As a branch of BS-AC Sub-C-Divers offers a range of diver training courses to suit all levels of ability from complete beginner to experienced diver.
If you have never dived before you might want to consider a try dive before embarking on a full diver training course. Sub-C-Divers can arrange this – BOOK A TRYDIVE
BS-AC offers Seven levels of structured diver training, starting with Discovery Diver. Trainees accompanied by a parent/carer may start this course aged of 10.
The courses includes a number of sessions in the swimming pool, some classroom theory lessons and finally a series of “open
water” assessments. This course is suitable for anyone who is in good health, has a reasonable level of fitness and is able to
satisfactorily complete a 200 meters swim test.
All training is undertaken by fully qualified BS-AC instructors who are also members of the Sub-C-Divers. There are a number of
skills that must be learned in the swimming pool before moving on to the open water stage, these will be taught over a number of
weekly sessions. The number of sessions required varies from person to person and there is no time limit, what is important is that
each trainee is entirely competent and comfortable with each skill before moving on to the next.
In order to undertake Diver training, you must first join BS-AC – Prices can be found HERE.. There is a charge of £73 to cover the cost of the training materials which include lecture notes to accompany the classroom theory lessons, a full colour Diving Manual, Divers log book and your qualification record book which you will need to present when you go diving in the future.
Sub-C-Divers membership is £150.00 for the first year, reducing to £110.00 per year thereafter and £85.00 per year for students in full time education.
This course is a subset of the BSAC Ocean Diver course. If you’re short on time but really want to become a diver, Discovery Diver might be right for you.
Discovery Diver might be the right choice for you, particularly if you expect to go scuba diving primarily with a dive guide. This course is an intermediate step for earning an Ocean Diver qualification if that’s your ultimate goal.
What is the Discovery Diver Course?
BSAC’s Discovery Diver course is open to anyone from the age of 10.
You’ll just need to demonstrate that you can comfortably swim 200m in a pool, and the only kit you’ll need is a swimsuit and towel.
The skills you’ll learn
Your instructor will start by getting you comfortable breathing underwater in a pool or sheltered water and then develop your skills so that you are competent to dive safely in open water. After that, you’ll head out for a series of at least two open water dives to develop your skills and confidence in open water.
On your BSAC Discovery Diver course, you will:
- Learn how to use basic dive gear, including your mask and snorkel
- Control your buoyancy and underwater movements
- Understand your basic scuba diving safety skills – you’ll find out the importance of time, depth and gas
- Discover how to plan and manage your diving
BSAC’s Discovery Diver course includes three theory modules, three pool or sheltered water modules, and at least two open-water dives.
What you’ll be able to do
As a qualified Discovery Diver, you can dive in open-water in controlled conditions to 12m under the direct supervision of a Dive Leader or higher-grade diver.
If you want to expand your experience by exploring different locations and conditions, you can easily do this accompanied by a Dive Leader or higher-grade diver, while under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
Your open water diving certification will be recognised worldwide. That means you will be qualified to use breathing gas mixtures of up to 36 per cent Nitrox to increase your safety on dives (you’ll learn all about Nitrox on the course). Many ‘learn to dive’ courses don’t teach Nitrox, but at BSAC we believe they are important skills to start learning from the start of your scuba journey.
Please note: Discovery Divers are not qualified to carry out any dives requiring mandatory decompression stops.
Who is the Ocean Diver coarse for?
The BSAC Ocean Diver course is open to anyone from the age of 12.
You’ll just need to demonstrate that you can comfortably swim 200m in a pool, and the only kit you’ll need is a swimsuit and towel.
The Skills you’ll learn
Your instructor will start by getting you comfortable breathing underwater in a pool or sheltered water and then develop your skills so that you are competent to dive safely in open water. After that you’ll head out for a series of at least four dives to develop your skills and confidence in open water.
On your open water diving course, you’ll:
- Learn how to use basic dive gear, including your mask and snorkel.
- Control your buoyancy and underwater movements
- Understand your basic scuba diving safety skills – you’ll find out the importance of time, depth and gas
- Discover how to plan and manage your diving.
The ocean diver course includes six theory modules, at least five sessions in a pool or sheltered water, and at least four open-water dives.
Our ocean diver course is continually assessed. So, after your classroom and in-water training and a short theory exam, you’ll have the grounding to continue your scuba diving journey as an open water diver.
What you’ll be able to do
What you’ll be qualified to do as a BSAC Ocean Diver
As a qualified Ocean Diver, you can dive buddied with another Ocean Diver, under the supervision of a Dive Manager – so long as you stick to familiar locations and conditions you have encountered during your training.
If you want to expand your experience by exploring different locations and conditions, you can easily do this accompanied by a Dive Leader or higher-grade diver.
Your open water diver certification will be recognised worldwide. That means you will be qualified to use breathing gas mixtures of up to 36 per cent Nitrox to increase your safety on dives (you’ll learn all about Nitrox on the course). Many ‘learn to dive’ courses don’t teach Nitrox or rescue skills, but at BSAC we believe they are important skills to start learning from the start of your scuba journey.
What diving experiences will this open up for me?
At depths of down to 20m, Ocean Divers have plenty of chances to encounter a fascinating variety of wildlife and shipwrecks in seas, rivers, quarries, lochs and lakes.
Imagine finning over a rocky reef teeming with fish and covered in sessile life such as seasquirts, sponges and brightly coloured anemones, spending precious moments watching grey seals at play, or exploring a historic wreck.
Who is the coarse for?
Advanced Ocean Diver sits between Ocean Diver and Sports Diver and is open to qualified BSAC Ocean Divers (or an equivalent other agency grade) who would like to progress their maximum diving depth to 30m. You will develop your existing Ocean Diver knowledge to support deeper diving.
To enrol on the Advanced Ocean Diver, you must have successfully completed the BSAC Ocean Diver course. It is also open to those who have an equivalent certification from another recognised diver training agency and have completed Nitrox training. You must also be aged 14 or over to be able to progress to depths up to 30m.
Current BSAC Sports Diver trainees who have completed the necessary skills and theory modules and are aged 14 or over can also apply for their Advanced Ocean Diver qualification to dive to 30m.
The Skills you’ll learn
Building on what you have learnt during the Ocean Diver course, as an Advanced Ocean Diver, you will be able to conduct no-decompression dives to 30m accompanied by a Sports Diver (or equivalent) or above.
You will be required to complete four theory sessions (either classroom-based or via eLearning) followed by a minimum of two open water sessions and two depth progression dives during which you will:
- Expand on your knowledge and experience using Nitrox mixes up to 36% to extend dive time and provide a better experience
- Complete two of the Sports Diver course theory modules
- Learn how to use a compass for navigation underwater
- Undertake your open water dives to progress your depth to 25m, then 30m
- Become proficient in the use of a surface marker buoy (SMB) and delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB)
- Continue to develop underwater buoyancy control
What you’ll qualify to do
As an Advanced Ocean Diver, you will be qualified to dive with another Advanced Ocean Diver to a maximum depth of 30m, accompanied by a Sports Diver or above. Your dives to 30m must be no-decompression dives in conditions you have already encountered during your training. You will still be able to buddy with an Ocean Diver on dives to a maximum depth of 20m.
Your new Advanced Ocean Diver qualification will be internationally recognised, enabling you to enjoy your diving to 30m anywhere in the world!
What diving experiences will this open up for me?
As the next step in your diving journey, qualifying as an Advanced Ocean Diver means you will be able to safely expand your diving to enjoy many of the 30m maximum depth dive sites, both in the UK and overseas. Use of Nitrox 36% will help make your diving safer and more enjoyable and add to your progressive diving experience.
Advanced Ocean Diver is also an excellent way to build up your skills and experience as you work towards Sports Diver and can enable you to participate in more of your BSAC club’s diving trips and activities.
a historic wreck.
Who is the coarse for?
If you already have some diving experience with an entry-level qualification and want to take your underwater adventures to the next level, Sports Diver is your next step in BSAC’s Diver Training Programme.
There are two routes to becoming a Sports Diver – either from Advanced Ocean Diver, or directly from Ocean Diver.
You will broaden your experience in a variety of challenging open-water conditions and learn essential techniques to prepare you for diving to a maximum of 35 metres.
To become a Sports Diver, you must have successfully completed an Ocean Diver or Advanced Ocean Diver course (or have equivalent certification from another recognised training agency) and be aged 12 or older, but you need to be 14 or older to progress to depths greater than 20m post qualification.
The Skills you’ll learn
Skills that make Sports Divers stand out from the crowd include doing longer deeper dives, with decompression stops if needed.
You’ll learn how to spot if something is wrong and what to do in an emergency including self-rescue, recovery of unresponsive divers, and basic life support – these are among the most valuable skills any diver can learn.
It’s a continually assessed qualification, so after your classroom and in-water training and a short theory exam, you’ll be competent to complete a series of depth progression dives – at increments of 5m – enabling you to dive down to a maximum of 35m.
How do you get there?
Ocean Diver to Sports Diver
- Six theory modules
- Two dry practical sessions
- Sheltered water rescue skills session
- Six open water dives
Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver
- Four theory modules
- Two dry practical sessions
- Sheltered water rescue skills session
- Three open water dives
Who is the coarse for?
This course is perfect for BSAC members who want to take a more active role in their club.
As a Dive Leader you become an essential team member helping to organise activities at your BSAC club.
The training also prepares you to dive to depths of up to 50 metres in a range of challenging conditions, following a series of post-qualification depth progression dives.
To enrol on a Dive Leader course you must have successfully completed a Sport Diver course (or have equivalent certification from another recognised training agency) and be aged 14 years or older.
Sports Divers aged between 12 and 14 can complete the elements of Dive Leader training that do not require diving deeper than 20m.
The Skills you’ll learn
Core to Dive Leader training is extending your personal diving to depths of up to 50m so you can plan and lead more adventurous dives needing detailed planning for gas and decompression requirements. Other skills introduced include using ‘lift and shift’ techniques to recover underwater objects.
You’ll also gain the expertise to plan dives for groups of divers, manage dives, and manage a rescue situation in an emergency, including carrying out casualty assessment and administering basic life support with oxygen.
The course includes 12 theory modules, seven open-water training dives, two dry practical lessons and 20 experience dives (which may include your training dives) in a range of underwater conditions.
It’s a continually assessed course, so after your classroom and in-water training, and a theory exam, you’ll just need to complete a selection of experience dives before you can complete your depth progression to 50m.
What you’ll be able to do
What you’ll qualify to do
Qualified Dive Leaders are equipped to do more exciting exploratory dives in a wide range of conditions.
They can dive with divers of any grade to expand their experience and support Ocean Divers in new conditions and locations, under the supervision of a Dive Manager.
If you are an Assistant Dive Instructor, once you are a Dive Leader you can take your instructing with BSAC to another level.
What diving experiences will this open up for me?
Being competent to dive to 50m opens up the opportunity to take part in more adventurous diving, off the beaten track.
As a Dive Leader you’ll also be able to manage and supervise club dives to locations known to the club.
Leading dives and helping to extend the experience of divers in your club is hugely enjoyable – and of course the more experienced your fellow members are, the more fun you can all have.
Who is this course for?
Advanced Diver training is essential for Dive Leaders who want to organise diving to places they’ve not been before, or Open Water Instructors who want to become Advanced Instructors.
To enrol on an Advanced Diver course you must have already successfully completed a BSAC Dive Leader course (or have equivalent certification from another recognised training agency) and you must be at least 14 years old.
The skills you’ll learn
uring Advanced Diver training you can extend your diving knowledge to include techniques and emerging technologies involved in underwater search techniques, diving involving no clear surface (either cavern, wreck penetration or ice diving), open-circuit or closed-circuit mixed gas diving, advanced decompression diving and finding and diving an unknown site.
You will further your skills in rescue management and seamanship – using small boats as diving platforms, doing your own chartwork and navigation – and developing your leadership qualities and dive organisation skills.
The course includes relatively few formal lessons, just four, and is heavily based on a structured broadening of your diving experience, particularly in dive planning and management. There are two open-water training dives and two dry practical sessions.
It’s a continually assessed course, so after your classroom and in-water training and a theory exam, you’ll just need to log 20 open-water experience dives (which may include your training dives), and 600 minutes of underwater time, in a range of conditions, since qualifying as a Dive Leader. You’ll have been Dive Leader on at least 10 of your 20 qualifying dives and Dive Manager on at least five.
What you’ll qualify to do
Qualifying as an Advanced Diver means you have built up the skills and experience to manage and supervise all aspects of a wide range of challenging, adventurous club diving activities.
If you are an Open Water Instructor, once you are an Advanced Diver you can take your instructing with BSAC to another level.
What diving experiences will this open up for me?
After qualifying as an Advanced Diver you will be able to expand the horizons of your club, by leading expeditions to unfamiliar locations and by encouraging activities using new technologies.
Who is FCD for?
The highest diver grade First Class Diver is a challenging award to attain. It takes significant dedication, experience and training to get there – but the view from the top is worth it!
There are many reasons why divers want to achieve First Class Diver success, the main one often being the pure personal achievement of earning your place at the very top of the BSAC diving community. You will have demonstrated to BSAC’s most experienced instructors that you can lead safe but challenging national and international diving expeditions.
Also, if you want to progress from Advanced Instructor to National Instructor you will need to be a First Class Diver.
To enrol in First Class Diver training you must have successfully completed an Advanced Diver course. You will also need to have completed 100 dives in a range of conditions since qualifying, at least 20 of which must show experience of diving to depths greater than 30m.
You must also have successfully completed the following SDCs:
- Chartwork and Position Fixing
- Diver Coxswain Award
- Oxygen Administration
- Practical Rescue Management
- Advanced Lifesaver
- First Aid for Divers
The skills you’ll learn
There is no set training programme for First Class Diver, instead there is a support network to help candidates to prepare. The First Class Diver Exam consists of three separate modules, assessed nationally, that can be taken in any order.
You’ll need to complete a Theory Knowledge Exam, produce an advanced Expedition Plan and pass a two-day Practical Diving Assessment that examines 12 criteria including your teamwork and leadership as you make challenging diving happen for the exam team.
What you’ll qualify to do
Qualifying as a First Class Diver means you have had your ability to run safe but challenging diving expeditions assessed by the most experienced BSAC instructors.
You’ll then be in a position to contribute to BSAC developments at a club, regional and national level.
What diving experiences will this open up to me?
There’s not much you can’t do as a BSAC First Class Diver.
The qualification means you have a high level of practical diving skills and knowledge – far beyond that of BSAC Advanced Diver. You will have the ability to lead major diving expeditions to achieve specific aims or objectives.
For example, the mission to recover two bouncing Highball Second World War bombs, as seen in the film the Dam Busters, from Loch Striven in Scotland, was devised and led by BSAC First Class Diver Mark Paisey. You can find out more about it on the BSAC blog.

Skill Development Courses (SDCs)
Diving is a diverse and exciting sport, offering endless opportunities to build your experience, learn new skills and explore new diving horizons.
BS-AC offers a wide range of special interest courses, designed to ensure you get the very best out of your diving. Our programme of Skill Development Courses (SDCs) are regularly held by Regional Coaching Teams, BS-AC Centres and can be staged in Clubs.
So, whether your interest is in rescue, wrecks, technical, marine life or photography, there is a BS-AC specialist course for everybody.
Our current courses include:
- Accelerated Decompression Procedures (ADP)
- Buoyancy and Trim Workshop
- Compressor Operation
- Dive Planning and Management
- Equipment Care
- Mixed Gas Blender / Nitrox Gas Blender
- Search and Recovery
- Wreck Appreciation
- Advanced Lifesaver Award
- Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
- First Aid for Divers
- Lifesaver Award
- Oxygen Administration
- Practical Rescue Management
- Boat Handling
- Chart work and Position Fixing
- Diver Coxswain Assessment
- Outboard Engine and Boat Maintenance
- Underwater Photography
- Ice Diving
- Mixed gas open circuit courses:
- Sport Mixed Gas Diver (Gas Mix: ≥20/≤30, up to 50m)
- Explorer Mixed Gas Diver (Gas Mix: ≥18/≤35, up to 60m)
- Advanced Mixed Gas Diver (Gas Mix: <18/>35, up to 80m)
- CCR Inspiration Evolution/Vision Diver
- Sport Mixed Gas CCR Diver (Gas Mix: ≥20/≤30, up to 50m)
- Explorer Mixed Gas CCR Diver (Gas Mix: ≥18/≤35, up to 60m)
- Advanced Mixed Gas CCR Diver (Gas Mix: <18/>35, up to 80m)