ChippenhamDivers Training Page

Training Page

The Chippenham Dive Club was created to provide a social environment for divers to continue and progress their diving activities with the support of other divers. The Club provides the following training activities with the support of the British Sub-Aqua Club. Once the individual has attained the Dive Diver qualification they will be required to undertake the BSAC Skill Development Courses in order to progress through the BSAC qualifications. These qualifications are also dependent on the number and type of open-water dives undertaken.

Please contact the Training Officer or Diving Officer for more details on current and future courses. Depending on the majority view of the course attendees the Club Diver course may be run over a period of weeks at the Olympiad Leisure Centre or an intensive course of a 1-2 weekends at a location to be determined. If you are interested in joining any future courses please contact the clubs Training Officer or send an email to Chippenham Divers.

For additional BSAC training courses, eg Skill Development Courses, refer to the BSAC website as this will detail future courses being run around the country. Some regional BSAC sites also provide newsletters showing additional courses being run locally eg: the BSAC South West Region.

BSAC Ocean Diver

COURSE AIM
The Ocean Diver Award is the BSAC's first diving grade awarded within a Branch or Centre. Following the completion of a series of Classroom Lessons, Sheltered Water Lessons and Open Water Lessons, the award of Ocean Diver prepares the diver to enjoy their diving experience to a maximum of 20m and without incurring decompression stops.

COURSE OVERVIEW
An Ocean Diver is defined as a diver who is competent to conduct dives:

With another Ocean Diver or with a Sports Diver, within the restrictions of the conditions already encountered during their training
With a Dive Leader or higher grade, to expand their experience beyond the conditions encountered during their training, under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
To a depth which is initially limited to the maximum experienced during training, but which can subsequently be extended progressively, under the supervision of a Nationally Qualified Instructor (NQI), to a maximum of 20m
Using breathing gas mixes of Air, Nitrox32 or Nitrox36
Not requiring mandatory decompression stops
Under the on-site supervision of a Dive Manager with respect to site selection, conditions and dive plan where other divers, capable of providing assistance and rescue, are available at the surface
Within BSAC safe diving recommendations:

BSAC Sports Diver

COURSE AIM
To produce a diver who has gained open water diving and diver rescue experience and is considered ready to take part in dives partnered by another diver. Sports Divers who have gained the qualification of BSAC Assistant Club Instructor may partner BSAC Club Divers on Branch dives subject to the approval of the Branch Diving Officer. BSAC Sports Divers are restricted to a maximum depth of 35 metres.

COURSE OVERVIEW
The BSAC Sports Diver Course is divided into four elements:

1. Theory Lessons:

DECOMPRESSION
DIVING SAFETY AND RESCUE SKILLS
DIVER RESCUE

2. Sheltered Water Lessons:

ASSISTED ASCENTS
ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION
RESCUE SKILLS

3. Open Water Dives:

Rescue Dive 1
Rescue Dive 2
Decompression Dive
Rescue Dive 3

4. Sports Diver Theory Assessment:

Following a successful result the Sports Diver qualification should be awarded.

BSAC Dive Leader

COURSE OVERVIEW
The BSAC Dive Leader Course is divided into the following elements:

1. Theory Lessons:

Dive Leadership
Diver Rescue Review
Symptoms and Treatment of Diving Disorders
Rescue Management
Decompression Tables and Air Requirements Review
Adventurous Diving (Part 2)
Charts, Tides and Weather (Part 1)

2. Practical Lessons:

Dive Leadership Demonstration
Rescue Management Scenarios
Dive Leadership Assessment 1
Dive Leadership Assessment 2
Dive Leadership Rescue Assessment 1
Dive Leadership Rescue Assessment 2

BSAC Advanced Diver

The BSAC Advanced Diver qualification is... "A fully trained, experienced and responsible diver who is competent to organise and lead Branch diving activities".

1. Theory Lessons:

Small Boat Handling
Charts, Tides and Weather
Basic Navigation and Position Fixing
Simple Underwater Work
Branch Dive Planning
Branch Dive Marshalling
Dealing with Diving Emergencies
Compressors and Recharging
Diving Equipment Review
Physics and Physiology Review
Advanced Diver Theory Test

For the accreditation the diver must also attend the following Skill Development Courses (SDCs):

Mandatory SDCs
- Oxygen Administration
- Practical Rescue Management
- Dive Planning and Marshalling

Optional SDCs (Group A: 1 or both)
- Boat Handling
- Chartwork and Position Fixing

Optional SDCs (Group B: 1 or both)
- Search and Recovery
- Advanced Diving Techniques

The diver will also need to undertake several assessments:

Acting as Deputy Dive Marshall
- Shore Dive
- Boat Dive

Acting as Dive Marshall (under supervision)
- Shore Dive
- Boat Dive

Finally, a full rescue assessment will be required.

BSAC First Class Diver

To qualify for a First Class Diver Certificate the candidate must satisfy the following conditions:

Be rated an Advanced Diver and be not less than 20 years of age.
Provide evidence of current BSAC membership, having been a member continuously for the past 3 years.
Submit Diving Record Logbooks showing a minimum of 100 properly certifed dives under varying conditions, in addition to those required for Sports Diver, Dive Leader and Advanced Diver qualifications.
Submit a current Certificate of Fitness to Dive.
Submit evidence that the following have been obtained:
- BSAC Diver Rescue Specialist Award
- BSAC Diver Cox'n Certificate

Pass both the First Class Diver written and practical examinations.

A First Class Diver Examination Information Pack is available to potential candidates, from BSAC HQ.