Hello from Bracknell

[Alan Prior]

Hello all,
I'm new to the forums but been a diver for 10 years. Both me and my wife dive and have both been trained by PADI. I'm an Assistant Instructor and my wife is a Master Scuba Diver. We're both thinking of joining BSAC because, frankly, I'm getting sick fed up of paying sky high prices just to go diving.

For me I think the rot started to set in after I'd done Divemaster and thought that the training was good but didn't meet all MY requirements so I went off and did RYA courses on Diesel Engine maintenance, GMDSS and competent crew.

When the new rules came in from the HSE about diving operations it basically meant that PADI instructors had to get a commercial divers medical so that they could work in 5m of water in Wraysbury. From then on I wondered if it was really viable to be paying out £100 for a medical each year plus professional liability insurance at £100 per year, PADI registration at £70 a year and then get paid minimum wage by a dive centre for what roughly is a hobby. So we decided to just go diving and enjoy it.

The diving that I've done is probably 70% UK diving with 30% tropical waters (so not your average PADI diver)

[Edward]

Hi Welcome to the forum.

Sounds like you will both be valuable additions to any Branch you join. Your both qualified divers therefore no additional training is required, just go diving.

Before you join a Branch look - and go diving - with a few to see that the type of diving they do is what you both want.

The BSAC Medical form is here (http://www.bsac.com/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=10081&filetitle=Self+Declaration+Medical+Form+%2D+Scuba) and provided there are no issues its self deceleration.

If you haven't done so already have a look round these pages "Already a Diver (http://www.bsac.com/landing.asp?section=32&sectionTitle=Already+a+Diver%3F+Then+this+is+the+p lace+for+you)".

Pity you don't live in Scotland, I'd have you both in my Branch.

Edward

[Mike Halligan]

Hello and welcome,

I'm sure any decent BSAC Branch would welcome you both with open arms - and one way to distinguish a decent Branch is how they perceive your qualifications. (If seen only as a read across upon which to base BSAC training, then think very carefully before proceeding.)

As Edward says, you should be made very welcome indeed. I recall hearing great tales of Bracknell branch a few years ago, so you don't have to go far to start.

[jcp]

Hi Alan,

Blatant plug here, but why not drop in and see us at Bracknell Sub Aqua Club. :D We welcome all agencies - no need to cross over unless you want to do further taining, you can dive your PADI quals no problem. We are a very active diving and training club.

We meet at Bracknell Leisure Centre Thursday evenings - poolside 8.30 and in the bar afterwards until they throw us out. You're more than welcome to drop by and kick the tyres.

Reading Club aren't too far away as well and I hear good things about them, so you might want to check them out as well.

[Alan Prior]

I think we will at some point come down to the Bracknell branch - we've just had a little boy so it'll be a while yet but I think we could be down sometime soon :o)

[jcp]

Congratulations on the new arrival! That'll keep you busy for a while alright :-)