Salford Sub-Aqua Club
BSAC Branch No. 253

* New website launching on Weekend of August 1st 2008 *

New members welcome...

Welcome to Salford SAC new members Q&A page.  The purpose of this page is to give prospective new members an idea of what diving with Salford SAC is all about:

1. Overview 2. Q&A 3. Getting 'into diving' with a club 4. Try dives 5. What will it cost 6. Training 7. Further training

Learn to be a bubbler.

Dorothea:

Click here to visit the club's favourite inland training site:

1. Overview:

WELCOME TO SALFORD SUB AQUA CLUB

The British Sub Aqua Club (B.S.A.C.) has over 1200 branches mostly in this country but some others worldwide. The Salford Branch was formed over 35 years ago.

We meet at 8:30PM each Monday at Broughton Pool, Great Cheetham Street, Higher Broughton, and at 9:30PM in the nearby Conservative Club until closing time!

Joining the British Sub Aqua Club, (usually called ‘Beezac’) will give you the opportunity to receive training leading to internationally recognised qualifications. Equipment is provided for a 2 nights TRYDIVE which is also Lesson 1 of the CLUB DIVER training which then requires attendance at 5 pool lessons and 8 outdoor underwater lessons(For these latter sessions you will need your own diving suit), where instruction in the basic skills for underwater safety and enjoyment is given. Additionally there are 7 theory lessons to help you understand the interest, challenges and avoid the dangers of diving at this level. A successfully completed theory and practical examination results in the award of your CLUB DIVER qualification.

A further set of 3 theory lessons, with some life saving training, and a sufficient number of dives successfully undertaken under the care of experienced divers would now prepare you for the next grade. Successful completion of another theory and practical exam will result in the SPORTS DIVER qualification.

Yet more experience dives, another set of theory and practical lessons, and successful completion of a third exam will result in the award of the DIVE LEADER qualification. This grade could be achieved after two years of club membership if every opportunity for advancement is taken.

The highest grade that we can grant locally is that of ADVANCED DIVER. This qualification denotes a person who can take charge of all major outings and expeditions.

For members who are interested in teaching diving there are Instructor grades to be worked for. There is a constant need for the teaching of new divers and also opportunities for employment in this field.

At Salford we have about 30 to 40 members of all grades ranging from Club Diver up to First Class.

We frequently go for outings in groups of up to 12, hiring boats for the purpose. Our members have dived in Gibraltar, Ireland, Egypt, The Maldives, France, Scotland, Wales, England, Spain, Sardinia, Indonesia, Florida, Sudan, Djibouti and Norway.

Living as we do in the Manchester area it is clear that a lot of travelling is involved and this is part of the cost of diving. Our nearest diving sites are 130 miles away and we often travel twice as far for a weekend outing.

Overnight accommodation, hire of boats and use of compressed air all add to the cost and of course the equipment that we use is not cheap. It has to be said that a reasonably equipped diver is wearing over £1500 of gear. Most of this would need to be bought in the first year of membership, as only limited training progress could be made without it by hiring the club equipment available. Fortunately it is often possible to pick up good second-hand equipment at half price.

In spite of the costs we have many keen members who find it all very worthwhile. They spend their time exploring shipwrecks, taking photographs and videos, and learning about the many strange and unusual plants and animals which they now have access to as part of this high tech sport. Some merely enjoy the sensations of being easily able to move about in three dimensions in conditions of near weightlessness!

The costs of membership are:- (2007/8)

(Includes any BSAC increase until 1/4/07)

1st year membership         £190-00  + Training Pack (£40.00)        Associate   £130-00

Subsequent years             £ 190-00          Junior         £95.00

The higher cost for the first year covers training, swimming pool usage, registration and several instruction manuals. All members get DIVE magazine free.

Higher grade divers and instructors receive a modest reduction on their subscriptions.

Training Fees:-

Club Diver     Cost of training pack only, (£40.00)

Sport Diver   Cost of training pack only, (£40.00)

Dive Leader  Cost of training pack only, (£40.00)

Baths Fees    Free.

TRY DIVES

Two swimming pool try dives are offered free to all prospective members.

COME AND JOIN US!

Contacts for further information:-

1. Laura Mayers    Tel. 0797 378 2264

2. Colin Harthill     Tel. 0161 284 2447

3. Nicola Meachin Tel. 0161 280 0292

4. Bill Bradley        Tel. 01625 572809

5. Nigel Larner       Tel. 0161 428 4479

Or pop down to see us on a Monday night for a pint and a chat.

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2. Q&A:

What diving do you do as a club?

We cater for all types of divers and regularly visit a range of dive sites:

• Sea diving holidays around Britain and farther afield. .....
• Quarries,
• Rivers,
• Sea-shore.

We meet every Monday in the main pool at Broughton Baths, Gt Cheetham st. West, M7 (for directions phone: 0161 792 2847) between 8.30pm - 9.30pm and then afterwards at the nearby Conservative Club 9.30pm until close (or until we get chucked out ...).

For Further Information Contact:

Dennis Caruana
Training Officer: 0789 995 4545
dennis@salfordsac.org.uk

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3. Getting 'into diving' with a club:

Why do you believe club diving is better than going to a school?

There are several reasons:

• Diving with a club is universally acknowledged to be 'safer' than diving alone.
• It's a great way of meeting 'like-minded' people who often become firm friends.  Dives can then be arranged 'over a pint' at your convenience.
• You have constant access to a vast wealth of experience in areas such as equipment, sites, safety, technique etc.

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4. Try dives:

Can I come along to see if I'd like it?

Certainly, we are taking 'TRY-DIVES' throughout the year. These are free for two introductory pool sessions, and cover both the air used and the use of club gear.  To book a  'try-dive' either send us an Email or phone Denis Caruana on the above number.  Or, if all else fails turn up at Broughton Swimming Pool at 8.20 p.m (come down to the poolside).

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5. What will it cost ?

5.1 Your Gear:

What equipment will I need?

Initially diving is not a cheap sport and it will cost from £1500 to put together a full basic set of diving equipment for use in and around the UK.

Borrowing equipment may be an option in the short-term, but you will find it extremely helpful, if not essential to have your own:

• Mask, fins and snorkel (from £70),
• Well-fitting 'Dry-suit' (from £300),
• A regulator with contents and depth gauge (from £250),
• A 'Bouyancy Compensator (BC)' (from £250),
• Weightbelt (from £50).

So that upon completion of your pool training you are ready to proceed onto the remainder of the course which takes place in open water.

If you don't yet know what these terms mean, a useful site to explore these items further is at Manchester University SAC.

Note however that experienced club members are always on-hand to help you decide 'what to buy' and 'where from' to ensure that you get the best equipment for your money.

Once I have the equipment what will it cost to dive?

It's very difficult to say as there is a wide variation in costs, but as a rough guide it will usually cost you:

• Petrol to the dive site (frequently shared),
• Cylinder(s) full of air at about £2.50 each,
• Inland sites: Entrance/registration fees from £4.00,
• Sea: Club boat £15/day running costs, Private hire more!

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5.2 Membership:

What are the club fees?

These vary between the first and subsequent years:

• To cover the additional costs involved in your first training year (Registration, instruction manuals), the first years membership costs £190.00 + training pack (£40.00). For a partner living at the same address the first years membership is £130.00.
• Annual membership thereafter is £190.00 and £130.00 for a partner. (Renewable 1st March each year).

Each BSAC qualification stage is then charged at the following rates to cover specific training costs:

• Club Diver     Cost of training pack only, (£40.00)
• Sport Diver   Cost of training pack only, (£40.00)

• Dive Leader  Cost of training pack only, (£40.00)

• Baths Fees    Free.
  

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5.3 So what do I get for my money ?:

Specifically?

Itemised:

• Membership of a good friendly club,
• Indoor pool training / free use of the swimming pool.
• Theory lectures,
• Loan of club equipment (for pool training),
• Open-water instruction,
• BSAC produced training materials,
• Membership of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC)
• BSAC third-party liability insurance.
• 'DIVE', BSAC's monthly magazine.

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5.4 Medical:

Will I need a medical?

For 'try-dives' formally 'No' but we do ask you to sign a disclaimer which basically asks whether you know of any reason why you cannot try diving out.

However, 'Yes' as soon as your training starts properly BSAC stipulates that you require a full medical.  Alternatively a disclaimer certifying that you are fit to dive can be completed. This is to check that you are medically fit to dive and that it will not endanger your general well-being.

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6. Training:

6.1 Overview:

What do you expect of me?

After your two 'try-dives' we will expect the following as you start your training in earnest:

1. You must be fit to dive. This involves a medical check-up as indicated,
2. You must be able to swim, certainly not Olympic standard but be happy with your face underwater,
3. You must join the club and pay the membership fee.
4. You must be over the age of 14 years.

As your indoor pool training begins you would benefit from obtaining:

1. A good quality diving mask (ask for advice),
2. A pair of fins (flipper was a Dolphin!),
3. A snorkel,

We will provide for initial pool training:

1. An Instructor,
2. The above items until you can purchase them,
3. All other relevant equipment to complete this phase of your training.

To obtain the BSAC CLUB DIVER qualification, training can take as little as six weekly lessons, but this depends on you, your attendance and progress and we certainly do not allow people to go onto the next phase until they are happy with the last .

6.2 Your instructor expects:

• You to turn up for training sessions promptly at 8.15 pm for pool sessions and the time indicated for theory lessons.
• If at any time you can't make it PLEASE let your INSTRUCTOR know well in advance.

Please note, YOUR INSTRUCTOR IS NOT PAID he/she actually enjoys teaching you!

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7. Further training:

Once I'm qualified as a club diver, what further training can I do?

At our club we have instructors qualified to teach:

• Sports Diver
• Dive Leader
• Advanced Diver

We can also run other courses " IN HOUSE " such as

• Life Saver Award,
• Advanced Life Saver Award,
• First Aid,
• Oxygen Administration,
• Practical Rescue Management,
• Search and Recovery,
• Advanced Diving Techniques,
• Dive Planning & Marshalling.

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Last modified: 27th February 2007: © Salford BSAC 1999/2007