniors (under 18s) 
Ocean Diver costs £91
Discovery Diver costs £71

The second cost is the practical training. Your chosen Training Centre will charge for this. You can expect to pay around £300-350. Prices with clubs will vary.

How long does it take to qualify?

There are three parts to becoming a BSAC scuba diver: the theory, the confined water training (usually in a swimming pool), and the open water dives.

Independent learning using the BSAC eLearning platform takes about 8-10 hours. Then, the pool training and open water dives can be completed in just a few days.

Both the BSAC Ocean Diver and Discovery Diver courses are centred on the student and allows them to progress at their own pace. Only once you and your instructor feel confident that you've mastered a skill, will you move on to the next one.

Is scuba diving safe?

Scuba diving has a really good safety record and this is mainly due to the training we do before participating in our adventurous sport. BSAC training is world-renowned for being extremely thorough and what's different about BSAC is we build in safety skills and training from the start.

Scuba diving's good safety record is justified by good training, sound equipment and safe practices. BSAC will teach you everything you need to know to be a competent safe diver.

Is there a minimum age to learn to dive?

The minimum age to do the BSAC Ocean Diver course is 12 years old. People can learn from age 10 with the BSAC Discovery Diver course.

Does a BSAC scuba qualification expire?

Your BSAC qualification will not expire. However, if you haven’t been diving in a while and wish to refresh your diving knowledge skills, you may wish to do a BSAC Scuba Refresher Course.

Contact your chosen BSAC Centre for more information.

Can people living with disabilities learn how to dive?

Yes, they can. People with reduced mobility, missing limbs or other physical challenges, such as blindness, can learn to dive with BSAC. People with mental health issues and neurodiverse individuals can often also still take part in scuba training dependent on their medication.

Contact your chosen BSAC Centre for more information or seek advice from the UK Diving Medical Committee.

Still have questions?

We’d love to help you. Please email us or call us on 0151 350 6201 if you need any assistance getting started.

Looking for a new adventure? Make your weekends count!

When you learn to scuba dive, you open up a whole new world of experiences. From growing in confidence and learning new skills to joining a community of scuba divers, there’s a lot to love, and learn!

Book a taster session with a BSAC club    Ocean Diver course details