LEARNING TO DIVE

There are two main diver training organisations active in England (BSAC and PADI) though there are several others in the UK and many throughout the world.  The qualifications offered by these organisations are, in general, recognised by the other diving organisations.

BSAC (the British Sub-Aqua Club) originated as a diving club which organised training for its members.  Through its branches, such as Newbury Sub-Aqua Club, it is active throughout the world and there are a number of dive schools providing training to BSAC standards.

PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) originated as and association of diving instructors which moved on to provide diving trips for its trainees.  It is also active throughout the world, providing training and diving from dive schools and dive shops.

(For a fuller, though still incomplete, list of “diver training organizations” see www.wikipedia.org)

An individual living in the vicinity of Newbury and wishing to learn how to dive has a number of options:

• Join Newbury Sub-Aqua Club and train for a BSAC qualification.  Training in the pool and classroom takes  about 12 weeks, to be followed by at least five “open water” dives (at two dives per day).  The timing of the open water dives depends on the type of dives organised by the Club each weekend. 
• Learn to dive with a local dive shop, probably to PADI standards.  Timing is similar to the above but can be accelerated if there is more than one training session per week, while open water diving is likely to be more focussed on the needs of trainees.
• Learn to dive with a UK dive school (BSAC or PADI).  Typically these run a five-day course.
• Learn to dive with an overseas dive school (BSAC or PADI).  Also typically a five-day course.  (We would not recommend shorter courses which do not result in any formal and transferable qualification.)

Learning with an overseas dive school is probably the fastest, warmest and most expensive option (once flight and accommodation costs are included), but is very popular and effective.  The diver is then left with a diving qualification and nowhere to dive – joining NSAC is an obvious solution.  Such a diver joining NSAC would probably be asked to do a couple of extra training sessions (one pool, one open water) concentrating on diving suits and cold water diving.

Learning to dive with a UK dive school is likely to be less expensive but may be adversely affected by bad weather. Once again the diver is left with a diving qualification and nowhere to dive – joining NSAC is again the solution.

The options of learning to dive with NSAC or a local dive shop are likely to be similar in terms of cost and duration, once equipment purchase or rental and all other costs are taken into account, though the NSAC is probably slightly slower and slightly cheaper.

The main advantage of joining NSAC (or any other BSAC branch) comes after initial qualification.  As NSAC is primarily a diving organisation rather than a training organisation, we organise an extensive programme of diving to suit all standards of diver and all specialist interests.  Additionally, as all the instructors, boat handlers  and dive marshals are unpaid, the long term costs are substantially lower.  The advantage of training with NSAC is that the diver becomes aware of the various diving options at an early stage of training and is better placed to take advantage of the opportunities.

For further information about training with Newbury Sub-Aqua Club, contact info@newburysac.com