PADI/BSAC - Questions related to Qualifications

[matt ohara]

I recently (4 months back) passed my PADI Open Water course while in South Wales, and have just moved university, to Sheffield Hallam. I decided to join their scuba club but found they use BSAC courses, over PADI ones.

What i'd like to know is what are the differences between say the Ocean Diver qualification and Open Water qualification. Also if i choose to do some BSAC courses, how would they map as far as PADI is concerned.

I'm looking to book with my old dive school to do my Advanced Open Water in a couple of months, with a possibility of doing the Rescue Diver qualification some time after easter. I read another thread on the forum that said if i had Rescue Diver level, it would still only be around Sport Diver level under BSAC. Confusing.

Being relatively new to all of this, and having being trained using one scheme, i now need a clearer explanation on some of the differences.

At the end of it, i will most likely adapt because i do enjoy diving and after getting the chance to complete a few dives in Cuba over the summer, i really want to continue doing so while back home.

Thanks for your time,

Matt

[paul rosendale]

Hi Matt,

Yes you are correct, as a PADI AOW you will still only cross over to Ocean diver, so no real benefit there. I originaly learnt with PADI 13 years ago. I feel the AOW is a money maker for the shop. I did mine 3 weeks after completing my OW course in Stoney Cove. After a night dive under Swanage pier, a navigation dive (5m square) and a 30m dive on the Kyarra, I would'nt class myself or anyone an "Advanced" diver. I think its the wrong missleading term.
Back to your origional question, Rescue diver is accepted to crossover to sports diver.
I dont think there is any training on the use of Delayed SMB's in PADI standard courses, I think it may be an additional cost.
You will be taught how to use a delayed SMB throught BSAC training as a standard piece of kit.
Not sure how PADI recognises BSAC qualifications. Possibly check out the PADI website ?
For my opinion I wouls stick with and get all the training I could through your University club

Good luck

Paul

[Gareth]

Matt

You are correct. There is a detailed explaination in the SALT document on the site.
<a href="http://www.bsac.org/techserv/salt.pdf" >http://www.bsac.org/techserv/salt.pdf</a>

There is also explainations of what is included in the Ocean Diver, Sports Diver & Dive Leader training.

<a href="http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpuba10.htm" >http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpuba10.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpuba11.htm" >http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpuba11.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpuba12.htm" >http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpuba12.htm</a>

I would suggest that it is easier to continue your training through your University BSAC branch, (& Cheaper) than attempt to do both BSAC & PADI qualifications.

You can crossback to PADI if you want too, takeing into account your new qualifications - I started with PADI originally, & two years ago did my Divemaster, effectively jumping from PADI OW to Divemaster.

Gareth

[Nigel Hewitt]

Being relatively new to all of this, and having being trained using one scheme, i now need a clearer explanation on some of the differences.

Sounds like you've got it right already.

OW and AOW map to OD as being basic diving stuff and RD maps to SD as they both contain rescue training. SD or RD is a good place to be for UK diving. Anything less bothers me as in low vis you, as my buddy, will probably be the only person on hand to haul me out.

I PADI trained and crossed my RD over to SD.

[jackathan]

:=Being relatively new to all of this, and having being trained using one scheme, i now need a clearer explanation on some of the differences.

Sounds like you've got it right already.

OW and AOW map to OD as being basic diving stuff and RD maps to SD as they both contain rescue training. SD or RD is a good place to be for UK diving. Anything less bothers me as in low vis you, as my buddy, will probably be the only person on hand to haul me out.

I PADI trained and crossed my RD over to SD.

Hi Matt
as above you have the crossover advice in relation to the qualifications.
what no-one else has mentioned is the social life you'll join your university club they'll go through the training i'd guess up there you'll dive stoney as well as going to the coast. In the spring you'll do ET [easter training] where you'll go away for 7/10/14 days and throughout you'll make loads of friends & have a good laugh

[matt ohara]

Thanks for the help and advice. I went on after my initial post to read a few of the other boards on the forums, finding some amusing posts about AOW diving to 30M and what not (Do i want to dive that deep, especially since it gets a darn sight colder the deeper you go, not at this moment :) ). Besides at my last university as part of the diving course we had compulsory basic marine biology, which made things a bit more interesting. Apparently the best stuff is always in the 5-20m depth area.

As for whether i'll continue on and do SD, well yeh, of course i will. I have to do something apart from diving (and studying) for the next year.

I would bring up purchasing kit, but thats a whole different thread. At some point next year though i do intend to get myself a BCD and better wetsuit, because i hate the way you always seem to end up with different kit, that doesnt fit properly and generally annoys you and takes the fun out of diving. But i'll leave that to a thread in the new year.

Thanks again,

Matt

[jim oldham]

At some point next year though i do intend to get myself a BCD and better wetsuit, because i hate the way you always seem to end up with different kit, that doesnt fit properly and generally annoys you and takes the fun out of diving.
Matt

One word: CHRISTMAS.
Sorted.
All the best,
Jim