BS-AC training:
BS-AC
Training is
progressive and you
can work your way
through the
qualifications
described in the
section under BS-AC
qualifications.
Each qualification
will involve a
series of lectures,
a set of practical
sessions, a theory
exam and practical
assessment.
Progression to the
next qualification
requires successful
completion of the
previous
qualification and
will include
completion of a
number of open water dives.
Phoenix NW SAC may also run a number of Skills
Development Courses (SDCs) that are required for the more advanced qualifications. SDC courses are also run by other BS-AC
organizations.
Before you can start formal training you will need to obtain a medical certificate confirming your fitness to dive (see BS-AC Medical Form).
Cost of Training:
For
people new to diving the cost of training can be broken down into 3 areas:
-
Membership
-
Basic Equipment
-
Open Water Training
 The
cost of membership
has already been
covered under
membership
fees.
The next item you
will need to
consider is the cost
of basic equipment.
Initial costs can be
kept to a minimum
(about £50 - £60)
during training.
However, once you
have qualified you
will need to buy
your own equipment,
which can be
expensive. If you
buy all new
equipment it could
cost you in the
region of £1000
minimum. Again it is
possible to minimize
the impact of this
by buying certain
items second hand or
visiting the dive
shows where you can
pick up bargains. It
won’t seem so bad if
you buy these items
over a period of
time as most of us
have done.
Finally:
there
is the cost of open
water training.
Although all of the
instructors in BS-AC
clubs are fully
trained to national
standards they are
not paid to train
individuals as is
the case in diving
schools. Taking
people out training
can add up over a
period of time as
the instructors have
to pay for travel,
entry to sites and
breathing gas costs.
The club has a
policy where
trainees are asked
to cover their own
modest costs.
Typically, this
would be in the
region of £10.00 for
entry to dive sites,
£3 to £3.50 for air
(per dive) and a
payment for the
instructor’s
petrol/transport
costs. The cost of
petrol can be
reduced or
eliminated by giving
your instructor a
free lift.
The club can
provide:
The
club can provide some
SCUBA kit for open
water training should
the trainee have not
been able to acquire
his/her own in time,
however this is limited
and should not be
relied upon. The
trainee will require a
suit (semi-dry/dry)
which you may be able
to hire from your local
dive shop.
You will also need
sea-fins costs for
which are covered in
the section on Basic
Equipment.
A
typical days diving
at Capernwray for a
Club Diver (CD) in
training would cost:
Total per student =
£26 to £41 Dependent
on equipment hire
Not every day will
cost this much as
some of the dives
will be at local
quarries also the
cost may be divided
between a number of
students if a day
trip is organized
purely for training
purposes. An Ocean
Diver typically
needs 5 - 6 days to
complete their open
water training. This
will be interspersed
with 4 - 5
experience dives.
Once you have
completed the OD
qualification you
will be encouraged
to progress to the
Sport Diver (SD)
grade. This involves
6 lectures and 1
pool session, which
are free of charge.
There are 5 open
water training dives
for the SD grade and
the cost will be
similar to those for
the CD grade. Diving
Activities There are
a number of
activities which are
available to you
depending on your
interests, once you
have progressed to
open water diving
and have gained
experience,
including:
-
Wreck Diving
-
Marine Biology
-
Cave and cavern diving
-
Scenic Diving
-
Underwater Photography
-
Boat Handling
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