FAQs

Yes. We have a large compressor capable of 300 bar fills, which is tested regularly to ensure clean and safe air fills. Additionally, we have a smaller, portable compressor for dive trips.

No. A few options available: One is to use prescription masks; or you can use sticky lens inserts; a third option would be to use the mask with your contact lenses.

Prescription Diving Masks are ideal for those who wear glasses and are not confident or comfortable wearing contact lenses. Some divers wear their glasses under their mask.

All UK Sport Diving agencies require an annual self-certification, as recommended by the UK Sports Diving Medical Committee (UKSDMC). The UKSDMC is an advisory body comprising doctors who specialise in diving medicine.

These recommendations are the result of a study at Edinburgh University, involving all members of the Scottish Sub Aqua Club (SSAC). The study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (click here for study).

This form is a legal document, where full honesty is a requirement. Should a diver answer ‘Yes’ to any of the questions, they will need to consult a medical referee. Their record is stored by BSAC and is available to the club’s Diving Officer. The self-certification form is filled out every year.

No. We do ask for some commitment, once you start on a course. The theory and pool lessons are run on Monday evenings, from October to March.

We do realise, that people are not able to make lessons every week. If a lesson is missed, arranging a catch up is no problem.

Bear in mind the more lessons that are missed the less time will be left for your pool training and skills practice.

Yes. You don’t need to be a strong swimmer, but you do need to be confident in the water. A swim test is required for club members every year.

In that test, we ask members to be able to swim 200m within 15 minutes.

We dive all over Scotland.

The sheltered sea lochs on the west coast can be dived in almost any weather and are frequently visited throughout the year.

We also regularly take our club boat (Tay Explorer) out to the Isle of May and many of the wrecks in the Firth of Forth. Some of our favourite destinations for longer trips are Oban, the Sound of Mull, Loch Sunart, Loch Duich and Ullapool.

Dive trips can be organised by any member. If you have a particular place you’d like to dive, it can probably be made possible.

The British Sub-Aqua Club and Dundee Sub Aqua Club welcome previous diver training by recognised organisations, whether recreational, commercial or military.

Divers can join a BSAC branch and enjoy diving with that branch within the recommendations of their existing qualification and BSAC Safe Diving Practices (whichever is the more conservative).

You can also crossover to a BSAC qualification subject to a few conditions. For more information please email us or check the BSAC webpage (www.bsac.co.uk).

Like most sports, there are risks involved. With proper training and following the safe diving practices put in place by the British Sub Aqua Club, scuba diving is as safe as any other watersport.

As a BSAC club, we always dive in pairs and with shore/boat cover. Experience and confidence will be gained under the guidance of a qualified instructor or diver.

The club is active all throughout the year, even winter.  On most weekends there will be something on the calendar.

To join DSAC you must be 18 years of age or over and be able to complete the BSAC Medical Self Declaration Form.

Yes, the club has just about all the equipment you’d need to get started.

We have regulators, masks, fins, dive computers, weight belts, harnesses and BCD’s.

There are a couple of drysuits, but we recommend you get your own as soon as possible.

Yes. The club own a 6m Cobra RHIB, capable of carrying up to 6 divers called ‘Tay Explorer’

No, at the moment we do not have any members using trimix.

Yes, any type of diver is welcome. Although we only have one active rebreather diver in the club at the moment. He is very experienced and will gladly help with any kind of question about rebreathers or technical diving in general.

At the moment, we do not supply Nitrox. It is possible to get Nitrox fills in Dundee and Stonehaven.

The joining fee for new members, without any previous dive qualifications, is £400. Included in this price are:

• The annual fee for BSAC (£65.50) and DSAC (£100)
• The pool hire for training or equipment tests on Monday evenings.
• Free hire of professionally serviced equipment for pool training and open water training
• Training to Ocean Diver and Sports Diver
• Internationally recognised qualification certificates
• BSAC Member benefits

In subsequent years only DSAC and BSAC fees are payable.

Already Qualified

Should you already have a diving qualification with another agency, then you are most welcome to join DSAC. Whether you would like to progress with your training through BSAC qualifications or just continue to dive at your current level is totally up to you.

If you would like to join and continue to progress with BSAC qualifications, then cross-over courses are available, depending on your current qualification and our joining fees are adjusted accordingly. For information on equivalent qualifications, please email us.

If you are completely new to diving, we recommend you start with a Try dive. Try dives are a taster session led by our experienced instructors. They usually take place in October every year at the Olympia pool.

Following the Try dive you will be invited to attend a presentation giving you an introduction to the British Sub Aqua Club, our club and training with us is organised. Afterwards, the Ocean Diver course can begin.

We only run Try dives and a new Ocean Diver course intake once a year around October/November. This way, the theory and pool lessons can be completed over the winter months and the open water lessons the following spring (usually end of March). You would then be qualified to dive in time for summer.