Well all of this is very interesting but how much is it going to cost?

How fit do I need to be to be able to dive?

How long will my training take to complete?

I am due to go on holiday in the next month or so. Do you run any special short term courses that will allow me to gain a diving qualification before I leave?

What equipment is available and how much does it cost?

I already have a diving qualification with another organisation. How would I fit into your club?

These prices are much lower than anywhere else I've seen. Are you guys doing all this on the cheap?

What is the age limit to join the club?

Where do you dive?

Do you ever dive abroad?

Will your club qualifications allow me to dive abroad?

Are my family and friends welcome on dive trips and at club social events?

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Well all of this is very interesting but how much is it going to cost?

Let's start with the question everyone wants the answer to!

BSAC membership £45.50 per annum – reviewed every year by BSAC (including insurance, monthly magazine etc) plus £30 first year only for the manual, and the work record/file.

CLUB membership £144 per annum paid 6 months in advance (£72) and by monthly direct debit thereafter. Costs are reviewed by committee and changes proposed at the AGM in November.

During training you will be provided with the necessary kit to perform your pool training although you should provide your own mask, snorkel, and fins as soon as possible. When you commence your open water training you will then need to invest in your own equipment if you wish to become a trained and qualified diver. All we ask you to pay for during pool training is your air for which a charge of £1 is made per week. All instruction and use of the equipment is free.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

We will only train members from the age of 18 (an exception is made for the children of members who can be trained from 16 with parental supervision for training and dive trips)
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How fit do I need to be to be able to dive?

Diving can be a physical activity and a basic level of fitness is required for both your own sake and that of your dive partners. However there is no need to be concerned, the level of fitness is not particularly high. You should also feel comfortable in the water. In order to commence training with the club you will need to undergo a diving medical, however one of the club members is a doctor who will provide this service for a nominal fee.(back to top)

 

How long will my training take to complete?

Everyone progresses at different speeds and it is not viewed as a race! You will be encouraged to proceed at your own pace and be given every support to complete your training successfully. It follows though that if you make the effort to attend regularly, practice and study as necessary it will pay dividends. Normally people qualify anywhere between 6 and 12 months. The course covers both practical and theory.
This may be at variance with the resort training offered where you can qualify in days, but the training is for diving in UK waters based on an hour per week.
We are more concerned to produce safe, well trained divers than “push” people through quickly. (Back to top)

 

I am due to go on holiday in the next month or so. Do you run any special short term courses that will allow me to gain a diving qualification before I leave?

Unfortunately no. We are not set up to operate like a commercial organisation. The BSAC Branch system relies on members training members in their spare time voluntarily.(Back to top)

 

What equipment is available and how much does it cost?

We provide all the equipment required for training in the pool.
Once you progress to open water training you will need to provide your own kit, which will need to include cylinder, weights, dry suit, BCD (buoyancy control device), regulator, fins mask gloves and hood. There is plenty of advice available within the club and the subject is also covered in the lectures. Occasionally there is second hand kit available from within the club to get people started. (back to top)

 

I already have a diving qualification with another organisation. How would I fit into your club?

BSAC recognises most other diving agency qualifications, and there are “cross-over” arrangements to match diver levels.

Club practice is for qualified divers from another agency to arrange to meet with the Diving Officer or an instructor to discuss their qualifications and diving experience. This is normally followed by an assessment and dependant on the diver level / ability plans are put in place for cross over training / assessment dives.
Hopefully previous training will meet the BSAC standards and course content and the process will be relatively simple.
(The club reserves the right to only issue cross over qualifications after satisfactory levels of achievement have been attained)  (Back to top)

 

These prices are much lower than anywhere else I've seen. Are you guys doing all this on the cheap?

Absolutely not! The XDC is an independent amateur club run for diving enthusiasts by diving enthusiasts. We're not here to line the pockets of some anonymous organisation, nor to make anyone rich. Any profit made by the XDC is ploughed back directly into the club. That is why we can offer such good value.The club is run voluntarily and training is given by experienced club members for free in their spare time. People generally wish to give something back to the club in return for the support and training they have themselves received.
As a club we do not charge specifically for training and any money within the club is generated from club fees, charges for the use of the rib and raising funds internally.
Even theory and skill development courses are often run by the club at far less than BSAC rates. (Back to top)

What is the age limit to join the club?

16 (Back to top)

 

Where do you dive?

Most training initially takes place in local quarries (designed for the purpose) to provide a safe environment, and controlled situation for trainees to progress in. This is supplemented - weather permitting with dives in the sea normally off Anglesey using the club rib.
Non Training dives are most popularly in the sea and short trips are normally undertaken to Anglesey and occasionally further afield for long weekends to the Isle of Man, Pembrokeshire, the Farne Islands and Oban. (Back to top)

 

Do you ever dive abroad?

The club tries to have a full week’s holiday diving.
Recently the trip was to the Red Sea but this year we are staying in the UK and going to Scapa Flow.

However some members have formed smaller groups and go abroad regularly together. (Back to top)

 

Will your club qualifications allow me to dive abroad?

BSAC diving qualifications are internationally recognised.(Back to top)

 

Are my family and friends welcome on dive trips and at club social events?

Family and friends are always welcome on trips.
(Please note that places on the rib are given to the divers first as spaces are limited and subject to the weather conditions visitors may not be allowed on the rib).(Back to top)