Joining as a Qualified Diver!

As a member of the Bath University Sub-Aqua club you will be able to participate in numerous activities, both diving-related and social. The club has a large amount equipment for your use in any training sessions you decide to undertake and on dive trips, however we insist that everyone owns their own basic kit.


What kit will I need?

To come diving with the club you will need: -

  • Mask
  • Fins (ideally open heeled fins so that you can still use them when you start diving in the sea)
  • Boots (for your open heeled fins)
  • Gloves
  • Weight Belt (basic webbing type will do)
  • Timing device - can be a £10 diving watch from Argos, or a dive computer/depth timer

Other useful things to own for open water diving: -

  • Torch, for looking in holes and dark areas of the wreck/reef
  • Slate, for making a note of your dive plan
  • Mesh ‘goody’ bag, for keeping all your basic kit (mask, gloves, fins, etc) together on the boat

Divers with non-BSAC qualifications

Qualified divers with any diving organisation are welcome to join the club and are able to start diving immediately. We will ask you to fill out a form with your diving experience (how many dives you have done and where) and provide proof of your qualification. Please be aware that on your first trip with the club, until we are happy that you are proficient, you may be limited on the time and depth of diving you do, and this may be less that you are qualified to do. This is because we don’t know you and despite being qualified it may have been a while since you last dived or all your dives were abroad in warm seas, and diving in UK waters is a lot different to diving abroad. None the less if you wish to dive with the club you will be more than welcome and treated as a diver of the equivalent BSAC grade (see equivalent qualifications below).

To undertake any BSAC training (either higher diving qualifications or any skill development courses) you will be required to cross-over to BSAC. Your existing non-BSAC qualification will be recognised as a starting point for any further training at an equivalent BSAC qualification level (see below).


Equivalent BSAC diving qualifications

Ocean Diver equivalents: -

  • CMAS One Star Diver
  • PADI Open Water Diver
  • PADI Advanced Open Water Diver / AOWD Plus
  • SAA Open Water Diver
  • SSI Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver

Sports Diver equivalents: -

  • CMAS Two Star Diver
  • PADI Rescue Diver
  • SAA Club Diver
  • SSI Advanced Open Water Diver with ‘Stress and Rescue’ Speciality

Dive Leader equivalents: -

  • PADI Divemaster
  • SAA Dive Leader
  • SSI Dive Control Specialist

If you have any other qualification other than listed here, please contact a member of the committee for further information on crossing over to BSAC.