pakman:
They do allow non BSAC divers into their club without any need for some conversion course.
Pretty much you can join a BSAC club and dive (almost) to what your existing qualifications allow as normal. If you want then to train with BSAC then you need to cross over via the statement of alternative training (
http://www.bsac.org/techserv/salt.pdf ) to see what the next grade is. This will usually involve one or 2 lectures on different tables and practices etc before starting it. Obviously this means if you want to join a club and just dive NO additional training is needed.
As I am currently considering some additional learning I was wondering if the BSAC rescue course is any better than the PADI version.
BSAC dont have a "rescue" course as per padi. Instead the normal training grades include rescue skills (Ocean diver has basic controlled lifts/tows, sport diver extends this to full lifts,tows, AV,CPR and dive leader further adds oxygen administration and other first aid to it). Although there are additional skill development courses such as lifesaver, advanced lifesaver and diver first aid these arent part of the main scheme themselves. However a BSAC sport diver with the PRM modules crosses over as above PADI rescue diver. Like most agencies BSAC have an equivalent CMAS standard to work out equivlent qualifications.
Very basically, BSAC ocean diver crosses over as near PADI AOW, sport diver as rescue and dive leader as dive master (roughly anyway with certain limits such as padi wont allow deco etc).
Never heard of BSAC until a week ago. Like to hear some comments from some of the members across the pond who have been exposed to both BSAC and other agency training... Or is it pretty much the same except you drink warm beer afterwards?
Ive done most of my training with BSAC, some with TDI and although not trained by PADI have experienced and helped out a bit at times.
The club based system for training is slower than a padi course - unless you go to a BSAC school i wouldnt expect a 2 day course or whatever. Basic ocean diver training can take far longer and could have far more dives depending on conditions, how well someone is coped and how happy the clubs diving officer is (as that person has all the legal fallout if someone who isnt competent but signed up ends up hurting themselves on a club dive).
However, i feel it is more thorough mainly due to the fact you usually get more diving. I also like the fact that every grade diver has rescue skills from the start as opposed to needing to do yet another course to get them. From sport diver onwards BSAC also train and allow mandatory decompression dives which is something some other agencies dont. If you want to get trained in a short time frame a club probably isnt for you but if you are already trained and merely want to progress in no real rush and cheaply then it probably is.
One thing i do like is for each grade there is a minimal amount of diving that has to be done before advancing, for example dive leader is 20 dives or 600 minutes since completing sport diver (the previous grade). Again although this makes it slow it means the diver does get experience along the way
For the BSAC syllabus for various diving grades try here:
http://www.bsac.org/technical/dtp/dtpintro.htm
http://www.bsac.org/technical/dtp/lsocean.htm (ocean)
http://www.bsac.org/technical/dtp/lssports.htm (Sport)
http://www.bsac.org/technical/dtp/lsleader.htm (Dive leader)
I was going to post the PADI crossover equivalents here as well but i cant as for some reason their main website appears down at the moment at least for me so others will have to fill that in for you.
In short, the training meets CMAS standards and is recognised world wide just as much as anyone else so theres no real reason NOT to do it if you want to go via the club route.
EDIT:- PADI website now appears to be working so here is their crossover list:
http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/crossingover/ (not this isnt of much use to you as its what another agency diver needs to be to enroll on a padi course not the other way around).
