Training with MSAC
MSAC train divers to British Sub Aqua Club diving grades using material and criteria stipulated by BSAC.
To test the water, MSAC offer a come and try session where an instructor will take you for a try dive session in the pool. The club provides all equipment and we operate one to one instruction.
Come and Try Session - £15
BSAC Diver Grades
BSAC has been training people to dive since the early 1950s. MSAC as a club has been training divers for over 25 years.
During this time the Diver Training Programme has been regularly updated and improved to keep pace with developments in equipment and diving knowledge. The programme is designed to build confidence and self-reliance, whilst keeping safety uppermost.
Diving skills are taught progressively so that each new experience is built upon step by step. Following basic training in the safety of a swimming pool or protected area, students soon complete their first open water dives to achieve Ocean Diver certification. This progression continues to Sports Diver and beyond, where open water skills and techniques are further developed and experience gained.
All diver training courses are delivered by qualified instructors over a series of weekly evening sessions and weekend open water training, with the opportunity for regular diving to hone your skills.
Ocean Diver
This course provides the essential knowledge and skills needed to prepare for open water diving. The Ocean Diver course prepares for this in the safety of a swimming pool or sheltered water and an introduction to open water in a controlled, safe manner. Experience and confidence will be gained under the guidance of a qualified instructor. Maximum depth - 20m.
Sports Diver
Sports Diver training builds a sound foundation of open water diving skills and experience with structured, practical lessons. Qualified Sports Divers are ready to take part in dives with other Sports Divers or higher. Depth can be built progressively to a maximum of 35m after qualifying.
Sports Divers can embark on the first stage of the route of instruction.
Dive Leader
Dive Leader training covers responsibilities and safety of leading other divers. Practical lessons will give divers confidence to deal with emergencies. Leading a dive will develop enjoyment, confidence and experience as a diver.
Depth can be built progressively to a maximum of 50m after qualifying.
Dive Leaders are eligible to progress to Open Water Instructor.
Advanced Diver
The Advanced Diver course further develops knowledge and skills. Divers gain experience in planning dives at different sites and different circumstances. Additional experience will be gained in using small boats, chartwork. navigation and many other related skills. BSAC consider this grade as being a fully trained diver.
Advanced Divers are eligible to progress to Advanced Instructor.
First Class Diver
BSAC's highest diving grade which requires a higher than average level of theoretical knowledge, organisational and personal diving skills. BSAC First Class Divers are assessed by BSAC instructors through nationally conducted examinations.
Club Training
MSAC is a BSAC members club and we charge an annual membership fee.
If you are new to diving and wish to learn you will need BSAC membership (annual) and a training pack which can be purchased through the club. You will also be required to fill out a diving medical self certification form. It would also be advisable to buy personal diving items such as mask, fins and snorkel.
Whilst you are training, you will require diving equipment. If you don't wish to buy the equipment, the club can hire out equipment for a small amount per week per item (around £4.00 per item per week). If you choose not to hire, you will need a cylinder, regulator with octopus and a BC( buoyancy compensator).
How do I learn to dive?
Before we will teach you to dive, we require that you join the MSAC club and also become a member of BSAC. The club will arrange all this for you. We are not like a school in that we do not run scheduled courses over a set period, we allow members to learn at their own pace.
Assuming that you are new to diving, your diver training will start with the Ocean Diver. The following is a rough guide to the Ocean Diver course.
Ocean Diver training
- Seven theory lessons
- Introduction - BSAC, the branch and costs
- Equipment and signals - Air and water pressure, diving equipment and diver signals
- Effects of diving and the body - Metabolism, respiration etc, buoyancy
- Planning to go diving - Effects and action of nitrogen, dive tables, computers and planning
- Going diving - Buddy diving, organisation, roles, pre-dive, pilotage
- What happens if... - DCI, oxygen, incident pit and prevention of problems
- Enjoying diving - dive sites, underwater conditions, preparation, sea, shore and boat diving
- Six pool training sessions
- Being underwater
- Basic skills
- Developing skills
- Beyond the basics
- Safety skills
- Open water dives (minimum 120 minutes total dive time)
- buoyancy control and weighting
- pilotage, drysuit, general skills
- diving and emergency proceedures
- diver recovery
- dive plan and lead
Note that as a member, training will continue at a rate comfortable to you the trainee for the duration of the membership. Ocean diver is only the first in the series of courses. Also as a member y
ou are entitled to join the club on diving trips and holidays away along with other social events organised by the club.
Learning to Dive with MSAC
In order to be trained and to dive with MSAC, we require that you provide evidence that you are fit to dive and ask you therefore to complete a Self Declaration Medical Form. If you answer yes to any of the questions on the medical form such as "do you suffer from asthma" and you still wish to dive, you will need to see a diving medical referee. Further information is available on the BSAC web site.
Divers younger than 18
BSAC Currently allows clubs to train members from the age of 12 years old. MSAC as a club have taken the decision that we are only prepared to take on and train new members aged 16 and over. Unless a parent or guardian is already a qualified Sports Diver in the club, then with the club committee’s agreement we will take on young people from the age of 14. Note there is no upper age limit as long as you complete a medical self-certification form or pass a diving medical. MSAC support the BSAC - Welfare of the Vulnerable People policy.
Q.A.
Why do I need to join BSAC?
Middleton sub aqua club is a BSAC club. We follow the guidelines set out by BSAC who are the UK governing body for the sport.
BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club) provide you the diver with:-
- World-wide Third Party Liability Insurance cover to £5 million
- Monthly issues of the BSAC Journal 'Sport Diving'
- Plus, exclusive Members' privileges on scuba diving manuals, specialist diver training courses, insurance schemes, finance packages, international conferences, and more…
BSAC diving qualifications are recognised world wide.
I have already qualified as a PADI diver, do I need to re-train?
No, there is a table that we use to cross over to BSAC. It depends on your level of qualification but your PADI qualification will provide you with a similar status in BSAC. See BSAC guide for more information
Will I still need to pay for the training pack as a qualified PADI diver?
If you are qualified as a PADI open water diver or above, you will not need the club diver training pack. You may however need other training material if you wish to proceed with your training.
What if I answer yes to any of the disqualifying sections on the medical form?
If you still wish to learn to dive you will need to pay to see a medical referee. See the BSAC site Medical section.
I am already a BSAC member do I need to pay again?
No. We will bring your MSAC membership renewal in line with you BSAC renewal date. i.e. If you BSAC membership has 6 months before renewal, we will charge you for 6 month MSAC membership.
If you have any other questions, please come to see us or contact John.