Looking for a club in the North East

[Orphus]

Hi all,

Part putting off for long enough, im really keen to find a branch in the North East to join but also have a couple of questions.

First things first, I'm based in Co. Durham but am only a few miles from Gateshead so closer to Newcastle.

I work away from home quite frequently so am worried that I wont be able to consistently attend a weekly session, is this usually a problem?

Obviously I'm keen to get cracking on the Ocean Diver Qualification. I have dived on holiday, although have not completed any formal training so am pretty much a beginner. After researching the different quals though, I would prefer to be BSAC qualified than PADI although amm disappointed there are few places which offer BSAC courses nearby. Is it realistic to think i could be OD qualified by summer and how long would it be before i get a taste of open water diving in the UK?

Appreciate any help!

Thanks,

J

[John_C]

Hi all,

Part putting off for long enough, im really keen to find a branch in the North East to join but also have a couple of questions.

First things first, I'm based in Co. Durham but am only a few miles from Gateshead so closer to Newcastle.

I work away from home quite frequently so am worried that I wont be able to consistently attend a weekly session, is this usually a problem?

Obviously I'm keen to get cracking on the Ocean Diver Qualification. I have dived on holiday, although have not completed any formal training so am pretty much a beginner. After researching the different quals though, I would prefer to be BSAC qualified than PADI although amm disappointed there are few places which offer BSAC courses nearby. Is it realistic to think i could be OD qualified by summer and how long would it be before i get a taste of open water diving in the UK?

Appreciate any help!

Thanks,

J

J,
Not sure how you have dived on holiday, yet not completed any formal training?

Anyhow, there are quite a number of BSAC clubs you can consider in and around Co Durham so not sure how you conclude there's only a few?

If you genuinely want to leant to dive there are plenty of clubs to choose from. As for how soon you could dive open water, well that depends on how soon you join a club and enroll on the OD course, and begin your training? But being OD qualified by summer is very much a realistic target.

[PeteM]

Not sure how you have dived on holiday, yet not completed any formal training?

Probably a try dive thing, I did three before I started training with my branch

[northern_diver]

Hi Orphus,

I can personally recommend Hartlepool divers (for a link see the bottle of my post), they have a club house with classroom, boat store+3 rhibs, air+nitrox compressors, changing rooms and a bar. With the club been right on the coast.

They are not the only club around though, but i would suggest a look in, at the very least it gives you something to compare with.

John

[stu.graham]

Hi Orphus.

Wearside 0744 is based right on the sea front in Roker, Sunderland (a stones throw from the seafront)

We have our own clubhouse, bar, rib, air and nitrox, training facilities etc.

We use Thornhill school on a thursday night, and occasionally we have the use of the south shields marine tech pool.

You are most welcome to come across and have a chat etc.....

www.wearsidediving.co.uk

[Orphus]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the quick replies. Will def check out a couple of the clubs around me and certainly the two recommendations. No one has referenced the fact that I work away a lot so find it difficult to commit to a regular weekly training class, is this an issue?

The reason I say there are few courses nearby, is that for me a course, rather than a club would be much more appropriate for the initial training. I absolutely intend to join a BSAC branch, but would much prefer to study the OD course as a short course and then start progressing to the SD qual.

With regards to the holiday diving, it was beginners dives abroad, although I think the dive master was a bit naughty and took me down to 21m with a group of AOW PADI divers. I must say that this was after a 12 and 15 m dive earlier in the week, but he should have known better and I didn't know any better at the time!

Thanks again,

J

[northern_diver]

If you travel around a bit for work etc then perhaps a BSAC club course wouldnt be ideal for you. A BSAC centre course would be quicker and comparatively priced (normally a little more expensive, but have a little more basic course material so get what you pay for there IMO).

Many clubs are flexible enough however that working away, while it would slow down your training, would not prevent it. If you present your deadline requirements to the club, they will often attempt to tailour to your needs.

This is however very much a product of the volunteer nature of the BSAC system, with some clubs been very proactive and capable and some been more reactive. In the end, it depends on how keen your are and how keen your instructor is-which is the case in all situations, irrespective of club/agency.

It might well serve you well, to do a relatively easy to get hold of PADI/ BSAC centre course, then go down the club route for more advanced course. Lots of people do this and does not make you any less capable but it can mean getting in the water a bit quicker. Which is a aim most have.

Don't quote me, but i think the nearest BSAC centre that i've had deals with is NEDA (North East Diving Academy), Sunderland with Bob as the boss man, very capable and a good laugh. http://www.nedivingacademy.co.uk/ I say that as it seems Blue bell has packed in.

John

[Orphus]

Hi,

I did look at NE Diving Academy, although it seems that they only do BSAC technical courses. I would rather do BSAC OD than PADI OW.

Seems their are no local centres which offer a BSAC course which is why I thought the club route would be better.

How would your branch work with me missing weeks? I would say I work away from home at least every other week for at least a couple of days so good chance I might meet every other meeting, although sometimes might make quite a few in a row.

Hartlepool isn't a million miles away and I need to travel to A coast to be fair!!

J

[northern_diver]

Hartlepool meet twice a week-

Thursday-Primary training night, if any required. Dive planning night for weekend as often as not.

Sunday-Primary social night. Fill out log books, plan any dives, have a drink etc

If you made your requirements known to the training and diving officers, then they could plan something for you that suited both instructor and student needs.

I know Bob does alot more tech courses than rec but i think he will still sort you out for BSAC rec course, as and when needed. This can be confirmed if you speak to him, unless you already have and he has said something different.

Benefit of any club system is that once you have that tick (and you can show your still able) then it stands for good, so you can delay and restart you course effectively as and when you wish. Often getting odd bits signed off from different group, my SD+DL grade was a mixture of several clubs, especially the DL as the varity was added much to the grade.

As i say, if you have a deadline, make it known early and more often than not (common sence used) it can be worked too by most clubs.

John

[Orphus]

Thanks for all the info guys.

You might be disappointed to know however that I have moved to the dark side (temporarily)!

After struggling to find any schools providing BSAC course in the area (except NE Diving Academy who didn't answer the phone or reply to my email), I thought my best bet would be to do a PADI OW and then move over to BSAC once i get a couple of OW dives in.

So I started the course today with Sunderland Scuba Centre, who have been brilliantly helpful actually, and hopefully should be OW qualified by the end of Feb (the length being my fault due to working away in early Feb). Enrolled and passed pool session one today.

My plan is to find a club one this is complete and start working toward Sports Diver, so those recommendations are not wasted.

J

[northern_diver]

Enjoy mate.

John