PADI Divemaster - Acceptable BSAC Qualifications?

[Sandpipa]

Hi,

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong slot, but I couldn't see an obvious alternative.

I am weighing up whether to do PADI's Rescue Diver or BSAC's Sports Diver course as my next step.

Question is, if I then progressed to PADI's Divemaster course, would the BSAC Sports Diver count as "acceptable qualification" without me having to do the Rescue Diver course as well??

I've struggled to find any obvious answers online, so many thanks in advance for any enlightenment!

Sandpipa.

 

[WheelsUSN]

Unfortunately the answer to this is maybe.

A PADI instructor may accept divers with certifications through other training organizations into a PADI course after conducting a knowledge and skill preassessment. To meet the requirement of Rescue as a prerequisite you have to show proof of certification in diving rescue. From my research BSAC Sport Diver would meet that requirement so as an instructor I would accept that as a prerequisite as long as you appeared knowledgable and could demonstrate rescues when asked.

However, an instructor may accept that but isn't required to, so to get the answer to this you would need to talk to the instructor who is going to conduct your DM training. I would expect most instructors to accept it if they knew what was involved in the BSAC training. I also know that some instructors would tell you that they would not accept it and and would try to sell you a rescue course with them.

 

[dbulmer]

If you are sure about going for DM do Rescue Diver first otherwise I'd go for Sport diver.

Having said that, the BSAC Sport diver course is a good course from what I've heard but the rescue elements of Sport diver are not as comprehensive as PADI rescue. I'm not a BSAC member but I have done equivalent training similar to Sport Diver in the SAA.

In an ideal world do both (I have and they complement each other very well)

 

[Oldbear]

Sandpiper,

+1 for doing both

I did the Padi Rescue Diver Course, than took the BSAC Dive Leader's Course before taking the PADI Divemaster course. You are comparing Apples to Oranges when you try and cross-over between PADI and BSAC. Both courses were good but the knowledge and dive skills were completely different. I agree with Dbulmer and do them both.

If I had to do it all over again I would not change a thing and would still do both programs...it will make you a much more knowledgable diver.

The best part of BSAC is the clases are free to BSAC members...well worth the annual fees.

Good luck with your training and enoy the journey.

~Oldbear~

 

[String]

Hi,

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong slot, but I couldn't see an obvious alternative.

I am weighing up whether to do PADI's Rescue Diver or BSAC's Sports Diver course as my next step.

Question is, if I then progressed to PADI's Divemaster course, would the BSAC Sports Diver count as "acceptable qualification" without me having to do the Rescue Diver course as well??

I've struggled to find any obvious answers online, so many thanks in advance for any enlightenment!

Sandpipa.

It's nowhere as clear cut as you make out hence the problem Equivalencies don't really exist. You're using the word "acceptable" but acceptable to what and whom?

The BSAC SALT table merely identifies a starting point for the next level of training. The further up the grades you go the less in common there is between the courses. Divemaster vs Diveleader for example are completely different approaches and different aims along with content.

So the question has to be wait are you training *for*? What is YOUR end goal>

PADI RD has far more rescue in than BSAC SD (or even BSAC DL) but on the other hand SD allows you to 35m with (admittedly shockingly poorly taught and covered) decompression and DL is 50m with the same.

If you want a course to really hammer the rescue skills than do rescue diver as its got more of that. If you want to further your own diving skills especially depth wise and have a bit of rescue thrown in (just a basic lift, tow with AV and no more) then go for SD.

There are no obvious answers online, they're different courses from different agencies with different content and different outcomes so you need to pick the course that fits more of what you want to do! Im an instructor for both agencies so have taught both courses but they aren't comparable.

I will say though a properly taught padi RD course is a very very good course to have.

The best part of BSAC is the clases are free to BSAC members...well worth the annual fees.

Its not as "free" as you make out. For example you'll need a training pack which is going to cost around £25. You need the club membership fees which are typically £10 a month and the £60 a year BSAC fee. If you don't own your own kit then you'll probably need to borrow or rent. You'll need to pay entry fees to the inland site or boats and maybe pool fees.
If the training takes a few months as is very normal for a club it can easily cost a few hundred pounds doing it the "free" way.

 

[Sandpipa]

Thanks, all for your answers, which raise some very interesting points. In an ideal world I can now see there are obvious virtues from doing both courses. As some of you mention though, that's not cheap!!

String, you ask what I'm aiming to get out of it - very good point. Overall, to be able to progress to Divemaster if and when I'm able. In doing so, to learn some genuinely useful techniques that will not only enable me to provide life-saving skills in an emergency, but which will leave me more confident and self-reliant as a diver.

I'm not well off enough to dive a fraction as much as I'd like, therefore I want to use my available time and money to best effect to gain as much skill as I can while enjoying myself, too...

 

[Edward3c]

Hi,

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong slot, but I couldn't see an obvious alternative.

I am weighing up whether to do PADI's Rescue Diver or BSAC's Sports Diver course as my next step.

Question is, if I then progressed to PADI's Divemaster course, would the BSAC Sports Diver count as "acceptable qualification" without me having to do the Rescue Diver course as well??

I've struggled to find any obvious answers online, so many thanks in advance for any enlightenment!

Sandpipa.

Hi,

What you haven’t said is what you current qualification is?

If you’re BSAC OD then the SD will build on your initial rescue skills which have been progressively learned.

If you’re PADI OW/AOW then the Rescue course assumes you are starting from scratch.

Kind regards

 

[String]

String, you ask what I'm aiming to get out of it - very good point. Overall, to be able to progress to Divemaster if and when I'm able. In doing so, to learn some genuinely useful techniques that will not only enable me to provide life-saving skills in an emergency, but which will leave me more confident and self-reliant as a diver. .

If you;re aiming for DM then realistically rescue diver is the way forward, its a lot of the skills you have to demonstrate on a DM course, some can be carried across like the emergency assistance plan and so on.

Rescue skills wise padi RM wins. BSAC will give you a life with tow and AV at sport diver level only. PADI RD has lifts, tows, AV/CPR, oxygen admin, missing diver procedures, search patterns, panic and tired diver, assistance plans and a lot of other things.
SD will get you a 35m ticket with deco (albeit really basic and poorly covered) and introduce diving skills such as DSMB use, distance line, basic nav and dive leading but only the bare bones rescue lifts and tows.

One question though - why are you looking to progress to divemaster?

 

[Sandpipa]

Hi, and thanks again.

Edward - I initially trained with BSAC, then took an enforced break from diving, then picked up with PADI OW and AOW, which is where I'm up to now regarding qualifications.

String - thanks for that breakdown. To answer your question, I'm interested in progressing for a number of reasons - firstly, the natural desire to continue improving and building skills in a sport I greatly enjoy and feel very comfortable with. Secondly, to take my involvement in that sport from a very individual and personal one to one which involves much greater elements of teamwork and leadership. Thirdly, to take a first step towards professional status, should I ever want to go there.

I should say, though, with my limited experience (circa 70 dives) to date, I think qualifications are very much the beginning, and surely no reliable test of a diver's ability... I've not had an ounce of the practice I would like to have had. 'Deeper and longer as fast as possible' is certainly not my aim, just to collect and perfect skills and gain in confidence while diving safely and enjoying the company of others in a fantastic environment.

With limited funds, I'm just trying to work out how to get the most out of the diving I CAN afford to do - like many people, I guess!

Thank you again!

 

[Edward3c]

Edward - I initially trained with BSAC, then took an enforced break from diving, then picked up with PADI OW and AOW, which is where I'm up to now regarding qualifications.

Remember your BSAC qualifications never expire, however, if you took them before 2007 the courses now require catch-up lessons. For example OD now includes Nitrox which Sports Diver builds on.

With limited funds, I'm just trying to work out how to get the most out of the diving I CAN afford to do - like many people, I guess!

It comes down, as others have said, to what you want out of your diving, if:

1. its to dive in the UK then follow a training programme designed for UK waters – do Sports Diver (but then I would as I’m a little bias – see my signature block)
2. its to dive abroad on holiday follow a training programme designed for that
3. you want to become an instructor, either will do, but bare in mind 1 and 2

With limited funds why not just go diving and forget all this hype about qualifications. You should be able to do most things as a PADI AOW.

Kind regards