BSAC Administration Information - Teaching Standards
TEACHING STANDARDS FOR SNORKELLING AND AQUALUNG DIVING
GUIDANCE TO EDUCATION AUTHORITIES, LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS
The British Sub-Aqua Club is the recognised governing body for the sport of underwater swimming in Great Britain. The BSAC has a current membership of more than 40,000 through its 1200 active Branches. Its many overseas Branches help to make it the largest diving club in the world, and BSAC standards and training programmes are the model for many others throughout the world. The BSAC is an active member of the European Underwater Federation, a representative body of sports diving federations of the member states of the European Community.
Diving qualifications issued by the BSAC are recorded in a Qualification Record Book and are valid only if the holder is a current member, as confirmed by an in date' membership receipt or card.
Education Authorities, Local Authorities, Youth Associations and other similar bodies who wish to offer training in any aspect of underwater swimming are advised to use BSAC trained and qualified Instructors. According to the scope of the activity to be undertaken, different instructor grades are commended:
| Training to be given / Standard Required | Minimum Instructor grade required |
| Basic Snorkel Diver and Snorkel Diver | BSAC Snorkel Instructor |
| Ocean Snorkel Diver, Advanced Ocean Snorkel Diver | BSAC Open Water Snorkel Instructor and Snorkel Dive Marshal and Snorkel Dive Marshal |
| Ocean Diver (aqualung training in the pool and diving in open water - minimum age - 14 years) ) | BSAC Open Water Instructor |
| Sports Diver and Dive Leader (aqualung training and diving in open water) | BSAC Open Water Instructor |
| Advanced Diver (aqualung training and diving in open water) | BSAC Advanced Instructor or National Instructor |
| Expedition Leadership(not involving training) | BSAC First Class Diver or National Instructor |
Student : Instructor ratios - BSAC has no hard and fast rules but recommends the following maximum Student : Instructor ratios for initial training (A); or for open water training activities and exploratory dives (B). A 'sheltered water training area' is defined as a swimming pool, or an open water site where depth, water conditions and clarity approximate those of a swimming pool.
A. For initial Training
Snorkel training in a pool / sheltered water training area 12 (students) : 1 (instructor)
- provided that there is an adult observer on the poolside. Other factors such as physical size and capabilities (e.g. adults or disabled groups) may present a case for working with smaller groups of students.
Aqualung training in a pool / sheltered water training area 4 : 1
B. For open water snorkelling and aqualung diving activities
Snorkel training / snorkel diving in open water 4 : 1
Aqualung training / diving in open water 2 : 1, but 1 : 1 preferred
- in both cases, a surface observer and / or boat cover should also be provided.
The BSAC will be pleased to give further advice and information on diver training; special schemes to introduce young people to diving; and BSAC membership. The Club may also be able to help find suitably qualified instructors for educational bodies who wish to offer sub-aqua training at Schools, Youth Clubs, or Adult Centres. Requests for further information should be made to the Technical Support Manager at BSAC HQ at the address given below.
Page last modified: 2nd Nov 2006 - 09:59:51