How to start a diving club?

[Jan Kruger]

Our diving group (In South Africa ) consists of about 10-15 friends and we are considering to start a social diving club.What regulations if any are there that you have to comply with to start a diving club? Do you have to register it to a controlling body and are there some laws you have to abide to ?Do you have to have qualified instructors within the group or wil divemasters be sufficient ?

 

[Spimon]

I think it all depends on what you actually want to do with this 'club'.

If you're just a group of friends who dive together and maybe want to purchase equipment, it's pretty straightforward (in Australia, anyway).
You basically just need to register as a social club and start a bank account in the social club's name. Each member can then deposit funds (pay membership, donations etc.. ) into this account to pay for whatever the club requires.

This is the way many syndicates own boats etc.. This basically just avoids paying business tax (30%) while having multiple owners of the equipment, but there's nothing to stop you owning anything in this way.

If you have bigger plans in mind (ie becoming a club that anyone can join), I think it gets more complicated, but I don't know the details. Possibly have to elect official roles, insurance, financial reports etc...
Also may have to register with a diving institute (PADI or equivilent). Don't know anything about the diving side of social clubs.

 

[dbulmer]

Jan,

It's going to depend on regulations within SA.

Things you might want to consider:-

1) Financial accounts - who will be treasurer?
How will the club be accountable to the membership?

2) Dive Officer - will someone be accountable for the club dives in the event that something goes wrong ie Court appearances. The DO might also be the person booking trips and seeing that club members have sufficient experience/training to do planned dives.

Also on club trips who marshalls the dives? ie who knows where to get cylinders filled? or knows appropriate dive sites or the dives being undertaken?

3) Training - will you be training new divers? Will children be allowed ie anyone under 16?
Local Health and Safety regulations may have different rules for the under 16s?
Will training be free (Health and Safety) ? What would be the role of PADI/Naui DMs under a club environment?

Will deco dives be sanctioned by the DO ie higher risk and therefore insurance premiums may be higher?

4) Insurance - will divers be insured for their club dives - what procedures will you have if you do have insurance and someone expects insurance for a dive that is not sanctioned by the dive officer?

5) Will the club have equipment - ie kit, RIB, hard boat and/or compressor - will club fees cover the cost of maintenance> - if the kit fails - who is responsible legally? For boats, who has the righting boating qualifications or the qualifications for handling compressors?

6) How will you communicate outside of the club? ie about club activities - training opportunities etc?

 

[UndrWatrDan]

You are welcome to visit our dive club's website. We have the club bylaws posted online. The make up and organization of your club will depend on local laws and if you plan to charge dues, have fundraisers, etc

Welcome to the Diving Rebels Scuba Club Webpage. One of Texas Oldest Dive Clubs, Founded 1958

 

[bfw]

Our diving group (In South Africa ) consists of about 10-15 friends and we are considering to start a social diving club.What regulations if any are there that you have to comply with to start a diving club? Do you have to register it to a controlling body and are there some laws you have to abide to

Can't speak for South Africa, but here in the States we have this neat thing called a right to free association. You can form any group you want.

 

[cornep]

Hi Jan,

Ins SA no, as long as it's non-profit you can call yourselves anything you want (OK as long as it's not a registered name already) and you dont need to register. If you have a qualified DM he can lead the dives, but it is mostly preferable to use the charter you are diving with's DM's as they know the reef or shoal your diving. If it is going to be a profit based club you would need register a cc and things get slightly more complicated then, you're basically running a business. Disclaimers are signed with the dive charter but obviously I would recommend that everyone belongs to DAN.

Heck you can go wild, print your own t-shirts, whatever you like. We have quite a few social groups diving with us.

Good diving,

Corne - Oceans Alive Diving :: Oceans Alive Diving - Aliwal Shoal, South Africa ::

 

[Jan Kruger]

Thank you for the input i have some thinking to do about what we want and where we are going.This input gave me some direction as well.