Dacorum Sub Aqua Club

Diving Qualifications

This page describes the diving qualifications used in BSAC and of our members.

BSAC diver qualifications explained

Briefly, here's what the BSACdiver grades mean:

• Club Diver / Ocean Diver
  • has completed the entry level course
  • is competent for sheltered and shallow water diving
  • allowed to dive to 20 metres maximum
  • is not allowed to do decompression dives
  • normally dives with a buddy who is a Dive Leader or experienced Sport Diver
• Sport Diver
  • has completed enough training to dive safely with another Sport Diver
  • is competent for sea diving around the British Isles
  • allowed to dive to 35 metres maximum
  • is allowed to do decompression dives
• Diver Leader
  • has completed enough training to dive safely with inexperienced divers
  • a capable and experienced diver with dive site selection and rescue management skills
  • allowed to dive to 50 metres maximum
  • is allowed to do decompression dives
• Advanced Diver
  • has completed enough training to organise dive trips and supervise a group of divers 
  • a capable and experienced diver who has other skills such as, dive marshalling, rescue management, oxygen first aid, boat handling, navigation or underwater searches and lifts
  • allowed to dive to 50 metres maximum
  • is allowed to do decompression dives
• First Class Diver
  • a nationally examined and awarded qualification
  • capable of leading teams of divers to carry out underwater projects and expeditions

Qualifications of our members

Here is a breakdown of the proportions of diving qualifications held by DSAC members in 2002.

Previous names of BSAC Diving Grades

BSAC have regularly changed the names of the diving grades mainly to keep them competitive with PADI, its biggest rival for recruits. This table show the equivalent diving grades over the years.