British Sub-Aqua Club

{{see also|History of underwater diving|Timeline of diving technology}}

• 1953, 15 October : BSAC was founded by Oscar Gugen, Peter Small, Mary Small, and Trevor Hampton.
• 1953: Jack Atkinson, an aero engineer, was appointed as the club's first national diving officer.{{cite book |author=Vallintine, R |title=The Club: A celebration of the history of the British Sub-Aqua Club 1953-2003 |isbn=978-0-9538919-5-5 |publisher=Circle Books}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bsac.org/page/52/11-brief-history-of-bsac.htm |title=Section 1.1 A Brief History of the British Sub-Aqua Club |author=BSAC |publisher=BSAC |access-date=5 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906102121/http://www.bsac.org/page/52/11-brief-history-of-bsac.htm |archive-date=6 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}
• 1954: First BSAC branch formed, in London.
• 1954: Members of Southsea Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC Branch No.9), invent underwater hockey (originally called "Octopush").
• 1955, March: BSAC is accepted by the Central Council of Physical Recreation.
• 1957, January: BSAC and 14 other national diving federations create Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS), the world governing body for sub-aqua.{{cite web |title=C.M.A.S. |url=http://www.luigiferraro.it/en/cmas |publisher=Luigi Ferraro's official site |access-date=29 March 2013}}
• 1959, January: Jack Atkinson, produced the BSAC Diving Manual.
• 1988: Release of the BS-AC 88 dive table{{cite journal |author=Adkisson, G |title=The BS-AC '88 decompression tables |journal=South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal |volume=21 |issue=1 |year=1991 |issn=0813-1988 |oclc=16986801 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/9431 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415221100/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/9431 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=15 April 2013 |access-date=19 November 2011}}
• 1990: BSAC moved its offices to Ellesmere Port, North West England.
• 1995: BSAC allows Nitrox diving and introduced Nitrox training.{{cite journal |author=Allen, C |title=BSAC gives the OK to nitrox. reprinted from Diver 1995; 40(5) May: 35-36. |journal=South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal |volume=26 |issue=4 |year=1996 |issn=0813-1988 |oclc=16986801 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/6275 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024235452/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/6275 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=24 October 2008 |access-date=5 September 2008}}
• 1997, 20 May: BSAC was expelled from the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS){{cite web|url=http://www.sema4.demon.co.uk/cmas/chronology.html |access-date=4 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519223001/http://www.sema4.demon.co.uk/cmas/chronology.html |archive-date=19 May 2014|title=(CMAS / BSAC) The Chronology }}
• 2002: The introduction of a new Diver Training Scheme (2002 to 2023).
• 2007: BSAC is the first recreational diving agency to introduce Nitrox diving as part of core training.{{Cite web |title=70 years of BSAC and diving safety |url=https://www.bsac.com/news-and-blog/70-years-of-bsac-and-diving-safety/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}
• 2023: Revision of the 2002 training scheme with a complete overhall of the Dive Leader course.

BSAC is the National Governing Body (NGB) for sub-aqua within the United Kingdom, a role it has held since 1954.{{cite web |title=Sporting activities and Governing Bodies recognised by the Sports Councils |url=https://www.sportengland.org/media/359647/recognised-ngb-and-sport-list-august-2014.pdf |publisher=UK Sport |access-date=27 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010055328/http://www.sportengland.org/media/359647/recognised-ngb-and-sport-list-august-2014.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2015 |url-status=dead }} The body is recognised by Sport England as the NGB for sub-aqua in England,{{cite book |last1=Geraint |first1=J. |last2=Campbell |first2=K |others=Sports Council, Technical Unit for Sport |title=Handbook of sports and recreational building design |publisher=Architectural Press |year=1996 |volume=3 |pages=191 |isbn=0-7506-2256-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=38m2f6niQCUC&pg=PA191}} and by Sport Wales as the NGB for sub-aqua in Wales.{{cite web |last1=Lawrence |first1=Richard |title=Recognised Governing Body for Sub-Aqua in Wales |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Confirmation_from_Sport_Wales_that_the_British_Sub_Aqua_Club_is_the_governing_body_for_Sub_Aqua_in_Wales_issued_11th_January_2019.jpg |publisher=Sport Wales |access-date=27 September 2019 |date=11 January 2019}}

The Scottish Sub Aqua Club, formed in 1953 (the same year as BSAC) is recognised by sportscotland as the NGB for sub-aqua in Scotland.{{cite web|title=Scottish governing bodies of sport, Scottish Sub Aqua Club|url=http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/contacts/sgb/scottish_sub_aqua_club/|publisher=sportscotland|access-date=30 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419054752/http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/contacts/sgb/scottish_sub_aqua_club/|archive-date=19 April 2014}}

The Northern Ireland Federation of Sub-Aqua Clubs is recognised by Sport Northern Ireland as the NGB for sub-aqua in Northern Ireland.{{cite web|title=Sporting activities and Governing Bodies recognised by the Sports Councils|url=http://www.uksport.gov.uk/publications/sporting-activities-and-governing-bodies-recognised-by-the-sports-councils|publisher=UK Sport|access-date=8 November 2012}}

Sport Wales previously recognised the Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs as the NGB for sub-aqua in Wales until January 2016.

While forms of sub-aqua, many competitive forms of sub-aqua are not governed by BSAC, as BSAC is not a member of the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) who is the global governing body for competitive sub-aqua.

Underwater hockey in Great Britain was governed directly by BSAC with the sport being invented by one of its branches in 1954. BSAC remain the NGB until 1977 when they recognised the British Octopush Association (BOA), who formed a year prior, as the new NGB. BSAC remained a governing body for a limited number clubs who didn't switch to BOA governance. In 2013 the BOA affiliated itself to BSAC to legitimaise its safeguarding procedure. The BOA is recognised by CMAS as the NGB for underwater hockey in Great Britain.{{cite web|last=Underwood|first=Cliff|title=How the BOA was formed|url=http://www.gbuwh.co.uk/index.php?component=page&id=206|publisher=British Octopush Association|access-date=14 June 2013}}{{cite web|title=Which sports do we recognise?|url=http://www.sportengland.org/about_us/recognised_sports.aspx|publisher=Sport England|access-date=14 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520041023/http://www.sportengland.org/about_us/recognised_sports.aspx|archive-date=20 May 2013}}

BSAC was the first body to govern underwater rugby in the United Kingdom, though only two clubs are affiliated to the body.British Sub-Aqua Club SCUBA magazine: October 2024 Issue, pg 29. The British Underwater Rugby Association (BURA) is the UK's governing body affiliated with CMAS.{{cite web | url=https://archives.cmas.org/federation-list/british-underwater-rugby-association | title=British Underwater Rugby Association }}

File:BSAC Diving and Instructor Grades.jpg

BSAC currently has seven diver qualifications (five standard and two intermediary):{{cite web|title=Diver Grade Courses |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/diver-grade-courses/ |publisher=BSAC |access-date=31 May 2024}}

• {{dfn|Discovery Diver}}: Basic skills, supervised diving (depth limit 12 m).{{Cite web |title=Discovery Diver course |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/learn-to-scuba-dive/discovery-diver/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}{{efn|Discovery Diver is an intermediary course designed to ease people into diving at a slower pace. There is no requirement to have Discovery Diver before undertaking Ocean Diver.}}
• {{dfn|Ocean Diver}}: Basic skills, non-decompression diving (depth limit 20 m).{{Cite web |title=Ocean Diver course |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/learn-to-scuba-dive/ocean-diver-course/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}
• {{dfn|Advanced Ocean Diver}}: Further Basic skills training, navigation, nitrox (up to Nitrox 36%), non-decompression diving (depth limit increased to 30 m with a series of 5 m progression dives).{{Cite web |title=Advanced Ocean Diver |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/diver-grade-courses/advanced-ocean-diver/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}{{efn|Advanced Ocean Diver is an intermediary course designed to held bridge the skill gap between Ocean Diver and Sports Diver. There is no requirement to have Advanced Ocean Diver before undertaking Sports Diver, though the Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver{{cite web | url=https://www.bsac.com/training/diver-grade-courses/advanced-ocean-diver-to-sports-diver/#tab-1 | title=Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver }} course exists for those who have taken Advanced Ocean Diver to qualify them as Sports Divers without repeating skills covered in Advanced Ocean Diver not present in Ocean Diver but required for Sports Diver.}}
• {{dfn|Sports Diver}}: Rescue, navigation, nitrox and decompression diving (depth limit increased to 40 m with a series of 5 m progression dives).{{Cite web |title=Sports Diver |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/diver-grade-courses/sports-diver/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}
• {{dfn|Dive Leader}}: Dive leading, dive planning and management, and rescue management (depth limit increased to 50 m by completing a selection of experience dives).{{Cite web |title=Dive Leader |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/diver-grade-courses/dive-leader/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}
• {{dfn|Advanced Diver}}: Fully trained diver capable of leading a group of divers in normal club activities.{{Cite web |title=Advanced Diver |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/diver-grade-courses/advanced-diver/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}
• {{dfn|First Class Diver}}: Trained to lead a group of divers carrying out a project. This is nationally examined with a two-day practical test.{{Cite web |title=First Class Diver |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/diver-grade-courses/first-class-diver/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}

BSAC has eight instructor grades:{{cite web |title=Instructor progression flowchart |url=http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=1742§ionTitle=Instructor+progression+flowchart |publisher=British Sub Aqua Club |access-date=7 February 2013}}

• {{dfn|Assistant Diving Instructor}}: Trained but unqualified. Must be supervised when instructing.
• {{dfn|Theory Instructor}}: Qualified to instruct unsupervised in the classroom.
• {{dfn|Assistant Open Water Instructor}}: Qualified to teach open water under supervision.
• {{dfn|Practical Instructor}}: Qualified to instruct unsupervised in open water.
• {{dfn|Open Water Instructor}}: Qualified to supervise other instructors in classroom and open water training.
• {{dfn|Advanced Instructor}}: Trained to teach advanced skills, such as boat based skills and group diving techniques.
• {{dfn|Instructor Trainer}}: Qualified to staff Instructor events.
• {{dfn|National Instructor}}: Leads Instructor Training courses and BSAC National exams.

The following grades which are no longer awarded may still be encountered:

• {{dfn|Novice I}}: A diver who has completed the extensive sheltered-water (i.e. pool) training of the BSAC syllabus of the time, but has not yet dived in open water.
• {{dfn|Novice II}}: A Novice I diver who has completed two open-water assessment dives.

The distinction between Novice I and Novice II was mostly for practical reasons to do with the difference between hiring a pool and travelling to the coast. A Novice I diver would normally complete the two open-water dives as soon as possible, but if this were not possible straight away (perhaps over winter) they would at least have a specific grade within the club. The lengthy and club-oriented Novice syllabus was replaced with the Club Diver and Ocean Diver syllabuses in the late 1990s. (However, some argue the Novice description was usefully accurate and aided diver safety because nobody with such a qualification would attempt dives beyond their capabilities).

• {{dfn|Club Diver}}: This is more or less the same as Ocean Diver; originally the two were operated in parallel with Ocean Diver awarded at schools and Club Diver at clubs.
• {{dfn|Club Instructor}}: An instructor grade junior to Open Water Instructor, but allowing the holder to instruct practical and theory lessons without supervision.
• {{dfn|Third Class Diver}}: This was the entry-level grade prior to the splitting of its syllabus during the mid-1980s to create the Novice and Sports Diver grades. Divers who held this grade at the time were awarded the Sports Diver grade.Sport Diving: The British Sub Aqua Club Diving Manual, 1985, Stanley Paul & Co. London, page 244.
• {{dfn|Second Class Diver}}: This was the immediate grade prior to the splitting of its syllabus during the mid-1980s to create the Dive Leader and Advanced Diver grades. Divers who held this grade at the time were awarded the Advanced Diver grade.Sport Diving: The British Sub Aqua Club Diving Manual, 1985, Stanley Paul & Co. London, pp. 244–245.

The following CMAS equivalencies have been agreed with the Sub-Aqua Association.{{cite web |title=CMAS Equivalency Cards |url=http://www.bsac.com/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=17512 |publisher=BSAC |access-date=11 January 2013 |archive-date=19 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419033102/http://www.bsac.com/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=17512 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Club Crossover Guidance Chart Re Equivalent Qualifications |url=http://www.saa.org.uk/Portals/0/Club%20Crossover%20Guide.pdf |publisher=Sub Aqua Association |access-date=11 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211142812/http://www.saa.org.uk/Portals/0/Club%20Crossover%20Guide.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

BSAC obtained CEN certification from the EUF certification body in 2007 and re-certified in 2012 and 2019 for the following recreational diver grades:{{cite web|url=https://www.bsac.com/news-and-blog/bsac-retains-euf-accreditations-scuba-diving-qualifications/ |title=BSAC retains EUF accreditations for scuba diver and instructor qualifications |website=www.bsac.com |date=21 May 2018 |author=BSAC HQ |access-date=18 November 2019 }}{{cite web |title=EUF Certified Training Systems/Training Organisations |url=http://www.euf-certification.org/index.php?id=7667 |publisher=EUF Certification International |access-date=30 September 2013}}{{cite web |title=BSAC EUF accreditation maintained |url=http://www.bsac.com/news.asp?section=56&itemid=11954 |publisher=British Sub-Aqua Club |access-date=30 September 2013 |date=22 May 2012 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194905/http://www.bsac.com/news.asp?section=56&itemid=11954 |url-status=dead }}

• Discovery Diver – ISO 24801-1
• Ocean Diver – EN 14153-2/ISO 24801-2 – 'Autonomous Diver'
• Dive Leader – EN 14153-3/ISO 24801-3 – 'Dive Leader'
• Open Water Instructor – EN 14413-2/ISO 24802-2 – 'Instructor Level 2'
• Sports Diver – ISO 11107 – 'Nitrox diving'
• Nitrox Gas Blender – ISO 13293 – 'Level 1 Gas Blender'
• Mixed Gas Blender – ISO 13293 – 'Level 2 Gas Blender'
• Snorkelling Guide – ISO 13970 – 'Snorkelling Guide'

BSAC has four snorkeller grades:{{cite web|title=Snorkel Grade Training |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/snorkelling-courses/ |publisher=BSAC |access-date=31 May 2024}}

• Dolphin Snorkeller: swimmingpool based course designed for children.{{efn|The Dolphin Snorkeller course is an intermediary course designed for children. It contains the practical elements of Snorkel Diver without any of the classroom theory.}}
• Snorkel Diver: training for pool or sheltered water activity.
• Advanced Snorkeller: training for open water activity.
• Snorkel Dive Manager: training to plan, organise and lead snorkelling activities, in addition to snorkelling first aid.
• Snorkel Guide: furthering skills learned on Snorkel Diver Manager.

BSAC three snorkel instructor grades:{{cite web |title=Become a Snorkelling Instructor |url=http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=1652§ionTitle=Become+a+Snorkelling+Instructor |publisher=BSAC |access-date=11 January 2013}}

• Snorkel Instructor: club instructing, qualified to teach Snorkel Diver and Advanced Snorkeler (provided these qualifications are held by the instructor)
• Advanced Snorkel Instructor: qualified to teach Snorkel Diver Manager and Snorkel Guide
• Snorkel Instructor Trainer: qualified to train instructors.

BSAC scuba instructors can also teach all or parts of the Snorkeller Training Programme subject to meeting pre-requisites including additional training.

BSAC offer range of specialist diving courses known as Skill Development Courses (SDCs). While mainly for scuba divers, a number of courses can be taken as snorkeller, and some without any dive qualifications:{{cite web |title=Skill Development Courses (SDCs) |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/skill-development-courses/ |publisher=British Sub Aqua Club |access-date=31 May 2024}}

Courses in brackets () indicate pre-requisites for the SDC

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Club Diving:

• Accelerated Decompression Procedures (Sports Diver, Nitrox Diver, Gold Standard Buoyancy)
• Buoyancy and Trim Workshop (Ocean Diver, Minimum Standard Buoyancy)
• Compressor Operation
• Dive Planning and Management (Sports Diver)
• Marine Life Appreciation
• Mixed Gas Blender/Nitrox Gas Blender (Nitrox Diver)
• Search and Recovery (Sports Diver)
• Wreck Appreciation
• Wreck Diver (Sports Diver)
• Advanced Wreck Diver (Sports Diver, Wreck Diver)
• Twin-set Diver (Sports Diver)
• Primary Donate Workshop (Twin-set Diver)
• Drysuit Training
• Nitrox Diver

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Safety and Rescue:

• Oxygen Administration (Basic Life Support{{efn|name="BLS"|Basic Life Support is not a diving course and can be obtained outside of driving. Sufficient Basic Life Support skills are acquired via BSAC's Sports Diver courses or higher.}})
• Practical Rescue Management (Sports Diver)
• Automated External Defibrillator (Basic Life Support{{efn|name="BLS"}})
• Lifesaver Award (Ocean Diver)
• Advanced Lifesaver Award (Lifesaver Award)
• First Aid for Divers (Ocean Diver)
• Sea Survival{{efn|In collaboration with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution}} (Ocean Diver)
• Snorkel Lifesaver Award (Snorkel Diver)
• Advanced Lifesaver Award (Lifesaver Award)

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Seamanship:

• Boat Handling
• Chartwork and Position fixing
• Diver Coxswain Assessment (Boat Handling)
• Outboard engine and Boat Maintenance

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Special Interest:

• Underwater Photography (Sports Diver)
• Ice Diving (Sports Diver)
• Shore Surveyor
• Beach Comber
• Underwater Surveyor (Snorkel Diver)

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BSAC offer a number of technical diving courses:{{Cite web |title=Technical diving courses |url=https://www.bsac.com/training/technical-diving-courses/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=British Sub-Aqua Club |language=en}}

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CCR Courses:

• Poseidon Se7en CCR Diver (40m)
• Divesoft Liberty CCR Diver (45m)
• MOD 1 AP Vision CCR Diver (40/45m)
• MOD 1 AP Mixed Gas Top-up (45m)
• MOD 2 CCR Diver (60m)
• Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (80m)

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Open-circuit mixed gas courses:

• Sport Mixed Gas Diver (50m)
• Explorer Mixed Gas Diver (60m)
• Advanced Mixed Gas Diver (80m)

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• {{annotated link|British Octopush Association}}
• {{annotated link|List of diver certification organizations}}
• {{annotated link|Nautical Archaeology Society}}
• {{annotated link|Underwater Explorers Club}}

• {{annotated link|David Bellamy}}
• {{annotated link|Mensun Bound}}
• {{annotated link|William Paul Fife}}
• {{annotated link|Richard Larn}}
• {{annotated link|John Rawlins (Royal Navy officer)}}
• {{annotated link|Margaret Rule}}
• {{annotated link|Peter Scoones}}
• {{annotated link|Sir John Wedgwood, 2nd Baronet}}

• {{annotated link|Mary Rose|Mary Rose}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://www.bsac.com/ British Sub-Aqua Club - BSAC website]
• [http://www.bsac.co.jp/ BSAC Japan]
• [http://www.bsac.co.kr/ BSAC Korea]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090507092909/http://www.bsacthailand.com/ BSAC Thailand]}}

{{Underwater diving|recdiv}}

{{Sports governing bodies of the United Kingdom |state=autocollapse}}

{{EngSport|state=autocollapse}}

{{Governing bodies of sports in Wales|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Underwater diver organizations

Category:Organisations based in Cheshire

Sub-aqua

sub-aqua

sub-aqua

Category:Underwater diving in the United Kingdom

Category:Underwater diving training organizations