Branch Fees - Value for money

[Geoff Oldfield]

I'm after some feedback on what various branches charge for their membership and what they offer in return. Excluding the BSAC levy of course. For example

Branch membership fee
Cost of branch air if compressor owned by branch
What boats are available and is there a levy charged for their use
Does the branch have their own clubhouse or a room in a pub / club
What training equipment is available and is there a fee
Are instructors charged pool /dive fees when teaching
Other facilities provided

Any feedback would be most helpful

Regards

Geoff

[Tony Dwyer]

I'm after some feedback on what various branches charge for their membership and what they offer in return. Excluding the BSAC levy of course. For example

Branch membership fee
Cost of branch air if compressor owned by branch
What boats are available and is there a levy charged for their use
Does the branch have their own clubhouse or a room in a pub / club
What training equipment is available and is there a fee
Are instructors charged pool /dive fees when teaching
Other facilities provided

Any feedback would be most helpful

Regards

Geoff

Interesting questions. Might I ask the reason for the request.
It looks suspiciously like commercial research.

Of course you might merely be looking for comparative charges for your own BSAC club fees?

[Paul Oliver]

Tony

I think you are being a bit skeptical there, Geoff as a FCD and AI does not really have a comercial profile. If you look at some of his posts elswhere you will see what i mean. Try YD and see what i mean.

Geoff we charge ?135 which is BSAC membership ?40 ish, branch subs ?45 ish, Pool fees ?40 ish, and compressor maintenance ?10 (free air and ?2 Nitrox). We do dives out of Dover at ?15, ?25 for 2 on a Neaps tide day and ?10 for a Herne Bay dive.

Trips like a weekend in Weymouth (3 Days) are about ?35 for dives and gas (we take our own boats down).

Regards

Paul

[Geoff Oldfield]

Thanks Paul, I suppose it's ok to be cautious, but as you quite rightly point out, no axe to grind. Just want to find out what other clubs charge their members as we need to set about budgeting our costs for the coming years. For the record my club has been established for almost as long as the BSAC itself and as any successful club knows, there is a need to ensure income matches (or should exceed) planned expenditure to take account of unforseen occurrences.

Hopefully there will be some more feedback.

Regards

Geoff

[matt]

I'm after some feedback on what various branches charge for their membership and what they offer in return. Excluding the BSAC levy of course. For example

Our standard renewal is ?87.00 PA exclusive of BSAC fees.

Branch membership fee
Cost of branch air if compressor owned by branch

All diving memberships include a compressor shed key. Air is available 24x7 at no extra charge.

What boats are available and is there a levy charged for their use

We have a 5.5m Avon Searider RHIB which is available to qualified boat handlers. There is a nominal ?5.00 a head charge for weekends and ?2.50 for weekdays + fuel costs.

Does the branch have their own clubhouse or a room in a pub / club

We have our own club house. The bar prices our competitive at less than ?1.50 per pint. The bar is run on a voluntary basis and all profit goes back into the club.

What training equipment is available and is there a fee

We have 6 sets of pool equipment which we hire out at a token charge (a couple quid). There are a further 3 sets of open water kit which we hire out at rates competitive with the local shops (about 30 quid for a weekend).

Are instructors charged pool /dive fees when teaching

Pool fees are voluntary for instructors.

Diving expenses have traditionally been down to the instructor. Recently there has been a trend for trainees to pay or contribute to instructor's diving expenses. I had a long conversation with a couple of new members about this. They seem to accept that the cost of diving is such that instructors should not be expected to pay for the priviledge. At the moment paying instructor expenses is strictly voluntary.


There is a full breakdown of subs on our web site
<a href="http://www.southseascuba.co.uk" >http://www.southseascuba.co.uk</a>

HTH
Regards

Matt
Chairman
Southsea Subaqua Club

[Geoff Oldfield]

Thanks Matt

Keep it coming folks!

Geoff

[Beanie]

Thanks Matt

Keep it coming folks!

?12 a month all in inc bsac (after first year)
no air
pool 1 hr per week
boat dives 15 a day for 2

[andy botten]

We offer free pool entry - Rather than try to collect weekly subs.
Our RIB is moored in Poole - ?10 per person per day.
Instructors can claim "expences" for going to Stoney from London (?10 towards petrol & the entrance fee)
We do not have a compressor or club house:-(

[Geoff Oldfield]

We offer free pool entry - Rather than try to collect weekly subs.

How do you reclaim the cost of the pool Andy. And How much do you charge for your membership?

Thanks

Geoff

[andy botten]

A couple of years back we put up the membership to cover the pool subs.
Pool subs never did cover the pool hire.

[Geoff Oldfield]

A couple of years back we put up the membership to cover the pool subs.
Pool subs never did cover the pool hire.

Yep, we have the same problem. How much do you charge for your membership now Andy.
Geoff

[Tony Dwyer]

Thanks Paul, I suppose it's ok to be cautious, but as you quite rightly point out, no axe to grind. Just want to find out what other clubs charge their members as we need to set about budgeting our costs for the coming years. For the record my club has been established for almost as long as the BSAC itself and as any successful club knows, there is a need to ensure income matches (or should exceed) planned expenditure to take account of unforseen occurrences.

Hopefully there will be some more feedback.

Regards

Geoff

Geoff

thank you. My post was not intended to sound critical, but on re-reading it does seem a little heavy. My apologies.

Basildon Branch 0356
BSAC membership ?43.00
Annual branch membership ?70.00

for new members:
Equipment loan (cyl, BC & reg)
for 6 months (maintenance) ?30.00
One-off joining fee ?40.00
Training manuals etc ?30.00

We charge ?10 for 'try dives'.

We make no specific charges for the use of the club inflatable, just divide any direct costs (fuel - launching charges) among those actually using it.
Costs of any dives are divided equally among those taking part.
Pool fee's are paid directly from club funds. We make no other charge for the pool.
We have 16 sets of training gear (Cylinder, BC & Regulator set) with a pile of fins, masks & snorkels.

All our members also (currently) get associate membership of Basildon Snooker Club, our watering hole.

Our club membership has seen slow growth over recent years, with a steady intake of new divers.

Regretably we have lost some, as people move away and last week sadly, we lost our oldest member. Peter Gadsdon's funeral is this Saturday.

regards

Tony Dwyer
Training Officer - Basildon BSAC Branch 0356

[Andy Nye]

Dover Sub Aqua Club ( now a CHARITIY branch )


Branch membership fee
** ? 80 **
Cost of branch air if compressor owned by branch
** ? 0 in with club fee's **
What boats are available and is there a levy charged for their use
** Ex 41 foot watson class lifeboat, been adapted for divers...Wreck dives ? 7.50 training dives in shallow bay ? 3.75 .... boat only goes out with a min of 6 divers **
Does the branch have their own clubhouse or a room in a pub / club
** meets Tuesday night 19:30 - 23:00 at the Dover Sports centre. **
What training equipment is available and is there a fee
** 7 full sets of scuba kit, ? varies ,, ? 12 for full weekend hire **
Are instructors charged pool /dive fees when teaching

** No charge for shallow dive training or pool **
Other facilities provided
** Nope **

[Lindsey Doyle]

Branch membership fee
?84 for everyone.(New members of grades under DL pay ?10 joining fee).

Boat :-
we own a 5.8m Humber RHIB, taking 6 divers. ?60 hire per day, reducing for trips over 3 days. Fuel, launch, towing all payable by those on trip.
In winter (~Oct~Mar~), or if used for course eg an SDC or totally for ODs first sea/boat dive, ie very sheltered diving; half price hire.

Does the branch have their own clubhouse or a room in a pub / club
We hire a room in a "working men's" type club for ?25 a week 7-11.30, used for lectures, meetings, social functions eg quiz. Cheap bar.

What training equipment is available and is there a fee

13 aqualung sets, ?150 for all use for one year/until OD achieved, whichever sooner.Or ?15 a day...deals organised for eg, PADI OW mew member without own kit.

Are instructors charged pool /dive fees when teaching
No...we hire the pools (4m deep pit + half 25m long pool for 1 hour) and don't charge anyone for swimming or diving use, but people have to pay entry to council sports centre. (This is free if they join the centre & our members can get discounted annual membership).
Instructors can reclaim their air..in practice no one does (they often get it free at local dive shop anyway, as regulars who tend to bring in new faces).
Trainees are "encouraged" to contribute to their instructor's OW costs.

Other facilities provided
camera for hire
2x O2 kits, 2x Resusci Annes
computer interfaces for Suunto & Aladin
Books & charts for planning dives
Able to teach all SDCs so provided at cost price.

Can't think of anything else at moment...it's not cheap, but we are based in the SE (Hemel Hempstead).
Cheers, Lindsey Doyle, DO Dacorum SAC

[Louise Wallace]

I'm after some feedback on what various branches charge for their membership and what they offer in return. Excluding the BSAC levy of course. For example

Branch membership fee
?93 , plus 20 for new traineees:=Cost of branch air if compressor owned by branch
What boats are available and is there a levy charged for their use, Large RIB , ?5 a day levy per person, plus trip costs
Does the branch have their own clubhouse or a room in a pub / club, no uses leisure centre and bar, Thursday evenings, and hires pool 9-10 pm
What training equipment is available and is there a fee
6 or so full SCUBA sets, assorted old kit, cylinders.
Are instructors charged pool /dive fees when teaching
yes
Other facilities provided
compressor and free air

Any feedback would be most helpful
I want to know about any levies charged new trainees, I have heard others are charging a greater rate, then rebating against year 2 if they stay. The BSAC School equilalent locally is ?325 for Ocean or PADI Open water w/e course and open water dives. Any comments please?
Regards

Geoff

[martin davies]

I'm after some feedback on what various branches charge for their membership and what they offer in return. Excluding the BSAC levy of course. For example

Branch membership fee
?120 pa (?135 for new members) excl BSAC subs but including
all training, use of kit/boat/van, pool use 52 weeks a year

Cost of branch air if compressor owned by branch
dont have compressor

What boats are available and is there a levy charged for their use
Club Rib available for use and Vehicle to tow it at no charge other than fuel/launching fees etc. Vehicle is an ex-Ambulance kitted out for 6 - club pays for insurance and running costs except for fuel

Does the branch have their own clubhouse or a room in a pub / club
Use local sports and social club where we encourage our members to join though they dont have to (?5 pa !) - very cheap beer and use of club facilities - tennis, soccer, cricket etc plus "indoor" games (snooker tables etc). We get use of large room foc and in exchange we boost the beer sales!

What training equipment is available and is there a fee
4 or 5 pool training sets (ie the older stuff) and 4 open water sets plus computers, twin set, pony set, etc so that "trained" divers can use club stuff to move on their training to the next level - all no charge
Are instructors charged pool /dive fees when teaching
no pool fees (inc in subs) - instructors pay own way (entry fees etc) but are most grateful when a trainee buys them a beer or offers to drive to the site

Other facilities provided

Any feedback would be most helpful

Regards

Geoff

HTH

Martin - Studley branch (West Mids)

[Geoff Oldfield]

Many thanks to all those who assisted with their input. Your help will assist us in planning our branch focus over the next four or five years as to how we spread our operational costs. Running a large branch, clubhouse, boathouse, compressors, two boats, paying for pool hire, training and lecture equipment and essential maintenance is a huge financial responsibility which needs to be spread fairly amongst the members as well as seeking income from other sources like grants.

Thanks once again

Geoff