I may be wrong, but I think BSAC may offer only a simulated deco dive at the recreational level. It might be up to mentors to turn this into practically diving at a level of light deco. It has been difficult for me to understand prior posts on this topic. Let's hear from someone from BSAC and or CMAS, thanks
Hi Craig,
Yes you are right.
The BSAC Certification levels are 1. Ocean Diver, 2. Sports Diver, 3 Dive Leader, 4 Advanced Diver, 5 First Class Diver.
Using PADI as an example, their OW & AOW are equal to Ocean Diver. Rescue is considered equivalent to Sports diver. And Dive Leader is considered equivilant to Dive Master
As I found out when I crossed over to BSAC when I was at PADI Rescue, I had to get some additional training, because BSAC builds with each level, and so I had gaps.
On the Question of Deco:
At sports diver level you are taught how to plan for a deco dive, and how to carry out a deco dive, focusing on hitting correct ascent rates and being reaching stops at teh correct time. However. Your practical dive is a
simulated deco dive Basically because until you've completed Sports diver you're still limited by your Ocean Diver Depth limits
Once qualifying then you'd get to actually carry out a Deco dive, in the same way as there are 3 depth progression dives to increase your depth Qualification
At Dive Leader there is a planned Deco dive as part of the qualifying experience dives (complete 5 divers from a choice of 7)
All of the the deco dives are on backgas.
There is a further separate course using different O2 mixes for Accelerated Decompression.
The Line between rec and tech isn't easy to define. I'm allowed (because of my post dive depth progression dives under supervision) to dive to 50m. The commercial agencies consider 40m to the the change over between rec and tec (as well as overheads)
I personally consider Twinsets to be technical, because of the additional skills and drills, others dive them as the norm and consider this rec
Anyhow I hope that sheds some light on yoru question
Safe Diving
Martin