Scuba Diving Courses
All courses offered by Dive Club 854 follow BS-AC syllabi,
which are well known for their thoroughness and emphasis on safety. The qualifications
obtained after completing these courses are recognised world-wide. Currently, Dive Club 854
offers courses leading to the following BS-AC diving qualifications:
All training are conducted by our BS-AC qualified instructors. Currently, we have two BS-AC Advanced Instructors, four BS-AC Open Water Instructors and two BS-AC Club Instructors actively involved in training.
Mr Soh Chee Peng, one of our Advanced Instructor has been training divers since the early 80s; and Mr Loh Seng Chong, the other Advanced Instructor, the mid-80s. The Open Water Instructors are Mr Teng Chen Ping, Mr Bob Hum, Mr Henry Low, and Mr Ng Chuen Ser. The Club Instructors are Mr Tan Tsu Soo and Mr Steven Ng.
Training usually consists of a series of classroom sessions, two to three pool sessions, and a series of open-water (sea) dives. The theory covers subjects which include diving physics, human physiology, diving equipment, diving techniques and safety procedures.
Ocean Diver trainees learn basic diving techniques in the pool sessions; and the Sports Diver trainees learn rescue techniques. The open-water dives are for learning and practicing the various exercises and diving techniques.
Most of the required open-water dives for the courses are conducted entirely in Singapore waters. In Singapore, the waters around Pulau Hantu have been designated specially for water sports, therefore our local training dives are conducted in that area. For Dive Leader trainees, the qualification dives can be arranged to be conducted overseas.
Every person who is interested in taking up scuba diving must ensure that he or she is medically fit to do so. Before commencing on a course, every potential trainee must undergo a medical check-up by a qualified medical doctor.
All trainees are expected to provide their own basic equipment, i.e. the mask, the snorkel, the fins, and the weight-belt with the suitable number of weights. For beginners, an introductory briefing on how to select and buy the basic equipment is usually given. For all the remaining equipment,
the Ocean can arrange for them to be rented.
As Ocean Diver trainees you undergo a basic course that will provide you with
the essential knowledge and skills needed to prepare you for open water diving.
Learning to dive is all about learning to use your equipment properly and safely.
The initial part of the basic course concentrates on preparing you for this
in the safety of a swimming pool or sheltered water. You will then be
introduced to open water (sea) diving in a controlled and safe manner.
This also gives you the opportunity to practice safety skills in the company
of a qualified instructor or experienced diver.
Pre-requisites:
Be certified medically fit to participate in underwater activities.
Be able to swim 200 m.
Be able to tread water, without using the hands, for 5 minutes.
Course structure:
This course consists of:
- 3 classroom sessions of 2 hours each, for theory lessons.
- 2 swimming pool sessions of 2 hours each, for practical lessons.
- 6 qualification dives in the open sea.
Cost:
The Ocean Diver course fee is:
- S$480.00 for ordinary member.
- S$405.00 for abated member; an abated member is one who is the spouse or an immediate family member of an ordinary member.
- S$402.00 for student member; a student member must produce proof of student status.
For this fee, you receive the following:
- Registration to Dive Club 854 and BS-AC (U.K.) with 1-year membership.
- One-year subscription to the UK diving magazine, DIVE.
- Sports Diver Diving Manual.
- Ocean/Sports Diver Student's Studybook.
- BS-AC Blue Qualification Record Book.
- BS-AC Red Dive Log Book.
- BS-AC sticker set.
- Scuba-diving course leading to the Ocean Diver qualifications.
- World-wide third-party insurance for the duration of your membership with BS-AC (UK).
The Ocean Diver course fee does not include the cost of your basic scuba equipment, i.e. the mask, the snorkel, the fins, and the weight-belt with weights. The fee does, however, include the cost for the rental of the fully-charged air tank, the regulator and the buoyancy compensator (buoyancy jacket) during the pool lessons. The course fee does not include the rental of any equipment nor boat fees for open-water dives after the first outing.
Download the application form now.
As Sports Diver trainees, you will continue your training in diving rescue techniques and decompression dives using the 88 BS-AC Dive Table and dive computers.
You will continue building a sound foundation of open water diving
skills and experience through a series of structured practical lessons.
Once you have gained this open water experience with a qualified instructor,
you are ready to take part in dives with other Sports Divers or those of higher grades.
Pre-requisites:
Be a current member Dive Club 854 and BS-AC.
Be certified medically fit to participate in underwater activities.
Possess the BS-AC Club/Ocean Diver qualification.
Course structure:
This course consists of:
- 2 classroom sessions of 2 hours each, for theory lessons.
- 1 swimming pool session of 2 hours, for practical lessons.
- 4 qualification dives in the open sea.
Cost:
The Sports Diver course cost about S$160.00.
The Sports Diver course fee does not include the cost of your basic scuba equipment, i.e. the mask, the snorkel, the fins, and the weight-belt with weights. The fee does, however, include the cost for the rental of the fully-charged air tank, the regulator and the buoyancy compensator (buoyancy jacket) during the pool lesson.
The course fee does not include the rental of any equipment nor boat fees for open-water dives.
Download the application form now.
Dive Leader training concentrates on the responsibilities and safety aspects of leading
an open water dive. Practical lessons in rescue management and rescue skills will give you
the confidence and ability to deal with those unforeseen emergencies.
Leading a dive will develop your enjoyment and experience as a diver.
Pre-requisites:
Be a current member Dive Club 854 and BS-AC.
Be certified medically fit to participate in underwater activities.
Possess the BS-AC Sports Diver qualification.
Log more than 10 dives as a BS-AC Sports Diver.
Course structure:
This course consists of:
- 4 classroom sessions of 2 hours each, for theory lessons.
- 10 qualification dives in the open sea.
Cost:
The Diver Leader course costs S$100.00.
The course fee does not include the rental of any equipment nor boat fees for open-water dives.
The BSAC considers this grade, in all aspects, as being a fully trained diver.
Training for this grade is through the attendance of a series of Skills Development Courses (SDCs).
The gazetted Skills Development Courses are:
| Programme Courses | Entry Qualification |
|---|
| Required (Compulsory) | |
|---|
| Dive Planning & Marshalling | Dive Leader |
| Practical Rescue Management | Sports Diver |
| Oxygen Administration | Sports Diver |
| Optional, Group A | |
|---|
| Boat Handling | None |
| Chartwork & Position Fixing | Sports Diver |
| Optional, Group B | |
|---|
| Advanced Diving Techniques | Dive Leader |
| Search & Recovery | | Sports Diver
| Advanced Nitrox Diver | | Sports/Nitrox Diver
The incumbent must take all the courses listed as required,
and take one of the courses in Group A, and one in Group B.
These SDCs can be undertaken concurrently with training for other
diving qualifications. Therefore members can start learning many of the
skills from an early stage.
Pre-requisites for taking the Skills Development Courses:
Be a current BS-AC member.
Be certified medically fit to participate in underwater activities.
Be qualified to level as required by the respective SDC.
Pre-requisites for award of Advanced Diver Qualification:
Possess the BS-AC Dive Leader qualification.
Log more than 10 dives as a BS-AC Dive Leader.
Successfully sit for the Advanced Diver Theory Test.
For information, contact one of the following persons:
Persons who possess diving qualifications issued by another training agency wishing to take up BS-AC qualifications are issued with the Statement of Alternative Training (SALT) in credit of their previous experience. They will then have to undertake additional training to
bring them up to BSAC standards, on completion of which the appropriate BSAC Diver qualification will be issued.
Experienced divers who receive a SALT certificate should understand that a BSAC Branch Diving Officer is responsible for the safety and well being of all Branch members. In exercising this duty of care, should the Diving Officer discover that a new member, originally trained by another agency, lacks an appropriate level of basic diving knowledge and skill, the Diving Officer is at liberty to require the member to undertake relevant refresher training and / or limit their open water diving activities until a satisfactory level of knowledge and skills performance is demonstrated.
TABLE OF SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS
The Table lists a number of 'other agency' qualifications that are considered to be of a similar standard to the BSAC qualification shown. Trained divers joining a BSAC Branch may be issued with a SALT certificate accordingly.
Notes on the Table of Similar Qualifications
- The Table does not attempt to be definitive, and only includes the more commonly recognised programmes. Diving qualifications are issued by numerous agencies and federations around the world and it is impossible to list them all. Cases which do not clearly fit the guidance provided by this Table may be discussed with the Branch Diving Officer.
- 'Try a Dive' Programmes such as the BSAC 'Experience Scuba' or a Branch run 'Introduction to Diving Course', the PADI Discover Scuba Diving programme or the NAUI Passport Diver / Easy Scuba Experience, do not include sufficient instruction to warrant any credits / exemptions from a full programme of BSAC diver training.
- This Table may also be used to determine whether a diver trained by another agency has a level of qualification that meets the entry standard for a BSAC Skill Development Course or Instructor Training Course.
- New members who hold professional qualifications, or who have studied certain subjects through other training courses and evening classes (e.g. navigation, boat handling, marine radio, first aid) may be entitled to claim a BSAC Skill Development Course Alternative Training Certificate which acknowledges that their qualification / training meets the aims and objectives of the appropriate Skill Development Course.
TABLE OF SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS
|
Other Agency Qualification |
Similar to BSAC Qualification |
|
All ‘Entry Level’ qualifications (which typically do not include rescue training) such as:
CMAS One Star Diver
NASDS Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver
NAUI Scuba Diver and Advanced Scuba Diver
PADI Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and AOWD Plus
SSI Open Water Diver
SSI Advanced Open Water Diver
|
Ocean Diver |
|
All ‘Second Level’ qualifications (which must include rescue training) such as:
CMAS Two Star Diver
NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver
PADI Rescue Diver
SSI Advanced Open Water Diver with ‘Stress and Rescue’ Speciality
|
Sports Diver |
All ‘Third Level’ qualifications (which must include dive leadership training) such as:
NAUI Divemaster
PADI Divemaster
SSI Dive Control Specialist
|
Dive Leader |
Any higher level of qualification, such as:
CMAS Three Star Diver
Because of the variation allowed in training leading to higher diving qualifications awarded by US diver training agencies, BSAC is unable to accept them as being of a similar standard to BSAC Advanced Diver.
|
Advanced Diver
|
All experienced Divers crossing-over to BSAC need to take a course comprising the BS-AC Entry Level Module to qualify as BS-AC Divers.
The 3 main components of the Entry Level Module are:
- Diving Safety
- Diver Rescue
- Decompression and the BS-AC Decompression Tables
For more information on crossing over to BS-AC qualifications, contact one of the following persons:
Download an application form (Adobe Acrobat PDF format): 854APPLY.PDF (11.8 Kb)
Download the parent consent form if you are not yet 18 years of age (Adobe Acrobat PDF format): 854APPLY.PDF (12.3 Kb)
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