About Us
Introduction
Bath University Sub Aqua Club (BUSAC) is a Youth branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC). Anyone who joins as an active diving member has to be a member of BSAC (for this their qualifications are accepted around the world). The Club accepts everyone from beginners to experienced and super-fit to physically challenged. BUSAC is about 25 years old and all of the instructors are students or ex-students who run the club in their spare time - for no money! When we're not wet, we also like visiting the local pubs, restaurants and other places of entertainment.
We had over 40 members last year with different interests and diving abilities. From total beginners who gained Ocean Diver and Sports Diver Qualifications to Advanced divers with over 15 years of diving experience. The club is run by a group of friendly volunteer students and past students of the University of Bath. It is through their hard work and enthusiasm for diving along with the drive and determination of new members that the club remains so vibrant and active.
There are many good reasons to join the club this year: No Qualification yet? Another series of BSAC Ocean Diver (novice) training is planned for the first semester. Our instructing is of a high quality and we believe it is the best way to learn. If you would like to learn quicker than our program allows, we will be more than happy to point you in the direction of a good training school. We give priority for club training to people who are going to stick around for a few years and put something back into our club (which is run completely by enthusiastic volunteers), but all are welcome to dive with us. This year we aim have to have all training completed by the end of the first semester ready for our club holiday during the Easter break. All that we ask trainees is that you turn up for lectures and one pool session per week. Please see the training schedule for more information.
Already qualified, with any agency? We can offer you lots of pleasure diving within the UK. With the help of our more experienced members we are hoping to organise many trips this year, suitable for people of different qualification levels. Trips will vary from offshore trips in our boats right through to simply getting a few people together to jump on a charter boat and days out at quarries. There are two local quarries in which to give divers open water experience and training, which means we can get Ocean Diver Trainees into open water sooner, and at less cost in terms of money and time commitment.
The club now has two boats thanks to the efforts of previous year's chair and committee. This means more people can go on offshore diving trips at the same time, and that we can get more dives in one day and be back in time for a social! Our substantial stores of equipment are again available for all to borrow, with the consent of the equipment officer (first come, first served) free of charge for pool use. We can also offer free air fills for another year from our trusty compressor and much more. If you wish to borrow kit for open water use, you are more than welcome to do so, again with the consent of the equipment officer and committee. We promise to offer real value for money in this respect.
Our social secretary this year is already concocting a variety of non-diving events to give the opportunity for much hilarity. We have forged strong links with a reputable Dive Shop who have a large selection of diving kit available to buy. They will once again be able to offer very competitive packages to our members for basic personal kit. So all in all, I assure you that we have plenty to offer, and all at a small financial cost. All we ask is a reasonable commitment of time and enthusiasm.
Becoming a diver
BUSAC accepts people of all levels of water confidence for initial training - from the person who has never been a great swimmer to the person who has had a go at diving while on holiday. All we ask is that you show a bit of commitment and give us some of your spare time. Experienced divers are welcome too!
All club members should have a valid medical (see the Downloads section for the BSAC self-declaration medical form).
Club Diving
The Club diving usually takes place at the weekends: bear this in mind when thinking about joining BUSAC.
BUSAC has its 'active' diving season between March and November to the coast and inland sites, and at Easter the club runs it's infamous Easter Trip, usually to the Cornwall/Devon area. We like to maintain a principle of you get out of the club what you put in, so members should be prepared to get involved and take part!
What equipment do I need?
SCUBA diving is an expensive sport, but if you really think diving is for you, there is no cheaper place to learn than with us! Unlike most clubs, even those attached to universities, BUSAC provides all the expensive kit such as cylinders, buoyancy jackets, wetsuits, regulators etc. We would ask all members to respect this kit, since it is expensive to buy and maintain. New members are expected to buy all of their own basic kit (mask, snorkel, fins, boots and gloves) by November. A local dive shop comes to the university in the first few weeks of term with good kit at a very discounted price.
Cost Comparison
| Expense | ||
| BUSAC / Club Membership | ||
| BSAC Membership | ||
| Training Pack | ||
| Basics (Mask, Fins etc) | ||
| Main Kit (BCD, Regulators, Wet Suit etc | ||
| Pool Sessions | ||
| Open Water Dives | ||
| Exam fee | ||
| Easter Holiday (Cost is Dependant on Location) | ||
| Extra Kit Costs | ||
| Diving Watch | ||
| Knife | ||
| Torch (optional) | ||
| Estimated Totals |